Vacuum Sealing Foods: How it Works, Why You Should Do It, & What Vacuum Sealer to Buy

 

Save yourself time, money, and reduce food waste by investing in a vacuum sealer and getting to work. You may not have ever thought about the possibilities that knowing how to vacuum seal can open for you and your family – but they are truly abundant.

Today, we’re spilling all the essential details of this novice-level kitchen skill in a quick and dirty guide. From how it works to why you should do it, by the end you’ll be educated and shopping for a new vacuum sealer to begin your own smart and frugal adventure. Your kitchen will thank you for the time well spent and storage opportunities.

How Does it Work & Why Should You Do it?

vacuum sealing foods
©Image Credit

Honestly, it’s all in the push of a button nowadays. So, you can be the most novice of novices in the kitchen and a vacuum sealer will get the job done for you. But, even with the ease, you still may have a few questions on what exactly you’re doing to your food. You can keep some items fresh for nearly three years with the process! How?

Prolong the life of your food by exploring all the possibilities surrounding the skill. Vacuum sealing is basically packaging up your meats, veggies, and even fruits into airtight packages to keep them fresh and ready for as long as possible.

Essentially, you are extending the shelf life by an immense amount – which saves you money and reduces waste. And if you’re asking what the difference is between vacuum sealing and just throwing your food in zip lock bags and tossing them in the freezer, it’s simple! When you are removing the air from the bags, you are essentially pasteurizing them which helps to fight off freezer burn and keep nutrients intact. Inevitably, being able to create a longer life for your food will have you spending less money in the markets, but it also saves you bouts and bouts of food prep time (to which we all have little time for throughout the work weeks!).

What Vacuum Sealer to Buy: 5 of the Best

FoodSaver V4400 2-in-1 Vacuum Sealer Machine

FoodSaver V4400 2-in-1 Vacuum Sealer Machine

Easy to use, the FoodSaver makes the process so much easier. It’s known to be one of the best of the best on the market and includes all the essentials in one machine: automatic bag detection and vacuum sealing with no additional attachments needed to get the job done.

Seal everything from meats to veggies, use the pull-out drip tray drawer for easier clean-ups, and know that every time that you go to seal – you’ll be getting a reliable, airtight finish.

NESCO VS-12 Deluxe Vacuum Sealer

NESCO VS-12 Deluxe Vacuum Sealer

The NESCO is a bit lower in price than its predecessor but has all the major functions you’ll want when purchasing your own at-home vacuum sealer. It offers various seal settings including dry, moist, and double. And has two different pressure features as well – normal and gentle – which helps, depending on what you are trying to seal.

There is also a built-in bag cutter, roll storage compartment, and a clear viewing window to ensure proper sealing. It’s also nice to note that this sealer is compatible with any brand of bags you decide to buy.

NutriChef Vacuum Sealer

NutriChef Vacuum Sealer

One of the most budget-friendly buys on the list, the NutriChef comes in several different colors and is easy to operate – even for our novices. Your freezer organization will become less chaotic and more functional, and you’ll love the different settings that this sealer provides (dry or moist).

It’s a fully automatic design with simple button prompts and instructions. For those that want to start small and get the hang of vacuum sealing, this is the perfect purchase.

Anova Culinary ANVS01-US00 Precision Sealer

Anova Culinary ANVS01-US00 Precision Sealer

 

 

Accompanying the high-rated Anova precision cookers comes the Anova Culinary vacuum sealer. With purchase, you’ll be provided with your first 10, pre-cut bags to get started on the journey.

How does this one work? Grab your food and place it into a sealer bag, season, insert the opened end of the bag into the vacuum sealer, remove air and seal with just a push of a button!

Weston Pro-2300 Commercial Grade Stainless Sealer

Weston Pro-2300 Commercial Grade Stainless Sealer

If you’re already a fan of vacuum sealers and want to go with something of a more professional quality, we’ve found it for you. The Weston Pro-2300 is a commercial-grade, stainless steel sealer that’s extremely powerful with its 935 watts.

One of the best features of this machine is that it will fit different size bags depending on what the present need is. And it won’t overheat with continuous use!