If you own a sous vide chances are you want to get a vacuum sealer. Vacuum sealers and sous vide go hand in hand. The name “sous vide” literally means “under vacuum” in French! Today, we’ll breakdown the 11 best vacuum sealers with an eye towards which vacuum sealers are best for sous vide.
Maybe you don’t have a sous vide but you’re big on meal prep or extending the shelf life of your food so you don’t waste it. These will be the best of the best vacuum sealers period, because cooking sous vide puts vacuum sealing to the test.
Even if you’re not going to cook sous vide, vacuum sealed food can help preserve your food. Pop the vacuum sealed food in your freezer and some foods will last up to 3 years! The general rule of thumb is vacuum sealing will make your foods last 5-10x longer. Food continues to taste fresh and flavorful because the air has been removed. Without air there’s no freezer burn or bacteria growth to spoil your food.
Whatever your reason, a good vacuum sealer is a fantastic investment! It’ll save you money by buying in bulk and extending shelf life. Which also means you’ll be saving time with less trips to the grocery store.
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Watch Me Use My Top Choice in Vacuum Sealers
With all the different food vacuum sealers out there, it’s hard to know which vacuum sealer is best for your situation. I’m going to take a look at the best vacuum sealers and break down vacuum sealer features to help you choose the best one for you.
If you’re in a rush, there are two that I think you should strongly consider:
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- True double seal
- Includes bag storage and cutter
- Variety of modes, including Pulse mode for full control
- 2-year warranty, 100-day satisfaction guarantee
- Sleek, compact design
- No status progression indicators
- Includes bag storage and cutter
- Variety of modes, including Pulse mode for full control
- Status progression indicator lights
- Compact design
- Single seal
First let’s briefly go over the 3 different types of vacuum sealers.
Types of Vacuum Sealers
1. Chamber Vacuum Sealers
Chamber vacuum sealers are commonly used to seal bags that hold liquids. They work by regulating the air pressure both inside and outside the pouch to a point where they are both similar.
Regular vacuum sealer bags and large sized vacuum sealer bags can be used. When using chambered vacuum sealers, you’re able to control the amount of air that is left in your food bag for maximum customization.
Chamber vacuum machines are ideal for liquid rich foods or if you plan on doing a lot of sealing. The major drawback of chamber sealers is that you’re limited to the size of the chamber. Add to that they’re bulky and heavy machines that will likely need to live on your countertop. Most also need regular maintenance, such as changing the oil.
Bottom line: Chamber vacuum sealers are overkill for sous vide and won’t be able to handle larger items like a rack of ribs or brisket. They’re great for liquid rich items.
2. External Vacuum Sealer
External vacuum sealers are great for sealing on occasion and work well with dry and moist foods, but not liquids.
These vacuum sealers have an automated process which uses suction at the open end of your food bag to create an airtight vacuum. Once all the air is sucked out of from the open end of the food bag, it is sealed by the machine so the food bag is ready for cooking or freezing.
These are light weight, inexpensive and fairly streamlined machines that store away easily. They can also accommodate large items. Even turkey sized items with special bags.
Bottom line: External vacuum sealers are the ideal vacuum sealer for most home users and work great with sous vide.
3. Vacuum Sealer Hand Pump
If you’re looking for a highly portable way to vacuum seal your food bags on the go, then vacuum sealer hand pumps might just be the thing for you. These can be either a completely manual process or push button. Air is suctioned out of special food bags that have a port the hand pump connects to.
The special bags themselves are reusable and easy to clean out with vinegar, soap, and warm water. All you need is some elbow grease and a steady pair of hands to operate this manual alternative vacuum pump to an automatic vacuum sealer.
The bag sizes are fairly limited and neither the seal or suction are as dependable as the other forms of vacuum sealers.
Bottom line: This is the most basic type of vacuum sealer that is the least dependable. Not a great option for sous vide.
If you’re in a hurry, here’s the short-list of the best sous vide vacuum sealers.
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Read on to discover other features and benefits of the best vacuum sealers.
11 Best Vacuum Sealers for Sous Vide Cooking
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1. Best Overall: Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro
- High power vacuum, reliable double sealer, built-in bag storage and cutter, an accessory port for sealing containers, and the ability to seal wet foods without worry – all with just one hand.
- MARINADE FRIENDLY: Switch modes to wet-function to activate a low pressure suction and reliable double sealer – seal the juiciest of foods without fear.
- THINK OUTSIDE THE BAG: An added accessory port and hose open the door to sealing specialized canning jar lids, a wide variety of vacuum-ready containers, resealing wine bottles, and more!
- CUSTOMER PROMISE: Designed in San Francisco, CA with an industry-leading 2-year warranty.
The Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro is the best vacuum sealer for home use out there. We personally use and love this machine. It’s easy to use, does a great job at sealing the bags and has tons of great features.
The true double seal on this machine gives us great confidence in the seal, even for multi-day sous vide cooks.
Unlike other machines we’ve used, it’s super simple to operate. The design is sleek and compact sleek even while holding a roll of bags within it. Even the power cord tucks away for a clean look should you choose to keep it on the countertop, but at just over 5lbs easily moves from under the counter for storage to atop the counter for use.
There isn’t much this machine can’t seal. You get the full suite of vacuuming options: dry, wet and pulse for ultimate control for delicate foods. There’s also a port and hose attachment to seal items like containers, mason jars and wine bottles.
You can read my full Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro Review here.
2. Best Value: INKBIRDPLUS INK-VS02 Vacuum Sealer
- Built-in 11.8’’ Cutter & Bag Storage (Up to 20 Feet Length)
- 7 Operable Modes of Moist/Dry/Pulse/Seal/Canister/Stop/Vac & Seal
- -85KPA Strong Suction Keep Food 10X Fresher
- Easy to Clean and Store
The INKBIRDPLUS Vacuum Sealer (INK-VS02) has everything you’d want in a vacuum sealer at a great price. It’s a powerful machine that stores up to a 20ft roll of bags within it, yet is the most compact and lightweight machine of its kind.
It not only comes with a 10′ roll of bags and 5 pre-cut bags, but also comes with an extra sealing strip and vacuum sealing gasket, among other nice extras.
You can read my detailed INKBIRDPLUS Vacuum Sealer review here. See my video featuring the INK-VS02 below.
3. Best Budget-Friendly: Geryon Vacuum Sealer Machine with Starter Kit
- Food vacuum sealer removes air from specially designed bags. Multi- layer material heat seals to keep air out and prevent freezer burn, reduces spoilage and food waste. And cooking and meal preparation will become easier, more economical and faster
- Two Sealing Modes: Geryon vacuum food sealer is designed with two selectable modes to provide your food with best possible preservation based on your different types of food. You can also reseal bags of rolls, snacks that you only want to seal
The Geryon is one of the more popular vacuum sealers for its great balance of price and performance. Pair it with the Geryon multi-layer material heat seal bags to keep air out, prevent freezer burn, reduce food spoilage and waste.
A great feature is the ability to take the top cover lid off the Geryon for easier cleaning. Easily and safely clean the vacuum chamber and gaskets. Cleaning will help keep your vacuum sealer running at optimal performance.
The Geryon has two different sealing modes to optimize the sealing and preservation of different types of food.
4. Most Compact: Anova Culinary Precision Vacuum Sealer with Starter Kit
- SEAL THE DEAL: Vacuum sealing is hands down the best way to ensure no air enters your bag during a sous vide cook – ensuring your food will stay fully submerged while cooking, and seal in maximum flavor. Additionally, the ability to seal, freeze, and store food for later makes prepping your meals in advance a breeze.
Anova Culinary is one of the biggest and most respected brands in the sous vide world. Their lineup of Anova Precision Cookers is in many kitchens and households across the globe.
The Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer continues what their brand and products are known for. The Anova vacuum sealer is reliable, compact, and easy to use. You can start sealing straight out of the box.
The Anova is simply designed with three buttons to Vacuum and Seal, Seal, and Pulse Vacuum. Vacuum and Seal will do those two things with 1-touch. The Seal button will allow sealing the side of a bag, even without extracting air.
Pulse mode gives you the ability to control the air suction, which is useful when you need to be more gentle on certain types of food.
Anova includes 10 free pre-cut Anova Vacuum Seal Bags too. They’re double ribbed with seven layers to withstand those longer cooking times. If you end up liking Anova bags, they have pre-cut bag and rolls you can purchase.
Note, the Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer does not store bags within the machine, meaning you have to store and cut bags separately.
5. Best Commercial Grade: Weston Pro-2300 Commercial Grade Stainless Steel Vacuum Sealer
- Powerful, pro-performance; Heavy duty construction and 935 watts of power make this vacuum sealer powerful.Fuse is easy to access and cord detaches.
- Quick and easy; Just press start; Double piston pump seal bar finishes the job fast; It’s the perfect tool for preserving your prized catch or preparing your garden vegetables for freezing
The Weston Pro-2300 Commercial Grade is a beast of a vacuum sealer and great if you need high traffic sealing. That’s why the West Pro-2300 is the best vacuum sealer for commercial use. It’s too much for home use, but great if you have a food shop and need to seal many times a day.
For such power and performance, it’s easy to use with just the press of the start button. The fan cooled motor will keep it running continuously with less cool time in between. With 935 watts of power and double piston pumps, it’ll vacuum seal larger foods and bags easily.
For more delicate foods, it also has a manual seal mode so you have manual control of the air suction and vacuum pressure.
The Weston Pro-2300 vacuum sealer’s wide sealing strip will seal extra-long sized bags up to 15 inches / 38 cm. That’s great for those longer cuts of meat. This is a favorite for avid hunters, fisherman, and small shops.
6. Best Chamber: VacMaster VP220 Chamber Vacuum Sealer
- 12" Seal Bar and Maintenance-Free Dry Pump
- Keeps food fresh up to five times longer.
Chamber vacuum sealers offer the best vacuum seals. If you want to learn more about chamber vacuum sealers, scroll down to the buying guide. Chambers work by putting the whole bag inside and sucks the air out of the bag through air pressure.
The VacMaster VP220 is the best chamber vacuum sealer for sous vide without breaking the bank. The VacMaster is great to vacuum package liquids, fresh meats, soups, marinades, stews, fresh fish, and other foods that are liquid-rich.
Chamber vacuum sealers can be used at home, as well as in small restaurants and shops. If you’re going to be sealing for others, it would be beneficial to look for top sealing systems like the VacMaster.
While the dual piston pump’s sealing process is simple and results in perfect seals, it’s not cheap. Chamber vacuums are on the higher end of the spectrum of vacuum sealers.
7. Best for Delicate Foods: NESCO VS-12 Deluxe Vacuum Sealer with Starter Kit
- OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE: 130 watt, 25. 1 InHG double vacuum pump for optimal performance. Ensures maximum air extraction when sealing larger food items
- VARIABLE SETTINGS: Includes 3 settings - dry, moist and double. Plus, you can choose between normal vacuum pressure, or gentle, to keep soft foods safe
The Nesco VS-12 Deluxe Vacuum Sealer is great if you need to gently vacuum seal certain types of food, like bread and pastries, things that could squish flat.
The Nesco has two vacuum settings: Gentle and Normal. It also has 3 Seal settings to choose from: Dry, Moist, and Double Seal. It will seal up to an 11.8” width bag, so you’ll be able to vacuum seal a wide variety of food.
The VS-12 has built-in roll and bag storage, as well as a bag cutter to create custom bag sizes for your various needs. Another great plus is that this Nesco vacuum sealer will work with any type of vacuum sealer bag from any brand.
The VS-12 also allows for hands-free sealing for easy use.
8. FoodSaver V4400 2-in-1 Vacuum Sealer Machine with Starter Kit
- Seal freshness in: Meat preserved with the FoodSaver system in the freezer can last up to 3 years and still taste fresh, flavorful, and freezer burn free; Prep ahead meals, leftovers, and produce stored in the fridge will stay fresh up to weeks later instead of spoiling in days.Includes: (1) 11""x10' vacuum seal roll (3) 1-quart vacuum seal bags (2) 1-gallon vacuum seal bags (3) 1-quart vacuum zipper bags (2) 1-gallon zipper bags
- Automatic bag detection: Automatic bag detection makes vacuum sealing easier than ever: Simply put the bag in the vacuum chamber and the machine does the rest to ensure your food stays fresh and flavorful
The FoodSaver V4400 is another popular FoodSaver vacuum sealer for its automatic operation. The V4400’s automatic bag detection will sense the plastic bag and the food type to give you an airtight vacuum seal without you doing a thing.
The V4400 does come with an accessory port that’s a retractable handheld sealer for other FoodSaver products like its line of vacuum zipper bags, containers, canisters, wine bottles stoppers, jar sealers, and the Quick Marinator for marinated meat and other foods.
It’s one of the higher-end machines for price and performance, but is well worth it if you have more budget flexibility.
9. Best for Small Spaces: FoodSaver VS0160 Sealer PowerVac Compact Vacuum Sealing Machine
- KEEP FOOD FRESH LONGER: This PowerVac Vacuum Sealer keeps food fresh in the freezer up to 5x longer compared to ordinary storage methods—and helps prevent freezer burn as well.Includes : (1) 11″ x 8′ Roll, 3 Quart-Sized Vacuum Seal Bags, 2 Gallon-Sized Vacuum Seal Bags
- VERTICAL STORAGE: Space-saving unit stores vertically in the kitchen to save you valuable countertop space
The FoodSaver VS0160 PowerVac is a good beginner vacuum sealer to cover your sealing needs. A unique feature is the ability to store the the FoodSaver vertically or horizontally, saving space on your counter.
It has one-touch operation for easy use. There are custom settings for both dry and moist foods to make sure you get an airtight seal no matter what type of food your sealing.
There’s also a built-bag alignment drip tray. This helps you easily line up your bag for easy sealing. It’s also removable for easy clean up.
10. Best Professional: FoodSaver V4840 2-in-1 Vacuum Sealer Machine with Starter Kit
- Keep food fresh in the freezer up to 5x longer and in the fridge or pantry up to 2x longer, compared to ordinary storage methods.Cord Length (IN): 30
- Automatic bag detection and vacuum sealing means two quick and easy steps to seal and save
The FoodSaver V4840 vacuum sealer is similar to the V4400 with its easy, automatic sealing process. The V4840’s price point is also on the higher end of sous vide vacuum sealers, but it provides a lot of value when sealing bags.
It’s not always easy to seal liquids, but with its Automatic Moisture Detection smart technology, you don’t have to worry. It’ll detect moisture, switch to the correct mode, and give you that airtight, perfect seal.
11. Best Overall Runner Up: Mueller Automatic Vacuum Sealer
- SAVE MONEY AND TIME: Cooking and meal preparation is now easier, more economical and faster, as you will be able to equip and organize your freezer, with fresh food ready to be defrosted and served or fresh ingredients instead of freezer burned food filled with ice crystals which will probably end up in the trash can.
- COULDN’T BE EASIER: Fully automatic simple electric plug in design with the control center placed on the top panel and soft touch digital buttons along with led indicator lights. A smart device at your family’s service!
Last but not least is the incredibly popular Vacuum Sealer Machine by Mueller. This easy to use machine has been Mueller Quality Lab Tested and can preserve food up to 5 times longer than ziplock bags or containers.
This is an affordable option that reviewers love! It small and quiet and easy to use right out of the box.
If you don’t need all the bells and whistles of some of the other vacuum sealers on this list or just want a good beginner option, check this one out!
Vacuum Sealing and Sous Vide Cooking
The Sous vide cooking process involves some equipment that you wouldn’t necessarily use in regular cooking.
Essentially, you’ll be cooking your food in a low temperature water bath with a sous vide machine. That means you’ll need to have an airtight, sealed bag to contain your food while it’s cooking.
Vacuum sealers are a key piece of equipment, but there’s also some mixed opinions with vacuum sealed bags vs. ziplock bags. What everyone agrees on is you want to extract the air out of the food bags.
Who’s right and who’s wrong? We discuss below.
Is a Sous Vide Vacuum Sealer Necessary?
Truth be told, vacuum sealers are kind of like one of those gadgets that are nice to have in a home cook’s kitchen. Useful? Yes. A necessity? Nah. Worth it? Definitely.
You can start sous vide cooking with some good, old-fashioned Ziploc bags. They’re lower priced and more readily available at any grocery store near you.
The most common ones used in sous vide cooking are the Ziploc Freezer Bags–the Grip ‘n Seal technology variety, not the slide-to-close variety. The high quality of freezer bags ensure the bag ho while cooking isn’t an issue and protects against freezer burn.
However, vacuum sealed bags are better than Ziploc Bags for one particular reason – they ensure all the air is removed from the bag, which keeps perishable food like fresh meat and vegetables fresher for much longer; and in the case of sous vide, ensures food cooks evenly.
If you want to learn more about sous vide bags, reusable bags, and more, I discuss the best options for sous vide bags in another article.
How to Use a Vacuum Sealer for Sous Vide
Prep your sous vide bags by always folding over the edge of the bag before you put your food into it. This ensures that it is always kept clean and doesn’t run the risk of becoming contaminated.
Next, fill the bag with your sous vide food. Be sure not to overfill the bag or it’ll be difficult for the vacuum sealer to create a seal around the food.
Finally, use your vacuum sealer to remove all the extra air and seal the bag with an airtight seal. How this is done depends a bit on what type of vacuum sealer you have.
Watch it suck virtually all the air out of your food bag, and voila – you’ve got yourself a tasty meal waiting to be cooked sous vide style. Or placed in the freezer for later.
Benefits of Vacuum Sealing
Vacuuming the air out of bags and sealing it offer many benefits. The freshness of your food is preserved and its lifespan is extended.
That leads to less food spoilage and wasted food that will save you money in the long run. Let’s take a look at some more benefits.
1. Flavor Retention
Whenever you vacuum seal your food, you allow it to hold in the moisture and juices that give the food its flavor. This is especially true when it comes to meat products like steaks and the difference in taste is significantly noticeable.
Vacuum sealing your bag also ensures that all of the spices and flavoring are touching the food they’re meant to enhance! Spices get into every inch of your pork tenderloin, carrots or any other food you’re cooking!
Also, none of the spices or juices will be able to escape the bag when sous vide cooking. This means the flavors all remain the entire time your food is cooking.
2. Vacuum Sealed Bags Will Not Float
When cooking food sous vide, it’s important to ensure that your food bag is always under water so its evenly cooked in precise temperatures. Any variance in temperature (if your bag floats up during cooking) might cause an unbalanced process which can result in your food not being cooked properly.
Vacuum sealing the bag of food ensures all of the air is removed from the bag which will allow it to stay submerged under water.
3. Better Surface Heat Resulting in Faster Cooking Times
Vacuum sealed food bags means that the only thing separating your food in the bag from the container water is a layer of BPA-free plastic. This means that you’re cooking time will be much lower.
Cook time will be longer if there was a pocket of air in between the bag and food, preventing the food from cooking.
4. Freezer Burn and Storage
Regular zip lock bags can result in freezer burn on your food. Freezer burn happens when air comes into contact with the crystals in the bags and on your food due to the air trapped inside.
To prevent freezer burn, you take the air out of bags through vacuum sealing. You’ll be able to keep your meats and food safe for months.
5. Extend Shelf Life
Using a vacuum sealer will extend the shelf life of your food because there’s no air exposure. You can seal everything from fresh produce to things like nuts and beans.
Using a vacuum sealer is a great option if you like to buy food in a bulk. Buying in bulk is great in saving money but you can end up with a lot of food! Vacuum sealing the extra food is a great option so you don’t end up wasting food.
Sous Vide Vacuum Sealer Buying Guide
When looking for a vacuum sealer for your Sous Vide kitchen adventures, here’s a list of things to consider before choosing the right one for you.
Vacuum Strength
The vacuum suction power varies from one sealer machine to another. Stronger suction power will result in faster sealing, meaning you don’t need to wait around as much for the bag to seal. You’ll want to find how much suction power each vacuum sealer has.
One thing though, it’s not always easy to find out the vacuum strength because most manufacturers don’t report it. The good thing is you’ll be able to read the customer reviews on Amazon pages or the manufacturer’s website if they sell direct on their site.
Bag Roll Storage
Some vacuum sealers will come with storage for bag rolls, offering convenience and faster sealing. It’s a nice time-saving feature, but it’s not a necessity either.
Versatility with Different Bags and Rolls
Vacuum sealer machines will often come with their own branded vacuum sealer bags and rolls as a starter kit for sous vide enthusiasts. But some sealer machines will only work with their own bags, while others will work with any brand of sous vide bags.
It’s something you’ll want to double-check because that can also save you some money.
FAQs
The FoodSaver FM5200 is the best vacuum sealer for home use with the Express Bag Maker feature that’ll save you loads of time making bags. It reduces over 30% of the bag roll waste created by older FoodSaver systems by making it easier to measure and seal bags.
We own and use this one regularly. We highly recommend it!
Yes, you can use the water displacement method to seal your bags. It does a good job of getting as much air out as possible, but it’s not as consistent as a vacuum sealer is.
Vacuum sealer bags are also more durable than ziplock bags when it comes to cooking at temperatures of 160ºF. Ziplock bags can melt, resulting in a failure of allowing water inside the bag.
Find more about the different types of bags you can use here.
Chamber Vacuum Sealers are better because it doesn’t use any suction at all. They use air pressure to do the vacuum packaging of your food. This means that things like soups, marinades and liquid food can be easily vacuum packed.
External vacuum sealers will suck out air from one open side of the bag and liquids
Both of them serve the same purpose, however bags are easier to use than rolls in general. For Vacuum Sealer bags, you only have one open side to worry about, and all you need to do is just seal that one side to package your food.
When it comes to Vacuum Sealer Rolls, you’ll have to seal every side of your vacuum food pack. Because rolls come in a tube shape, this is an extra step that is necessary – you’re essentially creating your own vacuum bag from raw material, so to speak.
However, the price of Vacuum Sealer Rolls can be a lot cheaper than Vacuum Sealer Bags, so if budget is one of your major concerns, this is something to think about before you decide on getting either for your Sous Vide culinary adventures.
Many vacuum sealers nowadays also offer easy sealing and cutting of bags with a built in bag cutter.
Now that you know what kind of sous vide vacuum sealer to get, here’s a look at the best sous vide bags! If you haven’t gotten a sous vide cookbook yet, check out these!
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