Top 10 Best Food Saver Machines in 2020 – Ultimate Guide

The 7 Best Vacuum Sealers of 2020

Shop for the best vacuum sealers on the market for preserving your food

Our Top Picks

"Has buttons for wet or dry foods canisters and instant sealing."

"A commercial grade countertop machine with 935-watts of power."

"Sleek and effective, whether used for sous vide cooking or regular food saving."

"Boasts a compact design, indicator lights, and a removable drip tray."

"Reviewers praise this vacuum for its compact size and quiet operation."

"This has a charging stand, so it works cordlessly."

"This super-compact unit fits easily in the hand and on the countertop when not in use."

Best Overall: FoodSaver FM5200-000 Vacuum Sealer Plus Starter Kit

This FoodSaver model has two different areas for sealing. When you pull out a length of bag material and cut it, you make the first seal on the next bag at the same time. Then, once the bag is filled, you insert the open end of the bag into a slot to vacuum the air out and seal it.

The vacuum sealer machine also has an integrated attachment for vacuum-sealing special canisters, special vacuum zipper bags, or for using the optional accessories that seal wine bottles or canning jars.

The FM5200-000 has buttons for wet or dry foods, canisters, quick marinating, accessories, pulsing, and instant sealing, so you’ll always use the right amount of vacuum suction. There is an integrated attachment for using this with canisters and accessories, and a drip tray to catch any moisture that might get sucked out of the bag during vacuuming.

This unit makes its seals closer to the cut edge of the bag material, so there is much less waste compared to previous FoodSaver models. There is a clear window where the bag is inserted for vacuuming, so you can make sure it’s straight and make sure you’re not wasting plastic bag.

This comes with a starter kit that includes one 11-inch x 10-foot roll of bag material, three quart-size bags, two gallon-size bags, three quart-size vacuum zipper bags, and two gallon-size vacuum zipper bags. There are other models sold without the starter kit if you prefer.

Best High-End: Weston Pro-2300 Commercial Grade Stainless Steel Vacuum Sealer

If your vacuum-sealing needs exceed normal household use, or if you love having restaurant-quality equipment at home, you should consider this option. It’s great for hunters and fishers, or those who tend to buy meat in bulk at the grocery store. It’s also perfect for people who want a quick way to marinate their meat.

This commercial-grade countertop machine has a double piston vacuum-pump with 935-watts of power to seal your food in a matter of minutes. The extra-wide 5mm seal bar ensures a consistent and tight seal with no leaks. You can seal a variety of different sized bags, and the manual seal mode gives you complete control over the amount of pressure so you can expertly seal delicate foods without crushing them.

You can also use this machine with coins and other valuables to keep them safe from air and moisture.

Best for Sous Vide: Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer

Courtesy of Williams Sonoma

This sealer is intended for use with the brand's popular sous vide cooker, but it works well for food-saving, too. The super-sleek and simple one-touch Anova is designed to extract air quickly and seal tightly. Use it with bags of different sizes for serving groups of two or ten.

The best part is that it has a small footprint, making it ideal for people in apartments or homes with limited cupboard and counter space. However, the tradeoff is that the no-frills model doesn't come with accessories (beyond ten pre-cut bags) like other options.

Best Budget: Seal-a-Meal Manual Vacuum Sealer

This budget vacuum sealer boasts a compact designed, indicator lights that show the sealing progress, and a removable drip tray for easy cleaning. This sealer can accommodate the standard-sized bags made by FoodSave and other companies, including 8-inch rolls, 11-inch rolls, and gallon-sized pre-made bags.

An Open/Cancel button stops the process if you need to stop or adjust something and opens the lid when the process is done. This offers hands-free operation so you can walk away while it works—just press down on the lid until the hands-free indicator lights up and you’re done.

This doesn’t have all the bells and whistles or special settings available on higher-end models, but it’s easy to operate and works well for users who have basic needs. It includes four quart-size bags.

Best Quiet: NutriChef Vacuum Sealer

Courtesy of Amazon

Vacuum sealers preserve food up to five times longer than regular plastic baggies, and this particular model was subjected to in-depth lab testing to ensure that it does just that. Reviewers praise this vacuum not only for its compact size and quiet operation but also for its versatility. Two sealing options—dry and moist—allow you to seal anything from soup to chicken or steak for sous vide. It has a suction rate of 12 liters (around three gallons) a minute, with smaller items being sealed in as little as four seconds.

The kit comes with five medium size vacuum bags and one extra-large vacuum bag roll, both of which are completely waterproof and reusable. If you need more, replacement bags are easy to repurchase from NutriChef or other vendors. Keep in mind that you do need an inch or so of room on each side of the item to successfully seal it: the more air the vacuum is able to remove, the longer food will stay in the fridge or freezer.

Best Handheld: FoodSaver FreshSaver Handheld Vacuum-Sealing System

If you need quick, short-term vacuum sealing, this cordless unit works with FoodSaver vacuum zipper bags and deli containers. It operates with one simple button, and the dishwasher-safe nozzle catches any liquids that are removed during the vacuuming process.

This has a charging stand, so it works cordlessly, so you can take it where you need it. Two vacuum zipper bags are included.

This can be used for short-term freezing, just as you might use standard zipper bags for freezing, but for long-term freezing, the heat-sealed bags are a better option.

Best Cordless: FoodSaver Cordless Handheld Food Vacuum Sealer

Measuring 4.62 x 1.75 x 1.75 inches, this super-compact unit fits easily in the hand and on the countertop when not in use—one of the main pros listed by reviewers. Powered by a built-in lithium-ion battery, the sealer and docking station don't require a plug. This, plus its minimal size, makes it ideal for those with small kitchens, such as apartment dwellers. It also might make a good travel unit for those who hunt or fish.

Note that it's meant for use with compatible FoodSafe containers, bags, and accessories, but it does come with four quart-sized bags so you can start sealing immediately. If you experience any issues within a year, FoodSaver offers a limited manufacturer's warranty.

How We Tested

Our reviewers spent four hours testing one of our readers' favorite vacuum sealers. To get the most comprehensive results, they set it up at home and experimented with sealing meats, vegetables, and more (including a smartphone). We asked our testers to consider the most important features when using this vacuum sealer, from its footprint to its extra features (like buttons for sealing wet foods). We've outlined the key points here so that you, too, know what to look for when shopping.

What to Look for in a Vacuum Sealer

Special features Higher-end machines tend to have special buttons (for things like pulsing or sealing wet foods), and some might also have the ability to seal more than bags (like containers for marinating foods). More basic models come at a lower price point with fewer features, but they tend to take up less space and work well if you don’t need the extra amenities.

Bag storage Do you want a vacuum sealer that stores bag rolls? The rolls will always be on hand and the machine will cut the bags to length. On the other hand, if the rolls don’t store inside the unit, you’ll have two separate things to keep track of, but the units themselves tend to be more compact.

Included extras There’s no doubt that you’ll eventually need to buy extra sealing bags and rolls, but some machines include a variety of both so you can decide which you prefer before you purchase more.