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Sep 13, 2023

10 things you can do with a vacuum sealer

Vacuum sealer uses It’s probably hard to imagine a time before refrigerators and freezers. However, they’re not the only way to keep your food fresh. Vacuum sealers allow you to store food in the

Vacuum sealer uses

It’s probably hard to imagine a time before refrigerators and freezers. However, they’re not the only way to keep your food fresh. Vacuum sealers allow you to store food in the fridge or freezer for longer periods, reducing food waste and saving you money.

Vacuum sealers work with various foods, but they have several other household uses as well. You can use it to protect more items and store them efficiently.

What is a vacuum sealer?

A vacuum sealer seals items tightly by suctioning out the air and compressing the item in a plastic bag. People typically use these to preserve food, maximize storage and protect important items.

The two most common types of vacuum sealers are chamber vacuum sealers or external vacuum sealers. A chamber vacuum sealer like the VacMaster VP215 Chamber Vacuum Sealer has a hollow space for you to place your item. External sealers, however, seal your items in a bag outside of the appliance instead of just a chamber. A great example of this is the FoodSaver PowerVac VS0160.

How to use a vacuum sealer

Once you place your item in a vacuum bag, line the bag up with the sealing bar. Turn the vacuum on. The vacuum sealer then extracts all the air in the bag, so the plastic seals tightly around the item. Once the vacuum extracts the air completely, the machine uses a heated bar to shut the bag.

Vacuum sealers come in a variety of different sizes and styles, so it’s a good idea to find one that meets your needs. For example, you might want a handheld vacuum sealer if you need to vacuum large items. Or, you may prefer a kitchen countertop vacuum sealer if you plan on using it for food storage.

Many sealers also come with different attachments. For example, you can add a jar sealing vacuum sealer attachment which is great for making preserves.

Vacuum sealer benefits

Keeps food fresh

Vacuum sealing food like meats, cheeses or vegetables can drastically increase its shelf life. Foods that would normally last a couple of weeks can last you months in the fridge or even longer in the freezer.

Prevents water damage

Many people use vacuum sealers when putting things into long-term storage. It keeps all moisture and water away from the items and also protects them from dust and dirt.

Maximizes storage space

Whether you’re packing up your seasonal clothes or want a better way to store holiday decorations, vacuum sealing items work great for storage. The vacuum compresses the items to make them smaller and frees up lots of storage space.

10 ways to use a vacuum sealer

Sous vide cooking

Sous vide is the process of cooking something in water under a low or moderate temperature. It allows the items to cook evenly and thoroughly without the risk of burning them, as you can sometimes do with a skillet. Most sous vide chefs vacuum seal the food before placing it in the water to cook.

Marinating food

Try marinating your meat by vacuum sealing it in a bag. This ensures that the food absorbs as many flavors as possible. It also helps spread the marinade evenly around the meat, so you don’t have to worry about rotating the meat while you marinate.

Storing leftovers

Food waste is a big concern for many households. It can be easy to make food and not eat it before it goes bad. But vacuum sealing your leftovers means you can enjoy them weeks later, especially if you’re planning on storing them in the freezer.

Sealing perishable items

It can be frustrating when the packaging on lunch meats or cheese doesn’t reseal properly. The food is more likely to harden and spoil, even if it’s in the fridge. Having a vacuum sealer on hand makes it easy to reseal perishable foods so you can enjoy them any time.

Protecting household linens

If you have expensive or delicate fabrics, vacuum sealing them keeps dirt and dust away. It also protects them from moth damage and mold.

Safely storing loose items

Items like puzzles, game pieces and jewelry are easy to lose. You can keep them safe by vacuum-sealing them together until you’re ready to use them again.

Protection from water damage

Vacuum sealing items helps keep them safe from water damage, which is ideal if you store items or boxes in potentially damp areas like a garage.

Making reusable ice packs

Need a reusable ice pack? Just add some water and rubbing alcohol to a vacuum seal bag, and you have a homemade ice pack. It’s flexible and can be refrozen and reused.

Waterproofing your devices

If you’re headed to the beach or lake for a day on the water, consider vacuum-sealing your phone. This will keep it completely safe from potential water damage, and you can still use the touch screen.

Saving storage space

If you’re heading out for a camping trip, you can vacuum seal entire meals so they’re ready to eat. Vacuum sealing items like extra clothing or blankets can also help maximize storage space.

Best vacuum sealers

Best handheld vacuum sealer

FoodSaver Cordless Food Vacuum Sealer: available at Amazon

FoodSaver is one of the most recognizable vacuum sealing brands. They put all the quality of their regular vacuum sealing appliances into a useful handheld device to help you seal food items quickly.

Best vacuum sealer for sous vide cooking

Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer: available at Amazon

This model comes with pre-cut bags designed to provide the exact amount of space needed to seal items for sous vide cooking.

Best vacuum sealer for ease of use

NutriChef 12″ Vacuum Sealer: available at Amazon

Simply plug this vacuum sealer in and use the intuitive touch panel on the top to seal dry or soft foods.

Lauren Farrell is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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