Vacuum Sealers What You Need to Know

Vacuum sealers or food savers are a piece of equipment used to quickly and easily remove excess air from packages. These packages may include bags full of meat, make-ahead meals, and even clothes.

meat and vegetables individual vacuum sealed

The vacuum sealers come in handy for people at home and in workplaces, where it is important to save space or preserve food after buying it in bulk. You need to know several things about the equipment before you end up purchasing one and using it.

How Do the Vacuum Sealers Work?

The vacuum sealers work in a fast, efficient manner to suction air from plastic bags, many of which get used to store food and other belongings. If you want the sealer to work, you must first invest in the vacuum bags that go with it. You cannot use random plastic bags and expect the vacuum sealer to work. There are special bags that attach to the equipment, allowing it to suction the air from inside with ease.

When you buy your vacuum sealer, it should come with quite a few vacuum bags to help you get started. However, you will need to purchase more of these bags over time. You can watch as the extra air gets removed from the bag right in front of you. Once the air is gone, you will place the bag’s end on the sealer to fasten it and keep it closed.

Are There Options For Different Items?

There are different types of vacuum sealers available for various items that might need to get stored. Commercial grade options are available for business owners that might need to store meats and other ingredients in a freezer but need to have space to store it all neatly.

In that case, they may use larger, industrial vacuum sealers that take up more space but get more done. However, there are also vacuum sealers explicitly designed for household usage. The household options are often more compact and lightweight to make it even easier for people to use them at home.

My Favorite Food Saver or Vacuum Sealers

Budget Friendly Vacuum Sealers

Bonsenkitchen Food Saver Vacuum Sealer Machine, least expensive model I could find with fantastic reviews.
GERYON Vacuum Sealer Machine, Automatic Food Sealer for Food Savers. I got this model when my more expensive, but older, FoodSaver died. It has worked very well.
FoodSaver FM2000 Vacuum Sealer Machine with Starter Bags & Rolls. Also a cost saver, and it comes with some starter bags.

Food Savers with Built-in Bag Roll and Cutter

I really prefer a vacuum sealer with the bag roll and cutter all in one unit. I have a small kitchen so counter space is at a premium!

Cekay Vacuum Sealer Machine with integrated roll storage and cutter. Super easy to customize your bag size and not have to store a bunch of different sizes.
FoodSaver FM2435 Vacuum Sealer Machine this has the customizable bag roll and cutter but it also has a canister sealer for “dry canning”.
FoodSaver V4840 2-in-1 Vacuum Sealer Machine this model is a bit more of an investment but I think it is well worth it. It has the bag roll, cutter, automatic bag detection, a hand sealer and so many more options!

Are Food Savers Worth the Investment?

Vacuum sealers are worth the investment for several reasons. When you consider the money you’ll save in wasted food alone they are gold. But they also give you more space .

When to Use a Vacuum Sealer?

Sealing Food for Your Freezer

Sealing meat and produce in a food saver will almost always prevent freezer burn. If you’re buying beef, chicken, fish or pork in bulk then you’ll want to vacuum seal this meat to preserve the fresh flavor until you’re ready to eat. It is great for hunters and fisherman too.

You can vacuum seal fresh and frozen produce as well.

Food Saving for Your Refrigerator

Instead of using zipper bags you can store your cheese and fresh produce in air-tight bags that will extend there freshness for weeks!

Vacuum Sealing for Your Pantry

The food saving options for vacuum sealers doesn’t end at the refrigerator and freezer.

Sealers and be used to extend the freshness and shelf life on herbs, spices, flour, sugar, rice and pasta.

If you like to dehydrate fruit, veggies or make jerky then have a food saver sealer is practically essential to keep that fresh flavor!

Dehydrating Apples at Home
How to Dehydrate Blueberries

Sealing Food for Cooking

Seal a meal! You can pre-packing your own single serve meals in a bag or prepare food for sous vide cooking.

Re-sealing Commercial Foods

You can actually reseal many food bags. You can seal-up (without the vacuum) your chip, cracker and coffee bags! This works so much better than clips or rubber bands.

Marinating with Food Savers

If you want to marinate meat, you can use the vacuum bags to do it. You can place the meat in the bags, add the marinade, and seal them closed, allowing them to sit for several days in the fridge or put them in the freezer.

Vacuum Storage for Household Items

Ok, not a food saver but if you have a limited amount of space available in your closet, you want to save as much space as possible, which is why these bags will come in handy for you. These are great for storing extra pillows, blankets and out of season clothing without using all your closet space.

Jumbo Bags for comforters, pillows, sheet sets, etc.
The Medium Bags are great for clothing (closet or travel)

These are some of the best reasons to invest in a reliable vacuum sealer. However, there are a lot of other good reasons to buy one. If you want to keep food fresh, have a great way to store items, and save money in the long run, using a vacuum sealer is necessary.

How Much Do the Food Savers of Vacuum Sealers Typically Cost?

The cost of vacuum sealers varies from one machine to the next. Some options cost more than others because they work faster or are more extensive and can get more done than others. You can expect to pay as little as $20 if you want to get a small vacuum sealer that you can test out.

It is always a good idea to buy one of the more inexpensive options at first to see how much you like the vacuum sealer before moving forward with buying one of the more expensive options. Of course, when spending any money on a vacuum sealer, you should do a bit of research ahead o time to find out about the features it comes with that can benefit you.

How Big Are the Vacuum Sealers?

The average vacuum sealer is not too big. It might fight on top of the countertop or kitchen table without taking up too much space. While most vacuum sealers are compact, industrial-sized options are available. The industrial options are typically useful in restaurant kitchens and in other places where proper food storage is essential.

How Long Does It Take to Remove Air From Different Items?

Most vacuum sealers are incredibly efficient and work fast to remove the excess air from inside the packaging. While the exact amount of time it takes to remove air from different items will depend on different factors, including the size of the items, you can expect your vacuum sealer to complete the task within two minutes or less.

Using something so fast, simple, and easy will make a difference. Rather than trying to get the air out yourself by sucking it out or pressing down on the plastic bag to get as much air out as you possibly can, you can get all that excess air out with a vacuum sealer.

Now that you know much more about vacuum sealers, how they work, and why you should use them, you may want to go out and buy one. Make sure to look at all the options available and think about what you plan to do with the vacuum sealer before investing in one.

You need to make sure you are buying one that meets your needs and accommodates you in eliminating all the excess air from the different packages you need to store. Once you buy a reliable food vacuum sealer, you might not need another one for years to come.

How Do the Vacuum Sealers Work?

Are There Options For Different Items?