Table of Content
- Can you vacuum seal soup, bread, and lettuce?
- Q. Do I need a vacuum sealer for sous vide?
- Limited Time Promotion: For a limited time receive 20 of our virtually indestructible food grade bags (8” x 12”) FREE (V4R
- What to Look for When Buying a Vacuum Sealer
- Safety Features
- Mueller Austria Vacuum Sealer Machine
- Tips for Using a Vacuum Sealer
The retractable handheld sealer eliminates the need for attachments and can be used to seal zipper bags, canisters, and other containers. It features settings for dry and moist foods as well as automatic moisture detection, which switches the settings to achieve the tightest seal. With automatic bag detection and sealing, the machine does most of the work.
Compact models, which work well for small kitchens with limited storage space, may not be able to accommodate larger bags. The Mueller has settings for moist or dry foods to help you customize the perfect vacuum seal. Our Lab tests revealed incredible suction power with good pulse control that allows you to get super-tight seals even on irregularly shaped items. We tested eight of the top-rated vacuum sealers side by side in the test kitchen of our dedicated Lab. We rated them on ease of use, pulse control, suction power and cleanup, and sous vide-cooked vacuum-sealed meat to check for broken seals. There are sealing settings for dry foods and moist foods , as well as an option to create a double heat seal on any bag.
Can you vacuum seal soup, bread, and lettuce?
It works with any brand of vacuum-sealer bag rolls up to 12 inches wide, or with pre-made quart or gallon-sized bags. The setup can't be beaten—basically, you plug it in and you are ready to seal. To seal bags, place the end into the machine and press down to lock it in place, then press the vacuum button.

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Q. Do I need a vacuum sealer for sous vide?
The price tag is a little steep for the casual user, but the machine comes loaded with some convenient features that help justify the spend. It's easy to clean thanks to a pull-out drawer that houses a dishwasher-safe drip tray. It has built-in roll storage, a bag cutter, and a retractable handheld sealer that can be used to preserve pantry snacks, cereals, and nuts in FoodSaver zipper bags, containers, and canisters.
The kit includes five heat-seal bags, each measuring 11.8 inches long by 7.8 inches wide, and one 7.8-inch by 78-inch bag roll. This Geryon Vacuum Sealer Machine is compact enough to fit in small kitchens with limited storage space. We like this model best for sealing leftovers for long storage, such as pizza. It’s also a smart solution for the likes of bacon, ground meat, hot dogs, and other packaged items that may not all be cooked at once, avoiding food waste and spoilage. The complete kit includes a 10-foot-by-11-inch vacuum-seal roll, three 1-quart vacuum-seal bags, two 1-gallon vacuum-seal bags, three 1-quart vacuum-zipper bags, and two 1-gallon zipper bags. Built-in roll storage and a bag cutter allow the creation of custom-size bags, while a dishwasher-safe removable drip tray makes cleanup a breeze.
Limited Time Promotion: For a limited time receive 20 of our virtually indestructible food grade bags (8” x 12”) FREE (V4R
If you're looking to seal more fragile items like fruits and pastries, you may want to find a model with a "gentle" setting. 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 more than the basics. The Nesco VS-12 Deluxe Vacuum Sealer is our top choice because of its ease of use, incredible pulse control, strong suction power, and ease of cleaning. For those on a budget, the Nesco VS-02is more affordable and earned high marks in both Lab and at-home testing. It also has a small countertop footprint, making it ideal for people in apartments or homes with limited cupboard and counter space.

The extended seal mode, for instance, is for moist foods, while the pulse button and adjustable high/low levels provide additional control. In testing, we found that the top must be held down until it clicks, and pressure must be maintained during the sealing process or a true vacuum won’t result. The words “press down during operation” are printed on the machine as a reminder.
The Nesco VS-02 vacuum sealer is easy to use and doesn’t have any unnecessary bells and whistles. An upgraded feature, the seal-time selection switch allows users to extend seal time for a tighter seal on wet foods. It quickly reseals chips and other frequently used items and vacuums those meant for the freezer and sous vide. 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.
The pad felt comfortable and stayed in place when used with both low- and high-pile rugs. It is also available in a ⅜-inch version for those seeking extra cushioning. Our spill test required only a bit of scrubbing with a mild detergent; however, the company recommends professional cleaning for deeper stains. The grill’s recessed-grate design helps it generate ample heat for searing a brown char on meat while also creating space for heat circulation. The clear glass lid allows cooks to monitor the food without having to crack the lid, which is helpful for trapping aromas when cooking food like fish. Vacuum sealing also increases the lifespan of cheese in the fridge to between 4 and 8 months.
We appreciated this since it not only cuts down on food waste, but it also limits single-use plastic waste. Each box includes a customized potting mixture and fun little extras such as stickers, candy, magnets, or pins. The company’s customer service team is available to assess photos of sickly plants and make recommendations on how to revive them, completely free of charge.
However, the tradeoff is that the no-frills model doesn't come with accessories (beyond 10 pre-cut bags) like other options. Still, our home tester noted that even if you don't have the most evenly cut bags, it will still work. "A slightly wavy cut or a bit of an angle doesn’t make any difference at all," she reported. However, using the extended seal-time function successfully may require a bit of a learning curve. Also, it’s not the fastest model on the market, and unfortunately, in our testing some vacuum-sealed bags failed in the freezer. Throughout, we asked ourselves how easy the machines were to use, how quickly they vacuumed and sealed, and how strong the seals were.
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Tips for Using a Vacuum Sealer
More portable than countertop models, they’re often cordless, making them convenient for long hunting or fishing trips. They have less suction power compared to countertop models, so they’re not ideal for everyday use. The Hamilton Beach NutriFresh Vacuum Sealer is a simple-to-use device with five settings that expand its basic functionality.