Presto FreshDaddy User manual

©2023 National Presto Industries, Inc. Form 4109-202A
INSTRUCTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Important Safeguards..................................2
Cord Information ......................................2
Important Safety Precautions for Vacuum Sealing .......3
Introduction...........................................3
Getting Acquainted ....................................3
How to Use
How to Make a Bag from Roll Material .................3
How to Vacuum Seal a Bag............................4
VAC Accessory Button Function .......................5
How to Use the Vacuum Tube
with Vacuum Seal Zipper Bags ......................5
Tips for Vacuum Sealing
General Tips .........................................6
Tips for Vacuum Sealing Meat, Fish, and
Other Moist Food..................................6
Tips for Vacuum Sealing Fruits, Vegetables,
and Baked Goods..................................6
Tips for Vacuum Sealing Fine-Grained Foods,
such as Coffee, Flour, and Spices ....................7
Tips for Vacuum Sealing Soups, Stews, and Casseroles ... 7
Storing, Thawing, and Heating Vacuum Sealed Food .....7
Non-Food Uses for Vacuum Sealing .....................7
Care and Cleaning .....................................7
Troubleshooting.......................................8
Consumer Service Information .........................9
Warranty ..............................................9
Presto® Vacuum Sealer Accessories ....................10
Visit www.GoPresto.com
FreshDaddy™automatic electric
Vacuum Sealer
• Vacuum sealing keeps food fresh up
to five times longer than ordinary
methods.
• Settings for dry or moist food, seal
only, vacuum seal, and stop/pulse.
• Built-in bag cutter makes custom-
size bags in seconds.
• Includes starter set of bags and vacuum tube accessory.
Compatible with FreshDaddy™and most other brands of vacuum sealer bags and rolls.
Estas instrucciones también están disponibles en español.
Para obtener una copia impresa:
• Descargue en formato PDF en www.GoPresto.com/espanol.
• Envíe un correo electrónico a [email protected].
• Llame al 1-800-877-0441, oprima 2 y deje un mensaje.

2
This is an Listed appliance. The following important safeguards are recommended by most portable appliance manufacturers.
IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS
To reduce the risk of personal injury or property damage when using electrical appliances, basic safety precautions should always be
followed, including the following:
1. Read all instructions before using this appliance.
2. The brown sealing strip becomes hot during the sealing process. To prevent burns, avoid touching the sealing strip during and
immediately after use.
3. To protect against electrical shock, do not immerse the cord, plug, or vacuum sealer in water or other liquid.
4. Close supervision is necessary when any appliance is used near children. Children should be supervised to ensure that they do not
play with the appliance.
5. This appliance is not intended for use by persons (including children) with reduced physical, sensory, or mental capabilities, or
lack of experience and knowledge, unless they are closely supervised and instructed concerning use of the appliance by a person
responsible for their safety.
6. Always attach plug to appliance first, then plug into the wall outlet. To disconnect, remove plug from wall outlet and then from
appliance.
7. Unplug from outlet when not in use and before cleaning. Allow to cool before putting on or taking off parts and before cleaning the
appliance.
8. Do not operate any appliance with a damaged cord or plug, or in the event the appliance malfunctions or has been damaged in
any manner. Return the appliance to the Presto Factory Service Department for examination, repair, or electrical or mechanical
adjustment.
9. Do not let cord hang over edge of table or counter or touch hot surfaces.
10. The use of accessory attachments not recommended by the appliance manufacturer may cause injuries.
11. Do not use outdoors.
12. Do not place on or near a hot gas or electric burner or in a heated oven.
13. Do not use this appliance for other than intended use.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
THIS APPLIANCE IS FOR HOUSEHOLD USE ONLY.
CORD INFORMATION
• This appliance has a polarized plug (one blade is wider than the other). To reduce the risk of electric shock, this plug is intended to
fit into a polarized outlet only one way. If the plug does not fit fully into the outlet, reverse the plug. If it still does not fit, contact a
qualified electrician. Do not attempt to modify the plug in any way.
• A short detachable power supply cord is provided to reduce the risk of becoming entangled in or tripping over a longer cord. An
extension cord may be used if care is properly exercised in its use.
• If an extension cord is used, the marked electrical rating of the extension cord should be at least as great as the electrical rating of the
appliance. The extension cord should be arranged so that it will not drape over the countertop or tabletop where it can be pulled on by
children or tripped over unintentionally.
• Plug the power cord into the AC port on the back of the vacuum sealer and then plug into a 120VAC electrical wall outlet only. The
light on the food button will illuminate. To save energy, after 10 minutes of nonuse the light will go out. To reactivate, press the FOOD
button

Fig. B
Power cord port
BACK OF VACUUM SEALER
Protective
rubber plug
Vacuum nozzle/
Vacuum tube port
Upper sealing
gasket
Lower sealing gasket
Vacuum cavity
Brown sealing strip
Fig. A
Unlock button
Unlock button
Silicone contact bar
VAC accessory
button
Bag roll
storage bay
Bag cutter
Cutting groove
Fig. C
Slide bag cutter to cut bag material
to desired length.
Bag
cutter
3
IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR VACUUM SEALING
WARNING! Vacuum sealing is NOT a substitute for pressure or water bath canning, refrigeration, or freezing. To prevent food
spoilage, perishable food that is vacuum sealed must be refrigerated or frozen after sealing.
Some foods should never be vacuum sealed due to the risk of anaerobic bacteria*. These foods include:
• Soft cheeses: Due to the nature of soft cheeses, they are more likely to grow mold and anaerobic bacteria when vacuumed sealed.
Examples include Brie, Blue, Goat, Ricotta, and Mozzarella, and unpasteurized cheese. It is perfectly safe to vacuum seal hard
cheeses.
• Raw onions and garlic: Gases emitted by raw onions and garlic can inflate the vacuum sealed bag and cause spoilage. Raw
onions and garlic spoil faster when vacuum sealed, increasing the risk of anaerobic bacteria.
• Raw mushrooms: Raw mushrooms decay faster when vacuum sealed due to their ripening cycle, increasing the risk of anaerobic
bacteria. Cooked mushrooms are safe to vacuum seal.
• Raw bananas: Similar to raw mushrooms, raw bananas ripen faster when vacuum sealed, increasing the risk of anaerobic bacteria.
Once a banana is peeled and frozen, it is safe to vacuum seal.
INTRODUCTION
Oxygen promotes certain reactions in food which causes them to deteriorate. The process of vacuum sealing removes air from packages
which helps prevent the growth of mold and bacteria and keeps food fresh longer. Vacuum sealing is ideal for many foods, including those
you buy in bulk, cheese, cold cuts, fresh berries, meat and more. The airtight seal helps extend refrigerator and pantry shelf life, prevent
freezer burn, and reduce waste.
There are some foods that should never be vacuum sealed (see safety precautions above), and others that require special instructions
before vacuum sealing, such as broccoli and cauliflower (see page 6).
In addition to keeping food fresh longer, the vacuum sealer is perfect for sous vide cooking. Steaks, fish, vegetables and more can be
sealed in vacuum bags for delicious sous vide meals.
GETTING ACQUAINTED
Before using the vacuum sealer for the first time,
become familiar with the unit (Fig. A) and read the
instructions thoroughly. Also, remove the protective
film from the top of the unit and from the control
panel.
To access the AC port on the back of the unit, lift
and rotate the protective rubber plug (Fig. B). Plug
the power cord into the port and then into a 120VAC
electrical wall outlet.
HOW TO USE
Always use the vacuum sealer on a dry level surface.
How to Make a Bag from Roll Material
1. Remove the plastic wrapper and the two
green seals from the roll of bag material.
Then open the vacuum sealer and place the
roll of bag material in the bag storage bay.
2. Slide the bag cutter all the way to the left
(Fig. A).
3. Determine the amount of bag material
needed to hold the item to be sealed. Include
space for the item itself plus add 3 inches of headspace for thick foods, like meat, or 2 inches
for thin foods. If your plan is to open and then reseal the bag, include an additional inch for
each time you expect to reseal the bag.
Then pull the determined length of bag material from the roll in the storage bay and insert
the edge of the bag material under the cutter (Fig C).
*Anaerobic Bacteria grows in an environment with low or no oxygen. Clostridium botulinum, a type of anaerobic bacteria, produces a spore that makes a poisonous toxin which causes botulism.

Unlock
button
Stop/pulse
button
Indicator
lights
Unlock
button
Vac and
Seal mode
Seal only
mode
Fig. F
Sealing
strip
Dry/moist
food modes
Press lid down firmly on each side until
you hear each side click. Then press SEAL.
Fig. E
Fig. D Place entire end of bag over sealing strip.
Fig. H
Fig. I
Unsealed
end of bag
in vacuum
cavity
Fig. G
For thick foods, leave 3 inches of space
between bag contents and open end of bag.
For thin foods, leave at least 2 inches.
3 inches
Press lid down firmly on each side until
you hear each side click. Then press SEAL.
4
4. Hold the material securely by placing your thumb below the bag cutter and
your index finger on the bag material. With the index finger of your other hand,
carefully slide the bag cutter slowly across the material. You will now have a bag
with two open ends.
5. Position one of the two ends so it completely overlaps the brown sealing strip
(Fig D). Do not block the vacuum nozzle.
The sealing strip heats the bag material and forms the seal. Make sure the bag
material is smooth; there should be no folds or wrinkles.
Important: Always cut the bag material from the roll before sealing the end, then
roll the extra back into the bag storage bay. Never block the vacuum nozzle.
6. Close the unit. Use the heels of your hands to firmly press each side of the lid
down separately (Fig. E) until you feel and hear each side click. This indicates the
unit is locked. Additional force may be needed for the first couple of uses.
IMPORTANT: The unit must be locked to create a complete seal.
7. Press the SEAL button (Fig. F). The button light will illuminate. As the unit warms up and
during the sealing process, the indicator lights scroll. When the seal is complete, the unit
shuts off and the seal button and indicator lights go out.
8. Press the unlock buttons on the sides of the vacuum sealer (Fig. F), open the unit, and
remove the bag.
CAUTION! To prevent burns, avoid touching the brown sealing strip
immediately after use, as it may be hot.
9. Verify the seal is complete and it is a smooth straight line. If there are
folds or wrinkles in the seal, cut off the sealed end, wait 60 seconds,
and repeat the sealing process.
Once you have sealed the end of a bag, complete the vacuum sealing
process before cutting and sealing the next bag. That provides a
60 second cooldown between each seal, which is ideal for continuous
use of the vacuum sealer. Less time between seals can cause the unit
to overheat.
If overheated, the unit will enter overheat protection mode and
several lights on the unit will flash at the
same time. After a 5 to 10 minute cooling
period, the unit will operate as normal.
How to Vacuum Seal a Bag
Refer to the vacuum sealing tips on pages 6
and 7. Follow instructions applicable for the
type of food being vacuum sealed.
1. If vacuum sealing moist or messy foods,
such as raw meat, turn the top 2 inches of
the bag inside out before filling. That will
keep the open end of the bag clean and dry.
For other foods, this step is optional.
2. Fill the bag with the item(s) you want vacuum sealed. If you turned the bag inside out
in step 1, unfold the top of the bag. Verify there are 2 to 3 inches of space between the
bag contents and the sealing end and that the sealing end is clean and dry (Fig. G).
3. Open the vacuum sealer and position the entire unsealed end of the bag in the vacuum
cavity (Fig. H). Do not block the vacuum nozzle.
Flatten the open end of the bag so it is smooth with no wrinkles or folds. Hold the bag
in place with one hand and lower the vacuum sealer lid.
4. Close the unit. Use the heels of your hands to firmly press each side of the lid down separately (Fig. I) until you feel and hear each
side click. This indicates the unit is locked.
IMPORTANT: The unit must be locked or it will not vacuum seal the bag.

VAC
accessory
button
Vacuum tube port
Fig. J
Attach port adapter to
vacuum tube port inside of unit.
Fig. K
Vacuum tube
Vacuum
adapter
Port
adapter
Fig. L
Center vacuum adapter on bag port.
Vacuum tube port
Vacuum
adapter
Bag port
5
5. Look at the FOOD button and make sure the light next to the type of food or item(s) you will be vacuuming (DRY or MOIST) is
illuminated. If it is not, press the FOOD button and select the mode desired.
6. Press the VACSEAL button to vacuum seal non-delicate foods. If vacuum sealing delicate foods or foods that crush easily, see step 7.
The button light will illuminate. As the unit warms up and during the vacuum process, the indicator lights scroll.
As air is removed, the bag will shrink up around the food/item(s). This should occur within seconds of pressing the VACSEAL button.
If it does not, press the STOP/PULSE button and skip to step 8.
When all of the air is removed, the unit will seal the bag. The seal button light will be illuminated and the indicator lights will scroll.
When the seal is complete, the unit will shut off and the indicator and seal button lights will go out.
NOTE: It takes longer to vacuum seal bags of moist food than dry food.
7. To vacuum seal delicate foods or foods that may crush easily, press and hold the STOP/PULSE button to start the vacuum process.
This button allows you to manually control the vacuum pressure.
Once the desired amount of air is removed from the bag, release the STOP/PULSE button. Then press the SEAL button to seal the bag.
8. If the bag does not shrink up when pressing VACSEAL or STOP/PULSE:
• Make sure the lid is fully closed by pressing down on the front corners of the lid, one at a time . If you hear a click, repeat steps 5 and 6.
• Open the unit and reposition the bag so the entire open end is in the vacuum cavity. Try vacuum sealing again following the steps
above. If the bag still will not vacuum, stop the unit, remove the bag, and try the suggestions below.
• Make sure the end of the bag is clean and dry. If sealing moist food, follow the tips on page 6. Try vacuum sealing again.
• If the bag still does not shrink up, it may have holes or a bad bottom seal. Place the food in a new bag and try vacuum sealing again.
9. Press the unlock buttons, open the unit, and remove the bag. Follow proper storage procedures on page 7.
CAUTION! To prevent burns, avoid touching the brown sealing strip immediately after use, as it may be hot.
NOTICE: It is recommended you allow the appliance to cool 60 seconds between each seal.
VAC Accessory Button Function
The VAC accessory button (Fig. J) is used with the vacuum tube and zipper bag that came with the vacuum sealer. See the instructions
below.
The VAC accessory button is also used with vacuum seal storage containers
and bottle stoppers which are sold separately (see page 10).
IMPORTANT: Do not use the VAC accessory button with custom-made
vacuum sealer bags or precut vacuum sealer bags without ports. Use the VAC
SEAL button on the lid for these types of bags.
NOTE: This vacuum sealer does not include a marinate function.
How to Use the Vacuum Tube with Vacuum Zipper Bags
NOTE: Vacuum zipper bags are intended for storing foods that are consumed regularly
as you can repeatedly open and reseal the bags. They are recommended for pantry and
refrigerator use only.
As received, the port and vacuum adapters will be connected to the vacuum tube (Fig. K).
1. Connect the port adapter end of the vacuum tube to the vacuum tube port that is inside
the vacuum sealer (Fig. J). Push the gray rubber end onto the port until secure (Fig. L).
2. Fill a vacuum zipper bag with the item(s) you want vacuum sealed. Do not place liquid
in the bag. Also, avoid placing item(s) directly under the bag port.
IMPORTANT: If using the bag for fine-grained foods, see the tips on page 7 before
filling the bag.
3. Press the zipper closed. The bags are very durable and the zipper portion is quite firm.
To ensure the bag is fully closed so air cannot escape, press the zipper inch by inch
from one end of the bag to the other.
4. Lay the zipper bag flat so the white plastic port on the outside of the bag is facing up.
Hold the vacuum adapter, centered, over the bag port (Fig. L).
5. Press the VAC accessory button (Fig. J) to start a vacuum cycle. The VAC button can
also be used to stop the vacuum cycle.