Finding effective ways to extend the life of your groceries is a great way to cut down on waste at home. People spend a lot of effort, time and money shopping for groceries, and there’s nothing worse than wanting to use an ingredient and realizing it’s spoiled. One of the easiest and most convenient ways to keep food items fresher for longer is by investing in a quality vacuum sealer. These practical machines are designed to tightly seal food in bags to keep it fresh and flavorful. Here are our top picks of the best vacuum sealers that are easy to use and highly effective.  

Can be used to package letters and magazines for long-term preservation 

This vacuum sealer machine has a convenient one-touch vacuum sealing operation. It comes with sealing and stop functions that can be operated separately for different types of dry, moist and delicate food

Pros: 

Cons: 

Features a compact design  

This vacuum sealer machine comes with three different speeds and a pulse function to vacuum seal a variety of dry and moist foods. It is compatible with 8-inch and 11-inch bags and rolls.

Pros: 

Cons: 

Made with superior stainless steel and ABS

This compact vacuum sealer is highly versatile. It can be used to seal moist, dry and fragile foods. It can also be used for sous vide processes. It comes with an effective vacuum pump and a strong, out-performing motor. 

Pros: 

Cons: 

Comes with LED indicator lights

This vacuum sealer is a fully-automatic machine featuring a simple electric plug-in design with a control center placed on the top panel. It also comes with soft-touch digital buttons that are very easy to use. 

Pros: 

Cons: 

Removes air and seal bags with just a press of a button

With its additional modes including a pulse function for more control over air extraction and a seal function for individually sealing ends of bags, this vacuum sealer is versatile and highly practical. 

Pros: 

Cons: 

Only a few types of foods cannot be vacuum-sealed. These are foods that may contain anaerobic bacteria that can grow without the presence of air. These food items include garlic, raw mushrooms, soft and unpasteurised cheese, and some freshly cooked vegetables.

Most vacuum-sealed foods can last in the refrigerator for up to one to two weeks, which is much longer than the typical one to three days food will last when stored normally in a refrigerator. Vacuum-sealed frozen food can even last an average of two to three years when stored correctly.

A quality vacuum sealer’s basic function is to preserve food. Therefore, it should be able to suck out air efficiently. So, when shopping for one, it’s important to choose a sealer that offers good suction power without damaging the foods that are being preserved.

A good vacuum sealer should also create a strong seal that helps lock in freshness. However, keep in mind that power does not always equal quality. So, you want to look for a machine that effectively sucks out air without creating air pockets that hide in small crevices.

Next, think about bag compatibility. Ideally, you want to invest in a machine that can be used to seal many different bags, including various sizes and thicknesses. 

It’s also a good idea to consider the space you have available before choosing a vacuum sealer machine. For smaller kitchens and limited counter space, a more compact vacuum sealer is ideal.