If you just hopped on the Inkbird Sous Vide deal and looking for an alternative to plastic, these Stasher branded silicone pouches are heavily discounted and well regarded online.
3L Stand-up Mega Bag was $75, now $15 - https://www.petersofkensington.com.au/tableware/outdoor-dini…
1.66L Stand-up Mid Bag was $55, now $11 - https://www.petersofkensington.com.au/tableware/outdoor-dini…
0.82L Stand-up Mini Bag was $50, now $10 - https://www.petersofkensington.com.au/tableware/outdoor-dini…
https://cuisinetechnology.com/stasher-bags-review/
They did an article and recommended against using stasher bags for sous vide
"Stasher Bags Review: Why We DON’T Recommend Them"
Agree - looks a little too rigid to me. I use moderately priced Ziploc-style style bags and the water displacement method. Works well and I've never had any failures. I do use the big IKEA bags for cooking whole muscles - less mucking around to get things to fit neatly.
Only the more expensive ziplock freezer bags feel thick enough, otherwise the ikea ones are much better value, and can get much larger too.
Doesn't seem to be an issue for relatively short cook times at low temperatures - but yes, the IKEA bags are my default for bigger pieces that need longer cooking times.
@lostincanberra: Been doing chashu which is 70-74 degrees for 24 to 8 hours. Wouldn't consider it low temp haha.
Not sure which IKEA bags you're using, but apparently IKEA updated their packaging with temperature limits, and may not be the best solution: https://www.reddit.com/answers/d422469b-14b2-4645-9f53-b22ba…
@philhawthorne: My instinct is that it is just precautionary labelling by IKEA, in that it can hold contents at 50 degrees, but higher temps can damage it depending on the contents and how the bag is handled. Simply based on that PE's melting point is above 100 degrees.
At the end of the day, 70 degrees has worked for me in the past, so I wouldn't hesitate to do it again, as the chashu really needs the largest 6L ziploc bag to fit.
I had one ages ago when I first got an Anova sous vide machine and only tried using it a couple times before deciding vacuum seal is the way to go. As others said, too rigid to really get the air out.
Agree with others they are too rigid for Sous Vide
With all this talk about kitchen things disintegrating into microplastics… does silicone have the same problem?
No
I'm on 5mg Finasteride pill (cut in 4, 1 per day: 1.25mg daily), and Loniten 10mg (minoxidil - cut in 4, 1 per day: 2.5mg daily). Plus Regaine - topical twice a day.
What are you on now?
Tried to message you put you have it switched off. And last Regaine thread is closed for commenting
Ah sorry I missed it!
Basically same as you, except I don't do topical. I got the side effects (itchiness) without much effect, I must be a non-responder.
I cut my 5mg Fin into 5 bits roughly to get 1mg a day, but 1.25mg a day is fine too, probably pracrically equal in effects and side effects.
Loniten in quarters once a day is probably the perfect way to dose Min, 2.5mg is a good amount that has very low side effects.
You've settled on the best bang-for-buck routine, you'd be spending hundreds more to try and eke out a few more percent growth.
Consider it case closed and don't change or discontinue your routine.
@Wolfenstein98k: Just wanted to update you that I went to my GP and asked for the tablets as per your suggestion instead of the capsules to reduce costs. How do you cut into five, with a pill cutter? I cut by hand with a knife and just manage to cut into four, but 5 would be tricky!
So no need to increase dosage of either?
Thanks for all the help and advice :-)
@PredatorvsAlien: For Fin, it's not a big deal if you go too much one day and too little the next - it accumulates and works over weeks (eg it wouldn't stop having its effect if you quit it for about 30 days). Some derms even prescribe taking it three times a week, so that you'd have 1mg one day and then 0mg the next two days. So I don't stress about getting it a bit wrong so long as I'm averaging one 5mg pill over 5 days.
I cut it into 40/60 by cutting it just to one side of the middle. Then I cut the smaller bit in half (20/20) and the bigger one into thirds (20/20/20). One "shard" a day averages 1mg a day.
I do this (rather than 1.25mg a day) because the efficacy is believed to be basically no better over 1mg a day, and the precautionary principle suggests you shouldn't take any more of any drug than is necessary.
1.25mg a day is probably fine tho.
@PredatorvsAlien: Nah I use the pill cutter, but tbh the only advantage to that is control over the shards rocketing away since it has sides. Knife would probably be equally good.
@Wolfenstein98k: What kind of pill cutter do you use, and where did you get it from?
Also, I assume there is no point in taking a whole 5mg Fin tablet for 5 days, as I understand it, it only lasts 6 hours in the system, hence taking 1mg per day is required
@PredatorvsAlien: It is more complicated than its half-life - it saturates the receptors that it blocks once it builds up on your system. That's why it takes weeks to stop affecting you.
But a 5mg dose once is too high unless you need it for BPH. You don't want a big rush of it if you can help it.
Pill cutter from Amazon, just a cheapie. Few bucks.
@Wolfenstein98k: Thanks, will try cutting to 5 pieces if I can.
Re: "You've settled on the best bang-for-buck routine, you'd be spending hundreds more to try and eke out a few more percent growth."
– hundreds more on? please expand further. Is it diet related, and supplements, derma rollers (which I don't plan to try) perhaps?
@PredatorvsAlien: Basically yeah - ketoconazole shampoo, dermaroll, biotin.
These are the second tier after Fin and Min, and from the research I've done, they're not worth it unless you're desperate. I'm not bothering.
@Wolfenstein98k: ok, got it. One last question, if using 1mg – 1.25mg Fin and 2.5mg Min for say a year, and no improvements, is it safe and worth increasing dosage on both to say 2mg – 2.5mg Fin and 3.3mg Min ?
How long have you been on 1mg Fin and 2.5 Min, and are you seeing results / improvements?
I'm assuming it takes 3-6 months before seeing results / changes, assuming it works for the individual
@PredatorvsAlien: I wouldn't dose up Fin. 1mg will work.
If you are consistently losing ground still, not just in a shed, then look into dutasteride.
Yeah, if you tolerate 2.5mg Min without issue, increasing that makes sense. I'd move up to 5mg (slowly) and watch for growth.
Give it more like a year on this regimen. A growth cycle takes something like 4 months, I'd say give it at least two to see.
Everyone responds to oral (to differing degrees), don't stress.
(I've seen moderate improvement since oral, I saw none on topical)
@Wolfenstein98k: Yeah, sounds like Fin is not one to take too much of. I'll stay at 1.25mg, maybe drop to 1mg if I can be bothered to cut it into 5 bits lol.
2.5mg Min – what are the side effects if one doesn't tolerate it?
@PredatorvsAlien: "postural hypotension, fluid retention, tachycardia, pericarditis, and nausea"
Basically, fluid retention (most noticeable in feet first, also face), dizziness when standing up or weightlifting, heart issues. Consult doctor immediately if you get any of these.
But 2.5mg is basically always safe for men so I wouldn't stress.
@Wolfenstein98k: Hmmm, I thought a hairy forehead was a side effect. But no bloated feet yet and I can still wear my havianas :-)
@PredatorvsAlien: Yeah, hypertrichosis (hair where you don't expect) is a main one, but I ignore that tbh. It's basically the goal haha
@PredatorvsAlien: I don't bother with anything special there, just those OC Naturals ones because they're cheap and allegedly good for the environment haha.
The shampoo that seems to be slightly helpful for hair growth is ketoconazole.
But because it's expensive, only marginally helpful, and apparently dries your hair out a lot, I haven't bothered.
@Wolfenstein98k: Thanks. I looked them OC Natural shampoos and they are $1.95 for 400ml at Woolies, currently at half-price, - very cheap!
Whilst Nizoral is $25.99 for only 200ml, ugh..
All materials would shed a little something in the right conditions over time, but silicone is inert in the human body and environment iirc. Just make sure it's a purposely made for food storage/safety if it is in contact with food as sometimes silicone products may have had release agents and other chemicals used during manufacture.
Good advice. Thanks. I read this the other day. https://www.cnet.com/health/its-time-to-stop-eating-plastic-…
Reminded me that I needed to throw out my black plastic cookware. And Teflon things.
dont have the exact model but i've been using them for a few years and they do wonders for keeping the freshness and not drying out whats inside
I mainly use it when i only use half an ingredient or have something thats exposed like half an onion, quarter of an avo or accidentally peeled carrot.
I have quite a few. Exceptional quality. They keep things fresh for ages, and seal air tight.
How do you accidentally peel a carrot?
very carefully?
I've never heard this one.
C'mon tell us the punchline..
Oh that's a good use if they're able to keep the freshness of partially used ingredients, have gotten some to try ta!
Been thinking of getting these but they were too expensive.
Got the half gallon and sandwich bundle to try them out
Interesting, might grab some for freezing homemade chicken stock.
Have now got some… will give them a cost for the price.
Look decent quality but $18 shipping to rural WA :(
Anyone tried aliexpress versions?
I wouldn't trust knock offs as the seal is really important. I have tried kmart dupes from ages ago and they sucked unless you don't care about it being airtight.
$75 RRP for a silicone bag? Get serious
Useless for sous vide but really good for general storage use
Looks great, although I wonder how well you can get all the air out of the bags for sous viding.