FoodSaver Multi-Use Food Preservation System | Food Vacuum Sealer Machine | with Handheld Sealer, 1 Roll, 4 Vacuum Sealer Bags & 4 Zipper Bags | Silver with Black Accents [VS3190]

Product Information

With ordinary food storage options, the shelf life of food is relatively limited. Once frozen, raw meat might last for three to six months in the freezer, but with a Foodsaver vacuum sealer, that same meat could stay fresh for up to six years. The very same gadget can seal other types of food, too: vegetables can stay fresh in the freezer for two to three years and even bread for a year or two. It’s no wonder more than 20 million Foodsaver vacuum sealers have been sold worldwide over the past three decades! Foodsaver bags, rolls and containers Our Lab team has spent collective decades working in professional kitchens, developing recipes, and testing kitchen gear. A handheld sealer is basically a vacuum pump with a rechargeable battery that lets you take the sealer to the food instead of the other way around. This type of machine is very small and convenient, but it can only use bags, lidded containers, and other vessels that have a compatible valve. That means you'll most likely have to buy supplies from the same brand that makes the sealer. Handheld sealers also have a lot less power than plug-in models and are apt to take longer to make a seal.

Designed with a handy alignment feature so you can be sure that there will be no wasted FoodSaver bags, this efficient sealer is easy to use. Just put your ingredients in a FoodSaver bag, position in the machine, shut the lid, then select which mode you’d like. Within minutes, you’ll have food that is all prepped and ready to be stored. With clever auto shut-off technology, the machine will switch off as soon as it’s done its work too. A soft and spongy loaf of fresh bread can go in a vacuum bag, but the sealing pressure is likely to smash it beyond recognition. Freezing is also the secret here: Put bread or other baked goods in the freezer for a few hours, then transfer to a vacuum bag for long-term sealing. This machine was designed with sous vide in mind, but it's just as capable at vacuum-sealing food in bags for any reason. We love its sleek look, and, more importantly, its simple controls. There are just three buttons: vacuum and seal, which automatically senses when the air has been removed and seals the bag; pulse, which lets you remove air in a more controlled way for delicate items; and seal, which heat-seals the bag after you use pulse mode. Even a complete beginner could figure this thing out without opening the user manual (though it does come with one). There's also an accessory port with a hose and adapter made for FoodSaver's many container options. You can get reusable zip-top bags, Tupperware-style storage boxes, sealers for canning jars, and even vacuum bottle stoppers. These are, of course, all sold separately, which adds to the FM2000's cost.Raw onions, cabbage, and similar veggies. Plants in the genus Allium (onion) and Brassica (cabbage) produce gases that can create bubbles in a vacuum bag and make it lose its seal. Alliums include onions, garlic, scallions, shallots, and leeks, and Brassicas include cabbage, broccoli, kale, radishes, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. Blanching or any other kind of cooking makes it safe to seal any of these ingredients. Besides its price, which is above-average but not absurdly so, the only negative we found with the VS-12 is that it's quite loud in operation. That's largely due to its powerful motor, which makes it an effective vacuum sealer; just don't expect to hold a conversation while it's running. Hot foods. If you try to vacuum-seal something that's much warmer than room temperature, it'll give off steam that can expand the bag and break the seal. Wait until cooked food has cooled completely before starting the process. FoodSaver is a brand focused exclusively on vacuum sealers, and it makes a lot of good ones. In fact, there are three different FoodSaver models on this list! The FM2000 is the brand's middle-of-the-road option, a unit with lots of power but a slim, lightweight design that can be stored vertically or horizontally. It carries a moderately high price tag, but it's exceptionally easy to use and has some convenient features. Design: Most countertop vacuum sealers operate in basically the same way, so the materials they're made of and the way they're laid out can make a big difference. As we performed the tests, we made note of any problems with control buttons, hinges, lid latches, and other design aspects.

Deal Alert! Several of our favorite vacuum sealers are on sale right now, including two from Anova—the Precision Sous Vide Vacuum Sealer and the Precision Chamber Vacuum Sealer. But that’s not all: food vacuum sealers have an array of benefits, saving you money and space in the kitchen. And they can keep both raw food and home-cooked or restaurant-bought leftovers fresh for the future, even if that’s weeks or months away. What are the benefits of food vacuum sealers? Anova is pretty much synonymous with sous vide; its Precision Cooker was one of the first home machines on the market and is still our favorite device for cooking sous vide. Of course, you need both a cooker and a vacuum sealer for sous vide—the term means "under vacuum," after all—and Anova's is unsurprisingly a good choice. You can choose between either a bulkier mains powered machine or this cordless model for ultimate portability, and it’s easy to use; simply push the button and it will seal. It also promises to keep your food fresh for twice as long, not quite as impactful as some other sealers, but it’s impressive for such a small machine that’s easy to stow away in a kitchen cupboard. Dimensions: 31.9 x 32.8 x 20.8 cm | Weight: 9.83kg | Removable drip tray: No, but you can remove the sealer bar for cleaning What we loveFrom fridge foods to dry store, the versatile FoodSaver Electric Premium Vacuum Sealer is a game-changer for keeping your ingredients fresh. Whether you’re looking to preserve your groceries or leftovers, it extends the life of your food for up to five times longer than other food sealing methods. Along with five versatile vacuum settings to preserve your food in every useful way you could imagine, and with a built-in bag cutter bar for precision, this clever vacuum system has everything you need to keep your food fresher for longer. Yes, a FoodSaver does save you money, because you are extending the time you can store food, you increase the likelihood you will use it before it goes bad. Less food waste means more money saved. Does a FoodSaver Marinator Work? As long as you are using official FooodSaver bags they are freezer, microwave and simmer safe. You can leave them in a pot of simmering water, you should turn down the temperature once the water starts to boil, and you don’t want to leave it in a rolling boil of water.

Ease of use and cleaning: We followed each machine's included instructions as we performed our tests, noting any steps that were confusing or difficult, or anywhere we found a better way to do things. After testing, we also cleaned each unit, rating them both on ease of cleaning and whether they got very dirty in the first place. The best thing you can do to prolong the life of any sealer is to keep it clean," Miller says. You'll especially want to clean the heat strip that seals that bag, as buildup could lead to a weaker seal that may give out during the freezing and thawing process. Some models offer removable drip trays (and some are dishwasher-safe), which makes cleaning even easier. The machines don't last forever, though: If you notice ice crystals forming on your vacuum-sealed frozen foods "like a gentle winter frost," Miller says, "it might be time to look for a new one." Similarly, if the vacuum isn't pulling all of the air out of the bag during the sealing process, it may need to be serviced or replaced. Seldom-used items made from gold, silver, cast iron, or other delicate metals are a good choice, too: Vacuum-sealing can keep jewelry, silverware, and similar heirlooms clean and free of tarnish and rust.

Featured FoodSaver Product Review

Reviewers raved about its excellent quality, creating a secure seal every time, meaning this chamber sealer is equipped to handle liquid-rich foods better than most. The big price tag may be off putting for beginners but as it’s the ideal choice if you want to prepare a feast and give sous vide cooking a serious go. We also liked the separated design, which makes post-sealing tidying a cinch; simply remove the sealer lid to reach all areas for a thorough clean. Simply put the food items into the bags, feed the edge of the bag into the machine, press a button, and the machine will do the rest for you. With its nifty and straightforward LED display, this is a foolproof way to seal or vacuum your food. Another nice aspect of the Mueller is its compact size. It's shorter and narrower than other models and can store away easily in a drawer or cabinet. The downside of this is that it doesn't have its own cutter to make custom-sized bags; you might need a separate bag cutter and sealer tool. It does come with five pre-cut bags and a small roll to get you started, and it's compatible with most replacement bags when you're ready to buy more. Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro: This machine performed similarly well to the standard Anova Precision above, but it adds wet and dry modes and an accessory port. It also costs twice as much, and we just don't think the added functionality is worth it.