FoodSaver Vac 550 User Manual
User Manual
The Original Home Vacuum Packaging System
™
Vac 550
Welcome
THE FOODSAVER USER MANUAL
You have just purchased an appliance that will soon
have you wondering how you ever got by without
it. The FoodSaver Vac 550 is so convenient and
versatile, you’ll find yourself using it every day. We
guarantee that if you make room for it on your
countertop, you will quickly see how indispensable
it becomes in your kitchen.
Foods Will Keep Their “Just Bought” Freshness,
Flavor, and Nutritional Value 3 to 5 Times Longer.
◗ Meats, poultry, fish, and produce stay fresh and
flavorful in your freezer.
◗ No more freezer burn.
◗ Foods stay fresh longer in your refrigerator.
◗ Dry ingredients stay fresh and insect-free in
the pantry.
You’ll Save Money, Time, and Effort.
◗ Buy in bulk to reduce your grocery bills.
◗ Repackage your purchases in portions sized for
your family’s needs.
◗ Prepare meals in advance so when you don’t have
time to cook, you and your family will still have
great-tasting homemade meals.
◗ Take bags right from the freezer or refrigerator
and boil or microwave.
◗ Reduce waste and spoilage.
◗ Prepare your own healthy frozen dinners. You
control serving portions, calories, and nutritional
content.
◗ Make and deliver home-cooked meals to those
who can’t get out.
◗ Keep non-food items dry and free of dust and mold.
◗ Stop silver from tarnishing because the metal is
not exposed to air.
Table of Contents
THE FOODSAVER USER MANUAL
1
Welcome
2 The FoodSaver Vac 550
4 FoodSaver Accessories
Operating Instructions: How to...
6 Make a Bag with FoodSaver Rolls
8 Vacuum Package Using Ready-Made and
Custom-Made FoodSaver Bags
10 Vacuum Package Using FoodSaver Designer Canisters
12 Vacuum Package Using FoodSaver Bulk Storage and
Square Canisters
14 Vacuum Package Using the FoodSaver Jar Sealer with Mason Jars
16 Vacuum Package Using FoodSaver Universal Lids
18 Vacuum Package Using FoodSaver Bottle Stoppers
20 Care and Cleaning Instructions
21 Food Preparation and Storage Guide
30 Important Safeguards
31 Troubleshooting
34 Marinating Recipes
39 Vacuum Packaging Non-Food Items
40 Warranty and Service Information
THE FOODSAVER USER MANUAL
3
About Vacuum Packaging
Air is left in most food storage containers and plastic bags even when
they are sealed tightly. Oxygen is
one of the main reasons that food
goes bad. It starts a chemical
change – robbing food of its nutritional value, texture, color, flavor,
and overall quality. The FoodSaver
Vac 550 removes the air from our
FoodSaver Bags and then seals the
bags so that air cannot reenter. The
Vac 550 is also designed to be used
with a wide range of FoodSaver
accessories that will keep a variety
of foods fresh longer. Finally, you
can maintain the same freshness at
home that you get with professionally
vacuum-packaged items you purchase
at the grocery store.
FoodSaver Bags and Rolls
◗ FoodSaver Bags and Rolls are made
from a patented, 3-ply plastic
material with special channels that
remove the air. The outer layer
of nylon seals freshness in, while
locking air and moisture out.
◗ FoodSaver Bags and Rolls can go
straight from the freezer and
refrigerator to the microwave or
boiling water. They are reusable,
washable (including in the dishwasher), and recyclable.
◗ FoodSaver Bags are ready-made
in quart and gallon sizes to offer
convenient, one-step storage.
◗ FoodSaver Rolls come in two
widths, 8 inches and 11 inches,
which allow you to make customsized bags for the items that you
are vacuum packaging.
◗ Most FoodSaver users like to keep
both bags and rolls handy for the
greatest packaging convenience.
Our Patented 3-Layer Design
Patented FoodSaver Bags are designed to
remove air and seal in freshness.
The FoodSaver Vac 550
THE FOODSAVER USER MANUAL
2
Vac 550
Vac 550
On Button
Sealing Light
Accessory
Port
Lock: There is
a lock on each
side.
Sealing Strip
Vacuum
Channel
Star
Star
FoodSaver Accessories
THE FOODSAVER USER MANUAL
4
FoodSaver Canisters
◗ There are three styles of FoodSaver
Canisters – Designer, Square, and
Bulk Storage. They are ideal for
storing delicate items and liquids,
as well as dry goods and cooking
staples. The
Canisters
come in a
variety of
sizes and
all can be
used in the refrigerator
and pantry. Canisters are not to
be used in the freezer.
◗ FoodSaver
Designer
Canisters are
especially
attractive for
use on your
countertop.
◗ Vacuum packaging in the
FoodSaver Square Canister is an
excellent way to marinate foods
because the process opens the
pores of the
food and seals
in the flavor.
The Vac 550
can marinate food in 20 minutes
so you don’t have to wait all day
or overnight for that special taste.
All FoodSaver Canisters work for
marinating, but we recommend
the Square Canister because less
marinade will be needed.
◗ The Bulk Storage Canisters are
designed to store pantry items
such as cereal, chips, rice, and
baking goods.
FoodSaver Regular Jar Sealer
◗ The FoodSaver
Regular Jar
Sealer allows
you to vacuum
package in regular or standard
mouth mason jars.
Note: FoodSaver Jar Sealers are
designed to fit mason jars manufactured in the U.S., such as Ball
®
and Kerr®brands.
THE FOODSAVER USER MANUAL
5
FoodSaver Wide-Mouth Jar Sealer
◗ The FoodSaver Wide-Mouth Jar
Sealer allows you to
vacuum package
in wide-mouth
mason jars.
FoodSaver Universal Lids
◗ With this great kitchen accessory,
you don’t have to transfer many
foods out of their
original containers.
Vacuum package
and extend the life of foods in their
original glass jars and metal cans.
◗ Available in two sizes – 4 inches
and 5
1
⁄
2 inches in diameter.
FoodSaver Bottle Stoppers
◗ FoodSaver Bottle Stoppers allow
you to vacuum package bottles
to protect the taste and
extend the life of liquids
such as wine,
liquor, and
cooking oils.
Purchasing FoodSaver Bags,
Rolls, and FoodSaver Accessories
◗ Your Vac 550 kit includes FoodSaver
Bags and Rolls and may include
some accessories. Additional supplies and accessories are available
at your local retailer. To find the
nearest one, visit our website at
www.foodsaver.com
or call our Consumer
Services Department at
the number listed at the
back of this manual.
THE FOODSAVER USER MANUAL
7
6 Close the lid. Lock the lid by
pressing in the locks on both sides.
(You may need to press down
lightly on the stars while pressing
in the locks.)
7 Press and hold down the On
button. The light will go on as the
Vac 550 seals the bag.
Wait until
the sound stops and the light
turns off before releasing the lid.
8
The locks on the sides will release
automatically. Lift up the lid and remove the bag. You now have a
custom-sized FoodSaver Bag.
You are now ready to vacuum package. Just follow the instructions
on page 8.
NOTE: Let the Vac 550 cool down for at least 20 seconds before
using it again.
How to Make a Custom-Made Bag with FoodSaver Rolls
THE FOODSAVER USER MANUAL
6
When using FoodSaver Rolls you first need to make a bag, then
vacuum package your food in the bag. (If you are using readymade FoodSaver Bags, go to page 8.)
1 Place the Vac 550 on a flat, dry surface and plug the power cord
into a standard electrical outlet.
2 Lay the item(s) you want to vacuum package near the FoodSaver
Roll so you can see where to cut the bag material. Leave at least 3
extra inches at one end of the bag and more if you want to reseal
or reuse the bag. (One inch per reseal.)
3 Cut the FoodSaver Roll to the
desired length, making sure you
cut straight. The marks on the side
of the roll are at 3" intervals and
will assist you in cutting straight.
4 Open the lid of the Vac 550. If the lid is locked, release locks by
pressing down firmly on the stars.
5 Place one end of the
bag on the sealing strip.
IMPORTANT: Make sure the end does not go over the black foam
rubber ring, or into the vacuum channel.
THE FOODSAVER USER MANUAL
9
5 Close the lid. Lock the lid by
pressing in the locks on both sides.
(You may need to press down
lightly on the stars while pressing
in the locks.)
6 Press and hold down the On
button. The light will go on as the
Vac 550 seals the bag.
Wait until
the sound stops and the light
turns off before releasing the lid.
7
The locks on the sides will release
automatically. Lift up the lid and remove the bag.
8 Vacuum packaging is complete.
IMPORTANT: You will need to pre-freeze foods that have excess
liquid or moisture before vacuum packaging in FoodSaver Bags
because the liquid can be drawn up into the vacuum pump.
NOTE: Let the Vac 550 cool down for at least 20 seconds before
using it again.
How to Vacuum Package Using Ready-Made
and Custom-Made FoodSaver Bags
THE FOODSAVER USER MANUAL
8
1 If you have not already done so, place the Vac 550 on a flat, dry
surface and plug the power cord into a standard electrical outlet.
2 Open the lid of the Vac 550. If the lid is locked, release locks by
pressing down firmly on the stars.
3 Place the item(s) to be vacuum packaged into the bag.
4 Place the open end of
the bag
down into the vacuum channel.
IMPORTANT: Make sure the open end of the bag touches the blue
label on the bottom of the vacuum channel.
THE FOODSAVER USER MANUAL
11
6 Close the lid. Lock the lid by
pressing in the locks on both sides.
(You may need to press down
lightly on the stars while pressing
in the locks.)
7 Press and hold down the On
button. The light will turn on as
the Vac 550 starts the vacuum
cycle and air is removed from the
canister.
Wait until the sound
stops and the light turns off
before releasing the lid.
8
Vacuum packaging is complete.
How to Open the FoodSaver Designer Canister
To open the FoodSaver Designer Canister, press and hold down
the grey rubber button in the center of the lid. This will release
the vacuum and you should be able to remove the lid.
IMPORTANT: Remember to remove the accessory hose from the
accessory port on the FoodSaver Vac 550 before you vacuum
package in FoodSaver Bags.
How to Vacuum Package Using FoodSaver
Designer Canisters
THE FOODSAVER USER MANUAL
10
FoodSaver Designer Canisters are both functional and attractive
and an excellent way to store delicate items in the refrigerator,
pantry, or on the countertop. FoodSaver Designer Canisters
cannot be stored in the freezer, and unlike the Bulk Storage and
Square Canisters, cannot be used in the microwave. The bases
can be put in the dishwasher for cleaning. However, do not put
the lids in the dishwasher.
1 Place the Vac 550 on a flat, dry surface and plug the power cord
into a standard electrical outlet.
2 Place the item(s) to be vacuum packaged inside the canister. Leave
at least one inch between the contents and the rim of the canister.
3 Place the lid on top of the canister.
4 Insert one end of the accessory
hose into the accessory port on
the Vac 550.
5 Insert the other end of the accessory
hose into the hole on the top of the canister.
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