Best Vacuum Sealers To Keep Food Organized In Freezer

Just because you’re not fancy enough to sous vide your favorite foods, it doesn’t mean you won’t benefit from having one of the best vacuum sealers in your kitchen. These handy suckers are great for extending the shelf life of your food. They’re also a great way to protect your food from contamination and keeping them organized in your freezer. Of course, that doesn’t mean that just about any vacuum sealer will do. There are plenty of models to choose from and it’s not an easy decision to make without guidance. With this in mind, we’ve done our best to test various models and find the 10 best in the market today.

Top 10 Vacuum Sealers of 2020 Reviewed

1. FoodSaver 4840 2-in-1 Automatic Vacuum Sealing System

Best Vacuum Sealers for Weed

The FoodSaver V4840 2-in-1 Vacuum Sealer Machine is a much larger machine than the FM2000 but it does have some features that can’t be seen in the FM2000. The machine has an automatic bag detection which makes it easy to use even for beginners. There are built-in roll storage and cutter for customizing bag sizes. There are even LED light indicators that show you how the sealing process is progressing. In addition, the V4840 has automatic moisture detection which means that it detects moisture and switches to the correct mode in order to ensure an airtight seal. There’s also a removable drip tray as well as a retractable handheld sealer. However, the major drawback is that you can’t seal bags consecutively because the sealer needs time to heat up again. If you plan on using the vacuum sealer for large batches of food, then this isn’t the machine for you. Also, V4840 is a bit noisier compared to other models. The attachments for this unit as well as the unit itself are expensive.

2. NESCO VS-02 Vacuum Sealer

The NESCO VS-02 has quite a number of features that will delight any home chef. The one-touch operation makes it easy to use while the automatic shut-off ensures it doesn’t continue heating up when it’s done. The unit comes with a roll storage compartment with a bag cutter. There are two modes for seal time – normal and extended – which enables you to get a better seal when packing wet foods. Aside from the unit, you also get 10 starter bags in two sizes and 2 starter rolls. Plus, it works with different bags. However, this unit requires you to have around 3 inches of available space at the top of the bag to seal which feels like a waste. The unit is also quite big and takes up quite a bit of space. The instructions are lacking.

3. Vacuum Sealer By NutriChef

Best Vacuum Sealers for Home

The Vacuum Sealer by NutriChef is number one on most home cooks’ lists because it provides you with more bang for your buck than any other model. This sleek machine features easy-to-use controls found at the top of the machine. The soft digital buttons have LED indicator lights that make them easy to read. It comes with two sealing modes, enabling you to seal bags without vacuuming them and vacuum sealing. This means that you can seal. It also features a Gentle and Normal mode so you can preserve delicate foods without crushing them. Aside from this, the vacuum sealer comes with a complete starter kit which includes 5 medium vacuum bags, one extra long vacuum bag roll, a wine stopper cork, and an air suction hose. And have we mentioned that the bags are all reusable? However, the instructions are pretty general. Detailed ones would be better, especially for novices. Also, we did notice that you have to exert quite a bit of pressure to get both locking mechanisms in place.

4. FoodSaver FM2000 Vacuum Sealer

Best Vacuum Sealers for Sous Vide

The FoodSaver FM2000 Vacuum Sealer is about as simple as it gets. It only has two buttons – seal and vacuum seal. There’s no room for confusion at all. The lid easily lifts up and has an extra-wide sealing strip. A removable drip tray makes cleanup easy. And there’s even a latch that makes locking the lid into place so much easier. However, the FM2000 does not have a dedicated slot for storing bags and a built-in cutter. And the cord is pretty short.

5. Weston Pro-2300 Vacuum Sealer

The Weston Pro-2300 is a commercial-grade vacuum sealer that features an automatic mode, enabling you to start the vacuum sealing process at the touch of a button. It has a vacuum strength of 28 inHg with 935 watts of power. The extra-large Teflon bar seals bags that are as wide as 15 inches. The see-thru acrylic vacuum lid helps you align the bag before starting the sealing. The fan-cooled motor ensures you can seal big batches of food without causing the sealer to overheat. However, it does not have a built-in cutter. It is very big and heavy. It will take up a lot of your counter space. And there is no storage space in the unit for bags.

6. FoodSaver FM5200 Series 2-in-1 Automatic Vacuum Sealing System

Best Vacuum Sealers for Wild Game

The FoodSaver FM5200 is an all-in-one vacuum sealer. It has an Express Bag Maker which is essentially a bag dispenser allowing you to choose the bag size you want. The unit will seal one end and allow you to cut the bag from the roll. There’s an easy view vacuum window lets you see the bag as you seal while the open roll storage design lets you know when the roll needs replacing. The unit comes with dual heat sealing strips, automatic moisture detection, and a removable drip tray. However, it is an expensive unit. There is a learning curve to using the vacuum sealer.

7. Gourmia GVS455 Vacuum Sealer

The Gourmia GVS455 Vacuum Sealer is a handheld vacuum sealer that comes with 5 reusable 3-quart bags, 1 bag sealing clip, and 2 clips for holding bags during sous vide cooking. The bags are 100% BPA free and reusable. However, the bags are not easy to clean. The batteries are not rechargeable and the unit does run through batteries pretty quickly. If you’re planning on packaging large batches of food, the Gourmia GVS455 Vacuum Sealer is not for you. But if you want to be able to seal food in after a picnic or a trip to the beach. Also, this vacuum sealer is not good for liquid items.

8. KOIOS TVS-2150 Vacuum Sealer

The KOIOS TVS-2150 Vacuum Sealer is an external vacuum sealer that has a lot of the features we want. It has an extra wide sealing strip for big bags, a built-in cutter, a rolling bag slot, a removable drip tray, and a lock latch closure. What we really love about this unit is that it can seal up to 40 bags consecutively. However, the directions aren’t all that great, especially if you’ve never used a vacuum sealer before. It doesn’t work well with some types of bags. It also isn’t ideal for sealing liquid foods. And it only comes with a 1-year warranty.

9. VacMaster VP215 Chamber Vacuum Sealer

Best Vacuum Sealer for Liquids

If you want really heavy duty performance that can accommodate liquids and liquid-rich foods such as soups, stews, and marinades, then you shouldn’t look further than the VacMaster VP215 Chamber Vacuum Sealer. Yes, it is very expensive compared to your average external vacuum sealer. Then again, it is a commercial grade chamber vacuum sealer that you’ll find in restaurants and cooking schools. Aside from the fact that it can vacuum seal liquids, this unit creates a double seal on each food bag to ensure it remains airtight and the food retains its freshness. The 1/4 HP rotary oil pump is powerful enough to run continuously without overheating. But it does so without generating as much noise as other vacuum sealers. However, it takes up as much space like an oven. And it is very heavy (a little under 100 lbs). Also, there have been a few reports of poor customer service.

10. KOIOS Vacuum Sealer Machine, 80Kpa Automatic Food Sealer

Best Automatic Food Sealers

Looking for a way to keep your food fresh for longer than usual? What you need is one of the best automatic food dealers. The KOIOS Vacuum Sealer Machine is capable of prolonging the life of your food for up to 7 times. Using it, you will be able to save on the costs that go into buying all kinds of food items. It has a mica-infused bottom, which is capable of withstanding high temperatures of 300°F. It is a durable machine that hardly gets damaged when you do the sealing for a continuous 40 times or less. In short, it can be used as many times as possible on any single day.

The machine comes with a built-in cutter for customized bag sizes. With this, there will be reduced wastage of bags and provides for more efficient utilization of the vacuum seal roll. It is ETL certified, a clear sign of conforming with prevailing safety standards. In line with the company’s top-notch customer service, the package contains a pumping pipe, cutter, ten special bags, and a spare sealing sponge.

How To Choose Best Vacuum Sealers: The Ultimate Buying Guide

Vacuum-sealing your food isn’t just for the hard-core home chef who wants to try his or her hand at sous vide cooking. The typical home cook can also benefit from getting a vacuum sealer. Not only does it help you portion and package your food in a more organized manner, but it also helps prolong the shelf life of food and protects it from contamination. Naturally, not all vacuum sealers are made equal. And there are several factors that one must consider before making the final purchase. Our buying guide should figure out which vacuum sealer works best for you.

How Does a Vacuum Sealer Work Anyway?

A vacuum sealer, as you can probably imagine, sucks the air out of a specially designed plastic bag before it uses heat to seal the opening. Doing this prevents oxidation, the formation of mold spores or bacteria, and freezer burn. This ensures that your food can remain good to eat for a far longer period of time (around 5 times longer) compared to just storing it in the refrigerator without sealing it. Of course, that is only possible if you keep the food in cold storage.

Types of Vacuum Sealers

There are three main types of vacuum sealers. The best one for you will depend on the types of jobs you want your vacuum sealer to do and how much space you have in your kitchen.

Handheld Vacuum Sealers

Obviously, these are the smallest vacuum sealers in the market. They are ideal for sealing small items such as cheeses, deli meats, single-serving leftovers, and even small portions of produce. Because of their small size, these devices are portable and easy to use. You don’t need much space to store them away. These usually run on rechargeable batteries so it’s not ideal for extended use. The biggest drawback with this kind of vacuum sealer is the lack of power required to properly seal large bags. The Gourmia GVS455 Vacuum Sealer is the only handheld vacuum sealer on our list.

External Vacuum Sealers

These are the most common type of vacuum sealer you’ll find in kitchens. Unlike handheld vacuum sealers, these appliances can handle large cuts of meat, bigger portions of produce, and big batches of food. Some models even have attachments that enable you to seal canisters and jars. The best thing about this type of vacuum sealer is that they don’t occupy a lot of space on your counter but still pack a lot of power. The NESCO VS-02 Vacuum Sealer is one of several external vacuum sealers on our list.

Chamber Vacuum Sealers

This type of vacuum sealer like the VacMaster VP215 Chamber Vacuum Sealer is often found in professional kitchens though it can also be used in home kitchens. Obviously, these appliances are more powerful than the previous two. They are also larger and more expensive. The benefit of using this appliance is that you are able to seal large batches of food at once. You don’t even have to wait long between sealing bags. In addition, you can seal wet items without freezing them first. Some models can even accommodate Mason jars so you don’t need additional accessories. A few even feature built-in cutters which enable you to customize the size of your bag.

How Powerful Should the Vacuum Strength be?

The vacuum strength of a sealer is usually listed in inches of mercury (inHg). The higher the number, the stronger the suction of the sealer will be. Based on our research and tests, vacuum sealers with 15 to 25 inHg have sufficient vacuum strength to perform most tasks in a home kitchen.

Does it Have a Wide Range of Controls?

If you’re planning on sealing delicate foods that can get crushed such as berries, biscuits, and chips, you’ll need to look for a vacuum sealer that has a manual or pulse button. This enables you to slowly suck the air out of the bag and stop right before the food gets crushed. Other models like the Vacuum Sealer By NutriChef feature two pressure levels – gentle and normal. The former is ideal for delicate foods like cake and crackers while the latter is perfect for nuts, meat, etc. Another important button that you’d want to have is the cancel button which stops the sealing process at any time. One other useful control that you might want to consider is the moist mode that prolongs the sealing time so you can get a more secure closure.

What About the Bags?

As we’ve already mentioned, you’re going to need specially designed bags for your vacuum sealer. Some models can use any kind of bag while others are only able to use bags from the same brand. When choosing a vacuum sealer, it’s important that you also consider the cost of each bag, the kind of bag that you can use with that particular model, and how easy the bags are to procure. You also need to think about how many bags you may need to use per week. Take note that some bags can be reused so that might be something that you may want to factor in when making your decision. The Vacuum Sealer By NutriChef is one of several models that can use a variety of bags.

How Noisy is the Machine?

Generally, the average noise level of an external vacuum sealer is between 70 to 83 decibels (dBA). This is about as noisy as your average vacuum cleaner. In comparison, chamber vacuum sealers like the VacMaster VP215 Chamber Vacuum Sealer are typically less noisy. Make sure to check videos online and reviews to see how much noise the appliance makes before making your final choice.

Does the Vacuum Sealer Come With Accessories?

Most external vacuum sealers feature an accessory port where you can attach accessories such as a jar attachment which enables you to seal canning jars and a bottle stopper which removes air from your opened bottle of Merlot.

Are There Any Other Features that I Should Want?

Some models like the FoodSaver FM2000 Vacuum Sealer also feature a removable drip tray which catches any liquid that escapes the bag while it is being sealed. While not necessary, it does make cleanup easier. Other handy features are a dedicated slot for storing bag rolls and a built-in bag cutter like what you see with the FoodSaver 4840 2-in-1 Automatic Vacuum Sealing System. The storage space allows you to keep everything in one place while the cutter ensures you don’t have to measure the bag on your own and cut it with scissors.

For the leftover dishes, we also highly recommend having one of these best food storage containers.