Introduction

Evaluating reviews of vacuum sealers

Vacuum food sealers can help prevent waste by extending the life of perishables like vegetables, produce, meat, nuts and cheeses. They aim to remove air from the packaging (exposure to air speeds food's deterioration) and they prevent ice crystals from forming on frozen food. Ice-crystal formation can cause food to dry out, discolor and lose flavor -- the hallmarks of freezer burn. Food sealers allow consumers to buy food in bulk, then divide and seal it themselves, potentially saving money.

That's the theory, of course. In reality, we found loads of complaints about vacuum food sealers. Owners say they are bulky and can be hard to use. The bags occasionally spring leaks, resulting in spoiled food, and the bags themselves are expensive. Our advice: If you're considering one of these models, don't spend too much. Reviews for cheap handheld models like the Debbie Meyer Reynolds Handi-Vac (*Est. $15) were sometimes better than for expensive vacuum sealers costing more than $100.

There are two types of vacuum food sealers: countertop models and handheld ones. Countertop vacuum sealers promise to be more durable and offer stronger suction and sealing strength, but they're more expensive than handheld food sealers, and they take up more space. Some high-end vacuum sealers also can be used to remove the air from wine bottles and canisters, while others have convenience features like built-in bag storage. 

Cook's Illustrated magazine has the most comprehensive review of vacuum sealers, testing two handheld and six countertop food sealers for ease of use, seal strength and signs of freezer burn after two weeks, one month and two months. Editors sealed ground coffee, fresh strawberries, raw chicken and beef, and fully cooked Thanksgiving meals to test how well each sealer worked with different types of foods. This review is not very outdated, and several of the tested food sealers are no longer available.

Anna Wallner and Kristina Matisic, hosts of the syndicated Canadian TV show "The Shopping Bags," review three food sealers (also in an older review), testing their vacuum strength with a pressure gauge. They also seal baking soda in a bag and place it in a basin of vinegar to detect leaks (vinegar causes baking soda to fizz). We found some other hands-on tests of vacuum sealers at Fine Cooking and Good Housekeeping magazines, but most of the models they evaluated have been discontinued.

To fill in the gaps in professional reviews, we relied upon owner comments at Amazon.com, Cooking.com, Viewpoints.com, Cabelas.com and Epinions.com. Unlike expert reviewers, consumers can comment on a vacuum food sealer's performance over time, noting whether sealing gaskets loosen or containers crack, and whether features such as bag sensors are useful or irritating. These reviews are also much more up-to-date than those we found on professional review websites. We also found feedback from consumers posting to a forum thread on Chowhound.com, a discussion board for food and cooking enthusiasts, as well as individual product reviews at KitchenContraptions.com, DesertDogJournal.com and SurvivalSpeak.com.