481744 Mon Jan 21 18:52:22 -0800 2008 9 41 Cookware 0 3318760 Yes, I know they're not that expensive to discard after a single use but I reuse Reynolds Handi-Vac bags. At first, I sloshed a bit of detergent and hot water inside the bag, then turned it inside out and scrubed all surfaces well with the same solution, rinsing well. However, I noticed that it is nearly impossible to rinse detergent suds from in between the textured panel and the bag wall containing the valve. This area is also extremely slow to dry, even if blotted with a paper towel.. So I started experimenting. Turn the bag inside out, take a sharp knife or scissors and cut an incision along the top or bottom of the textured panel to within about an inch of each side of where it joins the side of the bag. This opens up the space and will allow you to clean this space, rinse any suds out and dry the inside of the space. Doesn't affect the sealing process at all. Mon Jan 21 18:52:22 -0800 2008 18981 Jimmy Buffet 1 3319653 I have been experimenting with double bagging/wrapping--first place the stuff loosely in plastic wrap or a plastic bag (the old kind without any zipper or seal lock), then insert into the Handi-Vac bag and seal, thus keeping the HV bag itself clean. Seems to be working OK. Trick is to keep channel open to the stuff so most/all air in the inner bag is evacuated along with air from the HV bag. Tue Jan 22 05:57:59 -0800 2008 3318760 10668 johnb 2 3322150 VERY CLEVER!!! That's a GREAT idea...thanks so much....you should send it into Cooks Illustrated and win something! Tue Jan 22 16:33:57 -0800 2008 3319653 10485 ChowFun_derek 3 3323476 Thanks for the complement. Maybe I will. I actually did send an idea in to CI once but they never used it. The idea was to use small pieces of aluminum foil as a way to keep round, irregularly-shaped items like acorn squash halves full of honey, or stuffed tomato halves, steady for baking/broiling. You very gently ball up the foil (could be previously used foil), place it on a cookie sheet, then push the item down into it keeping it level. It will easily support the item and keep it level while cooking. Wed Jan 23 06:27:51 -0800 2008 3322150 10668 johnb 2 3323385 I've done that with chicken breasts before freezing. Wed Jan 23 05:55:35 -0800 2008 3319653 89493 scubadoo97 1 3320979 I've just taken that panel and pulled it loose. The bags still hold a seal. I can get maybe 1 or 2 reuses and then toss. For meats I generally toss after 1st use. Tue Jan 22 11:57:42 -0800 2008 3318760 89493 scubadoo97 1 3330386 The double bagging/wrapping technique is the best way to go as johnb pointed out, I get the most out of my bags that way. I will wrap my meat and chicken breast in butcher paper and seal that inside the Handi-Vac bags. This also prevents juices getting pulled up though the valve and into the sealer unit. Luckily it was easy to pull apart and clean. We had sealed up some oyster crackers before Christmas and I opened them tonight to have with some soup and I was amazed that they were still pretty fresh. I resealed what was left in the same bag. I tend to throw away bags with meat after one use but these are so great with cheese, lunch meat, nuts, spices, veggies ; take what you need and reseal. I do tend to use a regular sandwich baggie unsealed inside the Handi-Vac to keep the Handi-Vac clean and toss the used sandwich baggie which is much cheaper. Thu Jan 24 20:13:35 -0800 2008 3318760 107345 cookingwithcharlie 1 3339608 I've had good luck with wrapping the food in waxed paper before inserting in the Reynolds bag. The hand held vacuum seems to have enough novelty factor that the entire household is being very good about resealing! Every day I adore this machine a little more... Sun Jan 27 23:30:08 -0800 2008 3318760 111267 meatn3 1 4588536 I use a cheap plastic bag and leave it unzipped an vacuumm. this way nothing touches the reynolds bag unless there is lots of liquid. I mainly use it to store meats but works with most things. Just put the unzipped bag in the reynolds bag and suck it down . Most of the time there is no contact from the inter bag contence to the outer! Making them very reuseable! Sat Apr 11 21:42:16 -0700 2009 3318760 282060 therd3 1 4588549 If you really want to save you can use a regular zip bag and poke a hole in it near the corner and put what ever you want in it an put a piece of paper Towel between the hole and the other side of the zip bag. Use the vaccuum on the hole when finished use some scottch tape quickly over the hole to prevent air from getting back in the bag. The paper does what the bumppy plastic does. It allowes air to be sucked out so the other side of the bag does not plug the suction. Sat Apr 11 21:54:44 -0700 2009 3318760 282060 therd3