Best Vacuum Sealers to Preserve Your Food

Vacuum sealers are an essential component of every kitchen. You can marinate, store, freeze, or prepare food or liquids by enclosing them in a vacuum-sealed bag. Additionally, because the packaging is airtight, the contents are far more likely to stay fresh for an extended period of time, reducing food waste.

While vacuum sealers aren't the most popular kitchen gadget, they can really help you cut down on food costs and waste all while helping you meal prep. Before puchasing one, consider how regularly you will use it. What are you most likely to store in it? Vacuum sealers have advanced significantly in recent years, and it's never been simpler to select one that's ideal for your needs. While there is a lot to consider, our guide to purchasing the best vacuum sealer is here to help.

What are some benefits of owning a vacuum sealer?

Evading the chances of oxidation

Vacuum packing aids in the preservation of food by eliminating air from the bag in which it is kept. This eliminates oxygen, which can have a variety of negative effects on food.

Certain bacteria cannot grow when there is no oxygen in the bag. When food comes into contact with air, the original flavor and texture start deteriorating. This response occurs in all fresh foods, and oxidation can be invisible to the naked eye— you don't see your food immediately lose its freshness until you might taste it. By storing your food in vacuum-sealed, air-tight packs, you will decrease the risk of your food going bad prematurely.

Prolonging food life

Today's society places a premium on reducing salt and fat in our meals and boosting natural oils. More of us are attempting to consume seafood high in omega-3 fatty acids since these fatty acids help decrease triglyceride levels in the blood, which have been related to cardiovascular disease.

Fish oils do degrade more quickly than the fat contained in beef, chicken, and pork, so it is important to keep it stored properly. Fish may be refrigerated for two days and frozen for two months if properly packed. By vacuum sealing these items, you can retain their natural freshness and flavor for up to four to six days in the refrigerator or up to two years frozen.

Consuming a diverse, healthy diet can be challenging, but using a vacuum sealer makes it much easier. You don't have to worry about your fish, meats, fresh vegetables, and partially prepared meals going bad too soon. You can store vacuum-sealed food in the freezer for months, or even years, ensuring you always have a fresh stock on hand.

Avoiding freezer burn

Freezer burn may occur when meals are frozen without preparation. It occurs when the food looses moisture, causing it to freeze into tons of ice crystals on the surface and making the food often dry and flavorless. Thankfully, vacuum-sealed packs reduce the risk of freezer burn, maintaining the food's fresh flavor and ideal texture. With no air inside the bag, there is little chance for freezer burn to happen.

Preserving natural moisture

Moisture is evaporated by air. We package or wrap food for a variety of reasons, one of which is to protect it from drying out. How many of us reach down a few slices into a loaf of bread in search of the softer pieces? You certainly don't want stale bread. Vacuum packing, especially on a moist food, can maintain the food's ideal texture and freshness.

What types of vacuum sealers are available?

Consider what you expect the vacuum sealer to do for you when making your selection. External machines and chamber sealing machines are your two primary options. Certain specialized applications may benefit from the use of a pistol-style vacuum sealer.

Chamber vacuum machine

Chamber vacuum sealers are ideal for applications that need a high volume of sealing, batch sealing, or sealing liquids. They are more expensive upfront but provide far more performance and adaptability than an external machine. If you're often packing liquid-rich foods, a chamber machine is almost a need.

External vacuum machines

External vacuum sealers are an excellent alternative if you will be sealing only on occasion and will not be sealing liquids. They are far less expensive than chamber machines and produce a good seal but lack the adaptability and performance that chamber machines provide. An external machine is ideal if you're new to vacuum packing or simply want a light-duty unit.

Pistol type vacuum sealer

The pistol vacuum sealer utilizes a specialized bag with an integrated valve. You physically seal the bag using the supplied handheld sealer tool and then suck the air out via the valve. The pistol-style handle enables you to pull air out as needed, similar to how a typical external machine works in pulse mode.

What features of vacuum sealers need to be considered?

Continuous operation without overheating

While commercial-grade vacuum sealers operate at 100% duty cycle, certain consumer-grade versions require 20-30 minute cooling breaks when sealing a larger volume. This is not an issue for low-volume users, but if you have a large garden or hunt big game animals, you'll want a sealer that can operate continuously so you can store all your goods without rest periods.

Portability and storage

Before making a purchase, consider the size of the vacuum sealer and the location where it will be stored between usage. To conserve space, certain units may be stored horizontally or vertically, and the majority include integrated cable wraps and accessory pockets. If you're tight on space, look for the slimmest models.

Controls

While improvements in food sealing technology have resulted in one-touch operation, check to see whether your sealer has a manual mode for complete control over your food packing. Some even allow you to "just close" your bags, leaving the oxygen in.

What is the price range for vacuum sealers?

Cost is almost certainly a deciding element in your purchasing choice. You want a high-quality machine, but you don't want to blow your whole month's food budget on it until absolutely necessary. How much do they cost, then?

Vacuum food sealers range in price from less than $20 for a small handheld device to $60-$70 for a basic roller machine. They can cost up to several thousand dollars for advanced, heavy-duty industrial chamber vacuums for bulk processing. Most likely, if you are a normal customer looking for something for you home kitchen, you will choose something around the mid-range. Numerous top-shelf house sealers are available for approximately $100-$200, and there are some surprisingly decent choices in the $50 to $70 range.

Bear in mind that the best vacuum sealer is not always the cheapest or the most costly, but rather the one that provides the features you want at the lowest possible price. Begin by determining why you need a vacuum sealer. Do you only require bag sealing, or do you require a mason jar vacuum sealer? Are you looking for a straightforward household vacuum sealer or a more complex industrial appliance?

Make a note of your requirements, read our food sealer reviews, and see what's available online. If you do your homework, you should be able to find an excellent price on a powerful vacuum sealer that will last for years.

Vacuum Sealer FAQ

Q: Is it a healthy practice to vacuum seal food?

A: Vacuum packing is generally considered safe for freezing foods. When thawing frozen food, it is recommended to do it in the refrigerator to slow the growth of microorganisms. Perishable food that has been vacuum-packed should not be exposed to temperatures over 40 degrees for more than two hours in total. Vacuum sealing your food can keep it from expiring, preventing you from eating spoiled food.

Q: Do vacuum sealers need to use specific bags?

A: Vacuum sealing will not work with any bag. Regular bags leak oxygen and are incapable of maintaining a vacuum. When purchasing a vacuum bag, ensure that the bag states that it is a barrier bag. Some vacuum sealers require brand-specific bags, whereas others are compatible with any brand.

Q: Does vacuum-sealed beef have a longer shelf life?

A: Vacuum packing meat extends the shelf life of beef by up to three to five times compared to beef stored in supermarket-purchased packaging such as bags or plastic containers.