I would like to thank Jarden Consumer Solutions for sponsoring this post. I was provided with a FoodSaver vacuum sealer and sealing material in exchange for this post. All content is mine, 100% original and true. Pinky promise.
I have 3 boys, and a six foot three husband, who eat ALL. THE. TIME. Keeping them fed is no small task, physically or on our wallets. That’s why we buy in bulk when possible.
The problem has always been buying meat and fresh fruits and veggies. We didn’t really have a good way to store them and keep them fresh when we bought them in bulk.
That’s why I’m so excited about our new FoodSaver FM5000 vacuum sealer. We can buy meat and fresh fruits and veggies in bulk, seal them up, and freeze them for later. It’s much for effective and efficient than our previous method and the food is fresher when we pull it out to use it.
I did a quality test with our new FoodSaver vacuum sealer. We have bought our ground beef in bulk for several years now. We used to divide it, then wrap it in plastic wrap and put 3-4 sections of meat into a ziptop bag. Then we put the whole package in the freezer. It worked fine, but the meat always turned brown before we used it. Even if it was just a couple of weeks after we bought it.
The FoodSaver vacuum sealer cut out the plastic wrap and the bag. And it kept our meat fresher! This meat had been in the freezer for 4 weeks. It was still red with just a bit of brown and was still very fresh.
We decided to make nachos for dinner one night. We used the meat we put in the freezer, cooked up some beans, and cut up some toppings for a delicious dinner.
It was a hit! And I loved how fresh the meat was still, even after 4 weeks!
FOODSAVER VACUUM SEALER – NOT JUST FOR FOOD!
My favorite part of the FoodSaver vacuum sealer is that you can use it for more than just food.
- Seal up your favorite sweaters during the months you aren’t wearing them to keep them in good shape.
- Cook your food ahead of time and seal it for camping trips for super easy meals. Just warm it up.
- Seal ice in a bag and you’ve got water storage when it melts.
- We are going to Disneyland next month and will be taking a pair of each of our boys’ clothes and sealing it in a vacuum pouch to keep it dry.
NOT ALL FOODS SHOULD BE SEALED
There’s lots of things you can still with the FoodSaver vacuum sealer, but there’s a few things you shouldn’t seal. Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, brussel sprouts, mushrooms, and garlic are a few things you should never seal. The gases created by these foods over time are toxic and will make the food go bad.
You can find more info on the FoodSaver vacuum sealers HERE.
We like to put cilantro lime rice on our nachos and tacos too. I love that it’s a super easy recipe you do in your rice cooker. Check it out. See our nacho recipe below. Enjoy!
THE RECIPE
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 6-8 servings
- Tortilla chips
- 2 Roma Tomatoes, diced
- 2 15oz cans Black Beans, rinsed and drained
- ½ onion, diced
- 1 can green chilies
- ½ lb ground beef
- 2 tsp taco seasoning
- Sour cream
- Guacamole
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- In a small sauce pan, combine 2 cans of rinsed and drained black beans, 1 diced Roma tomato, ½ onion, diced, and 1 can green chilies. Let simmer on the stove.
- Brown ground beef in a large skillet on the stove. Season with taco seasoning. Cook until brown and temperature is 165°F.
- When ground beef is cooked and beans are tender, lay tortilla chips on a plate. Layer ground beef, beans, cheese, tomatoes, guacamole, and sour cream on top of tortilla chips.
- Serve!
- We like to put cilantro lime rice on our nachos and tacos too. I love that it's a super easy recipe you do in your rice cooker. Check it out.
