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Jul 03, 2023

One of Our Favorite Vacuum Sealers Is Currently on Sale for 35% Off

Dotdash Meredith and Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. The Nesco VS-12 Deluxe Vacuum Sealer is great for sous vide and food storage. Serious Eats /

Dotdash Meredith and Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.

The Nesco VS-12 Deluxe Vacuum Sealer is great for sous vide and food storage.

Serious Eats / Taylor Murray

Vacuum sealers are essential for sous vide cooking, but they’re also great for prepping food for freezing. By removing all of the air inside the plastic bag, vacuum sealers can help prevent freezer burn and cut down on food waste. Whether you’ve got pork chops going into a hot water bath or your freezer drawer, the Nesco VS-12 Deluxe Vacuum Sealer was one of the best-performing vacuum sealers in our months-long testing.

Serious Eats / Taylor Murray

To buy: Nesco VS-12 Deluxe Vacuum Sealer was $135, now $88 at amazon.com

During our testing, we were impressed with how powerful the Nesco was. It created a strong, quick pull that removed all of the air from every bag and also had a manual mode to tone down the power for vacuum-sealing more delicate foods, like cereal. We also really liked its built-in bag storage and cutting tool, which rolled directly into the sealer for easy setup.

Serious Eats / Taylor Murray

Not only did bags sealed with the Nesco stay intact during sous vide tests, but the seal also prevented freezer burn in ground beef during our three-month-long testing period. The only downsides were its long refractory period (i.e., how long the machine takes until it’s ready to make another seal) and its size: it was a little more awkward to store than other models we tested, due to its length.

Weight: 5 lbs

Number of settings: 3

Dimensions: 14.75 inches long x 7 inches deep x 4 inches tall

Included accessories: 2 rolls of bags (8.6” x 9.85 and 11.8”x 9.85)

Highest actual pressure: 22 inHG

Built-in storage and bag cutter: Yes

Continuous seals: 100

Time-out period between sealings: None

Pulse setting: Yes

Warranty: 2 years

Can I use any bags with the Nesco vacuum sealer?

Though the vacuum sealer comes with two rolls of Nesco branded bags, the Nesco VS-12 is compatible with any brand of vacuum sealer bags. The sealer can accommodate up to 11.8-inch wide bags, so be sure to check the measurements of the ones you’d like to use.

How long does vacuum-sealed food last in the freezer?

There are a lot of factors that can affect how long vacuum-sealed food can last in the freezer, but in our testing, we found that ground beef resisted freezer burn in a well-sealed bag for at least three months. If it’s properly sealed, it could last even longer—up to two years—though we don’t have firsthand experience testing for that length of time.

Read More:We Tested 19 Vacuum Sealers—Here Are the Best Ones