Tried It Tuesday: Reynolds Handi Vac

There are numerous products and tools designed to help you live your life. Some will work, while others won’t. Each Tuesday, we’ll share something we’ve tried so you won’t have to spend money until you know it’s worth it! Our selections usually include items that will also save your family money while others will save you time or just make your inexpensive life easier to manage.

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If you are looking for an inexpensive way to vacuum seal your foods for storage, the

Handi Vac by Reynolds may be just the thing. It’s no Food Saver, but it does provide a little more protection than plastic wrap or a standard freezer bag. Because air contributes to freezer burn and degrades your food, it is important to store items in air tight containers. This low cost version of a vacuum sealer will do just that.

The Reynolds Handi Vac requires the purchase of their brand freezer bags as they are made specifically for the tool. You will fill the freezer bag to the line, then zip closed as you squeeze as much air out as possible. Next, fit the handi vac over the air seal and turn it on. The tool is very loud and often requires just the right fit over the seal in order to work. It doesn’t really work well when the bag is mostly empty and the two sides of the plastic are already touching.

Because the bags are finicky, we can’t full recommend this product. The Handi Vac is, however, the least expensive option we have found so far for vacuum sealing foods. It definitely isn’t a perfect solution to your food storage needs, but when the bags are sealed tight they do a great job with freezer protection.

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From time to time, companies will send us products to review in hopes that we will share it to you. When that occurs, our Tried-It Tuesday post will clearly disclose that association. Most of our choices will be items that are tried and true in the contributor’s households. For more product suggestions, please see our recommendations or the Inexpensively Store.