Are vacuum sealers worth the price?

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in Living on the Cheap.

I hate wasting food as much as I save money.So anything that helps you save money and food is a good idea in my book.

These are the main benefits of vacuum sealers, so we’re going to find the most cost-effective way to use them.

A vacuum food sealer is basically a small gadget, usually about the size of two aluminum foil boxes side by side, that literally sucks the air out of the bag of food you’re trying to store.

Air is one of the main factors in food spoilage, so the more you can remove from packaging, the longer your food will last.

Can you really save? yes. However, you should take into account your food shopping and cooking habits in determining that amount.

Bulk buying lasts longer and saves

For example, my family often eats boneless and skinless chicken breasts, but at $4.50 or more per pound, they can be pricey.

That’s why I only buy them on sale for less than $1.99 per pound. catch? To get the deal, it must be purchased in a large jumbo pack.

I pick up a package or two, vacuum seal them, and freeze each breast individually. Become.

No more wasting food

Also, I usually need 2-4 breast meats per meal, but 3 chicken breasts are included. No extra cooking that might go to waste.

Another bonus: even if the breast is flattened and pre-cooked, it can be done in a sealed bag to prevent poultry juices from splashing all over the kitchen.

About the same as ground beef. Buy a large size from a warehouse store such as Sam’s Club or Costco, seal in 1-pound or 1/2-pound bags, and freeze.

This technique also works for other cuts of meat, poultry, and seafood. Buy in bulk, seal and freeze just the amount your family will use. These savings are well worth the price of the sealer.

Prevent freezer burn from ruining your hard work

Even if you don’t buy it in bulk, you can save money by cooking it all at once.

To save time, I sometimes make two casseroles, meatlobes, or pot pies. There’s nothing worse than pulling a bag of sloppy joe filling or a bag of macaroni and cheese out of the freezer to find it covered in frost and freezer burn.

A vacuum sealer can keep dinner sealed and delicious, so it stays on the family’s table instead of the trash.

Keeps refrigerator items fresh longer

Hate opening a half-used block of cheese or a bag of shredded cheese to find it covered in mold? It’s about $6 a pound, so you’re wasting $2 each time.

Vacuum-sealed cheeses can be kept in the refrigerator for weeks, so you don’t have to throw cash in the trash anymore.

My latest best food to vacuum seal? lettuce.

Thanks to my mom for this tip. She finally got her 3 pack of romaine in a vacuum sealed zip bag and she didn’t brown or wilt for over 2 weeks. Simply wash, chop, and seal to make a fresh salad every day.

As for the real issue: There are two common types of vacuum sealers: countertop and handheld. Each serves a slightly different purpose.

counter top sealer

Countertop sealers are expensive and run into the hundreds depending on their function and brand.

But higher prices don’t always correlate with better products. You can find a good mid-range quality sealer that will do the job.

What should I look for when buying a countertop sealer?

counter top sealer Features

Some seal only bags, while others have attachments for sealing bottles or canisters.

Before buying an automatic sealer with all bells and whistles, consider how you will use the sealer.

countertop sealer size/space

Where do you store and use your sealers? Some need to be kept flat, others can be stored on their side, saving a lot of counter space.

countertop sealer bag price

Most bags can be washed to some degree and reused, but if you’re using them for raw meat, you don’t want to reuse them.

So think about how much you pay for a bag. Note that you are not limited to bags of the same brand as the sealer. I just want to make sure the size and style are the same.

For example, here it is 100 bags, but the name brand package is only 44 bags and costs about the same.

Countertop Sealer: Read Reviews

In today’s internet-driven world, you can get great insight into your appliances thanks to other consumers just like you. You can know

Countertop sealers are intended for one-time use. You can reuse the bag, but you’ll have to cut it open, so the bag will be smaller each time.

Plus, if the sealer isn’t stored on the counter, it’s a hassle to drag it out every time you use it.

hand sealer

Handheld sealers, on the other hand, are great for foods that you want to keep airtight and fresh, but that you use regularly, such as deli food, cheese, and cut vegetables.

A special zipper bag is used, so you can open and close it as many times as you like. You’ll have to replace the bag eventually, but it will last quite a while.

Additionally, handheld sealers are much cheaper. What should I look for when buying a handheld sealer?

Handheld Sealer: Power Source

Do you replace the battery weekly or is it rechargeable?

handheld sealer bag

Where can I buy them and how much do they cost?

The bags are reusable but will eventually need to be replaced. Your fun new gadget will eventually become useless if you can’t find a replacement bag.

Hand Sealers: Check Reviews

Look for information on whether the bag is difficult to seal or loses the seal. Your food won’t stay fresh without a tight, long-lasting seal.

quick tips: These sealers work best when the bag to be sealed is placed on a dishcloth or placemat and on a hard countertop.

common brands

Food Saver is one of the first brand name food sealers. The company has been around for years and has an excellent reputation and a wide variety of styles and types of sealers.

Additionally, the sealer can be purchased from the company’s website, Amazon, QVC, Bed Bath & Beyond, Kohl’s and more. Other brands include Rival, Seal-a-Meal and Weston.

Handheld food savers are manufactured by Food Saver, Ziploc and Reynolds, just to name a few. Many of these are sold individually or as starter kits of several bags. Check the details to see what you get before you buy.