Disclosure: I participated in a Vibrant Influencer Network campaign for the Ziploc® Brand Vacuum Sealer System. I will receive a fee for posting. The opinions expressed in this post are my own; I am in no way affiliated with the Ziploc® Brand Vacuum Sealer System team and do not earn a commission or percent of sales.

One of the biggest budget busters in the Savings in Seconds house is wasted food.  I always have the best of intentions when going in with my shopping list; that boneless chicken breast or 3-lb bag of fresh peppers truly does have a place on my meal plan.  As the week goes on, however, there are days when the meal doesn’t get prepared or the leftovers get stashed in the fridge just a little too long.  The next dilemma we usually face is trying to find a plastic container and its lid.  I really do think they run and hide, giggling in the back of the cabinet, because we never seem to find one!  I’ve wanted a Ziploc® Brand Vacuum Sealer System for ages because I’ve heard that they really help to save time and money.  

The Vacuum Sealer was ready to use right out of the package.  There were even three bags included in the package to get me started!   When you purchase one, I highly recommend getting a box or two of extra bags so that you always have what you need to vacuum seal all your goodies.

I had a couple of neglected bananas sitting on my counter.  My family loves banana bread but we didn’t have time to bake it this weekend.  I’ve never had much success when freezing overripe bananas because they tend to get freezer burn.  Since the Ziploc® Brand Vacuum Sealer System also draws out excess moisture, I knew it would help to prevent that issue.  It literally took seconds to get these sealed and stored.  The bananas are now happily waiting to be transformed into delicious baked goodness.  They’ll thank me later for not becoming landfill waste!

First, I peeled the bananas right in the bag.  This was much less messy than trying to handle the soft banana and stuffing it inside after peeling.  Next, I tucked the open end of the bag in the sealer.  At first I thought that my unit didn’t work because the light didn’t come on, even though it was plugged in.  I realized that the sealer wouldn’t turn on until the lid is completely closed.  That little feature makes it perfect for households with little hands, because it takes a good bit of force to seal the unit.  I know my kids won’t be able to play with (read: break) the Vacuum Sealer!

You can see in this image how much air the sealer removed from the bag!  A little moisture was still left in the bag but it’s completely sealed off.   The sealing action happened much faster than I expected.  I counted to five and it was finished!  The unit makes a pretty loud noise while doing its thing; I wouldn’t try this while the baby was napping.   To release the bag, you just push the buttons on the side of the unit.

And that’s it!  Check out that beautiful seal on the top of the bag.

There are lots of ways that I plan to use this handy gadget!  Obviously, it’s perfect for storing food.  I’ll use it in the spring and summer to preserve the tomatoes, squash, and other yummy goodness that sometimes goes to waste because I still haven’t learned how to can food.   Since you can easily make your own bags (in various sizes) I plan to use the Ziploc® Brand Vacuum Sealer System for sealing packets of medication to take on vacation, too.  That would be a lot easier than taking the several bottles of supplements and pills we use daily.  It’s also more tamper resistant than a pillbox, since my young son wouldn’t be able to open the sealed packet on his own.  This makes a great holiday gift.  It’s even better because you can save money using this coupon!

How would you use the Ziploc® Brand Vacuum Sealer System?