Firemonkey Posted June 17, 2010 Report Share Posted June 17, 2010 I almost NEVER order steaks in a restaurant, because they NEVER taste as good as what comes out of my KK. However, I am a sucker for a nice dry aged steak, and will absolutely go into a steakhouse for one when I am on the road. Especially the steakhouses where you can look into the coolers and see the dark, crusty loins after drying for 3 weeks! I would love to age my own at home, but have always been concerned about keeping a low enough temperature, or having the smells from other foods in the fridge tainting the meat. So i found this product intriguing: http://www.drybagsteak.com/ Does anyone have any experience with these bags? I am not thrilled about the fact that they dont recommend a standard foodsaver vac sealer, but I would be willing to try it at the expense of the bags...not so much at the expense of a whole subprimal chunk of cow. Maybe I need to just get a little apartment sized fridge to dedicate to the task? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conodo12 Posted June 18, 2010 Report Share Posted June 18, 2010 That's a new one on me - They've got a Father's Day special though... How about giving it a try and letting us know how it works out for you!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruzmisl Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 Hmm, you think they'd design it so it would work with the Foodsaver. I'm not buying another piece of equipment. I'd try the bags otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syzygies Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 Hmm' date=' you think they'd design it so it would work with the Foodsaver.[/quote'] +1. This is an environmental crime, just so they can make a buck. Enough of a reason in my book to pretend the guy doesn't exist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mguerra Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 neat idea "environmental crime"? We all use plastic bags and electricity every day. And unless you are a socialist or communist living off of other peoples labor, everyone needs to "make a buck". I see this thing as just another entrepreneur's idea to fill a need, no different from a food processor or a bread maker. It's a free market, no one is forced to buy it. Just like Dennis saw the market for a different variation on ceramic cookers, this guy had an idea on a different application for vacuum bagging. I think it's pretty cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syzygies Posted June 22, 2010 Report Share Posted June 22, 2010 Re: neat idea "environmental crime"? We all use plastic bags and electricity every day. And unless you are a socialist or communist living off of other peoples labor Sorry I wasn't clear. There's something economists call an externality, when a free market doesn't adequately price certain consequences of our actions. Pollution in general is right up there on this list. If the cost of disposal was assessed for all goods at the time of manufacture, there would be an incentive to come up with designs that had less end-of-life impact. The manufacture of a $100 machine has a significant environmental impact: The energy costs and pollution consequences of building the product itself, and of each material used. Some of that $100 goes to labor, or to corporate profit, but some is paying for events an environmentalist would wish hadn't happened. If my old car runs well, and a new car I'm considering gets 5 mpg better mileage, how much do I have to drive before the enormous impact of manufacturing the new car is offset by its modest fuel savings? My objection to this dry bag device is not only the inconvenience and expense of two essentially identical devices when one will do, but the environmental impact of manufacturing the second device needlessly. All so the guy could make more of a buck. That's pathetic. I'm actually politically dead center. It's everyone else who's off to the right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruzmisl Posted June 22, 2010 Report Share Posted June 22, 2010 Re: neat idea Just like Dennis saw the market for a different variation on ceramic cookers' date=' this guy had an idea on a different application for vacuum bagging. I think it's pretty cool![/quote'] I agree but Dennis didn't manufacture a new cooker that only works with his "proprietary" charcoal. Charcoal, not unlike Foodsavers, are everywhere. Why reinvent the wheel when you're just vacuum sealing a bag? I'll give the guy the benefit of the doubt and say the channeling in the foodsaver bags are covered by a patent and he can't manufacture a similar bag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mguerra Posted June 22, 2010 Report Share Posted June 22, 2010 harumph Oh, cruz, come on. Why have 5,000 different kinds of cars with proprietary parts? It's just a guy in the marketplace with an idea. None of my Guru and Stoker parts interchange either. People who like the thing will buy it and apparently some won't! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syzygies Posted June 22, 2010 Report Share Posted June 22, 2010 Re: neat idea 'll give the guy the benefit of the doubt and say the channeling in the foodsaver bags are covered by a patent and he can't manufacture a similar bag. Oh, his bags are different from that, and they need to be for his application. But the foodsaver can create a vacuum and seal plastic. And third parties already sell channel bags. Put it differently, once a general purpose computer (handheld or otherwise) can take over function once delegated to a specialized device, the specialized device often gets tossed aside. I make exceptions for cell phones, cameras, like a restaurant I prefer being able to do one thing well. But I don't need two essentially identical vacuum packers. And I would have bought the Stoker a long time ago if it were cleanly interchangeable with the Guru. Even now, the hoops I'd jump through would make me feel like I was using a serial-to-USB adapter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curly Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 Although I typically don't understand most of what you write Syzygies, dang, it sounds like you think this fella is the anti-gore for creating something that doesn't work in your foodsaver (which I also have). Had he done it your way none of the folks with the other machines could use it right? What would have been the right thing for him to do. You go ahead and write it all out and I'll have someone explain it to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mguerra Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 some like it The Drybag system is apparently VERY popular with the members over on another BBQ forum, (which I am not frequenting much anymore...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conodo12 Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 OK KK'ers - You knew someone would figure out how to use the FoodSaver to seal a DryBag, right??? Follow this link and give it a shot - Let us know how you make out, OK? http://www.eggheadforum.com/index.php?o ... 05&catid=1 By the by - Every butcher I have discussed this with has been very adamant about maintaining a temp of 34 to 38 degrees while dry aging your steaks. Also, LOTS of even airflow is mandated. I have glass shelves in my fridge and kids. Neither are conducive to good airflow or an even temperature setting. I am contemplating a dorm sized fridge, or some space in my kegerator, plus some wire shelves for the airflow. Looking forward to hearing your results! UPDATED: Here's a video of this technique! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
