How to Pick the Best Vacuum Sealer in Any Price Range

The vacuum sealer market offers hundreds of options. The FoodSaver brand alone offers dozens of models, from less than $50 to more than $200.

So if you've been trying to pick out a sealer, chances are, you could be feeling a little overwhelmed.

But here's the good news: despite the huge range of choices, there are really only a few things to think about. Read on to find out everything you need to know to get the vacuum sealer of your dreams--or at least, to get the best vacuum sealer for your needs and budget. 

back to top

The Best Vacuum Sealers At a Glance

If you don't want to read the whole article, here are the picks in every price range. The rating is based on a combination of our own testing and the Amazon reviews:

Basically, a vacuum sealer pumps the air out of a specially designed bag, then heat-seals the bag to keep air out. Because microbes need air to survive (most microbes, anyway), there is very little opportunity for them to get at vacuum-sealed food and spoil it.

The result: food lasts longer.

The same is true for freezer burn and staleness. Removing most of the air from the bag prevents freezer burn and wards off staleness, both of which require air to work their dark magic on food.

Even vacuum-sealed food that's been in a freezer for several years will be free from freezer burn.

You can read more about the science behind edge sealing at the FoodSaver website.

Can't You Just Push Air Out of a Bag and Get the Same Results?

Can you get these results with a zip top bag? Nope. Not even close. Even if you use the water displacement method (pushing the bag under water to force air out of the top of the bag), you can't remove anywhere near as much air as a vacuum pump can remove.

Furthermore, zip top bags aren't designed for long-term storage, and they will eventually leak.

The water displacement method has become popular for sous vide, but it's less than ideal, especially for long sous vide cooks (more than 6 or so hours). Zip top bags are not designed for immersion in hot water. They soften and can rip at the seams after just a few hours.

With all the other advantages there are to owning a vacuum sealer, it's really a no-brainer to have one for sous vide. (The water displacement method isn't going to save you hundreds per year on your food bill.) 

(Video courtesy of Christina Wylie)

What Are the "Specially Designed" Bags?

Each type of vacuum sealer requires its own type of bag to work properly. (See below to read about the 3 types of vacuum sealers.)

Edge sealer bags have ridges inside that help "push" air out, as you can see here:

Nozzle sealer bags (see them on Amazon) have resealable tops (most of them, anyway) and a hole through which air is pumped out. They are the most expensive type of bag, but they are re-usable, so the cost could end up being less than edge sealer bags depending on how many uses you get out of them.

Most nozzle-sealer bags are intended for use with the brand of nozzle sealer you have, and may not work with other brands.

Most nozzle sealer bags are dishwasher safe and will last for ten uses or more. They're great for leftovers in the fridge, but not as great for freezing and sous vide because nozzle sealers have weak vacuums and tend to leave a fair amount of air inside the bags. 

Chamber sealer bags (see them on Amazon) are made of heavy gauge plastic designed to hold up well in freezer and sous vide conditions. Chamber sealer bags are the cheapest type of vacuum bag. You can get them for about 3 cents a piece if you buy a large quantity.

Chamber sealer bags are not designed for re-use, and are so cheap that you don't really need to try to reuse them. However, you can wash them out and re-use them if you're particularly frugal or concerned about plastic waste. 

The easiest way to re-use chamber vac bags is for leftovers: Make sure you seal as close to the top of the bag as possible, then cut open just below the seal, leaving enough bag to re-seal what's left. It's possible to re-use a bag several times this way.

What About Using Other Bags?

Can you use other bags in vacuum sealers? You can experiment with using other bags with your edge or chamber sealer. Some people have had success using zip top bags in edge sealers (watch a video on how to do this), and many sealers work great with mylar bags (used for longer-term storage, primarily of dry goods).

Most manufacturers advise against using other brands of bags, but you can ignore that advice: any brand will work as long as it's made for your particular type of vacuum sealer (e.g., edge, nozzle, or chamber). You can experiment with different brands until you find one you like. 

Types of Vacuum Sealers

Just like the bags, vacuum sealers come in 3 types: edge sealers, nozzle sealers, and chamber sealers. Edge and nozzle sealers are both what are known as external sealers. Chamber sealers are internal sealers. 

"Internal" and "External" describe how the vacuum process is done.

Edge Sealer

With an edge sealer--also called an external, suction, or channel sealer--you insert the top edge of the bag into the sealer. It removes air from the bag, then heat-seals it to hold in the vacuum.

With some edge sealers, you have to push and/or hold a switch throughout the process; with others, the process starts automatically as soon as the sealer detects a bag in the channel. Some edge sealers can be quirky to use, but once you figure out your sealer, you should be fine.

Edge sealers are the most popular type of sealer, outselling the other two by far. This is because they're more effective and more versatile than nozzle sealers, and much less expensive than chamber sealers.

An inexpensive edge sealer is the best vacuum sealer if you're new to vacuum sealing and looking to try it out.

Again: You need to use bags designed for an edge sealer in order for the pump to evacuate air properly and form a tight seal--see the discussion above about bags.

Some nozzle sealers aren't handheld, like the Oliso Pro (see it on Amazon):

Nozzle sealers are the best vacuum sealer for leftovers because the bags are designed for re-use (most of them have zip-type seals in addition to the vacuum port so they don't need to be cut--thus, reusable). Most nozzle bags are also dishwasher safe.

Nozzle sealers are also small, so they're easier to store than an edge or chamber sealer. 

However, nozzle sealers tend to have weak pumps, so they can have trouble creating a heavy duty, long-term seal.

The best thing about nozzle sealers (most of them, anyway) is that they're inexpensive. If you want to get this type of sealer, we recommend the FoodSaver handheld shown above over the Oliso; as of this update, the FoodSaver handheld is under $25, while the Oliso goes for about $150--and the FoodSaver gets much better reviews.

Some edge sealers, like the v4440 FoodSaver model (see it on Amazon) come with a built-in nozzle sealer. This is a really nice extra because it gives you another option for keeping food fresh. However, you will need to keep two types of bags on hand to take advantage of this (and both edge sealer bags and nozzle sealer bags are pretty spendy).

Internal: Chamber Sealer

The principle is the same as an external sealer--air is forcibly removed from the container--but the physics work a little bit differently. You place a container in a chamber, which is then sealed and air is removed from the entire chamber. Because the vacuum pressure is equalized within the entire chamber--both inside and outside of the container--all the contents will stay inside it rather than get sucked up into the pump. This makes it possible to seal liquids without workarounds like freezing them first.

Also because of the equalized pressure, you don't need special bags to help "push" air out, so chamber sealer bags are considerably less expensive than edge sealer bags, meaning that while a chamber sealer is a bigger expense up front, you will save money in the long run. (More on bags below.)

Chamber sealers are large and heavy, primarily designed for commercial use. Many weigh close to 100 lbs.

However, because of their commercial-grade build quality, you can use chamber sealers repeatedly without a cool-down period between seals--another great advantage over inexpensive edge and nozzle sealers. (Although you can also find edge sealers that will work continuously, like the Weston Pro 2300 reviewed below.)

Chamber sealers are more expensive up front, but they're durable, will last for years, and the bags are less than half the cost of edge sealer bags. They are our number one choice for a vacuum sealer. If you can afford it and have room for it, a chamber sealer is the best vacuum sealer to get.

back to top

What Do I Look For in a Vacuum Sealer?

To find the best vacuum sealer, you have to look at:

• Durability factors like the motor build and the vacuum strength
• The size that works best in your kitchen
• The extra features you want and are willing to pay for. 

Sometimes vacuum and motor specs are hard to find, especially on consumer-grade vacuum sealers. (In fact, FoodSaver considers this proprietary information and it simple isn't available). But even if you can't find the exact specs on a sealer, it's good to know, even in general, what you're getting at the different price levels.

Motor (Vacuum Pump)

The motor (aka vacuum pump) is the most important part of a vacuum sealer. In fact, the price of a vacuum sealer is largely dependent on the quality of its vacuum pump. 

Why is vacuum strength important? Because the stronger the vacuum, the more that gets removed from the bag or container. And the more air that gets removed, the longer the food will stay fresh. 

So, yeah, vacuum strength is a big deal.

Inexpensive Motors

Inexpensive vacuum sealers (this includes sealers under about $200) have inexpensive motors. The motor itself is not very durable and can even have plastic parts. 

This has a number of ramifications:

• It makes vacuum sealers inexpensive (many less than $50).
• Cheap sealers typically don't have cooling fans, so the motors can overheat easily and need a cooling down period between seals. This can be a huge pain if you have a bulk sealing project (e.g., a side of beef or your fall garden harvest).
• They're designed for limited use and generally are considered "throw-away" appliances; if they break down, it costs as much to repair them as it does to buy a new vacuum sealer.
• These motors almost never give specifications like how much vacuum they actually pull, so it's hard to know what you're actually paying for (although that itself is a clue that it's probably not the greatest vacuum strength).

An inexpensive motor isn't necessarily a bad thing depending on how you're going to use the sealer. It could be the best vacuum sealer for your needs. If you plan on light use (say a few times per week just a few seals at a time--no bulk sealing), a sealer like this could last you several years. 

Unfortunately, you're going to have a hard time finding this information--the motor build, that is. You're going to have to assume from the vacuum sealer's price point how durable the motor is. Suffice to say that if the info isn't given, it's probably a cheap motor. 

How much do you have to pay to get a better quality motor? As we said, probably upwards of $200, but it can depend. FoodSaver uses the same basic motor in all of their sealers, and a higher price tag usually means more automated features, but not more vacuum strength. However, the Weston Pro Advantage, which is about the same price as an automated FoodSaver, has a better motor. So in the $200-or-so price range, you have to decide what you want to pay for and really do your research. 

High Quality Motors

When you start getting into higher prices--above $200--the vacuum pump quality goes up. These motors are durable, repairable, and designed for heavy usage without cool down periods. 

Higher quality vacuum sealer motors come in two types: dry piston pump and oil piston pump. The dry piston type is maintenance free but not quite as durable as the oil piston type. Almost all edge sealers have dry piston pumps, with some being better quality than others. 

The oil piston pump is the most durable motor you can get, and also the most expensive. It requires periodic oil changes. usually about every 60 hours of use. (This can mean anywhere from twice a year to once every 5 years, depending on how much you use your sealer--you just have to keep an eye on the oil and change it when it gets low or looks cloudy.)

Motor Power

Another factor to consider is the power of a motor/pump in wattage. Again, this is not always given, but where it is, it tells you not only how strong the vacuum will be, but how fast it will be able to pull that vacuum. 

The greater the wattage, the more powerful and faster the pump will work. What's a good number? Weston sealers have 200W, 700W, and 900W motors (from least to most expensive). VacMaster chamber sealers start at around 400W. These are all pretty powerful machines.

In comparison, the FoodSaver FM2000 motor has 120W, and most other inexpensive edge sealers are right in this range, too.

Can you start to see where the price differences come from?

It doesn't automatically mean that more power is better. If you just want a sealer for occasional use, the motor power doesn't matter all that much. But if you plan on using it for big jobs, a powerful motor can make it a dream, while a weaker motor can make it a nightmare.

Vacuum Pulled

Vacuum is typically measured in inches of mercury pulled: inHg or "Hg.  (Other units you might see are Pascals (Pa) and bar. But vacuum strength is usually given in "Hg.)

It's surprising how infrequently you can find this spec, given that the amount of vacuum it's capable of pulling is the primary feature of a vacuum sealer. YouTube is full of videos of people testing vacuum on FoodSaver machines (like this one), trying to figure out just how much vacuum it actually pulls.

A lot of consumers may not think in terms of vacuum pulled, unless they're kitchen geeks like we are here at Rational Kitchen. But knowing this spec can be helpful in deciding which vacuum sealer to buy.

What's a good number? Well, 29.92 "Hg is considered perfect vacuum, but it isn't attainable with even the most powerful vacuum sealer. Vacuum strength specs on vacuum sealers range from around 22 "Hg up to almost 29 "Hg. Anything above 26 "Hg is a pretty powerful vacuum.

Build Quality

Here we're referring to the housing, tray, buttons, user interface, and any extras (like roll and bag cutter) the sealer has. 

The vast majority of inexpensive sealers are plastic, plastic, plastic. Some are a mix of plastic and stainless or plastic and aluminum. The more you spend, the better the sealer should be built, including stainless housings and durable control panels.

Plastic isn't necessarily a drawback. These sealers are lighter, less bulky, easier to store, and they're fine for casual use. But their control panel buttons and sealing channel parts tend to wear out rather quickly. In fact, it's common for switches, hinges, and other hardware to wear out on inexpensive sealers before the pump does. You can replace some of these parts, but many you can not. 

You also can't use inexpensive sealers for bulk sealing jobs because they overheat quickly and require frequent cool-down periods in between seals. So if you're thinking of getting a vacuum sealer so you can save money by buying in bulk, do yourself a favor and get a sealer with a build quality designed for bulk sealing.

To summarize: if you're looking for a durable sealer that will do bulk sealing projects and last many years, you're going to have to pay for the stainless housing, stronger pump, and better all-around build quality. 

The sealing bar is important because it limits the size bag you can use. For example, an 11-inch sealing bar means the biggest bag you can use has an 11-inch opening.

Most edge vacuum sealers have an 11-inch sealing bar. 10-inch and 12-inch bars also common. Some, like the Weston Pro-2300 (see it on Amazon), have 15-inch sealing bars.

You might think you want the longer sealing bar--why not get the longest sealing bar available so you have the most options for bags, right?

Well, bigger bags are nice for big roasts and chickens, that's for sure. However, they're also more expensive. You may find yourself reluctant to use the bigger bags because of this, preferring instead to cut the food in half and use two smaller bags. So if you want the longer sealing bar, go for it--just make sure you'll use it.

Sealing bars also come in various widths. Most seal with a 2mm heat strip while others have a 4- or 5-mm heat strip.

The wider heat strip will no doubt make a stronger seal, but unless you've had issues with leakage, it's not a major selling point in our opinion. 

FoodSaver makes dozens of models in a huge price range. As the price increases, it's generally because you're getting more automation and other features, like an included nozzle sealer.

What you're probably not getting is a more powerful motor and better vacuum.

So at the $200-ish price point, you have to decide: Do I want extra features, or do I want a durable sealer with a more powerful vacuum?

There's no wrong answer here. You just have to decide what's important to you and buy accordingly.

Here are some of the extra features you can find in a FoodSaver edge sealer:

• Full automatic operation--just pop a bag into the sealer and let it go
• Roll storage--room for a roll of bags right on the sealer (remember, rolls are cheaper than boxes)
• Bag cutter--no hand cutting required for rolls
• Nozzle sealer included
• Accessory port for sealing mason jars, marinade containers, wine bottles, and more (this is a common feature, and is available even on some sealers under $100).

While extra features are nice, we prefer the heavier duty motor, stronger vacuum, and durability. And, you can find good quality sealers with accessory ports (like the Weston Pro Advantage and the PolyScience 300 Series) if this is an important feature for you. Several Weston sealers also have bag storage (but this isn't necessarily an advantage because these sealers are large and heavy to begin with, and space for rolls adds even more bulk to the sealer).

And if you want a nozzle sealer for leftovers, you can always just buy one. 

Warranty

Don't buy a sealer without a warranty of at least one year (and longer is better)! If you buy from Amazon, consider spending a few extra dollars on the Buyer Protection Plan. It's money well spent if something goes wrong.

All of the sealers we recommend have at least a one-year warranty.

How Do I Choose the Best Vacuum Sealer For Me?

Answering these questions will help you figure out the best sealer for your needs:

What will I use it for?

Are you going to use it primarily for bulk freezing? For sous vide? Do you want to seal liquids (like soups, stews, and marinades)?

Remember: chamber sealers or expensive edge sealers can seal many bags in a row without needing a cooling down period between sealings.

How often will I use it?

This is a bit of a rehash of the previous question, but it warrants repeating: If you're going to use your sealer casually--just a couple of times a week, and don't buy in bulk very often--then you can get by with a lower-priced sealer. Some FoodSavers (like the FM2000 recommended here) have a 5-year warranty, which makes them hard to beat for the casual user.

If you're going to use your sealer often and/or for different jobs--say, several times a week, for bulk sealing, sous vide, and storing leftovers--then you probably want to get a sealer on the heavy duty/commercial end of the spectrum. It will perform better, last longer, and make quicker work of big projects because you don't have to wait for the motor to cool down in-between seals (like you do with lower cost sealers).

Will I be doing a lot of bulk sealing jobs?

Again, a bit of a rehash, but it's important to think about. Even if you don't buy in bulk now, having a vacuum sealer could change your mind. You can save SO much money by buying in bulk. If you own a vacuum sealer (and a decent-sized freezer), there's no reason in the world NOT to buy in bulk. 

Do I want to seal liquids?

If you want the convenience of sealing liquids easily and not having to do workarounds like freezing first, a chamber sealer should be a serious contender. 

How much room do I have (countertop and/or storage)?

Room is also a big consideration. If you have room to leave a sealer out on your countertop, then the sky's the limit as far as options go. However, if you have limited space, you'll probably want to go with a small, portable edge sealer or maybe even a nozzle sealer. (But remember, using nozzle sealer bags for freezer storage kind of defeats the reusability of nozzle bags--they are primarily designed for leftovers in the fridge.)

How much do I want to spend?

If money isn't a concern for you, then you can focus on answering all of the above questions. However, if you're on a tight budget or want to get an "entry-level" sealer to find out if you'll really use it or not, then get one of the lower-priced models recommended here. 

Remember, however, that for the average American family, a vacuum sealer that costs even $1,000 will pay for itself in less than a year in food savings (primarily from buying in bulk and less waste).

So any vacuum sealer you choose has the potential to be a life-changing purchase.

back to top

The Best Vacuum Sealer Under $60: Seal-a-Meal

The Seal-a-Meal Manual Vacuum Sealer is your basic, entry level sealer. At this price point, it's probably the best vacuum sealer you can get. It isn't intended for heavy-duty use, for use with liquids, or for bulk sealing jobs. However, if used properly, it will serve you well for many years.

It's a bare bones sealer, but simple to use, small enough to store away easily, and has a patented removable drip tray for easy cleaning (not always found at this price point). It will pull good-enough vacuum on solid foods and is great if your primary use will be freezer storage or sous vide.

As with all edge sealers (regardless of price), the Seal-a-Meal is not a good option for moist foods or liquids (although there are workarounds you can use such as freezing liquids and stopping the vacuum process before soft food gets crushed or liquid gets sucked into the vacuum tube).

The Seal-a-Meal vacuum sealer does not have an accessory port/hose option.

Seal-a-Meal has been around for awhile and it has more than 2,000 reviews on Amazon. People love this sealer. It is an excellent option at the entry level price point.

Features and Specifications

Color: Black and white

Size: 17.1 x 9.3 x 6.2 inches

Weight: 4.2 lbs.

Max bag width: 11-in.

Use with these bag sizes: 8-in., 11-in., quart, and gallon

Storage space for bags? No

Accessory Port? No

Roll cutter? No

Warranty: 1-year limited.

See the Seal-a-Meal reviews on Amazon

Included

(4) 1-quart bags.

Note: This is not a lot of bags! If you buy this sealer, be sure to get bags, too! (See bags on Amazon)

Recommendation

Buy the Seal-a-Meal if you're looking for a no-frills, entry level sealer for low to moderate use.

GET THE BEST PRICE ON THE SEAL-A-MEAL ON AMAZON NOW:

The FoodSaver FM2000-FFP Vacuum Sealer has technology that uses 40% less bag for sealing. It also has an accessory port (hose included). If you've been frustrated with how much plastic a vacuum sealer wastes to get a good seal, this just might be the sealer for you. It will also save you $$$$ in the long run because you can use smaller bags and fewer bags than you would need with other sealers.

It doesn't have bag storage or a cutter, so you'll have to do all of that manually. However, this saves counter space and makes the sealer lighter and easier to move and store.

It also has a 5-year limited manufacturer warranty, which is hard to beat on any model (especially at this price point).

Features and Specifications

Color: Black

Size: 17.6x5.9x10.6 in.

Weight: 5.3 lb/5.9 lb shipping wt.

Max Bag Width: 11 in.

Edge Sealing without Vacuum Capability? Yes (Seal button)

Accessory Port? Yes (hose included)

Storage space for bags? No

Roll Cutter? No

Warranty: 5 year limited.

See the FoodSaver 2000 reviews on Amazon

Included

Accessory hose

Starter bag kit, which includes:

• (2) 1-gallon bags
• (3) 1-quart bags
• (1) 11-in. x 10-ft. roll.

Recommendation

Buy the FM2000 if you're looking for an inexpensive sealer with a fabulous warranty, an accessory port, and the ability to use less plastic than other sealers. Don't forget to shop for extras like marinade containers and mason jar vacuum lids.

GET THE BEST PRICE ON THE FOODSAVER FM2000 ON AMAZON NOW:

SEE THE FOODSAVER FM2000 AT HOME DEPOT NOW:

GET THE BEST PRICE ON THE WESTON PRO ADVANTAGE ON AMAZON NOW:

GET THE BEST PRICE ON THE FOODSAVER 4440 ON AMAZON NOW:

GET THE BEST PRICE ON THE WESTON PRO 2300 ON AMAZON NOW:

The VacMaster VP210 Chamber Sealer is one of the best sealers on Amazon for anyone looking for the most durable vacuum sealer they can find. 

The VP210 has a maintenance-free, dry piston pump that sets it apart from other edge sealers that have rotary oil pumps that require periodic maintenance and oil-changes. This sealer will run forever without an ounce of TLC.

The dry piston pump is slightly less robust than the rotary pump, but for the vast majority of home users, it should be just fine, even for large, bulk-sealing projects.

Features and Specifications

• Heavy duty construction (weighs 83 lbs)
• Adjustable vacuum time of 30-60s
• Adjustable seal time
• Maintenance-free, 400W 2 cylinder piston pump
• Removable seal  bar for easy cleaning
• Extra-wide (4mm) seal
• Polycarbonate lid that allows for full viewing of the sealing process
• Designed for repetitive sealing (no cool down periods required)
• Easy-to-clean chamber with rounded corners and removable sealing bar
• 1 year limited warranty.

Check out VacMaster VP210 reviews on Amazon now

Color: Brushed stainless body, tinted polycarbonate lid

Size (WxDxH): 14 x 20 x 15 inches

Weight: 83 lbs

Chamber: Stainless steel, rounded for easy cleaning

Power: 460W (standard US 120V/60Hz outlet)

Vacuum: 27-29"Hg

Sealing Bar: 10.25 inches (10-in. width maximum)

Chamber Size (WxDxH): 15.5x11x5 inches

Maximum Bag Width: 10 in.

Maximum Bag Size: 10x13 in.

Warranty: 1 year.

Included

• User manual
• 75 assorted chamber bags
• 2 filler plates (decrease vacuum time for smaller items).

Recommendation

Buy the VacMaster VP210 if you want a top quality chamber vac designed for home use. Highly recommended.

What If I Want to Spend More?

You can spend more! The VacMaster VP215 (see it on Amazon) is a great choice. Its rotary pump isn't maintenance free, but is going to provide even more robust capability. Also, the PolyScience 300 Series (see it on Amazon) offers an accessory port, which is great for sealing jars and canisters.

There are also much heavier duty commercial sealers that cost into the 4-figures, but I don't have any experience with them. You really don't need to spend that much to get a high quality vacuum sealer that you can love.

back to top

Final Thoughts

So these are the best vacuum sealers at every price point, according to Rational Kitchen. To summarize:

• There are a lot of choices, but for an inexpensive vacuum sealer, we like the FoodSaver FM 2000.
• The best edge sealer is the Weston Pro 2300: heavy duty, extra wide sealing bar.
• The best commercial-grade chamber sealer is the VacMaster VP210: maintenance free pump, super heavy duty build quality--but if you're buying for home use, the VacMaster VP200 is hundreds of dollars cheaper, has a longer seal bar, and the same vacuum pump (for excellent performance). It is our number one vacuum sealer choice for home users.

Thanks for reading!

back to top

Help other people buy wisely, too! Please share this article: