9 Best Vacuum Sealers (Review) In 2021

How We Chose Our Selection Of Vacuum Sealers

There are a number of top brands out there when it comes to vacuum sealers. We looked at those brands which offer the most powerful vacuum strength, the ability to choose different options and controls, those that come with the best accessories and freebies, as well as sound levels, maintenance, and overall performance. However, big brand doesn’t always been big performance, so that’s why we’ve included some lesser known options in our list, to really give you all the information you require to make an educated decision about the best vacuum sealer for you. Some of the more recognizable brands also take advantage of this and put a higher price on their products, which isn’t also warranted. We’ve also scoured the web for the right reviews too, ensuring we focus on the good and the terrible. It’s been proven to us that personal use and experience with these machines is the best way to truly understand how they work and their particular details, as well as knowing what could go wrong. Vacuum packing is an art and it can cost you a lot of money if things don’t work properly. You could potentially lose hundreds of pounds worth of meat or vegetables if you vacuum seal bags are flimsy or your food vacuum sealer doesn’t actually, well, seal.

Features To Look For In A Vacuum Sealer

If you’re thinking about purchasing a vacuum sealer for the first time, then there are a number of features you need to look out for, to ensure you’re getting the very best from your machine and not missing out on some crucial elements. Below, we’ve outlined these features, so you can make an informed decision based on your needs.

Rollers – make sure the roller included in your product can fit a range of different sized bags. You’re never always going to want to seal the same sized food every time. Also, if you want convenience and ease of use, then make sure your chosen machine actually has a roller or bag storage built into the unit. You might think this is an essential point, but some external rollers don’t have this functionality and you might miss it, particularly if you’re buying online.

Cutters–Smaller, less commercial vacuum sealers will not come with a built-in cutter. If they do, look out for a sliding cutting, which is great fun to use and convenient too. Scissors can be fiddling to use, not always accurate, and can potentially ruin the effort you’ve just put into sealing your food in the first place.

Wet Sealing – wanting a ‘seal a meal’ vacuum sealer? Well, ensure that the machine you’re purchasing can actually do the job. If you’re the type of person who likes to keep leftovers or always cooks too much, then you need a vacuum sealer that can actually cope with moisture and wet food – not one that becomes damaged at a drop of water. Most sealers will tell you if they are moist and dry food compatible, but don’t just assume they all are. Check out reviews though; just because a brand says they offer moist mode, doesn’t necessarily mean it will always work!

Pulse – pulse control is extremely important for vacuum sealing, particularly if you’re hoping to seal delicate items that you don’t want to be crushed or broken. Pulse control can be automatic or manual – or even give you the option for both. Pre-set options will allow the machine to automatically seal your bag based on what you’ve selected as being inside, whereas manual control gives you the option to choose as and when you want, or think you need to, stop vacuuming. We’d recommend giving yourself the option of both automatic and a manual pulse control, so when you’re vacuuming less precious items, you can leave it to do its thing, but when you have more pressing matters, such as crackers or fresh berries, you can manually ensure these are sealed, without damage.

Maintenance–whatever type of vacuum sealer you choose, you need to be aware that they require maintenance, which will be worth it in the long run when you’re saving on meal prep and planning with your stock of great food. However, just a few things before you get going. Make sure you take the recommended advice from the brand you purchase from in regards to sealing your food correctly and always check whether you can seal moist or wet products. If you don’t check, you run the risk of causing permanent damage to your machine, which might void the warranty and means you’re unable to return it and claim your money back. Try not to let your vacuum sealer overheat either. External sealers are great for small uses, so don’t be surprised if your machine overheats through overuse. Take the recommended guidance from the manufacturer’s guide and you’ll be sealing properly in no time at all. You should try to take proper care with your sealing bags too. Make sure you have a whole range of these to use for different types of food and different sizes too. You can even reuse some bags, if you haven’t already used them for meat or fish – make an educated decision on whether they’re appropriate to be used again.

Types Of Vacuum Sealer

There are three main types of vacuum sealer: handheld (which we won’t be looking at, as they don’t tend to work very well and leave a weak seal), external vacuum sealer, and chambered vacuum sealer.

Chambered Vacuum Sealer- these are the big boys of the vacuum sealer world. Chambered vacuum sealers are far more robust and powerful than external or handheld sealers, which makes them ideal for portioning out a whole haul of meat or if you’ve just harvested your vegetable plot. As the name suggests, instead of sealing the bag externally, it’s placed inside the chamber. Once this has been done, the vacuum will suck all the air out of that chamber, including all the air inside the bag. Heat is used in order to seal the bag, similar to an external vacuum sealer, and they can also seal jars too, which is a great food saver idea. You’ll probably see quite a few chambered vacuums referred to as a sous vide vacuum sealer, as they work hand in hand with the method of sous vide cooking, usually chosen by the more professional chef. These machines need a lot of maintenance and attention, as well as being on the more expensive side of things, so make sure you do your research before buying. They also tend to be quite large and bulky, but certainly worth the investment if you need to seal a lot of items, at any given time, throughout the year.

External Vacuum Sealer - some may say these aren’t as effective as a chambered vacuum sealer, but everyone has their own preference. These machines tend to have a lower power range than their chambered counterparts; this is because they suck or pump the air directly from the food sealer bag. In order to do this, you’ll need bespoke sealer bags, such as quilted or textured ones, as the air is pumped through the material whilst being vacuumed. Once this process is completed, the bag is sealed through heat. Unfortunately, with an external vacuum sealer, you must freeze liquids or moist food before attempting to seal. If you’re only looking to seal a few items at a time, then this type of food saver machine is perfect, as it can sit on your countertop and is ready to go almost straight away. External vacuum sealers are also extremely affordable, which makes them a popular choice for those of us only looking to seal spare veggies and meat, rather than those of us who may be game hunters.

Sources:

1. Vacuum Sealers – What You Need to Know Before You Buy - Common Sense Home