Vacuum Food Sealers: Reviews

Though it's more expensive than some, reviews say that FoodSaver's countertop vacuum food sealers work best overall. This brand has several models that share the same basic functionality. The FoodSaver V2440 is the best… value, with a crush-free setting (for sealing fragile items) and a bag cutter so you can use rolls of tri-ply plastic instead of individual bags -- that's less expensive in the long run. You can also vacuum-seal special canisters or pre-cut bags. (We read some complaints that FoodSaver's plastic canisters can crack or fail to seal, though.) The big differences between this countertop vacuum food sealer and cheaper handheld sealers are better durability, the ability to use canisters and create custom-sized bags that save plastic.

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If you mainly just want to protect foods from spoilage and freezer burn, reviewers say the Reynolds Handi-Vac does a good job. The compact Handi-Vac removes the air from special zipper bags (20 to 30 cents each, depending… on size). Reviews say the Handi-Vac is quick to use and easy to store in a drawer, but handheld food sealers -- which run on batteries -- aren't as powerful as countertop sealers (such as the FoodSaver V2440). The Handi-Vac should be reserved for long-term food storage, not frequently used items like cereal and coffee, because bags that are opened and resealed with this sealer don't remain airtight.

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