After going through an intensive research process to narrow down our short list of top products in this space, we tested most of our top five to be sure that these products are worth your time. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter and test to verify manufacturer claims.
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Rather than let your leftovers go to waste, use a vacuum sealer to preserve your food for a future meal. For what they can accomplish, vacuum sealers are relatively inexpensive appliances that can pay for themselves in just a few meals.
For the typical home, an external vacuum sealer makes the most sense because it’s not overly large like a chamber vacuum sealer, and it can handle portions that you might not be able to seal with a handheld unit. The best models are easy to use and have a great degree of versatility when it comes to bag specifications.
The BestReviews Testing Lab researched dozens of options and tested some of the most promising models to see how they stacked up. After sealing countless sauces, meats, cakes and more and testing the bags for leaks, the clear winner was the Nesco Deluxe Food VS-12 Vacuum Sealer. It effectively created leakproof seals for both dry and moist foods and has an easy-locking lid that allows for one-handed operation.
Editors' Favorite
Dimensions: 15.75" L x 8" W x 4.5" H | Settings: 3 | Weight: 6 lb | Includes: (1) 8.6” x 9.85” bag roll and (1) 11.8” x 9.85” bag roll | Bag storage: Yes
If you’re looking for a vacuum sealer that’s easy to use but still offers a wide range of versatile features, the Nesco Deluxe Food VS-12 Vacuum Sealer is the ideal option. During testing, we were impressed with how efficiently its double vacuum pump worked to vacuum-seal a wide variety of foods, taking less than 30 seconds for each type of food we sealed.
The machine’s normal pressure worked well for most foods, such as chicken breasts, rice, fresh basil, carrots and broccoli. It also has a gentle setting, which we used for more delicate foods like pretzels and homemade coffee cake. However, this setting was still a bit too potent for the foods, breaking some of the pretzels and nearly flattening our cake.
Fortunately, it also has a pulse setting that allowed us to directly control the amount of vacuum pressure. It proved a much better option for more delicate foods, fully removing the air from the bags without breaking or flattening the food beyond some slight compression.
The moist seal setting was another standout feature during testing. We used it to vacuum-seal a chicken breast in a marinade of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and fresh herbs, and it removed all of the air inside the bag without pulling out any of the liquid. We also used the double-heat seal feature for added strength and found the bag was completely leakproof afterward, even when we hit it against the counter.
Unlike some other models we tested that required a good amount of pressure to securely close over the bags, the Nesco Deluxe Vacuum Sealer has an easy-lock handle that made it a cinch to use. Its built-in roll storage and cutter were also highly convenient, allowing us to make custom bags quickly and easily.
The overall build of the machine had a sturdy, high-quality feel, too, and while it's a larger machine, we didn’t have much trouble finding a shelf to keep it on in our fairly small test kitchen. It arrived with two starter rolls, so we could start vacuum-sealing as soon as we got the machine out of the box. However, we also appreciate that it's compatible with any brand of vacuum sealer bags.
Best Entry-Level Sealer
Dimensions: 15.39" L x 4.02" W x 2.68" H | Settings: 2 | Weight: 2.5 lb | Includes: 10 heat-seal bags, 1 gasket replacement and 1 external air suction hose | Bag storage: No
With an affordable price and easy-to-use design, the LKKNC Budget Vacuum Sealer is an ideal model for those just getting started with vacuum-sealing. Although it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of higher-end vacuum sealers, it works nearly as effectively and efficiently. All the foods we vacuum-sealed, including rice, pretzels, fresh basil, homemade muffins and flank steak, took less than 30 seconds.
This vacuum sealer has an extremely slim, compact design, which makes it perfect for small kitchens. We could easily store it horizontally in a drawer in our test kitchen, freeing up counterspace. While it doesn’t have integrated storage for rolls, it does have a convenient built-in cutter that was very easy to use. It comes with 10 premade bags, so you can start vacuum-sealing right away. It also includes an accessory hose for sealing jars and other containers, which many other vacuum sealers require you to purchase separately.
The LKKNC Vacuum Sealer’s digital display was extremely friendly and easy to read. The touch buttons were all clearly labeled, so we found its operation to be very intuitive. We especially appreciated the digital timer that counted down how many seconds were left in the vacuum-sealing process. "It made it easy to know how far into the process I was," one of our testers said. "When using models without a timer, I had no clue how much longer I had to wait, which wasn’t a big deal but slightly annoying."
However, we wished it had multiple pressure settings for extra control. Its normal pressure flattened our muffins more noticeably than any of the other models we tested. We also ran into some issues with its lid during testing. Because it doesn’t have a handle like larger countertop vacuum sealers, we had to use two hands and apply a good deal of pressure to fully secure the lid. In addition, its build doesn’t feel quite as sturdy as the other machines we tested, so needing to press more firmly to close the lid may raise some long-term durability concerns.
Best for Sous Vide
Dimensions: 14.75" L x 7" W x 4.3" H | Settings: 4 | Weight: 5 lb | Includes: 1 bag roll | Bag storage: Yes
It only makes sense that the best vacuum sealer for sous vide cooking comes from the brand best known for its sous vide machines. The Anova Culinary Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro can create a double seal for both dry and liquid-heavy foods. During testing, we used the moist setting to vacuum-seal a flank steak with a marinade of olive oil, cider vinegar, garlic, brown sugar, salt and pepper. It took just 22 seconds to remove all the air from the bag without pulling any of the liquid out. The bag’s seal was fully leakproof, too, even when we dropped it against the counter several times.
In addition to moist and dry settings, the Anova Culinary Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro also features a pulse vacuum function. The standard pressure setting was effective for most foods we vacuum-sealed, but some delicate items, like pretzels and homemade muffins, were damaged by the force. Several pretzels broke, and the muffin was flattened considerably. With the pulse setting, though, we could control the amount of pressure used to prevent damage. The result was fewer broken pretzels and a muffin that was a bit compressed but not crushed.
This vacuum sealer has relatively simple, clearly labeled controls, making its operation pretty intuitive. It also features built-in roll storage and a sliding bag cutter and includes a bag roll that lets you use the machine right out of the box. Another plus is the accessory port, which means you can use the included hose to seal jars, bottles and more. Said our tester, “You can use this vacuum sealer to protect and preserve delicate items like documents and old books."
However, there was a bit of a learning curve when it came to figuring out how to position the open end of the bag within the machine. The first time we tried vacuum-sealing a homemade muffin, the air was removed, but the bag wasn’t sealed properly. On our second attempt, the bag sealed completely, but not all the air was removed. We had limited success consulting the user manual, as it only included diagrams without written instructions. After playing around with the placement of the bag, we were finally able to successfully vacuum-seal all our items for testing without any issue.
Best Starter Kit
Dimensions: 16.3" L x 9.2" W x 4" H | Settings: 2 | Weight: 6.6 lb | Includes: (1) 11” x 10” vacuum seal roll, (3) 1-quart precut vacuum seal bags, (2) 1-gallon precut vacuum seal bags and an accessory hose | Bag storage: Yes
For those looking for a vacuum sealer that comes with everything you need to start vacuum-sealing your favorite foods right away, look no further than the FoodSaver FM2100 Vacuum Sealer. The machine comes with a full vacuum seal roll, five bags in two different sizes and an accessory hose for sealing cans and other items. It’s also designed to minimize bag waste, thanks to its built-in roll cutter that lets you create custom-sized bags. It can store a vacuum seal roll under the lid, too, so it's even quicker and easier to make the bags.
The FoodSaver FM2100 has two settings based on food type: dry and moist. The moist setting allows you to vacuum-seal marinated foods to give them deeper flavor without worrying about the machine pulling out too much liquid and making a mess. It also offers dual heat sealing to ensure that the seal is airtight and leakproof. To make cleaning easier, it has a drip tray that catches any liquid that is pulled out of the bag. The tray is removable, so you can carry it directly to the sink for cleaning.
With simple button controls and an easy-lock latch, there isn't much of a learning curve to using this vacuum sealer. It only requires opening the lid, placing the bag on the sealing strip and choosing the desired setting. The machine has a compact design, too, so it doesn’t take up much counter space. Best of all, it’s backed by a five-year limited warranty, so you can use it with confidence.
Best Feature Set
Dimensions: 11" L x 20" W x 12" H | Settings: 2 | Weight: 10 lb | Includes: (1) 11” x 10” vacuum seal roll, (3) 1-quart vacuum seal bags, (2) 1-gallon vacuum seal bags, (3) 1-quart vacuum zipper bags and (2) 1-gallon zipper bags | Bag storage: Yes
The FoodSaver V4400 2-in-1 Vacuum Sealer Machine has all the features that experienced vacuum sealers could want. It boasts automatic bag detection, so as soon as you put the bag in the machine’s chamber, it can sense the type of food inside and automatically begin sealing with the proper setting. It detects moisture, so it can create an airtight seal even for liquid-rich foods. Its built-in roll storage and cutter also make it very easy to create custom-sized bags that fit any type of food you want to seal.
Another plus is the machine's retractable handheld sealer. It’s compatible with FoodSaver’s vacuum zipper bags, containers, canisters, wine stoppers and other accessories, allowing you to vacuum-seal these items without requiring extra attachments. The machine includes a large vacuum seal roll, three quart bags, two gallon bags, three quart zipper bags and two gallon zipper bags, too, so you have everything you need to start vacuum-sealing right away.
We also appreciate how easy the FoodSaver V4400 is to clean and maintain. Like other vacuum sealers of a similar design, it features a removable drip tray. However, the FoodSaver’s tray is dishwasher-safe, so you can just toss it in with your dishes when it gets dirty.
Best Space-Saving Model
Dimensions: 17.91" L x 5.59" W x 10.24" H | Settings: 2 | Weight: 4.5 lb | Includes: (1) 11” x 8” seal roll, (3) 1-quart vacuum seal bags and (2) 1-gallon vacuum seal bags | Bag storage: No
If you have a small kitchen, the FoodSaver Compact PowerVac VS0160 Vacuum Sealer makes it easy to vacuum-seal your favorite foods without sacrificing much storage space. It has a slim, compact design that allows for vertical storage, so you can easily stash it in a drawer. Although its smaller size means that it doesn’t have built-in seal roll storage or a built-in cutter, it comes with five premade bags and a large vacuum seal roll. It also seals with 35% less bag waste compared to previous FoodSaver models.
This vacuum sealer offers vac/seal, seal, dry and moist settings, making it versatile enough to use with a wide range of foods. It also has an accessory hose port that’s compatible with a FoodSaver handheld sealer that you can purchase separately for sealing cans, zipper bags or prepping food for sous vide cooking.
The FoodSaver Compact PowerVac is very easy to use, too, even for beginners. You only have to place the open end of the bag into the removable drip tray, close and lock the machine’s lid, choose the dry or moist mode and press the vacuum button. The drip tray is also dishwasher-safe, making it very easy to clean if any liquid drips into it.
Best Mid-Range Vacuum Sealer
Dimensions: 11" L x 6.5" W x 5" H | Settings: 2 | Weight: 6.5 lb | Includes: (1) 11” x 16” bag roll and (1) 8” x 16” bag roll | Bag storage: Yes
The POTANE Precision Vacuum Sealer V20 Series is a powerful model designed to handle a heavy volume of vacuum sealing without issue. It features a C-type half-wrapped chamber that keeps the internal components from getting wet or dusty to prevent damage. It offers continuous sealing for more than 100 items without any waiting, like other models that often need at least 15 seconds between seals. The machine’s built-in cooling fan also keeps its pump from overheating even with heavy use.
It’s also one of the more user-friendly vacuum sealers we considered, thanks to its pull-down handle. Its design allows even those with hand-weakness issues, such as arthritis, to easily lock the vacuum sealer’s lid for operation. It also features preprogrammed settings for dry and moist foods, allowing you to successfully seal all types of food with the press of just a couple of buttons. You can manually vacuum-seal items if you prefer, too.
The POTANE Precision Vacuum Sealer V20 features built-in storage for seal rolls and a built-in cutter bar, so you can make your custom-sized bags and reduce bag waste. The machine even comes with two bag rolls, which means you can start vacuum-sealing right away. It has an accessory port for connecting a hose to seal jars, bottles and other containers for added versatility. You have to purchase the hose separately, though.
Most Premium
Dimensions: 23.6" L x 9.8" W x 10.9" H | Settings: 6 | Weight: 6.44 lb | Includes: (2) 11” x 10” vacuum seal rolls, (10) easy-fill 1-quart bags, (5) easy-fill 1-gallon bags, (5) precut 1-quart bags, (5) precut 1-gallon bags, (1) 5-cup marinate & preserve container, (1) wine stopper and (1) retractable handheld accessory | Bag storage: Yes
The FoodSaver Elite All-in-One Liquid+ Vacuum Sealer is the perfect model for those with significant vacuum-sealing experience who are looking for a machine that can do it all. It has six custom settings, which is among the most for the vacuum sealers we considered. In addition to the standard dry and moist settings, it also has liquid, sous vide and marinate functions, which means it can effectively seal liquids, like sauces, soups and salsas. That enables you to vacuum-seal a wider range of foods, so you can save even more money.
In addition to its impressive features, this vacuum sealer is easy to use. It can sense when a bag is placed inside the machine and automatically closes and locks the lid to begin the sealing process. The LED lights on the top of the machine also make it easy to track the progress, so you know exactly when your bag will be sealed.
Like other high-quality countertop vacuum sealers, the FoodSaver Elite offers built-in roll storage and a cutter bar that let you make custom-sized bags quickly and easily. Its design also makes it a cinch to align your bags properly, and the extra-wide sealing strip aids in minimizing bag waste, too. The machine also features a built-in handheld sealer for sealing FoodSaver zipper bags and other containers, increasing its versatility further.
Affordable and Easy to Store
Dimensions: 14.8" L x 3.74" W x 2.76" H | Settings: 3 | Weight: 2.43 lb | Includes: (10) medium vacuum bags and (10) large vacuum bags | Bag storage: No
If you’re interested in getting started with vacuum-sealing or only vacuum-seal occasionally, the Nesco Compact Vacuum Sealer provides all the features you need at a budget-friendly price. It has a slim, compact design that makes it very easy to store, even in a smaller kitchen. Our testing kitchen had limited storage space, but we managed to fit it in a drawer that was already pretty cluttered. It was also one of the most user-friendly models we tested. Our tester, who had never used a vacuum sealer before, found operating this machine very intuitive due to its limited buttons and functions.
Despite its size, the Nesco Compact Vacuum Sealer still has a built-in cutter for making custom-sized bags. It includes premade bags, though, so we could start vacuum-sealing right away. We vacuum-sealed a variety of foods, including raw chicken breasts, rice, fresh basil, broccoli, carrots, pretzels and coffee cake and were impressed by how efficiently it worked, taking 30 seconds or less to vacuum-seal all the items.
We used the standard pressure mode for all the items, but found it was a bit too strong for delicate items, causing most of the pretzels to break and nearly flattening the coffee cake. We tried again using the Soft mode for the pretzels and cake, finding it a bit better but still a little too much force. Unlike the other Nesco vacuum sealers we tested, though, it doesn’t have a pulse-vacuum mode, which we found works best for these types of food.
This model also stood out to us during testing for its value. While it doesn’t have all the advanced features of higher-end Nesco models, it has very similar performance and efficiency at a fraction of the price. It’s also compatible with all brands of bags and rolls and even allows you to reseal existing food packaging, such as an opened chip bag.
Best for Liquids/Marinades
Dimensions: 15.2" L x 10.5" W x 5" H | Settings: 7 | Weight: 6.5 lb | Includes: (50) bags in various sizes and (2) vacuum seal rolls | Bag storage: Yes
With seven settings, the Nesco Premium Vacuum Sealer is one of the most versatile vacuum sealers on our list. Instead of settings for just dry and moist foods, it actually has a setting for liquids, so you can vacuum-seal soups, stews, sauces and more.
We used the liquid setting to seal a chicken breast in a marinade of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and fresh herbs and were impressed that only a small amount of liquid was pulled out of the bags. We also appreciated the machine’s removable drip tray prevented a mess. Both bags had fully leakproof seals, so they didn’t leak even when we dropped them against our counter.
The Nesco Premium Vacuum Sealer also offers different pressure settings. In addition to normal and gentle, it has a pulse setting that allows you to control the amount of pressure used. It was ideal for delicate items, like a slice of coffee cake. With the pulse vacuum setting, we removed all the air from the bag without flattening or crushing the cake. Instead, it was only a bit compressed. The machine has marinate and canister settings, but they require an adapter hose that must be purchased separately.
Despite its many settings and features, we found this vacuum sealer to be extremely easy to use. It has an LED display with fairly intuitive touch controls. We especially appreciated how easy the lid is to lock, allowing us to secure the machine one-handed. This design feature was especially helpful when sealing liquids because we needed to keep one hand on the bag to prevent spills while closing the machine.
We also liked that the Nesco Premium Vacuum Sealer came with 50 bags in various sizes and two rolls of vacuum seal, so we had everything we needed to start vacuum-sealing.
Most Portable
Dimensions: 3.94” L x 3.94” W x 3.94” H | Settings: 1 | Weight: 2.2 lb | Includes: Vacuum sealer and 30 bags | Bag storage: No
If you don’t have much space in your kitchen or want a vacuum sealer that’s easy to travel with, the Chef Preserve Vacuum Sealer offers a slim, compact design. It’s also wireless and rechargeable, and each charge provides enough time to seal 1,000 bags. You won’t sacrifice power or efficiency, though, because it can seal a bag in just five seconds.
It’s also one of the easiest machines to use, with just a single setting for vacuum sealing. That means you only have to press a button to preserve your food — and the unit automatically turns off when it’s finished.
However, its most exciting feature is the reusable BPA-free vacuum bags. They are dishwasher-, freezer- and microwave-safe and highly effective at maintaining the preserved foods’ flavor, texture and nutrients. After use, you only have to turn the bags inside out and place them in the dishwasher to clean. The vacuum sealer even comes with 30 bags to get you started.
While this vacuum sealer can’t seal liquid-based or juicy foods, it’s still effective for a wide range of items. It works well for meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, dry goods and leftovers. It’s especially helpful if you like to prep your meals in advance or enjoy sous vide cooking.
To find the best vacuum sealers, we researched dozens of models, consulting user reviews from multiple online retailers and testing many machines ourselves. We identified the most important features for consumers and the models that best met their expectations based on reviews. We also conducted standardized testing to assess how easy the vacuum sealers were to use, how effectively they sealed, how versatile they were and the ease of maintenance and cleaning. We also used our testing period to identify any features that we found particularly impressive, as well as quirks that users might find frustrating or annoying.
Some of the tests we conducted include:
Vacuum sealers work in tandem with specially designed plastic bags. The vacuum sealer sucks all the air out of the bag and then seals the bag’s opening with heat. This protects the food in the bag from oxidation, too much or too little humidity, mold spores, bacteria, and freezer burn. You still need to refrigerate or freeze food that requires cold storage, and it’s not going to last forever. But it will remain good to eat for a considerably longer time (up to five times longer) than it would have if you’d stored it in the fridge or freezer without sealing it.
There are three basic types of vacuum sealers. Consider what kind of jobs you want your vacuum sealer to handle and also your storage space.
If you plan to use your vacuum sealer mostly for smaller items such as deli meats, cheeses, small portions of produce, or single-serving leftovers, a handheld vacuum sealer, like the Chef Preserve Vacuum Sealer, may be your best choice.
These smaller devices are portable and easy to hold and use, and they don’t require much storage space. They typically run on rechargeable batteries, so if you want to use your vacuum sealer for extended sessions — for example, cooking and sealing several meals Sunday evening so you’ll have a week’s worth of meals in the freezer — you might have to stop and recharge halfway through. Handheld sealers don’t have the power of larger devices and sometimes struggle to properly seal large bags.
Once only found in professional kitchens, these counter-hogging appliances are now available for residential kitchens as well.
Chamber vacuum sealers are larger, more powerful and more expensive than the other types of vacuum sealers. But they do a great job sealing and preserving large batches of food or wet items like gravy and soup.
The entire bag of food goes inside the chamber, where the air is vacuumed out and the bag sealed. Some chamber sealers even have built-in cutters so you can customize your bag size.
External vacuum sealers, like the Nesco Deluxe Food VS-12 Vacuum Sealer and the Anova Culinary Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro, are the most common type used in home kitchens. The sealer clamps down on top of the bag, vacuums out the air, and then seals the bag.
Because the entire bag of food doesn’t have to fit inside a chamber, these devices are excellent for preserving large cuts of meat or big batches of food. They also work well to seal food for cooking with a sous-vide machine.
Some models come with attachments for sealing jars and canisters as well. Most external vacuum sealers are reasonably sized and won’t take up too much counter space.
Vacuum sealers require special heavy-duty bags that are generally more expensive than the regular plastic bags used for short-term food storage. Some brands of vacuum sealers, including models from Nesco and Annova, work with any bag, while others only work with their own brand of bag.
Before selecting a specific vacuum sealer, check out its bag specifications and consider the following:
The cost per bag
Whether you can use other brands’ bags
The ease of finding bags at your local store
How many bags you are likely to use per week
Whether the bags can be reused
Some vacuum sealers have a single setting for vacuuming and sealing a bag, while others have multiple settings that provide more control over removing the air and sealing. Many models, including the Nesco Deluxe Food VS-12 Vacuum Sealer, the Anova Culinary Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro and the Nesco Premium Vacuum Sealer, have a pulse setting that lets you slowly remove air to seal delicate foods like fish without crushing them.
During testing, we found the pulse setting on the Nesco Deluxe Vacuum Sealer, Nesco Premium Vacuum Sealer and the Anova Culinary Precision Vacuum to be especially helpful for sealing delicate or soft foods, like baked goods and pretzels, because it provided greater control over the amount of pressure used to avoid breaking or crushing the food.
You can also find vacuum sealers with specific dry and wet sealing modes. A dry function works well if you're only interested in storing and freezing your leftovers, but a wet setting is essential if you want to vacuum seal foods for sous vide cooking or in a marinade. Some models with a moist or wet setting also offer heated sealing to ensure that all the liquid remains inside the bag. You can even find some vacuum sealers that feature a liquid setting for sealing soups, stews, sauces, marinades and more. The Nesco Premium Vacuum Sealer impressed our tester with how leakproof its seals were, even for sauces and marinades.
In addition to its gentle or pulse setting for delicate foods, the Nesco Deluxe Food VS-12 Vacuum Sealer has a dry and moist setting. It even has a double-heat seal option for liquid-based recipes. Our tester was also impressed with the Anova Culinary Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro's pulse mode, which provided finer control over the vacuum sealing process. "I also like that it has a wet and dry mode," our tester said. "It's a reliable, clean-looking unit that does what it is designed to do well."
For the most effective food storage, a vacuum sealer must effectively remove the air from your sealer bags. A model should have enough suction power to draw as much air as possible from the bags, so you don't wind up with air pockets around your food. In general, a vacuum sealer should provide 13 to 25 inches of mercury (Hg) of pressure to successfully vacuum seal.
The Nesco Deluxe Food VS-12 Vacuum Sealer is one of the most powerful models on our list, hitting 25.1 Hg in its top mode. Our tester found this top mode to be one of the strongest among the models they've used.
Some high-end vacuum sealers have an extremely powerful pump and motor, which allows them to seal multiple bags in a row without needing a break. These models, including the POTANE Precision Vacuum Sealer V20 Series, usually have a built-in fan that keeps the motor cool during continuous vacuum-sealing.
However, more affordable vacuum sealers usually have less powerful motors that can easily overheat if you try to seal multiple items in quick succession. As a result, these models have a refractory period, which means they need a bit of a breather between seals. For some vacuum sealers, you may only need to wait 10 or 15 seconds between sealing bags. Other models may have a refractory period of several minutes. If you only seal a couple of items at a time, it likely won’t matter. Those who do bulk vacuum-sealing, though, will want to look for a vacuum sealer with an extremely short refractory period or none at all.
A vacuum sealer's size is a key factor to consider when shopping. You can only seal foods that are similar in size to the machine or fit inside bags that correspond to the sealer's length. If you want to store and freeze large pieces or quantities of food, you'll need a bigger vacuum sealer.
However, if you opt for a larger model, it can be difficult to find a spot for it in your kitchen. We prefer external vacuum sealers like the Nesco Deluxe Food VS-12 Vacuum Sealer and the Anova Culinary Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro because their compact design makes them easier to store in a cabinet or drawer. The LKKNC Budget Vacuum Sealer and the Nesco Compact Vacuum Sealer are the easiest to store because their slim profile allows them to be stored vertically in a drawer.
Some vacuum sealers also offer built-in bag storage, so you don't have to worry about finding another spot to keep the rolls of sealer bags. They may even have an onboard cutter for customizing the size of your bag. Our tester loved the convenience of the Nesco Deluxe Food VS-12 Vacuum Sealer's built-in bag storage and cutter, which made storage much easier.
Many vacuum sealers come with at least a few sealer bags, so you can start sealing as soon as you get the machine out of the box. External vacuum sealers are designed mainly for use with bags, but many have ports that allow you to attach a hose for sealing jars and other canisters. Some models include the necessary hose, while others require purchasing it separately.
Our tester appreciated that the Anova Culinary Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro not only has a port for sealing canning jars and other containers but also includes the required hose to avoid any additional purchases. We also preferred models like the Nesco Deluxe Vacuum Sealer, the Nesco Compact Vacuum Sealer, the Nesco Premium Vacuum Sealer and the LKKNC Budget Vacuum Sealer, which all included at least one vacuum seal roll and/or premade bags and allowed us to start vacuum-sealing right away.
Vacuum-seal potluck dishes to avoid spilling food in the car. Once you arrive, simply open the package and pour the food into your serving bowl.
Save lemon juice, chicken broth, minced herbs, crushed garlic, and similar ingredients that are typically measured out in small amounts by first freezing the food in ice cube trays, then vacuum-sealing the frozen cubes. Remove the cubes as needed, and then reseal the bag.
If you buy meat in bulk, separate it into the portion sizes that work best for your family, then seal and freeze.
To keep a bag of potato chips, cereal or other dry snacks fresh, turn off the vacuum and use the appliance to seal the bag so the food stays fresh but isn’t crushed.
Make sure you label sealed bags with the contents and date sealed before placing them in the freezer or fridge.
If you want to preserve powdered ingredients like flour, sugar, baking soda or boxed spices, vacuum-seal them in their packaging to prevent powdery buildup from getting sucked into your machine.
Leave some space at the top of bags you expect to open and reseal. This makes your job much easier and less messy.
Some vacuum sealer bags can be rinsed and used again, provided you haven’t used them to store raw meat.
Stock up on bags for your vacuum sealer if you see they are on sale. They don't take up much space and you'll never have to worry about running out.
Consider how simple you want your sealer to be, and how much you’re willing to pay for it. Some vacuum sealers can be operated with one hand (or no hands), while others require two.
A vacuum sealer with a large, strong sealing bar will provide the best protection for your food.
If storage is a major issue, consider a handheld vacuum sealer. These are small enough to stow in a drawer.
A removable, washable drip tray is a must if you plan on sealing meats in marinades, gravy or sauce.
Vacuum sealers with manual controls let you decide exactly when to stop vacuuming and when to start sealing. This makes it easier to preserve delicate, wet, or bulky food items.
Perhaps you want to save soft fruit like berries, but you don’t want them to be crushed by the vacuum. First, freeze your clean fruit until it is just firm. Then go ahead and use your vacuum sealer to preserve the frozen fruit.
Look for a vacuum sealer that clamps down automatically rather than requiring you to manually keep the clamp closed with your hand.
While there are handheld options that are under $30, for the majority of cooks, an external vacuum sealer is the best choice. These handy devices are quite reasonably priced; expect to spend $40 to $95 on a quality unit like the Nesco Compact Vacuum Sealer, Anova Culinary ANVS01-US00 Precision Vacuum Sealer, FoodSaver Compact Vacuum Sealer or the Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer Machine.
However, for top-end models with multiple settings, built-in bag storage and other accessories, such as the Nesco Deluxe VS-12 Vacuum Sealer, the Anova Culinary Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro, Potane Precision Vacuum Machine, the Nesco Premium Vacuum Sealer VS-22LB and the FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer, you'll typically pay $100 to $250.
A. You can vacuum seal just about any food. For delicate foods, however, it’s better to preserve freshness by sealing the bag without vacuuming out the air.
Notably, most vacuum sealer manufacturers recommend that you avoid sealing mushrooms and soft cheeses, as the lack of oxygen in the sealed package can encourage mold growth in these items.
A. A vacuum sealer can help you save money in several ways. Vacuum-sealed foods stay preserved much longer than foods that are stored the “regular” way. Therefore, you can save money with a vacuum sealer because you’re not throwing away as much spoiled or stale food.
Food vacuum sealers make it very easy to buy economically in bulk, then seal and store portion-size bags of food for later use. This is another way you can save money in the long run with a vacuum sealer.
A. No. You can also use your vacuum sealer to seal toiletries before travel (no more leaking shampoo in your suitcase); protect photos and important legal documents; preserve garden seeds for next year’s planting; keep small items like game pieces, craft supplies, or tiny nuts and bolts together; and create small first-aid kits for travel.
A. Plan your meals, use a shopping list and avoid impulse purchases at the grocery store. Brown-bag your leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch or freeze them for use at a later meal. Store cereal and other grain-based products in airtight containers. Use slightly wilted produce in smoothies, soups or stews. And don’t automatically toss food just because it’s reached its expiration date; many foods are perfectly fine to eat even several days past that date.
Jennifer Blair has covered kitchen, home and lifestyle products for BestReviews since 2017. She has written over 100 articles on vacuum sealers, air fryers, vacuum cleaners and more. She has also tested several vacuum sealers for BestReviews, including Nesco and Anova Culinary models.
