We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. What to Buy Appliances Small Appliances The 4 Best Vacuum Sealers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed The smartest way to extend the life of your produce and proteins. By Christa Glennie Christa Glennie Christa Glennie is a former restaurant professional who has logged nearly two decades as a writer and editor covering people and trends in food, drink, dining, and agriculture. She's the food editor of Buffalo Spree magazine and has published work in Food & Wine, USA Today, Feast and Field, and more. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines and Laura Denby Laura Denby Laura Denby is a food writer and chef with six years of professional culinary experience. Find her work in Real Simple, Food Network, Better Homes & Gardens and more. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 18, 2024 In This Article Expand In This Article Our Top Picks ReviewsOur Favorite Vacuum Sealer How We Tested Vacuum Sealers Factors to Consider FAQ Other Vacuum Sealers We Tested Our Expertise Photo: Food & Wine / Kevin Norris Finding ways to extend the shelf life of groceries is a great way to reduce food waste at home. Most people spend a lot of time, money, and effort grocery shopping, and there's nothing worse than reaching for a certain ingredient and realizing it's spoiled before you've even had the chance to use it. One of the easiest ways to keep food fresher longer is by investing in a high-quality vacuum sealer. These handy tools remove air from the bags or containers that food is stored in, which prevents bacteria or mold from growing and protects food from freezer burn. Vacuum sealers are useful in various ways, but they're particularly helpful if you prefer buying products in bulk, meal prep, or trying to preserve food you've grown or caught yourself. They’re also great for sous vide cooking. To find the best vacuum sealer, we tested a few leading models by sealing some of the most delicate foods we could find to assess their ability to effectively preserve food without crushing it. Read on to find out which vacuum sealers made the cut. Our Top Picks Best for Overall: Inkbird Vacuum Sealer Machine with Starter Kit at Amazon ($59) Jump to Review Best Splurge: Anova Vacuum Sealer at Amazon ($150) Jump to Review Best Compact: FoodSaver PowerVac Vacuum Sealing Machine at Amazon ($120) Jump to Review Best Value: Geryon Food Vacuum Sealer at Amazon ($41) Jump to Review Best for Overall Inkbird Vacuum Sealer Machine with Starter Kit PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore $59 at Amazon $55 at Walmart View on Inkbird.com Pros This was one of the most effective models we tested for getting a tight seal every time. Cons We wish it came with bag roll storage and a delicate suction strength option, but it does the job well. Searching for a new appliance when you’re unsure what to look for is difficult, so we sought the essentials for our Best for Beginners pick. The Inkbird Vacuum Sealer Machine passed the majority of our tests with flying colors while being foolproof to operate. After five days of storage, there were minimal signs of oxidation in sealing the avocado to test for long-term freshness and tightness. This sealer only faltered when it came to sealing more delicate foods. The suction strength doesn’t give much room for adjustment, but this shouldn’t be a problem regarding beginner usage. We'd recommend this vacuum sealer for anyone who wants to start vacuum sealing but doesn’t need a ton of bells and whistles. It does, however, have an accessory port for a handheld suction hose. While bag storage would give this sealer a leg up, the machine has a bag cutter for convenience we love. The low price point and small size make this a high-value and easily stored appliance — perfect for first-time buyers or as a gift. Dimensions: 15.04 x 4.09 x 2.44 inches | Seal Settings: Dry, moist, vac, and seal | Bundle Includes: Five vacuum bags, one bag roll, and an air suction hose | Bag Storage/Cutter: No storage, but does have a bag cutter Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Best Splurge Anova Vacuum Sealer PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore $129 at Amazon $100 at Target $100 at Williams-Sonoma Pros Beautiful minimalist design and multiple seal settings make this vacuum sealer worth the price. Cons While there’s no delicate seal option, this appliance has a pulse vacuum setting, which allows for the manual sealing of more fragile foods. The Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro has a sleek design that won't look obtrusive on the countertop. It also features various seal settings: vacuum and seal, moist, dry, seal, pulse vacuum, and external pulse vacuum, allowing the user control over the suction power and pulse. Despite its higher price and variety of settings, this model does come with an instruction booklet that’s straightforward enough to help beginners operate the sealer. The options here make it a more advanced model with a wide range of suction power and pulse control levels. It’s a splurge, but with such a high score from our testing, it’s perfect for a more advanced home cook looking to level up their vacuum sealing game. Dimensions: 14.75 x 7.0 x 4.3 inches | Seal Settings: Vacuum and seal, moist, dry, seal, pulse vacuum, and external pulse vacuum | Bundle Includes: Air hose and one bag roll | Bag Storage/Cutter: Yes Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Best Compact FoodSaver PowerVac Vacuum Sealing Machine PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore $106 at Amazon Pros Super compact, the design of this model makes it extremely easy to store vertically or horizontally. It also reduces bag waste. Cons There is no delicate option for auto-sealing, though manually stopping the machine is an option. Few people have endless storage space in their kitchens. While keeping all your appliances on the countertop would be nice, looking for a model with easy storage options might be right for you. The FoodSaver VS0150 PowerVac Compact Vacuum Sealer can be stored horizontally, and its small size makes this very convenient. However, it’s also designed to be stored vertically, something you can’t say for most vacuum sealers. This is our favorite compact model, but it also performed exceptionally well during our testing. All the vacuum bags we sealed were tight enough to leave no air bubbles and stayed sealed throughout our tests. It has a super short refractory period of only 20 seconds, and the design also features a removable drip tray. If you’re looking for convenience, this is a perfect vacuum sealer for your kitchen. Dimensions: 15.94 x 6.26 x 2.71 inches | Seal Settings: Dry and moist | Bundle Includes: Three-quart bags, two-gallon bags, and one roll | Bag Storage/Cutter: No storage, but does have a bag cutter Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Best Value Geryon Food Vacuum Sealer PHOTO: Amazon $41 at Amazon $46 at Walmart Pros It was amazing at removing the air from our bags of Chex mix. Cons It has few bells and whistles so it is not for those seeking advanced features. The Geryon vacuum sealer is a wonderful Entry model for those new to vacuum Sealing. The brand warns that the vacuum sealer is not meant for sealing items with lots of liquid. So, this isn't the vacuum sealer for those who want to do sous vide cooking with an immersion circulator. This is geared towards pure vacuum sealing, with fewer bells and whistles. That also means the price is much less than the others we tested since this is meant to vacuum seal for freshness and freezing. Out of the group we tested, this model performed the best when it came to removing air from the Chex Mix and preserving the avocado half. It was also exceedingly gentle with those delicate items, which impressed us during testing. Even though the brand advises not to cook in its plastic bags, our bag of carrots remained sealed through the entire hour of sous vide cooking. And there was no floating or accumulation of water inside the bag. In short, the seal held during cooking. It's a great budget item for those who want vacuum ceiling capabilities and have no plan to cook sous vide. Dimensions: 14.6 x 5.67 x 3.3inches | Seal Settings: Dry and moist | Bundle Includes: Heat-seal bags and one roll | Bag Storage/Cutter: No storage, but does have a bag cutter Our Favorite Vacuum Sealer Picking our favorite was simple because the Inkbird impressed us at every step. It comes with incredibly detailed instructions and is also incredibly user-friendly, even for beginners. It was one of the most effective models we tested for getting a tight seal every time. It excelled in all of our tests with little effort required. This versatility makes it ideal for cooks looking to vacuum seal, from experienced appliance users to newbies looking to preserve bulk purchases. How We Tested Vacuum Sealers Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore To determine the best model for any occasion, we tested handheld and countertop models — some very simple and some that felt more professional in style. The tests consisted of an initial sealer setup, evaluating the number of accessories and bags each machine had, settings for moist or dry foods, and suction power. Through this series of kitchen tasks, we rated each appliance to find the best vacuum sealer for any cook at any level of expertise. To get the best understanding of each sealer's full range of functions, the test kitchen put each model through a series of trials to determine ease of use, performance, suction power, and versatility. We sealed cereal as a dry test, its irregular shape creating pockets for air bubbles to hide in. Ideally, a vacuum sealer can remove all air pockets and create a tight seal without crushing the cereal. We also tested the Chex mix to see how fresh it stayed and how well the machine handled the delicate ingredients. We marinated bone-in chicken breasts and sealed them for sous-vide cooking. We also cooked carrots in sealed bags with immersion circulators and tested a ripe avocado to determine long-term freshness. Finally, we tested the long-term seal on frozen ground beef over a period of six months in the freezer. Our choices are pulled from the cumulative data from two batches of products and testing. Factors to Consider Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Pulse control When purchasing a vacuum sealer, assess the machine’s ability to seal food tightly without crushing delicate or irregularly shaped items. Ideally, a machine will offer its users a good amount of control over the power being used. You’ll want to look at each machine's control options to ensure it has a mode designed for more delicate foods. Suction power Effectively sucking air from sealer bags can be challenging, especially if you preserve irregularly shaped foods or delicate or leave ample room for air pockets. When it comes to things like dry snack foods, produce that can bruise easily, or dehydrated ingredients, this is essential to maintaining the structure of the food. Throughout our tests, we assessed whether each machine could effectively remove air or if pockets were left behind in the process. Countertop vs. handheld Typically, countertop vacuum sealers have more functionality than handheld models. They can work with a wider variety of bag and roll sizes. However, handheld sealers are better for portability. The lack of a cord and smaller size can also be helpful for storage. Our test kitchen evaluated both types, but only countertop models made it into our best picks. The versatility of a countertop model is more useful. Size and bag storage Bag storage and a cutting feature can make using a vacuum sealer even easier. We often prefer a model with storage capabilities, as the bag roll doesn’t take up additional space in your kitchen. Efficiency is critical here; the ability to cut the bag with the vacuum sealer saves time and increases the accuracy of your cut. Extra settings Particularly for more experienced vacuum sealer users, additional settings give way to an entirely new set of sealing options. Sealers that offer an accessory option do the same. Attachments do everything from vacuum seal an opened bottle of wine to a mason jar. Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Frequently Asked Questions Is it worth having a vacuum sealer? A vacuum sealer is a highly versatile tool to have in your kitchen, allowing you to prolong the shelf life of food, sous vide, and prevent freezer burn and dehydration — without introducing chemicals. If you like to buy in bulk or meal prep, a vacuum sealer is particularly helpful and worth purchasing. How do you use a vacuum sealer? "Place your food in the vacuum sealer bag, open the machine, place the open end of the vacuum sealer bag inside the drip tray, and you're ready to go," says Lauren King, Brand Director, FoodSaver at Newell Brands. "The air is then vacuumed out of the bag, and the bag is perfectly sealed so air, moisture, and freezer burn can't get in. On models with variable modes, users can select the best vacuum mode for their food. For example, pulse mode is great for delicate foods like crackers and baked goods, which can then be vacuumed without crushing the food." How long does vacuum-sealed food last? "By completely removing the air from bags and containers, you can keep food fresh for up to five times longer than ordinary storage methods," says King. "This applies to products that go into your freezer, fridge, or pantry. For example, when vacuum sealed, beef and poultry can be frozen for up to three years, hard cheese can keep for up to eight months in the fridge, and baking essentials such as flour and sugar are good for up to two years." What foods should you not vacuum seal? "Some foods you should avoid vacuum sealing include soft cheese, bananas, mushrooms, whole apples, and raw onions," says King. "Some foods are great for vacuum sealing but should be handled with care. For example, use pulse mode with delicate baked goods or snack foods." In addition, steaming-hot food should cool to room temperature before you vacuum seal it, as the steam can loosen the airtight seal, which can then result in bacterial growth. What else can you use a vacuum sealer for? "Once you learn the basics of vacuum sealing, there is no limit to the number of uses you will find around the house for these machines. Beyond food storage, vacuum sealing is a great way to simplify meal prep, sous vide cook, and marinate faster," says King. Can any bags be used with a vacuum sealer? Unfortunately, no. Regular bags or poly bags will not work when vacuum sealing because they will leak oxygen. Look for more heavy-duty bags when using your vacuum sealer. Other Vacuum Sealers We Tested Strong Contenders Mueller Vacuum Sealer ($70 at Amazon) The Mueller performed well and is a great price for the quality, but came up short for versatility since it slightly crushed the cereal in our tests for delicate foods. If you're not storing berries or tender produce, this sealer will still be a good pick. FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer Machine FM2000 ($100 at Amazon) This sealer also performed well in other tests but lacks a delicate setting. For the price, there are more versatile options in our top picks. Nesco Food Vacuum Sealer Starter Kit (VS-02) ($69 at Amazon) This Nesco tool is a good option for beginners but isn't ideal for delicate foods. It also needs a 2-minute wait period between seals to cool down. What Didn't Make the List The baker's dozen of other vacuum sealers we tested didn't live up to our expectations for a few reasons. While we can leave some leeway for sealers that don't have a delicate setting, the tools that couldn't seal proteins with any amount of moisture, took far too long for refractory periods between seals, or had extremely oxidized avocados at the end of testing did not make our top picks list. This included a few other FoodSaver models (VS3150, Handheld, V44840, and FM5200), and brands like SealVac, Zwilling, VacPak, Vesta, and two Anova models that didn't fare as well. Our Expertise This piece was written by Christa Glennie, a freelance writer and food editor for nearly twenty years. She is also the author of two cookbooks and specializes in food and drink trends, agriculture, the regional foodways of Western New York, and the restaurant business. Her respect for simplicity and uncluttered kitchen counters ultimately fuels a desire to find and own well-designed, multi-purpose, best-in-class kitchen tools. Jennifer Zyman updated this piece with new testing information. She is a Senior Commerce Writer for Food & Wine and joined the team in August of 2022. She's written about food and restaurants for over 15 years and is a proficient home cook with a culinary school degree who is always on the hunt for the latest and greatest kitchen technique, trick, or tool. Her work at Food & Wine focuses on finding the best new products for cooks using her culinary expertise and in-house tester data. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit