Vacuum Sealers: How They Work and Which One to Buy

A vacuum sealer is a small pump and a heated sealing strip in one machine. It pulls air out of a bag, then melts the bag shut, so food meets less oxygen in the fridge, freezer or pantry. This page explains the types, the specs worth checking and six models we cover in depth.

How does a vacuum sealer work?

It sucks the air out of the bag through the open end, then a hot wire or strip melts the two layers together. On a bar sealer, you place the bag mouth in a channel, close the lid and the pump draws air until it reaches its limit. Then the heating element seals the bag.

Less air means slower oxidation and much less freezer burn. It does not sterilize food. Vacuum sealing does not replace refrigeration: perishable food still needs the fridge or freezer, because Clostridium botulinum can grow in moist, low-acid food without oxygen. Our guide to vacuum sealing food covers what is safe and what is not.

What types of vacuum sealer are there?

There are three: bar (external) sealers, chamber sealers and handheld sealers. Nearly every home model on Amazon is a bar sealer.

Type	How it works	Strengths	Weaknesses
Bar (external)	The bag mouth sits in a channel outside the machine	Compact, light, affordable range	Needs embossed bags; liquids get sucked toward the pump
Chamber	The whole bag goes inside a sealed box	Handles liquids and smooth bags	Larger and much heavier
Handheld	A small pump draws air through a valve on reusable bags	Tiny and portable	Needs special valve bags; no heat seal

All 12 sealers in our US catalog are bar or handheld models; it does not include a chamber sealer yet. If you seal soups often, read our sealers for liquids page for workarounds.

How do I choose a vacuum sealer in 5 points?

Check suction, sealing, moisture handling, accessory port and warranty, in that order.

1. Suction (kPa). Higher kPa pulls a tighter vacuum. Several models declare 95 kPa; FoodSaver does not publish a figure. See sealers with 90 kPa and up.
2. Double seal. Two heating strips give a backup seal line, useful for freezer and sous vide bags. See double seal vacuum sealers.
3. Moist mode. It changes the vacuum and seal time for wet food. The FoodSaver V4440 detects moisture automatically.
4. Accessory port. A hose port lets you vacuum jars and canisters. See sealers for mason jars.
5. Warranty. It ranges from 1 year (Nesco VS-12) to 5 years (Beelicious VS9313, Gasbye, both FoodSavers) in our catalog.

Built-in roll storage and a cutter save time if you make custom-size bags. The full walkthrough is in how to choose a vacuum sealer.

How do the main models compare?

These six cover compact, bar and 2-in-1 sealers. Figures come from the product listing and, for the V4440, the FoodSaver specification. A blank cell means we do not have a reliable figure for it.

(affiliate link) · Data from the Amazon listing; offers may change.

Two details stand out. The FoodSaver models are the best-known names here, but neither listing publishes a suction figure in kPa. The MEGAWISE VS6621 is the lightest at 1.2 kg (about 2.6 lb), but its listing gives no warranty and no double seal.

Where should I go next?

Pick the page that matches what you need:

• Rankings: the 8 best vacuum sealers, sealers with 90 kPa and up and double seal vacuum sealers.
• By use: best for mason jars, best for liquids and best for sous vide.
• Reviews: FoodSaver FM2100, FoodSaver V4440, Beelicious Pro VS9313 and Gasbye VS5166.
• Head-to-heads: FoodSaver FM2100 vs V4440 and Beelicious Pro VS9313 vs Gasbye VS5166.
• Guides: how to choose a vacuum sealer and how to vacuum seal food.
• Problems: sealer not vacuuming and sealer not sealing.
• Brands: FoodSaver and Nesco.

For shelf-stable storage of dry food, a vacuum bag is not the end of the story. Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers block light as well as air; see long-term food storage.