14 Best Vacuum Sealers, According to Food Experts in 2023

By Brittany Natale

Vacuum sealers help keep your food fresh for longer, and with proper sealing and storage it can also help cut back on food waste. Finding the best vacuum sealer is handy for meal prepping, stocking up on grocery store sales, or freezing leftovers. It can also be helpful for marinating proteins and veggies and is a great tool to have on hand if you like to sous vide. How does this convenient kitchen appliance work? It uses a vacuum system to create an airtight seal around food items.

"I often batch cook and freeze soups, fruits for smoothies, cooked grains, and blanched veggies," Pamela Salzman, a chef and cookbook author tells SELF. "Plus, I like to buy value packs of protein and create smaller portions to freeze for later use." If you’ve been on the hunt for the best vacuum sealer, we connected with a handful of food experts for their recommendations on the best vacuum seal models.

There are three types of vacuum sealers: external, chamber, and handheld. With an external vacuum sealer (a popular choice among home cooks) the food is sealed in a bag clamped to the outside of the machine. Although an external vacuum sealer can seal wet foods, it may not work well on liquids, such as soups. Because of this, make sure to freeze liquids before vacuum sealing.

With a chamber vacuum sealer, food is placed into a storage bag and then dropped into the machine's internal chamber. This heavy-duty vacuum sealer can easily seal liquids but is usually large, expensive, and mostly found in commercial kitchens.

Lastly, a handheld vacuum sealer is precisely what it sounds like—compact, highly portable, and ideal for sealing smaller items.

When shopping for the best vacuum sealer for your kitchen, Salzman recommends first figuring out how much room you have and what you’ll be using it for the most. "Make sure the size works for your space and that it has all the functionality you want," she explains. For example, vacuum sealers often have different settings, such as moist, dry, pulse, and sous vide. If you’re planning on sealing wet foods, like raw meats, you’ll want to pick a vacuum sealer with a "moist" function. If you need to preserve cookies or other delicate baked goods, go for one with a "pulse" option. For those who need to seal pantry staples, such as cereals and grains, a machine with a "dry" setting should fit the bill.

Below we selected 14 expert-recommended vacuum sealers. You’ll find top picks from popular brands like FoodSaver, NutriChef, Zwilling, and Anova Culinary, from retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, and others.

All products featured on SELF are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

This FoodSaver model is one of the most popular vacuum sealers and a favorite of Anna Vocino, a best-selling cookbook author and the founder of Eat Happy Kitchen. This sealer is equipped with four custom settings—pulse, marinate, moist, and dry. With just a press of a button, you can seal everything from delicate baked goods and soft cheeses to dry foods and seasonal veggies. "It's easy to use, it's versatile, and if you’re stowing it away when not in use, it's relatively compact if you stand it on its end," Vocino says.

Brad Prose, a personal chef and publisher of Chilies and Smoke, recommends this option if you’re looking for a vacuum sealer that is both handheld and cordless. "I use this product for everyday storage, rather than sealing foods for the freezer, such as large cuts of meats or stews," Prose says.

This compact starter kit comes with reusable BPA-free vacuum sealer bags, which are perfect for sous-vide cooking and marinating, and easier to store in the refrigerator. Even better? This device connects to Zwilling's Culinary World app to help you prevent food waste by keeping track of stored food.

Want a food vacuum sealer that is both versatile and simple to use? Opt for this FoodSaver sealer with automatic bag detection and built-in roll storage. All you have to do is attach the bag to the vacuum chamber, and that's it. "This vacuum sealer is a great choice for those who want a versatile and easy-to-use option," says Kate Thrane, a gluten-free recipe developer at the Glutenless Maximus.

We also love that this machine can help preserve meat without any freezer burn and that it comes with a removable drip tray to catch any messes.

This is another FoodSaver option for the home cook looking to heat seal everything from premade meals to glass jars. Salzman recommends it because its quick one-touch operation means that you can seal and store both moist food, dry food, and even jars in mere minutes. It also comes with a bonus retractable handheld sealer and a collection of vacuum seal bags in different sizes.

Jessica Randhawa, the head chef, recipe creator, and writer behind the Forked Spoon, is a fan of this deluxe vacuum sealer machine. "It has easy-to-use settings to enable the best possible vacuum seal depending on the type of food you are sealing," says Randhawa.

With over 5,800 5-star Amazon reviews, the Nesco-VS12 vacuum sealer boasts three custom settings—dry, moist, and an optional double seal that keeps wet foods more secure—and comes with two rolls of bags to start you off.

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Matt Ayala, the executive chef at Arbella in Chicago, uses Mueller vacuum sealers at home and in a professional kitchen. "Mueller is great because it holds its seal over time when using it as a food saver and seals tight when used to sous vide," says Ayala. Smaller and lighter than bulkier models, this food vacuum sealer is affordable and doesn't take up too much storage space.

FoodSaver does it again. A top pick among the pros, this countertop model makes the vacuum sealing process as easy as 1-2-3. Perfect for food projects, both big and small, this durable vacuum sealer features dual heat sealing strips to help keep your food extra secure.

Here's another practical vacuum sealer that's offered at a reasonable price point. Food experts, such as Thrane, find Geryon vacuum sealers to be top-quality and affordable. "This vacuum sealer is a budget-friendly option that still offers great performance," she says. "It has a simple and easy-to-use design, with a one-touch sealing function and a built-in bag cutter for custom bags. It also comes with a starter kit of bags and rolls, making it a great value for the price."

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If you’re looking for a more heavy-duty machine, then this may be the one for you. Featuring an extra-wide seal bar to vacuum seal foods of all sizes, this kitchen appliance uses a double piston pump with impressive suction power.

If you’re looking for an inexpensive, long-lasting vacuum sealer, then give this Anova Culinary precision vacuum sealer a try. "Coming in at $60, you’d think it might not withstand the test of time," says Chef Sieger Bayer, former executive chef of Etta in Los Angeles. "But my sealer has been used at a busy restaurant continuously for over two years, hits the road for catering jobs, and works when organizing my pantry and freezer at home."

Featuring a solid, compact design that doesn't take up too much counter space, this model works great for food storage and sous-vide. "Replacement bags are also easy to find, and Anova customer care is wonderful," adds Bayer.

Chef Melanie Underwood of Gather Culinary likes the FoodSaver VS3182 Vacuum Sealer because it's a full-sized heat sealer that also features a retractable handheld vacuum sealer. Use the heat sealer for long-term freezer preservation and the handheld option for short-term fridge or pantry storage."I love that I can freeze delicate foods, like raspberries, and it doesn't crush them," says Underwood.

This model has five customized settings, including pulse, marinate, moist, dry, and sous vide. It also has a built-in cutter that allows you to create custom-sized vacuum seal bags. "I mostly use it for marinating protein and freezing foods, and if I know I have to keep veggies in the refrigerator a little longer than is ideal," adds Underwood.

By Kayla Blanton

By Amy Marturana Winderl, C.P.T.

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Make all your sous vide dreams come true with this vacuum sealer and sous vide bundle. Featuring a Wi-Fi-enabled Anova Precision Cooker Pro and vacuum sealer with pulse vacuum function, this kit will have you sous-viding chicken, fish, eggs, and more in no time. The precision cooker easily clamps onto any stock pot or container, can cook for groups of up to eight, and is water-resistant (so you don't have to worry about accidents). The included vacuum sealer machine even comes with a double sealer to ensure your storage or sous vide bags are super secure.

Nunzio Ross, CEO and founder of Majesty Coffee, applauds this NutriChef vacuum sealer for its exceptional pulse control. "This feature makes the vacuum sealer one of the best choices for almost any food item, including delicate items like fruits, pretzels, and cereals, without breaking them," Ross says.

With over 24,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, this vacuum sealer is both lightweight and portable, making it a great option for those looking for a more streamlined model. Each bundle comes complete with five reusable precut bags, an extra-large vacuum bag roll, an air suction hose, and a wine stopper that can be used to reseal bottles of wine.

Another great choice from FoodSaver, this vacuum sealer is so popular because of its custom settings (moist and dry) and slim design. This space-saving unit can easily be stored in cabinets or on countertops and produces 35% less plastic bag waste than other FoodSaver models. Perfect for smaller kitchens, this affordable vacuum sealer can be used for marinating, sous vide, or just to keep foods fresh.

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