If you’re starting to get into sous vide cooking, you’ll want to invest in a good vacuum sealer. This tool makes it easy to preserve ingredients while compact enough to fit in any kitchen drawer or bag. In addition to maximizing storage space, these tools can also make it easier to carry around. Here are some of the best models to choose from. Read on to find out what makes them the best choice for sous vide cooking.
To extend the shelf life of cooked foods and prevent freezer burn, vacuum-seal them. Food spoilage is most commonly caused by oxygen, affecting color, texture, and nutrient density. Thanks to the best vacuum sealers, your food will be fresh and oxygen-free. This feature will help you ensure the quality of your finished products and reduce the likelihood of food spoilage. This will extend the life of your meals while also making them more appealing to you.
What is Vacuum Sealer?
A vacuum sealer is a device that removes air from plastic pouches and specially designed containers, allowing the contents to last longer. Shelled peanuts and roasted ground coffee were the first foods to benefit from this technique, but it is now used to prepare meat, poultry, seafood, vegetables, and cheese. Although primarily used for food storage, these pouches and canisters can also be used to store non-food items.
Vacuum Bags
The vacuum bags’ seals protect the contents from water, dust, and microorganisms. Perishable foods last longer due to a lack of oxygen. These bags frequently act as a barrier to oxygen, preventing it from being reintroduced. Remember that bacteria and enzymes naturally present in food cause the degradation of proteins, lipids (fats), and carbohydrates. This waterproof barrier prevents moisture loss in products like meat and cheese and weight loss during storage before consumption. Dry products, likewise, are well-protected against moisture penetration.
Which Foods can be Vacuum-Sealed?
Some foods, such as salad leaves and chips, are not suitable for vacuum packing because they would become mushy. You must also consider how you will store your vacuum-packed food. Dried herbs, ground spices, coffee, pulses, etc. can be kept at room temperature. Fruit, vegetables, and cooked meat/fish can also be dehydrated before packing and stored in a cupboard. If the ingredients are fresh, they should be stored in the refrigerator or freezer until needed.
The Best Vacuum Sealer for Sous Vide Cooking
Here are some of the best vacuum sealers for sous vide cooking:
FoodSaver FM2435 Vacuum Sealer Machine with Bonus Handheld
Features:
- Stretch your dollar: Meat preserved with the food saver system in the freezer can last up to 3 years and still taste fresh, flavorful, and freezer-burn free. Prep-ahead meals, leftovers, and produce stored in the fridge will stay fresh up to weeks later instead of spoiling in days
- Built-in roll storage & cutter: Create custom-sized bags without using scissors; Led light indicators then guide you through the vacuum sealing process—press the vacuum and seal button to remove the air that causes freezer burn and spoilage
- Guaranteed to reach an optimal vacuum level and seal airtight for up to 60 seals before cooling down. The fm2435 is durable, high quality, and backed by a 5-year limited warranty
- Easy lock and latch: Turn the lid to lock it, unlike competitor versions that require two hands.
FoodSaver New FM5000 Series 2-in-1 Vacuum Sealing System Plus Starter Kit
Features:
- New Vacuum View Window lets you see where you seal for optimal control and reduces roll waste by over 30%
- Express Bag Maker featuring the Lower Seal and Cut Bar allows you to use your countertop as your workspace. It reduces bag-making steps by 50%*, saving time making custom bags with an easier way to measure and automatically create a seal for your next ready-to-use bag.
- The only bags and rolls engineered to work with the FoodSaver Vacuum Sealing Systems.
- Multi-ply material prevents freezer burn.
Gourmia GVS445 Sealing System-Vertical Space Saving 8 Function Sealer, Preserve or Vacuum for Sous Vide
Features:
- Our state-of-the-art vacuum sealer is an economical solution to keep food fresh longer. Store & preserve vegetables, fruits & meats, or vacuum for sous vide.
- Features a vertical space-saving sleek design, easy-to-read LED indicator lights, built-in vacuum roll housing, and a removable vacuum tray for easy cleaning.
- This vacuum sealer gives you a few ways to preserve your food: vacuum & seal, food, normal, gentle plus pickling and canister functions with LED display.
- We’ve included a starter’s kit with a roll of vacuum bags and this easy-to-use vacuum sealer, so you’ll be able to start pickling your foods in no time.
- We at Gourmia take the quality of our products seriously. We are ETL certified, so you can be confident that you’re receiving safe, efficient, high-quality appliances.
FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer Machine with Starter Vacuum Seal Bags & Rolls
Features:
- When food is protected from air and freezer burn, everyday meal planning is easier—double the recipe of your favorite dishes, then store the extra portions for a quick and nutritious meal on busy weeknights, and spend less time grocery shopping when you buy frequently used items in bulk
- Just add food to the bag, insert the open end into the FM2000, and the machine takes care of the rest—removing all of the air, creating an airtight seal, and stopping automatically once the seal is complete
- Food preserved with the FoodSaver System and stored in the freezer can last up to 3 years, rather than six months, and it will still taste as fresh as the day you sealed it. And prep ahead meals and leftovers stored in the fridge can still be enjoyed weeks later
- Use your vacuum sealer to store liquids and creams when you travel, protect important papers or photographs from mildew or possible water damage, create your freezable ice packs, and much more
- Innovative, unique drip tray that gathers surplus liquid and debris during vacuum sealing and keeps countertops clean; Cord length: 24″
Nesco VS-12 Deluxe Vacuum Sealer Food Dehydrator
Features:
- 130 watt, 25. 1 InHG double vacuum pump for optimal performance. Ensures maximum air extraction when sealing larger food items
- Includes three settings – dry, moist, and double. You can choose between normal vacuum pressure or gentle to keep soft foods safe.
- The easy-lock handle makes one-handed operation smooth and easy
- Optional double heat seal provides added strength and security when sealing liquid-based or moist foods
- Conveniently stores any brand of vacuum sealer bags in the unit, while the bag cutter helps to create custom bag sizes for your needs
- Two bag rolls are included to get you started, one 8.6” x 9.85’ roll and one 11.8”x 9.85 roll
Some Additional Factors
Vacuum sealers are divided into two categories, each with its features.
The open end of the bag is placed into a bar sealer, which is a very simple suction device. The bar sealer will suck all of the air out of the bag before sealing the two flaps of plastic with your food inside using heat and pressure. On the other hand, bar sealers will suck out any liquid from your bag along with the air, so they can only be used with dry foods.
Canister sealers are more complicated, but they can handle liquids and dry foods. Canister sealers work by sucking the air out of the top of the canister, preventing any liquid in the lower half of the canister from being pulled out. Although some bar sealers come with a hose to support canister sealing, these sealers are less common.
When using a food sealer, you should also consider whether you want to use bags or rolls. Bags are the most convenient because they resemble standard Ziploc bags, which are already sealed on three sides and have an opening to place food into before sealing. On the other hand, Bags come in predetermined sizes, which can limit your options. On the other hand, Rolls have a predetermined width but can be cut to the required bag length. Before filling rolls, cut the desired length and seal one side (two sides are pre-sealed).
Consider these Features Before Purchasing a Vacuum Sealer
Here are the features you should be considered before purchasing a vacuum sealer:
1. Acceptable Bags and Rolls
Vacuum sealers’ bag and roll compatibility is crucial. Many vacuum sealers are only designed to accept bags and rolls made by the vacuum sealer’s manufacturer. This isn’t the case with all vacuum sealers; some will accept almost any bag or roll, while others will only accept bags or rolls from a select group of manufacturers. When it’s time to buy new bags, the more freedom you have regarding which bags and rolls you can use, the more you’ll be able to shop around for the best prices.
2. Vacuum Strength
Vacuum sealers aren’t all created equal – Some vacuum cleaners have a stronger suction than others, affecting how long it takes to remove all of the air from a large bag. If you use your vacuum sealer to prepare a lot of food, the time spent waiting for a weak vacuum can add up quickly. On the other hand, most manufacturers do not disclose the vacuum strength of their products. As a result, to determine whether a vacuum sealer has the strength you require, you must rely heavily on customer reviews and personal experience with specific brands.
3. Size and Weight
Because you will most likely be moving your vacuum sealer around your kitchen and possibly storing it in a cupboard when you are not in the middle of food preparation, the size and weight of your vacuum sealer are important. A smaller and lighter vacuum sealer may appear to be the best option with these factors in mind. The size and weight of the sealer, on the other hand, are usually proportional to the size of the suction unit that is built into it. Furthermore, a vacuum sealer can only seal bags as wide as the bar, so you may need an especially wide vacuum sealer if you work with large quantities of food and wide bags.
Ease of Use and Extra Features
One of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a vacuum sealer is the ease of use, as you will not use it if sealing bags is painful. Many vacuum sealers have one-button activation steps, so you only have to do a little work to get from food prep to sealed bags. Some vacuum sealers, such as the SARKI, allow you to toggle the suction mode to account for whether there is a marinade in your bag (that you don’t want the vacuum to suck out or whether you want the vacuum to work on gently) whatever food you’re trying to seal. Extra features like an LED display, while not strictly necessary, can be useful if you use your vacuum sealer frequently.
What are the Benefits of Having the Best Vacuum Sealer for Sous Vide?
Having a vacuum sealer in your kitchen has several advantages, both for food preparation and sous vide in particular. The main reason people use vacuum sealers and sous vide is to prevent food deterioration.
Sealing meat, fish, and vegetables in a vacuum bag, similar to canning, is an excellent method of food preservation that does not require the addition of sugar, salt, or other additives that would alter the flavor of your food. Using a vacuum sealer allows you to store fresh food for longer periods or safely store leftovers without worrying about mold or bacteria developing and causing foodborne illness later.
Using a vacuum sealer to portion out your food and plan meals is also a good idea. Preparing meals in bulk and sealing them in vacuum-sealed packets that can be unwrapped separately is easy. This saves a lot of time and money in the long run regarding food preparation.
How do you Use a Vacuum Sealer?
Vacuum sealers are divided into two categories, each with its features. The open end of the bag is placed into a bar sealer, which is a very simple suction device. The bar sealer will suck all of the air out of the bag before sealing the two flaps of plastic with your food inside using heat and pressure. On the other hand, bar sealers will suck out any liquid from your bag along with the air, so they can only be used with dry foods.
Canister sealers are more complicated, but they can handle liquids and dry foods. Canister sealers work by sucking the air out of the top of the canister, preventing any liquid in the lower half of the canister from being pulled out. Although some bar sealers come with a hose to support canister sealing, these sealers are less common.
When using a food sealer, you should also consider whether you want to use bags or rolls. Bags are most convenient since they resemble Ziploc bags, which are three-sided and have a food opening.
On the other hand, Bags come in predetermined sizes, which can limit your options. On the other hand, Rolls have a predetermined width but can be cut to the required bag length. Before filling rolls, cut the desired length and seal one side (two sides are pre-sealed).
Conclusion
If you’re going to use your sous vide machine regularly, you’ll need the right sealer. By trapping flavor-enhancing juices in a vacuum sealer, you can maximize flavor. It also aids in the prevention of evaporation. Low-heat cooking makes food easier to eat and digest, and it can be used to make delicious gourmet meals at home. Vacuum sealers are simple to operate, and the plugin automatically.
To maximise storage, buy a vacuum sealer for sous vide cooking. These useful devices prevent freezer burn and are easy to use. In addition, you can use your vacuum sealer to store leftovers, raw meats, and even produce. For sous vide cooking, you’ll also need a bag or two. Vacuum seal it when you have the bag, and you’re ready to go!
