By Tara Richter
Each summer my dad and I eagerly wait to see if the wild Saskatoon berry bushes on his acreage will produce fruit. The last time we had a great crop was nearly 5 years ago and the stash of berries in my freezer literally came down to one final bag. As the family ‘pie maker’, this was serious crisis to be out of berries! Thankfully the summer of 2016 resulted in an amazing crop and I spent hours upon hours picking Saskatoon berries, to the point my fingers were stained purple, in a desperate attempt to replenish the stock in my deep-freeze.
The downside to storing so many berries in the freezer for such an extended period of time is the dreaded freezer burn. It was evident in the last bag of berries that I pulled from the freezer that had succumb to the distinctive taste of too much time exposed to the cold, dry air in the freezer. There really isn’t enough cinnamon and sugar to get rid of that taste in my opinion.
Thankfully the 2016 bumper crop of berries will last in the freezer much longer and retain their distinctive flavor thanks to the Hamilton Beach NutriFresh Vacuum Sealer. Taking the NutriFresh Vacuum Sealer out of the box I was first struck by its compact size and lightweight design. Next I was really amazed and somewhat surprised how easy it is to use. It’s really as simple as; pick a bag, fill bag with fruit, place bag’s edge in NutriFresh Vacuum Sealer and push the button. Done.
Originally I was going to just vacuum seal a couple of bags of berries, but after seeing how awesome the NutriFresh Vacuum Sealer worked, I pulled out the dozens and dozens of bags of berries in my freezer and vacuum sealed them all. Now I know I will have fresh tasting berries (and subsequently pie) for a very long time, even if there isn’t another good crop for a few years.
Included in the box were two sizes of pre-cut vacuum bags, as well as two rolls of freezer plastic that can be cut & sealed to your desired volume. I found this extremely beneficial as I froze different quantities of berries for different purposes. A larger bag was perfect for the Saskatoon-Rhubarb medley I like to use for pie, while I made smaller custom-size bags for other baking (or snacking) needs.
There are four key buttons on top: Vacuum seal, seal only (for making the bags), vacuum only (for delicate foods), and cancel. Until I read the manual, I couldn’t figure out why you’d only vacuum but not seal the bag. Turns out it’s a function for fragile foods, like tomatoes. After the desired amount of air is taken out, you hit the cancel button and then the seal button to close it all up. Using the vacuum seal button with a fragile food could end up causing problems to the machine by pulling too much air (and therefore liquid) into the vacuum sealer and damaging it. I also I like the fact that the cord to this appliance tucks neatly inside and it can be easily tucked away in a cupboard.
As much as this product is really easy to use out of the box, I’d definitely recommend taking a few minutes to read through the easy-to- read product manual. There are some key pieces of information that are critical to the proper use and care of the machine, instructions for personal safety, as well as information to get the best result in your food/non-food vacuum sealed items.
Non-food items you ask? Yes! As it turns out, the NutriFresh Vacuum Sealer isn’t just for food. In addition to all sorts of food items (literally from soup to nuts) you can also vacuum seal things like documents, keys, batteries, boat/fishing licenses, matches, passports, photographs and pretty much anything else you can think of.
This item makes a perfect gift for anyone who likes to buy in bulk and needs a way to store those extra items while keeping them fresh until use. As with other Hamilton Beach products, the brand pretty much speaks for itself, ensuring you will be getting a quality item.
Where To Buy: HamiltonBeach.ca, Home Outfitters, Amazon.ca
Pricing: $129.99
Yes, we have a Hamilton Beach NutriFresh Vacuum Sealer for one of our readers! Use the form below to enter your name and email address to get started – good luck everyone!
I think I would use it the most for meat & cheese. Would definitely come in handy.
I like to buy my meat in bulk so it would keep it fresh!
I would use it for my berries that I pick in the fall. It would be perfect for meat and chicken too.
I would benefit the most as I’m almost buying too many fresh veggies!
I would use it mostly for meat and cheese that we buy in bulk when its on sale.
I make big batches of meals and them freeze them in individual portions for a quick meal later. I think this would be perfect for that!
I would use this Hamilton Beach product mainly for meat and chicken.
I would use this for my garden veggies as well as rhubarb! Love this so much! Thanks for the opportunity!
I would use this to seal and freeze all the lovely berries we pick in the summer most!
I think I would use it the most in the summer for freezing fresh berries 🙂
Mostly for dividing the large meat packages
I would use it for meat from costco and other items
I could see myself using this for produce
I would use it for mostly for meat. This would be awesome and I am sure that I will be able to carry more in the summer in the trailer as it would save a lot of space in my trailer freezer! I have wanted one for so long!
I have Saskatoon, chokecherry, and plum trees in my backyard so this would be a great way to preserve the fruit. Up until now I just would use as much as we could, give away some and freeze the rest.
I NEED this for hunting season. This would protect our meat from getting freezer burned
I think I would use it for when I buy bulk meats
I would use this the most to preserve all of my fresh garden produce in the summer!
I like to buy in bulk because it’s cheaper. I would use this to portion meats for sure! It would also be great to save my summer garden crops for the winter.
I would use this for freezing meat the most.
I would use it most for my berries in the summer.
We pick fruit and vegetables, in bulk, when they are in season. The Hamilton Beach Vacuum Sealer would keep our food longer in the freezer. It would be wonderful to have berries available in the late winter/early spring.
I would use it most for sealing fresh cod!
I’d use this Hamilton Beach item for cheese and meats
I think I would use it mostly for meats.
I would mostly use it for meats.
My brothers give me a lot of fresh salmon in the summer (they fish a lot) so I would use this to freeze some of it.
for chicken that we buy in bulk!
I would love to own a Hamilton Beach NutriFresh Vacuum Sealer! I have 3 teenaged sons so a weekly trip to Costco is a must, so a vacuum sealer would be soooo helpful in keeping everything I freeze fresher. Also, I just purchased a sous vide machine and will need to vacuum seal the food before cooking it
I would use it most for meats . In the summer, I would use it most for my vegetables. This is one sweet product.
I would use this for fruit and meat the most.
I would use it for fresh produce in the summer and leftovers in the winter.
In the summer I would use it to seal fresh produce and fruits, during the winter meat
I think I’d use this for meat and cheese and fresh fruit when in season!
I would use it for meat. We buy at costco so this would be great!
I would use it for for packaging my Costco bulk meat packages. In the summer I would use it to freeze my homegrown vegetables.
Freezing meat and for cold meat in fridge
I’d use the vacuum sealer to preserve the wild blueberry crop we pick every year here in Northern Ontario.
I’m constantly finding the cheese in my house “miswrapped” – I’d use it for cheese first!
I would use it most for meat, I hate having to throw meat out because of freezer burn
I would definitely use it for berries!
I would use this for meat, cheese and fruits!!
I would use this most for meat because I buy meat on sale or at Costco and then I separate into smaller portions
I actually would love to gift it to my sis in law! she makes up her meals for the week so i know she will get much use out of this and sealing in it’s freshness
I could and would use this Hamilton Beach sealer.
I would use the Hamilton Beach NutriFresh Vacuum Sealer on Cheese and on items destined for the freezer.
This would be great for cold cut and cheese storage.
I like to cut up lots of extra veggies when they’re on sale to use them for soup. This would be great to portion them out.
I would use it for meat that I buy in bulk
I’d use this for portioning meat in bigger quantities from the store
We would use it to freeze Deer, it’s hunting season. We would also use it lots to freeze in the fall to preserve fruit and vegetables and Left overs. It would be use lots at this house.
I would use it for when I buy meat in bulk to keep it from being freezer burnt.
I think I would use it on cheese the most. OUr cheese always gets mouldy before we get through the block.
I’d use it mainly for meat & fish
I think I would use it most to seal portions of meat
I would use it the most for meat
I think I would use a Nutrifresh vacuum sealer on meats.
I would use this mainly for meat and veggies. It would definitely cut down on the items I have to throw out!
I’d use it for fiddleheads and spinach in the summer.
I would use it on berries, fruit, veggies. Thank you for the chance
Would definitely use it for fruit, but I would probably seal hops in it too (for beer brewing).
I would use it to seal the freshness of berries.
I would use it for repackaging those huge packs of meat I buy at Costco
I shop at Costco lots so anything I buy from there! lol
I would use it for leftovers
Defintely Costco sized premade casseroles to freeze for later on use. Awesome product!
i would marinate some meat
I think I would use it mostly for my meats and fresh veggies
I would use it for blackberries in summer and apples in the fall.
I would use it most for fruits and homemade TV dinners
I’d probably use this the most for garden crops and the results of my husband’s hunting
I’d love this to save berries ,
I buy a lot in bulk such as my meats and cheese and buns just to name a few items, but since I just use freezer bags I also end up with a lot of freezer burnt foods, this would be such a dream come true!!
I would use it to divide up family pack items of meat
I would use it most for cheese.
I would use this for my meats being able to buy bulk and get seasoning in then seal it shut, perfection.
It would be perfect for taking food on trips due to dietary restrictions
I would use it for fruit!
I would use this to repack the large packages of meat that I buy to freeze into 1 meal portions
I’d use it to store leftovers so we’d actually eat them!
WANT! This is literally on my Christmas wish list. We buy a lot of fresh foods in bulk (from Costco) like meat and portion them out and freeze, this would be wonderful.
I would use it most for meat.
We live in an acreage and we do grocery in bulk. I would use this to pack meats, veggies and others into meal proportions.
Blueberries
I would use it to seal my strawberries and raspberries
I would mostly use it for meats. Especially for family packs to be cut down in smaller portions this would be handy.
We use our old one all the time, but it’s very old. Meals I make, whatever my husband hunts, fruit from our trees in the summer. Very handy!
I would use it mostly for meat on grocery day, or if I make extra pie crust or baking to store nice and fresh in the freezee ready to use when I need it!
i think i would use it for meats the most
I think that I would use it to seal meat the most to avoid the dreaded freezer burn.
I would use it the most for soups.
Nothing more disappointing than hitting up costco for a bulk shopping trip….putting it in the freezer and when you are ready to use it…its freezer burnt. And I would love to use this for the summer berries!!
I would definitely use it mostly for meat, to keep it nice and fresh.
I would use it to freeze individual smoothie Portions.
I don’t live in the city so in the winter time we make a trip once a month and then buy quite a bit of meat, which mostly we freeze …so I’ll buy large packs of ground beef etc and date them and put them into zip lock freezer bags (or make meatballs, meatloaf, etc)
I would use it to pack my raspberries, strawberries and blueberries I get from my sister.
I would use it for freezing meat.
I agree no amount of sugar or cinnamon can hide the fact that berries have freezer burn. This Hamilton Beach Nutri-Seal would be used by three generations…my mom, myself and my daughter.
I would use it to package smaller portions of meat, we purchase in bulk a lot.
If I had a Hamilton Beach NutriFresh Vacuum Sealer I would freeze portions of meat that I would buy in bulk.I would love to also freeze fruit and berries for my family.
I like to get deals on meat and buy in bulk so I would definitely use on that and probably left overs
I would use it for meats
I’d use this for so many things! Fresh fruits and veggies from the garden to freeze comes to mind!
I would use it most for meats and fruits!
i would it most on meats , i could buy bulk , this would be so awesome to own
I would use it for meat and veggies from the garden
I buy my meat in bulk, so I would love to have one to protect from freezer burn
I would use it for berries in the summer! and all sorts of other things too!!!
I would use it for meat that I freeze. It would save it from freezer burn.
I would use this to seal all the garden spinach for the freezer.
I’ve always wanted one of these, I’d use it on meat the most we always seem to get ours frost burned
I would use this most for repackaging meat. We buy family size and package them into smaller packages for freezing.
I would use this for meat I’ve bought in large packages.
This would come in handy for my meat and fruits. My mom would appreciate this!
Freezing portions of batch soups & sauces & freezing portions of meat/produce bought in bulk on sale
I would use this for meat the most
I would use it for meat
I have always wanted to buy one of these to portion out my meat.
I think we would use it a lot for meat. Very handy!
I would use this for cheese
I would use it most for buying meat, berries, & veggies in bulk, then freeze.
If I won this, I would put meat in it and berries in the summer for my freezer.
I’ll use it mostly to separate out bulk purchase of meat into meal size portions.
I would definitely use it for meat!
I would definitely use it for meat!
I would use it mostly for meat!
I think I would use this most for meat.
I would use it mostly for meat!
For cheese as it tends to mold quickly
I would use it for freezing the meat and vegetables that I buy in bulk.
I would give this to my father-in-law for the berries he freezes to use for wine making! He makes amazing wine!
I like to buy the bulk pk. of meat and repackage them.
I’d use it most for the Jerky my hubby makes and for the meat leftover from a roast or chicken that we could make sandwiches from.
I would use it for meat the most! Thanks for the chance to win!
I would use it for meal prep, meat, veggies and baked goods.
I would use this to freeze meat.
For meat
I like to buy my meat in bulk and this would be wonderful for packaging it for the freezer!
I would love the Hamilton Beach NutriFresh Vacuum Sealer for doing down the red peppers that I BBQ as well as all the meat that I pre-season!
I would use this most for storing salmon that we catch. They would last so much longer.
My dogs eat meat with every meal..but it is always cooked. This would make life so much easier!
I’ll use it most to keep soups and stews for the freezer.
i would use it to seal and freeze our tomatoes, kale, and beans
cheese! We eat so much cheese in our house we are constantly buying different flavors and expecting them to stay fresh and ready for us when we are ready to eat…doesn’t always happen. A vaccuum sealer would be ideal.
Definitely for meat. My husband goes hunting so this would be perfect for us when he gets a deer.
I would use it for the veggie harvest from our garden, for herbs, wild blueberries. Everything!!
I think I would use this item to buy in in bulk to help save money on our grocery expenses.
I would use it most to freeze home cooked meals such as soup and casseroles!
Fruits and meats!!
I’d use it most for meat.
I would use this most for fruit and vegetables.
I’d use it for fruit and veggies from our garden, dried fruit and smoked salmon.
Meats
I would use it for freezing meals for my kids in University . It is a great way to stock a freezer for them to make sure they are eating properly !
I lie to cook and freeze so that we always have a quick supper ready to go. This would b great for me
i think i would use this for prepared meals of baked goods.
Sealing fruits and veggies before freezing. Thank you!
I would use it on meats
I would would take advantage of the great deals I find for meat and seal it all
I purchase meats in bulk and pack in serving sizes with marinades or spices or even sliced and diced before freezing.
Meat since I tend to buy in large packages and like to freeze in single meal or serve portions, and seasonal fruit, especially in the summer to freeze for fall and winter.
I hate food waste and this would make food lasts longer and reduce waste. Gotta like that.
I would use for summer berries.
Would love to seal fruit & veggies as well as meals
I would use it for the copious amount of rhubarb from our garden each summer!
I would use it for meats
My sister would like this.
Meat. Which only seems to come in large trays of mass quantities when on sale.
I would use for meat
I love to save money by purchasing meat in bulk so the vacuum sealer would definitely get used A LOT for that.
Fresh fruit when in season.
I freeze lots of fruits and veggies from my garden and this would be an awesome way to help preserve the foods!
I would use it to freeze my berries in the fall and some veggies! Would love to try it out!
I would use it for berries and meats