The Best Vacuum Sealers

Buying Guide for Vacuum Sealers

Why buy a vacuum sealer?

A vacuum sealer is a versatile home appliance that provides numerous benefits, mainly for cooking and food storage. One of its primary advantages is its ability to increase the shelf life of food. By removing all air and oxygen from the food’s packaging or bag, a vacuum sealer helps to prevent spoiling and freezer burn. Which, in turn, allows you to cut down on food waste and save money in the long run. Vacuum sealing is also a convenient for meal prepping. Vacuum-sealed foods and meals can be stored in the freezer for later use, or portioned out into individual servings for later in the week. Vacuum sealers are often used as part of sous vide cooking, a technique that involves cooking food in a precisely controlled water bath. The vacuum-sealed bags ensure that the food is cooked evenly and retains its flavor and nutrients.

Vacuum sealing isn’t just useful in the kitchen, either. You can use a vacuum sealer to protect delicate or valuable items, such as jewelry or important documents, from moisture and air damage. If you own pure silver jewelry, for instance, keeping it in a vacuum sealed bag can drastically reduce the risk of it tarnishing.

What should you look for in a vacuum sealer?

• Type: Chamber vacuum sealers have chambers, and they’re great if you’ll be sealing large batches of food items. They tend to be better equipped for liquids than other types and are a practical choice if you make a lot of soup, stews, broth, etc. With external vacuum sealers, the vacuum sealer bag lies external to the machine. They’re thought to be best for the occasional vacuum seal user and dry foods.
• Size: Like most kitchen appliances, vacuum sealers take up valuable counter or storage space. There are some compact, even portable, but still effective models to look out for if you have a smaller kitchen. Keep in mind, however, that the vacuum sealer’s size will play a part in the machine’s capacity to seal large batches; a more compact machine won’t be able to fit a large freezer.
• Compatibility: Do you want a vacuum sealer that works on bags or canisters like jars and bottles? Both have their benefits, so this will largely come down to personal preference. It’s easier to store numerous bags in the fridge or freezer owing to their shape. Canisters are made for more delicate foods, like bell peppers, tomatoes, and even berries. Some prefer the canisters, as well, because they’re highly reusable, even more so than reusable vacuum sealer bags. That said, if you want to use bags and canisters for food storage, there are some vacuum sealers that are compatible with both.

How do you operate a vacuum sealer?

The exact steps for operating a vacuum sealer will vary depending on the make, model, and type of sealer you own. That said, the basic steps for using a (countertop) vacuum sealer tend to be more or less the same:

1. Prepare the food or item you want to seal. Clean and dry the food or item, and place it into a vacuum-sealable bag or container. Be sure to leave enough space at the top (of the bag or container) to allow for sealing.
2. Place the open end of the bag or container onto the sealing strip of the vacuum sealer.
3. Close the lid of the vacuum sealer and make sure it is securely locked in place.
4. Press the vacuum/seal button on the vacuum sealer. The vacuum sealer will begin to remove the air from the bag or container.
5. Once the air has been removed, the vacuum sealer will automatically switch to the sealing mode, which seals the bag or container shut with heat.
6. Wait for the sealing process to finish, then remove the bag or container from the vacuum sealer.

If your vacuum sealer has additional settings, such as a pulse function or adjustable sealing time, be sure to consult the user manual for guidance on how to use them. And if you are using a handheld vacuum sealer, follow the instructions for using the specific bags and valve system that is compatible with your sealer.

Our Picks for the Best Vacuum Sealers

Pros: The GERYON vacuum sealer and bags keep food fresh up to five times longer. An impressive quality is a result of a smart design and quality construction. This product is fully automated with a control panel with soft-touch digital buttons and LED indicator lights for easy programming. Choose from two modes: dry vacuum for dry foods or moist vacuum for moist foods. Another selling feature is its built-in bag roll cutter for making your bags. It fits up to a 12-inch width GERYON or other brand vacuum sealer bags and rolls. There’s also an accessory port and hose so you can vacuum seal canisters. And it has a lower price tag than most vacuum sealers on the market.

Cons: Some users reported issues with this vacuum sealer not sucking all the air out of the bag every single time, which will obviously affect the quality and shelf life of the food being stored. You may have to run some bags through the machine for a second time. (Aftering making sure the bag wasn’t damaged or ripped during the first sealing attempt; if it’s punctured or otherwise damaged, it should be thrown away instead.)

Bottom Line: This starter kit has it all. There’s the vacuum sealer itself, an air suction hose, five heat-seal bags, one roll, and a user manual, which make it a great choice for just about anyone, whether or not you’ve had experience vacuum sealing items before.

 

Pros: This sleek-looking vacuum sealer saves space and waste. It’s built to store vertically or horizontally; you choose based on your kitchen countertop space. Compared to other FoodSaver models, the PowerVac produces 35% less bag waste. Select moist or dry vacuum to seal any number of different types of food. The instructions are straightforward– just fill the bag, place the open end into the vacuum sealing channel, press down to lock the lid, choose your setting, then press ‘vacuum.’ This simplicity of use makes it an excellent choice for those who are new to vacuum sealing their food and meals.

Cons: Unfortunately, this appliance doesn’t always produce a good seal, especially with moist foods. Thus you may want to limit its use to dry foods and items only to reduce any potential issues with sealing. It is also a good idea to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to ensure that you are using the appliance properly and getting the best results possible.

Bottom Line: The FoodSaver comes in both white and black, elegant colors that will fit most kitchen décor. This elegant design, coupled with its compact size and multiple storage capabilities, make it a great addition to any kitchen, and its easy-to-use features ensure it’s a practical and efficient solution for storing and preserving dry food and items.

 

Pros: This vacuum sealer is an excellent addition to your kitchen, especially since it’s compatible with not just bags but most types of bottles and jars as well. This compatibility means that you can store a wide range of foods, drinks, and items with ease, whether it’s leftovers from dinner, fresh produce from the farmers’ market, or bulk meats from the grocery store. The versatility, in turn, allows you to customize your storage options based on your specific needs and preferences. The automatic and intuitive design makes this model easy to use, and the suction power is strong enough to preserve the quality of the food.

Cons: The bags are easy to puncture by mistake, and the instructions for using the appliance accessories aren’t the clearest, so this isn’t the most beginner-friendly model. Some customers also had some difficulty reading the sealer’s display or handle breaking.

Bottom Line: If you are looking for a sleek and fashionable automatic vacuum sealer with one-touch operation and five adjustable modes, this product is a great option. It provides a user-friendly experience with LED indicator lights and digital touch controls and even has an external vacuum function with compatible attachments for sealing jars, wine bottles, and marinating canisters.

 

Pros: Unlike many vacuum sealers, the Potane VS5736 has a brushless DC motor that’s more energy-efficient and more powerful. Using an 8-millimeter sealing element, this product is excellent at sealing. Press the lid to lock it with one hand if you like, as it’s designed to give you that option. The vacuum sealer has built-in bag storage and a cutter, and an accessory port for sealing containers. Set the operating mode you want on the easy-to-use control panel. It comes with two bag rolls (11 inches by 16 feet and 8 inches by 16 feet) plus an extra foam gasket. Notably, the Potane VS5736 is ELT-certified by some nationally recognized test laboratories for compliance with applicable product safety standards.

Cons: Though the vacuum sealer has an accessory port, it does not come with an adapter. If you want to use the accessory port to seal jars, canisters, or other types of containers, you’ll need to purchase the adapter separately. And since not all adapters will be compatible with this particular vacuum sealer, you’ll have to do some research and ensure you’re purchasing the correct adapter for your model.

Bottom Line: The Potane VS5736 is a high-performance vacuum sealer that offers a range of features to help you seal your food efficiently and effectively. Its strong suction power and customizable features set it apart from other vacuum sealers, making it a functional and efficient appliance that is worth the premium price tag for anyone looking to extend the shelf life of their food and reduce waste.

 

Pros: If you’re a cook who practices the sous vide approach, where precise temperature control with circulation makes consistent, perfectly cooked meats. The Kosbon Sous Vide electric vacuum sealer is worth a look for those who want something small and highly portable, as it’s only 2 by 2.7 by 8.5 inches in size. And it’s easy to recharge with just the press of the switch button. In addition to Kosbon’s compact portability and rechargeable motor, it comes with many freezer-safe vacuum seal bags and accessories. You get 10 each of small, medium, and large reusable food storage bags, five sealing clips, five cooking clips, 10 replacement air valves, and a USB cable for charging. And you get the sealer and all its accompanying accessories for one extremely low price to boot.

Cons: This vacuum sealer is not the most versatile model on the market since it isn’t compatible with any type of canister, be they jars or cans or bottles, or anything else. You’ll only be able to use it to vacuum seal bags, which will limit your storage options and bit.

Bottom Line: The Kosbon Sous Vide Electric Rechargeable Vacuum Sealer is multifunctional, super fast, and comes with a large supply of reusable double zipper vacuum sealer bags. Small enough to easily carry from one house to another, this sous vide vacuum sealer can help you make tastier food that stays fresh longer.

Final Thoughts

If you’d rather be consistently making well-cooked foods, storing more food that stays fresh longer, and reducing food and packaging waste, then it’s time to try out a vacuum sealer. Create and enjoy quality meals by adding a vacuum sealer to your kitchenware.