Whether you are sealing up food for sous vide, sealing homemade seasoned burgers, sealing chips so they don’t go stale, or keeping leftovers from your holiday dinner, a vacuum sealer is the way to go.
Why Use a Vacuum Sealer?
A vacuum sealer is a kitchen appliance that removes air from food storage bags or containers and seals them airtight. This is much better than trying to push the air out. Don’t use a straw and have liquid get in your mouth.
- Extended Shelf Life: A vacuum sealer removes air from the packaging, which prevents the growth of bacteria, molds, and yeast.
- Food Preservation: Vacuum sealing preserves the flavor, texture, and nutrients of foods, making them stay fresh for longer periods.
- Prevents Freezer Burn: Vacuum-sealed bags protect food from freezer burn by eliminating moisture and air contact.
- Reduced Food Waste: Vacuum sealing reduces food waste to store leftovers, bulk purchases, and seasonal produce for later use.
- Cost-Efficient: Buying items in bulk and vacuum sealing them can be cost-effective.
- Marinating and Infusing: Used it marinating meats and infusing flavors more effectively by allowing the marinade to penetrate deeper.
- Vacuum Packaging Non-Food Items: Besides food, use it for preserving and organizing non-food items like documents, jewelry, or camping gear.
- Cooking Sous Vide: Vacuum-sealed bags are better for sous-vide because all the air is removed.
- Portable and On-the-Go: Vacuum-sealed bags are portable, making them convenient for meal prepping, picnics, and camping trips.
- Hygienic: Vacuum sealing reduces the risk of cross-contamination in your refrigerator by sealing food securely.
- Long-Term Storage: It’s ideal for long-term food storage, such as for emergency preparedness or stocking up on seasonal produce.
- Custom Portions: Portion out food items according to your needs and seal them individually, making meal planning more convenient.
Full Review
I love my *Nesco vacuum sealer. This is the starter one that I bought five years ago to try. I had a FoodSaver brand and the unit burned itself out after two months. Since it had been a gift, I had no warranty on it. Well, this little Nesco has worked like a charm since I got it. Update: 2025, I upgraded and bought the *NESCO VS-12 model and love it even more!
Unlike the FoodSaver, the machine will not allow you to seal anything until it has cooled off enough. That’s a big plus!
Using *rolls of bags, you can cut them to whatever size you need. With some deft rolling, you can even make verticle seals like I did with with popcorn gifts.
Popcorn and Cheese Sprinkles for Easter Gifts
Recommended Accessories
I recommend using a bag holder when you only have two hands. Use your hands to hold the spoon or food. The bag holder will hold the bag.
Bag Holder – The Tool You Didn’t Know You Needed
Notes
In the video below, note that the burgers are not sealed correctly. That is my error, but I wanted you to see how easy the machine is to use.
