Do you buy fruits, vegetables, meat, steak, etc. in bulk? Do you entertain a lot of guests frequently? If yes, then you probably worry about all the food that gets leftover or the bits that remain since you cannot eat everything up quickly. Do you have a large packet of crisps or pretzel that you ate halfway and want to store for later? Simply vacuum and seal for future use!
How wonderful it would be if you store them for a longer time? What if I told you that you can easily store any kinds of food from 6 months till about 3 years? The wonder object that lets you do this is a vacuum sealer- it can seal food in just 1 minute or even less, eliminating the risk of freezer burns, molds, etc.
Vacuum sealing is also a great way to portion control or prepare for emergencies. You can even keep documents saving from the yellowing effect of age by preserving it in an air-less packet. You can reseal wine bottles or oil or any other food in mason jars, canisters, etc.Things to Consider Before Buying a Vacuum Sealer for Sous Vide
Before investing in a vacuum sealer, you must know the basics of operating one. It is usually a user-friendly machine that requires only a couple of minutes to get the job done but awareness is still important for enduring the longevity of your unit.
Some foods need to be blanched first: broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, turnips, other cruciferous vegetables. This needs you need to cook, sear or even boil them before vacuum sealing them.
Some food items are at risk of growth of anaerobic bacteria which can, as the name suggests, grow without the presence of air and therefore will get moldy even if you vacuum and seal them. There are certain foods that cannot be vacuum sealed: mushrooms, garlic, soft cheese, brie, camembert, ricotta, other soft and unpasteurized cheeses, etc.
Liquids generally cannot be vacuum sealed: putting a bag containing liquids will cause it to be sucked out and create a mess. If you want to vacuum seal liquids, freeze it in a mold, cheap plastic containers or something easily removable. The frozen block can then be put in the pre-made bag for vacuum sealing to prevent liquids being out.
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Weight and Size
A light vacuum sealer has the advantage of being portable and easy to move about. The shape and height of your vacuum sealer is also important as it will determine if you can store it in your cabinet. Most vacuum sealers are small, flat units and require very little countertop space.
Price
Most vacuum sealers are available in the price range $100 to $400. If you are a beginner or someone who doesn’t yet know if they need a vacuum sealer frequently, you might want to try a less expensive one for starters to get an idea how it works.
The more expensive the unit is, the more functions the unit can perform. There are more accessories that would come with your unit and you get fully automated activities like sealing, shutting down, suction, etc.
Type
There are two main types of vacuum sealers: the type and the chamber.
The chamber sealer has a space inside which you place the bag with the food that will be sealed and vacuumed. It is more popular as a commercial unit and is more expensive than type or other sealers. It is also more powerful and the drips or liquids from the food remain with it.
The type sealer does not require the bag to be housed inside. The type sealer is easy to use and great for beginners or for home use. The user can use any size of bag and the level of vacuum can be carefully controlled. The content of the bag is only vacuumed with no difference to the exteriors.
Suction
The most significant part of buying a vacuum sealer is the suction. The machine must be capable of quickly sucking out air, and sealing it securely so that there is no leak.
Warranty
You may be inclined to think that warranty is not that important part of buying a vacuum sealer but it’s time for you to rethink it: a vacuum sealer should last at least a few years for it to qualify as a great one. Longevity obviously also depends on your frequency of usage.
You might also want to look out for a company that is behind its product. Some products do not have clear instruction manuals- in this case, you need helpful customer service.
Seal
There are different types of seal and this option can be customized. A few vacuum sealers allow you to give single or double seals on the bag.
There are also some sealers that detect the moisture in the food and allow you to seal food as Dry or Moist. The seal must be done completely, and hold up in the test of time. It shouldn’t leave any gaps or pores, or any openings for air to get it.
Accessories
The accessory hose that often comes with some units is for bottle stoppers, canisters, and jar sealers. The hose plus adapter is for zipper bags and containers.
Top 10 Best Vacuum Sealers For Sous Vide
1. FoodSaver FM2000 Vacuum Sealer Machine
Highlighted Features
This vacuum sealer comes with an accessory hose that works with jar sealers of the same manufacturer. It is compatible with 8" and 11" rolls, as well as our pint, quart, and gallon size pre-made bags. It is very sleek, well-designed and looks like a fine addition on your countertop. It has a removable drip tray where any liquid given off the food collected and can be removed periodically. A bag cutter is not included with this model and you may have to use a scissor or paper cutter, whichever works better.
You can also register your product at their website, they provide you with a fridge magnet that functions as a bag cutter. This is a product that came much earlier than the recent, more expensive products- it works just as efficiently at a budget. All that the fancy successors do is seal the bag differently and waste a few more inches of the roll.
The best part of this unit is the varying amount of vacuum that you can easily control- completely vacuumed, to just a little bit to about half vacuum. This is a great unit for quickly sealing bag or leftover chips or pretzel packet. Some users complain of the unit starting to deteriorate after a few uses only. After a few uses, it partly seals and some users had there “Vacuum and Seal” button not working at all.
The unit also needs to be held down with some force and it will not work unless the food is completely dry.
Pros
Cons
2. NutriChef Vacuum Sealer
Highlighted Features
This sleek and compact unit from NutriChef is a powerful machine that is highly functional and a great value for money. It is black in color and features a flat, compact design. It very lightweight and efficient without being loud. This is easy to use: just plug in and you’re good to go.
The machine comes with a starter kit consisting of a roll of bags (7.8” x 79.0”), 5 medium vacuum bags and a wine stopper. Some users pointed out that the sealed air bags contain some air: this problem can be solved by not pushing the bag too far in.
The buttons are highly responsive and touch sensitive- while this is a good thing, you cannot tap your fingers about carelessly. It may also take a long time to automatically start vacuuming over time. The bag needs to be in the right spot for it to be effective; if not, there will be no suction action from the machine. It may take some time for the user to get the hang of it.
There are several modes and functions on the unit- it vacuums on Dry and Moist mode as well as Normal and Gentle mode. There are Cancel and Stop functions as well. The unit is available in black, silver and stainless steel variants.Pros
Cons
3. FoodSaver V4840 2-in-1 Vacuum Sealer System
Highlighted Features
This versatile vacuum sealer from FoodSaver is highly functional and. The unit is constructed out of stainless steel with some plastic parts and the color is black. This smart and attractive-looking design that is also compact and perfect for cabinet or countertop storage.
The unit has a handheld retractable sealer that works on canisters, zipper bags, etc. without the need for additional equipment. The removable drip tray collects all the liquids and can be conveniently removed for efficient cleaning. You can seal any kind of food with Dry and Moist settings. Its automatic moisture detection feature helps detects the moisture level of food.
The automatic vacuum feature detects food in the tray and vacuums it, thus saving time. The unit comes with a starter kit consisting of one 11”x10” roll, heat seal bags (Quart and Gallon) and zipper bags (Quart and Gallon). The unit has a bag cutter and built-in storage for rolls. There are LED blinking lights that guide you through the operation. It notifies you when the tray is full.
Pros
Cons
4. NESCO VS-12, Deluxe Vacuum Sealer
Highlighted Features
This unit from Nesco is available in color variants of black, silver, white and black & silver. However, the white variant has fewer features. This unit has a bag cutter and an inbuilt storage room for the roll. When using the sealer to continuously seal many bags, the bar that seals may heat up and you need to pause between seals. Some users also reported that the machine stopped suction when used continuously.
Operating the unit is pretty simple- open the lid, place the bag and press both sides until you hear a click. It has an accessory hose for using attachments to canisters, mason jars, etc. The machine allows you to the freedom of various seals- single, double, dry and moist.Pros
Cons
5. FoodSaver V4440 2-in-1 Vacuum Sealer Machine
Highlighted Features
This unit from FoodSaver may not be the most compact vacuum sealer for sous vide in the market but it is definitely a functional unit which is easy to use and very efficient. The unit comes with a starter kit which includes- an 11’’ x 10’ roll, 1-gallon zipper and vacuum seal bags, each, 1-quart zipper and vacuum seal bags, each.
It is also compatible with a lot of different bags, bottle stoppers for wine bottles, Mason jar sealers, etc. The auto moisture detection mechanism detects any moisture and switches to the suitable mode, but it may take some time to respond. The Full tray mode also detects food but takes some time.
It is very simple to use: the unit vacuum automatically and the LED light helps you track the progress of suction. It has a mechanism for detecting dry or moist food. The retractable hand-held sealer is housed inside the unit and is easy to use.
Moreover, the drip tray is dishwasher safe. The unit can house the rolls inside but you should check its capacity before buying rolls or bags in bulk. The lid doubles as a bag cutter to help you make custom-sized bags. The product has a five-year warranty.Pros
Cons
6. FoodSaver FM2435 Vacuum Sealer Machine
Highlighted Features
This efficient vacuum sealer from FoodSaver comes at an affordable price and a flat, black and silver sleek design. The unit is equipped with a storage area to house the bag roll. It also has an accessory port on top of it. The starter kit from this unit comes with an accessory hose, a handheld sealer than can vacuum jars and canister, a holder clip, vacuum seal bags (1-gallon and 1-quart sized) and an 11” x 10” roll.
This unit has multiple functions that make it very easy and convenient to use. The unit has a lock and latch system where you raise the lid, insert bag, press it down and voila! It has a Dry and Moist setting, as well as Seal only or Vacuum and Seal.
Many users have reported inconsistent performances with this unit- the heating element stopped working after several months of light usage or the vacuum would take a long time or suction occurred only partially.Pros
Cons
7. FoodSaver FM5200 2-in-1 Automatic Vacuum Sealer System with Express Bag Marker
Highlighted Features
This unit from FoodSaver features a unique and innovative design to make the most out of your vacuum sealer: it is designed so that you can house your roll inside the unit where you can see how much of it is left. The unit includes a bag cutter, which cuts easily by swiping the button across.
The transparent part of the unit is the lid where you put the bag in for sealing. It locks automatically and starts sealing automatically so you don’t need to stand and watch. It will stop and release the bag automatically when done. Bag wastage is greatly reduced because of this design and layout.
The LED light provides guidance during the sealing process. It has two separate sealers actually- one at the bottom for sealing your bags and one at the top for allowing you to seal without lifting bag and thus save time.Pros
Cons
8. GERYON E2900-MS Vacuum Sealer
Highlighted Features
This automatic vacuum sealer manufactured by GERYON has two sealing modes, one for moist foods and the other for dry. Able to vacuum seal bags or rolls up to 12” wide, this is a lightweight and compact vacuum sealer that you can easily store and move around.
The control panel and indicator lights are conveniently placed on the top panel and the control buttons are soft touch and digital. Just to get you started, this vacuum sealer also comes with the air suction hose, a 7.8” by 78.7” vacuum roll and five pre-cut 7.8” by 11.8” bags which are all BPA free.
You can easily remove the upper lid to clean the gaskets and vacuum chamber and the exterior of the sealer is also designed for easy cleaning after use.Pros
Cons
9. NutriChef Upgraded Vacuum Sealer
Highlighted Features
The updated 2018 Model vacuum sealer from NutriChef is a compact design with two sealing modes, for dry or moist foods. This vacuum sealer has also been lab tested to confirm that it effectively increases the shelf life of food. This has soft touch control buttons for one touch sealing and the easy-clean and stain resistant stainless steel and ABS housing and lift up top means cleaning is not too difficult after use.
Along with the vacuum sealer and its air hose, you will receive five medium 7.8” by 11.8” vacuum bags and an extra-long vacuum roll (7.8” by 78.7”). As both of these are reusable, you will also being doing your bit for minimizing plastic waste. You can easily cut your bags to size after sealing as it also has an integrated roll cutter.Pros
Cons
10. KOIOS Vacuum Sealer Machine
Highlighted Features
This ETL-certified sealer from KOIOS can be used up to 40 times at one time without you causing any damage to the machine. This means it is great for vacuum sealing your recent bulk buy. With the one touch sealing function, the built-in cutter will also help make light work of bulk sealing.
With a stainless steel finish, cleaning up is easy and the five large and five small sealing bags that come with this are FDA-certified. It also comes with the air hose and a replacement seal.Pros
Cons
Conclusion
A food sealer will definitely save you a lot of money: it will help you vacuum and seal fruits, vegetables, or meat bought in bulk. A vacuum sealer for sous vide is a great investment considering the versatility of it.
Reading our in-depth review, you’re probably convinced on why you should own one. We have selected the best vacuum sealers available in the market for your convenience. We have considered factors like affordability, weight, size, efficiency, design, vacuum effectiveness, additional features, etc
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