I while back, I was shopping in Wal-Mart and I spied
an item called "Reynolds Handi-Vac". It's a handheld
food vacuum packaging system.

I already have a food vacuum packaging system that
I've used, but it's a hassel to set up and use unless
I have a lot of bulk food to package.

I eventually bought the "Reynolds Handi-Vac" with
quart and gallon size bags to use with it. The bags
are zip lock style. (It comes with about 5 quart bags.)

BUT...what I like about it is that the bags ARE
re-usable.

All I do is put film that I want to freeze or keep in
the refrigerator in a bag, zip the bag shut, then
stick the hand hand vacuum device to the spot on
the bag and activate it. It sucks the air out of it
and seals shut. When I want to get something out,
I just open the bag, get it out and re-vacuum seal it.

It's NOT very expensive and the bags are re-useable too.
It pays to be frugal at times.

Steve:)

Can you use the bags to store liquids?

To vacuum-pack liquids, I recommend either the Vacu-Vin (http://www.vacuvin.nl) or the Pump and Seal. (http://www.pump-n-seal.com) I've never used the former, but I own the latter. I can't say I've ever measured how good of a partial vacuum it creates, but it does have some effect -- pop-up metal lids get "sucked down" when the device is used, and you can hear the "schlerp" noise as air re-enters when re-opening the jar. The partial vacuum seems to keep for weeks at a minimum, at least with good jars. (I find that lids eventually develop bad seals and must be replaced.) I use my Pump and Seal with Snapple, pasta sauce, and other glass jars with metal lids to store developers.

Moose,

Being that you have to lay the bags flat, I don't see where you can seal up
a liquid unless you hang it off the edge of a counter.

BUT....it's GREAT for vacuum packing film for the refrigerator/freezer.

Steve