How I'm saving hundreds on fresh meat and produce!

Have you ever received a Christmas present that will eventually save you hundreds, even thousands of dollars? I sure did! This Christmas (thanks to a couple of killer deals on Black Friday) I got a new deep freezer and vacuum sealer. Freebs, I am SO excited about this! 

I told you I was excited...

Look at all that potential! Definitely going to fill it up with freezer meals before Page baby #5 makes her debut.

What prompted the need for a deep freezer and vacuum sealer? Several months ago, I found a killer deal on fresh chicken breasts from Costco and froze them individually in Ziploc bags. A few weeks later, I went to make my delicious chicken recipe and when I took out the chicken it was freezer burnt. Yuck! Freezer burnt meat tastes funny and is so dry when cooked. 

I've also bought produce and had it go bad a couple days later. It is so heart-wrenching to have food go bad before you are able to use it. I feel like I'm literally throwing dollar bills in my trash. But thanks to my new vacuum sealer and deep freezer, I am extending the life of my food up to five times longer. No more wilted lettuce or moldy berries! You can vacuum seal almost anything! Here is an infographic courtesy of FoodSaver that shows you how versatile vacuum sealing is: 

It is an initial investment, but I promise it will pay off in the long run! You might be wondering why the freezer alongside your fridge won't suffice for long-term storage and why you should get a deep freezer in conjuction with your vacuum sealer. To prevent freezer burn and ice crystals, keeping a constant temperature is crucial. Here is a more in-depth explanation regarding the science behind it, if you're curious. 

Black Friday is a few months away so here are some ideas to get a vacuum sealer and deep freezer for a great deal NOW:

1. Search your local online classifieds or yard sale pages on Facebook. 

2. Estate sales or yard sales. 

2. Look on daily deal sites like Groupon or Woot.

3. Check out Amazon. (affliate link) I've seen vacuum sealer systems for 50-60% off. You can also sign up for emails so you can be notified if they have a daily/lightning deal for a vacuum sealer. 

4. Look for scratch and dent clearance models. If you aren't concerned with aesthetics, you can save BIG on your deep freezer. 

I am so excited to save money by keeping my food fresh longer! What do you put in your deep freezer? What do you vacuum seal? Comment below and let me know! 

xoxo,

Jordan 

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