Vacuum sealers are a staple in the sous vide cooking world. After all, sous vide literally translates to “under vacuum” (not sure what sous vide is? Read more about sous vide machines). It’s built right into the name! So, in order to become a successful and efficient sous vide chef, it’s important to develop an expertise in vacuum sealers. It’s all too easy to ignore these little wonders when putting together a sous vide kit for your kitchen. Yet, to invest in a quality sous vide cooker without having a decent vacuum sealer would be a huge mistake.
So, if you’re clueless about vacuum sealers, but realize that it’s time to invest in a good one, you’ve come to the right place. Since nearly every single sous vide meal that I cook uses a vacuum sealer, I have a ton of experience working with these machines! I’m ready to share my expertise and ensure that you end up with the perfect vacuum sealers for this kitchen. All you need to do is keep reading this article. I ranked our top picks for the best vacuum sealers in the comparison table below and also reviewed each one individually so that you can make an informed purchase. We’ll also talk about the different types of vacuum sealers and whether or not they are really necessary for sous vide cooking. In other words, by the end of this article, you’ll be something of a vacuum sealer expert and feel prepared to bring home the one that your kitchen deserves.
Best Vacuum Sealer: Comparison Chart
Vacuum Sealers | Price | Rating | Comments | |
---|---|---|---|---|
FoodSaver V2244 | Check PriceRead our Review | Best budget friendly | ||
FoodSaver 4840 | Check PriceRead our Review | Best overall | ||
FoodSaver 5800 Series | Check PriceRead our Review | Premium features | ||
Geryon | Check Price | Multi use | ||
Mueller | Check Price | Cheapest | ||
Weston Pro-2300 | Check PriceRead our Review | Commercial quality | ||
VacMaster VP215 | Check PriceRead our Review | Best chamber sealer | ||
PolyScience 300 | Check PriceRead our Review | Runner up, chamber |
Vacuum Sealer Reviews: Top Picks
1. Best Overall: FoodSaver Vacuum Sealers
Note that we didn’t list a specific model here. That says a lot! FoodSaver has amazing devices with a large array of models, prices, and features. If you’re looking for a countertop (external) vacuum sealer, we definitely recommend a model from this line-up. Below we highlight our favorite picks from low, middle of the road, and high cost. All three of them get our highest recommendation. Which one will be the best fit for your kitchen depends entirely on your budget and your specific sous vide needs.
2. Budget Friendly: FoodSaver V2244 with Starter Kit
The FoodSaver V2244 comes with an accessory port which can be used with a hose vacuum to seal cans and even a full starter kit filled with various bag sizes. If you’re looking for a reliable vacuum sealer, this is absolutely our favorite choice.
3. Best Value: FoodSaver 2-in-1 4840
The FoodSaver 4840 also comes with bag roll storage and a convenient bag cutter right on the device so you can get the perfectly sized bag for your sous vide cook. We absolutely love being able to keep the rolls of bags inside the unit. This is currently our go-to sous vide vacuum sealer.
4. High End: FoodSaver Premium 5800 Series
5. Multi Use: Geryon Vacuum Sealer Machine Including Bags and Roll
6. Low Cost: Mueller Vacuum Sealer Machine
7. High-End: Weston Pro-2300 Vacuum Sealer
The Weston Pro 2300 is also REALLY wide (15 inches) which can seal larger cuts of meat than most sealers on the market. If you plan on sealing a lot of food, the Weston Pro is an incredibly reliable machine that will help you get the job done faster.
Best Chamber Vacuum Sealers for Sous Vide
1. Top Pick: VacMaster VP215 Chamber Vacuum Sealer
Overall, VacMaster has the most reliable and sought-after chamber vacuum sealer line-ups available for household use. You can’t go wrong with these.
2. Runner Up: PolyScience 300 Series Chamber Vacuum Sealer
The 300 series comes with programmable presets which will set the exact vacuum level, hold times, and seal times for specific foods. We recommend this for serious sous vide enthusiasts or professionals.
Types of Vacuum Sealers
Chamber Vacuum Sealers
Chamber vacuum sealers are hands-down the best method for sealing food for sous vide, especially if you plan on cooking sous vide frequently. Of course, the bringing home the best comes at a cost. Sous vide chamber vacuum sealers are especially great for sealing bags that contain liquid because the machine never sucks air out of the bag like a vacuum would. Oh if only it were that easy! Instead, bags are placed in a chamber and air is fully removed from the machine without agitating the food or liquids. Another major benefit is that the costs of bags are much cheaper than your regular FoodSaver type of sealer, which uses specifically embossed bags. If you plan on doing a lot of sous vide cooking, chamber vacuum sealers may end up paying for themselves in the long run. It all comes down to what you want to prioritize and how often you realistically think that you’ll be preparing meals sous vide.
External Vacuum Sealer
Vacuum Sealer Hand Pump
Not all vacuum sealers require you to be concerned about cost, of course. If you’re really looking to cut down costs, you can give a fully manual hand pump a try. Sure, it’s not as sexy or as easy to use, but these hand pumps will absolutely get the job done with a little manual effort. There are a few starter kits available for around $20 which includes a few bags and a hand pump to remove air from the bag. However, if you’re unsure if your sous vide endeavors will last long and just want to give it a shot, we personally recommend using the ziplock water displacement method instead of using one of these hand pumps. Sometimes all of that pumping can be a little more trouble than it’s worth.
Are Vacuum Sealers Necessary for Sous Vide?
No. However, vacuum sealers are recommended for sous vide for a multitude of reasons which we’ll dive into below. Essentially, you are perfectly capable of cooking sous vide with just your sous vide machine, sous vide container, and ziplock bags. It’s not the prettiest or most professional sous vide set up in the world, but it will certainly get the job done.
Ziplock bags are suitable for sous vide cooking as long as you purchase the food-grade and freezer-grade types. If you decide to cook sous vide with ziplock baggies, you can use the water displacement method – a fancy physics term for using the surrounding water to eliminate air from the bag. Basically, you leave the zip-lock bag open and slowly submerge the bag under water. Do it right and the water will actually push the air out of the bag the further down it goes. You can then clip the bag to the side of your container to keep it in place. As simple as that.
Now that we covered an alternative to using vacuum sealers for sous vide, let’s talk about the main benefits of vacuum sealers and the reasons you should consider investing in one.
Why You Should Use a Vacuum Sealer with Sous Vide Cooking
Better Surface Heat.
Air does not transmit heat as well as water can. It’s as simple as that. With a vacuum sealed meal, more hot water touches the surface of your food. That will result in even cooking temperatures and faster cooking times. The more air you have around your food, the longer it will take for the air to efficiently transmit heat to your food. So if you want your sous vide session to be as efficient as possible, this is really your only choice.
Better Flavor.
We’re not being scientific here, but its pretty common sense. Vacuum sealed bags are air tight and seal in all flavors, juices, and aromas. You can even marinate your food in the vacuum sealed pouch before cooking! And of course, having open baggies (non vacuum-sealed) can result in juices spilling out during cooking, or even worse, having the ziplock baggie sink and next thing you know you’re boiling a steak. It only makes sense that this method will taste better as you’re maximizing your sous vide potential. There’s a huge difference between boiling meat and cooking it sous vide. A vacuum sealed bag will bring out the finest flavor. It’s as simple as that.
Stays Fresh Longer.
Outside of sous vide, vacuum sealers play an integral role in keeping food fresh longer, both in the refrigerator and freezer. That’s right, a vacuum sealer won’t just be crucial in the cooking process. There are more applications than that. But all that said, from a sous vide perspective, vacuum sealing meals in advance for the week not only keeps the food fresh but it also ensures that it’s ready to cook! No more prep. Simply drop the bag in your water bath and you’re good to go. Since the meal is still sealed after cooking, you can even refrigerate the food and place it in an ice bath until you’re ready to finish the sear. How’s that for handy?
Bags Won’t Float.
Floating bags are not only frustrating, but can even be dangerous. Bags with air float on top of the water which will result in portions of your food not being properly cooked. When cooking sous vide, it’s important to always have the food fully submerged in water for even cooking temperatures and safety. Vacuum sealers fully remove any air in your bag prior to your sous vide cook. No air in the bag means no floating from the bag. This is the only way to be sure. Other sous vide bag sealing methods are always a risk.
Conclusion
Even though the sous vide name specifically references vacuum sealing, they are not 100% necessary for cooking. Nonetheless, we absolutely recommend using a vacuum sealer with cooking sous vide as the benefits largely outweigh the initial cost investment.