Vacuum sealers are a great way to preserve food for a long period of time. In order to ensure that there is no mildew or bacteria, vacuum sealers will suck the air and moisture out of the plastic bag or canning jar where the food is placed into. This leaves you with hermetically packaged food, preventing any external factors from affecting the quality or taste of the food, and also extends the life of the food by nearly 5 times.
There are generally 2 types of food vacuum sealers. One of them is the countertop model and the other is the handheld model. Countertop vacuum sealers tend to be more durable and also offer greater suction power and sealing strength. However, they tend to be more costly than handheld vacuum sealers and take up more space as well. Some vacuum sealers utilize plastic bags and others use canisters. Both are equally effective at protecting and preserving food and extending its shelf life. Vacuum sealers can preserve a wide variety of different kinds of foods, such as cereal, meat, nut products, cheese, fish, espresso, chips and other snacks. They can also be used to eliminate the air from wine bottles as well.
After extensively reviewing and analyzing over 20 different models of vacuum sealers, we selected three units which we consider to be the best in their class.
Best Overall: FoodSaver V4440 2-in-1 Automatic Food Vacuum Sealer
The FoodSaver V4440 is, in our opinion, the best vacuum sealer currently on the market. It is our top pick and we give it our highest recommendation. This sleek, state-of-the-art vacuum sealer comes with a very useful, removable liquid retaining tray that helps guard against spills when sealing liquid foods like soups and broths.
It’s main feature, however, is its “2-in-1” sealing system that allows you to seal foods 2 different way. For long-term storage of foods, the main unit is used to heat-seal the bags. But for short-term storage, you would use the handheld accessory sealer that is integrated into the main unit, which can be fully retracted when not in use. The handheld sealer is very useful for removing the air out of FoodSaver zipper bags, canisters and other containers. The FoodSaver V4440 can easily be used with large quart and gallon bags, and the built-in roll cutter will even allow you to make custom-sized bags, making your sealing job easy and effortless, all the while maintaining the food’s quality.
Additionally, the FoodSaver V4440 is fully automatic, making it very easy to use. All that’s required on the part of the user is to insert the bag into the vacuum channel and the unit will sense it and “grab” the bag. It will then automatically remove the air from the bag, seal it and cut it. The machine even has the ability to detect whether the contents of the bag is dry or moist, and will automatically adjust the seal level accordingly. The indicator lights are very helpful as well, as they will alert you when sealing is complete or when the drip tray needs to be emptied. Moreover, its integrated roll holder and extra wide sealing strip will ensure that your bags are sealed air-tight.
Best Value: FoodSaver V3240 Vacuum Sealer
If you’re looking to get the best “bang for your buck” then look no further than the FoodSaver V3240. The FoodSaver V3240 is very easy to use, as it comes with a built-in starter kit with included sealing bags. The machine only has a few buttons and simple, easy to remember functions to keep complexities to a minimum. It also has two different vacuum speeds based on the food type and 2 seal levels for moist or dry food.
It also comes with a heat seal roll, a pre-cut heat seal bag, and an instruction manual loaded with easy-to-follow guides and illustrations. The V3240 is also equipped with a hose that can be used with other FoodSaver storage receptacles. The sealing strip can be used on bags that are up to 12 inches wide. A removable drip tray collects any excess liquid that leaks out, allowing for easy cleanup. It also has a built-in cutter for added convenience.
The FoodSaverV3240 is very simple in its design and doesn’t have a lot of extraneous buttons. It also features a wider mouth which allows it to accept larger bags. Additionally, this ensures a better seal and less bag wastage. The attachment works very nicely, and directly siphons off power from the motor and pump without the need to press any additional buttons. The construction is mostly plastic, but the unit looks and feels well made and is dense and lightweight, making it highly portable.
Best Budget Model: Seal-a-Meal FSSMSL0160-000 Vacuum Sealer
If you’re looking for something inexpensive but don’t want to give up too much in the way of quality, then the Seal-a-Meal FSSMSL0160-000 is your best bet. Priced at just under $50, this vacuum sealer is a great choice if you’re on a tight budget. The Seal-a-Meal is a fairly simple device, but most occasional users will find it to be more than adequate for their needs.
Although the Seal-a-Meal doesn’t have some of the more advanced features that you’ll tend to find on some of the high end models, it’s still a decent vacuum sealer that will you give you your money’s worth. It has a sleek, simple and compact design. The device effectively removes air from a bag and uses heat to create a secure seal. This allows you to easily store food that will take up less space in the fridge or pantry, and will also keep it fresh for much longer than traditional storage methods like aluminum foil, zipper bags, plastic wrap and containers.
The Seal-a-Meal provides you with versatile convenience, allowing you to seal all kinds of different foods ranging from fish to cheese to veggies in just seconds. This basic, entry-level model can be effortlessly used by just about anyone. This vacuum sealer has smooth surfaces that you can easily clean, and its drip tray catches liquids that overflow and are dishwasher safe making cleanup convenient and fast cleanup.
How To Choose The Best Vacuum Sealer
Quality & Durability
Durability is important in a food vacuum sealer, as is quality. The more durable your food vacuum sealer is, the longer its lifespan will be and the more money you’ll save by not having to purchase a replacement after only a few months of use. Customers report that quality and durability are big considerations when purchasing a vacuum sealer.
External or Internal Sealer
There are essentially 2 different types of vacuum sealers and each serves a different purpose. A compact chamber sealer is basically a scaled-down commercial sealer. In an external sealer, you feed the food that you are preserving into the sealer and it exits out of the other end sealed. They’re great for every day residential use, but probably aren’t ideal for use in any type of commercial setting. But again, they’re terrific for sealing all your perishable foods from the comfort of your own home. They’re also cheaper than chamber sealers.
Sealing Power
You’ll find that certain types of foods are harder to vacuum seal than others. Suction strength is a factor in ensuring a proper seal, so always keep that in mind when purchasing a vacuum sealer. If there isn’t adequate suction power, then you won’t get enough sealing power. The greater the suction strength, the higher the likelihood that your food will be properly sealed.
Unique Features
Features are important, as they’re typically what make an appliance convenient to use. The best features to look for when shopping for a vacuum sealer are ones that increase its versatility, such as being able to automatically suck the air out of the pouch, seal it and finally cut it, all without the need to manually complete at each step. Some sealers don’t have the automatic cutting mechanism, which can’t be used with multiple bag rolls. Make sure to examine the features properly to ensure that the unit will meet your sealing needs.
Food Type
Vacuum sealers are better suited for certain types of foods than others (dry vs. wet foods and solid vs. loose foods). Make sure that the model you’ve selected is suitable for the foods that you want to seal.
Single Bags or Multi-Bag Rolls
Some food vacuum sealers enable you to insert a single bag for vacuuming, whereas others utilize rolls of bags and cut the bag when it is finished. So if you’re someone who feels that single-use bags wouldn’t be adequate for your needs, then be sure to get one that can utilize rolls of bags.
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