I think Lidl are doing an offer on the vac PAC machine and rolls of bags until the end of the month. I am hoping to pick up a good supply of the roll as it was about half the price to Amazon.
The main benefit to me is watching our weight! We want very tasty food but if there is as much as you want to eat, of course overeating is going to follow. By carefully weighing portions, and knowing exactly how much we need to eat there is no danger of eating too much of something like the Bangladeshi curry that is big in nutrition and calories.
It also means that after spending most of the day cooking and faffing, I do not have to eat something I have only just cooked. I just enjoy it more about a week later. Besides my house only smells like an Indian curry house for two days, not that I mind this, I love it! I feel like I have dined out on the aromas already. I also think the flavours mellow together after the freezer, and I keep the salt content to a minimum taste before freezing, and add a little more if it does need it when it's re-heated.
Altogether I weighed out 27 individual portions of curry. Packed as 13 x250g plus one at about 200g.
So long as my husband has a couple of recognisable chunks of meat on his plate he is happy. I don't mind mostly sauce and some meat. I am just trying to eat less rich meat.
The next reason I am doing this is that in about 8-10 weeks time we are hoping to have a wall down between the living area and fit a new Kitchen. The last time we did one about twenty years ago, we had no alternative than go out to eat for about three weeks. Well that was an unexpected expense!
I am getting ready for the upheaval! I have room for a small 45cm wide dishwasher in my converted garage workroom, that has power and a sink, and the washing machine in it. I jokingly said to my husband that as these portions were packed sous vide, I could perhaps thaw the packets and put them in the dishwasher on a hot wash! I really must try this one day!
I have actually bought a little 2 ring gas camping hob, this with the BBQ should see us OK!