Vacuum Sealer Bags & Rolls for Food Savers (Free Shipping)
- What is a vacuum sealer, and how do vacuum sealers work?
- Types of vacuum sealers
- How to choose the best vacuum sealer for your needs
- Our favorite vacuum sealers
- Tips on using a vacuum sealer
- Final thoughts - are vacuum sealers worth it?
What is a vacuum sealer and how does it work?
Vacuum sealers are becoming increasingly popular as people look for more ways to save money and eat healthier by meal planning and cooking in bulk.
If you're like most people, the idea of a vacuum sealer probably conjures up images of food preservation and sous-vide cooking. While those are both excellent use cases for a vacuum sealer, they're not the only ones.
What vacuum sealers do is remove the air inside vacuum sealer bags or specially designed containers. It creates an environment that prevents the growth of bacteria, mold, and yeast.
By doing so, food can stay fresh for up to five times longer!
The best thing about vacuum sealers is preserving your food without artificial flavor enhancers. You can either choose to preserve food with its natural taste or add marinades to give it flavor.
A vacuum sealer is an incredibly versatile tool.
Use it for everything from protecting important documents to keeping clothes organized while traveling.
In packaging, the main goal is to contain and protect the goods and items within the container you have. By vacuum sealing, your items are waterproofed and well-protected from other external factors.
Effective and convenient!
Now let's check out the options you have for these efficient machines...
Types of vacuum sealers
There are different types of vacuum sealers: hot fill vacuum sealers, nozzle vacuum sealers, chamber vacuum sealers, suction vacuum sealers, and vacuum skin sealers.
Learn a little more about each one below.
Hot fill vacuum sealers
Hot fill vacuum packaging is the oldest form of commercial packaging.
It uses plastic bags dipped in water at temperatures of more than 180°F to remove excess oxygen in the bags.
The bags are then sealed completely to close the product and protect it from external contaminants.
Nozzle vacuum sealers
Nozzle vacuum sealers use a retractable nozzle between the vacuum storage bags and pouches.
It is one of the most versatile vacuum sealers being sold in the market.
This type of vacuum is mostly used in commercial and manufacturing settings. Since it uses a nozzle, it can virtually seal any product regardless of size.
Chamber vacuum sealers
Chamber vacuum sealers are a favorite tool in the food industry. Because of their ability to handle liquids, food professionals prefer them over other types of vacuum sealers.
Restaurants and other food businesses usually deal with large batches of ingredients. As a result, they need to seal more liquid-rich food like soups, stocks, and gravy.
Chamber vacuum sealers provide the versatility that professionals in the food industry need.
It provides kitchen professionals with the efficiency and support they need to handle ingredients better. For example, quick marination only gets the flavors to the meat's surface. You'll need to spend at least 12-24 hours for the marinade to effectively penetrate the meat.
Vacuum sealing solves this problem by expanding the meat fibers during the sealing process. Since the marinade is able to go deep into the muscle faster, it results in a more succulent and flavorful dish.
Sanitation is also a problem that chamber vacuum sealers solve in the kitchen. The fluctuating temperatures inside a professional kitchen can speed up the growth of mold, yeast, and other bacteria.
Using a chamber vacuum sealer can help manage ingredients and inventory better, saving thousands of dollars for the business!
Although chamber vacuum sealers lean towards the more expensive side, comparing the price you'd buy it for versus the money you'll be able to save because of its benefits would really have you consider it to be a great investment for your business.
Suction vacuum sealers
Suction vacuum sealers are the most common type of vacuum sealer machine. Also known as an external vacuum sealer, it sucks the air out of vacuum sealer bags. It then heat-seals one end of the bag to close it off.
Heat-seal vacuum sealers are perfect for beginners and home use. They are compact and easy to use.
However, you can't just use regular plastic bags with them. Clear polyethylene and polypropylene bags have high oxygen transmittal rates. Simply put, this means that air and moisture are still able to seep through inside despite the seal.
Heat-sealer vacuums use barrier bags - bags that are thick enough to keep the vacuum-sealed items in and the air out.
Barrier bags are made of nylon, a strong material that blocks air and moisture molecules from getting to your food. Having multiple layers, these bags are able to protect the items inside effectively.
Most vacuum sealer bags are also embossed with groves to make the suction easier, protecting your food from external elements.
Learn more about the materials used in vacuum sealer bags here.
Vacuum skin sealers
Vacuum skin packaging uses two high-barrier films to encapsulate food products.
This film acts as a second layer of skin and eliminates air around the package atmosphere. Heat is applied to the film, making it more flexible. It then conforms to the shape and size of the product being sealed.
It is common to use a tray or a laminated paperboard sheet with this type of vacuum sealer. Manufacturers commonly use this packaging technique on sausages, meats, and cheese items. Because the film is clear, it's easier for customers to see and choose which ones they prefer.
How to choose the best vacuum sealer for your needs
Now that we know the basics about vacuum sealers and their types, the next question is how to choose the best one for you.
Although it can be overwhelming to choose, especially if it's your first time getting one, we have the following tips laid out to help you get started!
Tip #1: Check its efficiency
Speed and efficiency are two things you want to prioritize when getting a vacuum sealer.
You want one that can remove air as quickly as possible.
When it seals, it shouldn't leak. Check how it performs with wet and dry ingredients.
If the vacuum sealer seals properly in less than 30 seconds, it's definitely a good buy!
Tip #2: Versatility
How will you be using your vacuum sealer?
- Are you getting it for food preservation at home?
- Do you plan to use it for business or commercial use?
- Will you be packing anything besides food?
- Do you need it for hobbies like hunting or fishing?
These simple questions will help guide you to the best vacuum sealer that fits your needs and lifestyle.
Some prefer to use it regularly and leave it on their kitchen countertops.
Others would prefer a compact vacuum sealer that is easy to put away.
Think about how often you're going to use the machine, what items you'll use it for, and the space it will take up in your kitchen!
Tip #3: Add-ons and extra features you might not need
It's important to know the features of your chosen vacuum sealer.
Some have built-in bag dispensers and cutters. While these features are good to have, it's not really a necessity. Some vacuum sealers even have a marinade feature. This system uses the vacuum's power to absorb the marinade much faster!
But is it something you need?
The features mentioned are important if you prefer to cook sous vide style. It's a great option if you have a restaurant or food business that needs to prepare flavorful food in a shorter time.
Ideally, you'd want to have a brand that's easy to talk to when things go wrong. No one wants to spend too much time with poor customer service.
Consider how easy it is to find out what's wrong with the machine when it falters. Make sure it's easy to get spare parts if it breaks.
Finally, check brand features like after-sales support, warranties, returns, and replacement policies.
Tip #4: Ease of use
You want to have a vacuum sealer that's intuitive and easy to use.
Most vacuum sealers have a vacuum and seal button you can press. Some have the option of pulse sealing.
You want a vacuum sealer that is well-built and not too loud when you use it.
It also helps to check if there are online tutorials and manuals if you need them.
Ideally, you wanna go for quieter vacuum sealers with simple buttons to understand and operate!
Our favorite vacuum sealers
Although most vacuum sealers are easy to use there are brands top of mind that we would recommend above others for beginners to vacuum sealing.
Here are some of our picks!
FoodSaver VS0150/VS0160
This vacuum sealer is a great introduction for beginners who want to try vacuum sealing for the first time.
It is compact and easy to store, either horizontally or vertically. It can also seal delicate food efficiently.
This model is intuitively designed and easy to operate. It has custom settings for wet and dry items which ensures an airtight seal.
A built-in bag alignment drip tray also helps you put in the bags correctly every time. In addition, the drip tray is removable, so it's much easier to clean.
At less than $100, this vacuum sealer is a steal.
Find out more about Foodsaver VS0150 here.
FoodSaver FM2000
Here's another vacuum sealer for food that we recommend.
Unlike the FoodSaver VS0150/VS016 models, the FoodSaver FM2000 comes with an accessory hose.
You can use this to seal smaller amounts of food in jars and vacuum-sealable containers.
This vacuum sealer is also compatible with quart-sized and gallon-sized vacuum bags.
This vacuum sealer model comes in black, which can match well with any color theme in your home kitchen.
Foodsaver VS1150
This model is the best food vacuum sealer for individual use and if space-saving is important for you.
But don't let its size fool you.
This space-saving sealer is packed with the same power as its bigger counterparts.
It also comes with an easy bag alignment feature that lets you be more precise with sealing bags to the machine's sealing strip.
Foodsaver VS1150 can only fit 1-pint and 1-quart vacuum sealer bags, so it's great for people living alone or in small spaces.
I wouldn't recommend this if you want to use 11-inch wide bags or rolls.
But if you only need smaller, pre-packed meals, this is the perfect one for you!
NESCO VS-02
NESCO is also known as one of the best food vacuum sealer brands.
It's a great option for occasional and beginner users!
This model has a built-in bag roll storage and cutter.
It has a strong suction capability yet is gentle enough to seal food safely without crushing it.
Online reviews say NESCO works great on items like cereal, meats, and bread.
However, some reviews also mention that it doesn't do well with delicate fruits like berries or juicy food like pineapples.
Something to consider before buying this model.
Despite being a bit loud and not having a pulse function, it still does the job well.
It's also considerably cheaper compared to other brands!
Tips on using a vacuum sealer
The goal of getting a vacuum sealer is to make your life easier and more efficient.
But like any other machine, it can only do its job if you know how to use it right.
So here are our best tips for maximizing your vacuum sealer and vacuum sealing experience.
Choose the right machine based on how often you'll use it.
Vacuum sealer machines are versatile and can be used on practically anything you want to protect against external elements. You can use it to seal food and non-perishable items around the home.
Just like any other machine, however, vacuum sealers have varying durability.
So don't limit yourself when choosing a vacuum sealer, even if you're getting your first one.
Check out online reviews, videos, and other information before making your choice.
Set a scheduled date for vacuum sealing.
Most people do "meal-prep Sundays" to vacuum-seal their food. Doing so lets them have the rest of the week free from cooking and cleaning.
You can choose to par-boil certain vegetables like broccoli to keep it fresh. Or batch-cook meals, pre-freeze them, then cut them into serving sizes that you can vacuum seal in one day.
You can also mix and match ingredients and create homemade microwave meals.
Choose the right-sized vacuum bags.
One of the biggest challenge new users encounter are leaking bags that don't seal properly.
There are two common reasons bags fail.
It's either the seal line being wet, dirty, or wrinkled when the bag was sealed closed or the bag having a small puncture.
To avoid these, make sure that the bags are clean and flat in their sealing area during the sealing process.
For wet or moist items, it's best to freeze them a bit to become solid for sealing.
It also helps to fold the top of the bag inside out at least 1.5 to 2 inches when filling the bags. This ensures you have a clean seal line, so it seals well.
If you're sealing items with sharp edges, it would be better to double the bags, add something to protect the sharp edges, or use oxygen absorbers, so the bags do not need to be vacuumed as tightly.
You can check out more vacuum sealing troubleshooting tips here!
Final thoughts - are vacuum sealers worth it?
A vacuum sealer is a great tool for your kitchen and home.
It can save you money on food, help you store food better, make meal preparation easier, and free up time during your busy work week.
To get the most out of your vacuum sealer, choose one that meets your specific needs – like budget, space availability, and frequency of usage.
Be sure to check on customer support, ease of use, versatility, and efficiency before making your purchase.
And finally, don't forget to factor in the cost of vacuum sealer bags when making your decision!
Choose a mix of strength and value with our selection of vacuum sealer bags at OutOfAIr.com today.
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