Inexpensive sealer advice please

[Parshooter]

Hello. I'd like to start sealing leftovers and bulk meat purchases. I've looked at threads here about sealers but I don't want to pay hundreds of dollars for one. The "best" I saw on Amazon was the Food Saver brand, priced from 69.00 - 144.00. Any suggestions will be appreciated. TIA

 

[JIMSMOKES]

I've had my Inkbird sealer going on 4 years now. Bought both my kids one when they went on sale. Inkbird is a sponser here. @Inkbirdbbq

 

[normanaj]

I'm a big fan of the LEM sealers.

 

[Hijack73]

Not a fan of Inkbird (the equipment is ok, my gripe is with tech) but the sealer does work. They made me jump through hoops to warranty the first one out, but they eventually did. It's a simple sealer, compact and lightweight. About 50 bucks on the gigantic online emporium

 

[Astralogics]

Inkbird and Anova are two I've used. The most simple ones are around $60

 

[Torch&Tone]

The Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro gets very high marks. The non-Pro version is cheaper and smaller but not as powerful/capable. Nesco also makes a very good one, for about the same price (~$100). FoodSaver is pretty good and more widely-available.

 

[sandyut]

I bought this one 9 years ago and still works great. A smidge over your budge. Buy once cry once. Cheap ones will likely be very frustrating. If they don’t seal you burn through bags or find your meat is freezer burned which defeats the purpose of owning one IMO

 

[BrianGSDTexoma]

I've had problems with the ink bird sealers. I see a lot of people like the Lem. If you get a FoodSaver don't get that one that tilts I hate that thing. You can't get the bag close the way it tails down

 

[hoity toit]

Hello. I'd like to start sealing leftovers and bulk meat purchases. I've looked at threads here about sealers but I don't want to pay hundreds of dollars for one. The "best" I saw on Amazon was the Food Saver brand, priced from 69.00 - 144.00. Any suggestions will be appreciated. TIA

I had several food saver sealers over the years and they eventually died. I went ahead and got a 16" professional sealer from Waltons. 5 years now and it does larger size bags and rolls. I should have bought it first, but if you are on a budget the Food Saver is a good unit for occasional use.

HT

 

[philpom]

Hello. I'd like to start sealing leftovers and bulk meat purchases. I've looked at threads here about sealers but I don't want to pay hundreds of dollars for one. The "best" I saw on Amazon was the Food Saver brand, priced from 69.00 - 144.00. Any suggestions will be appreciated. TIA

I have this exact Nesco American Harvest model. Have had it for a number of years (5 or 6) you won't go wrong with it and if you ever go with a chamber sealer this is a perfect companion. That's how we use it.

1. Double seal strip, extra wide
2. Wet seal mode
3. Adjustable seal times
4. Manual seal
5. Adjustable vacuum strength
6. Canister and marinade modes
7. Capable of continuous operation duty cycle

Amazon.com

<-- LINK

 

[Parshooter]

Thanks for all the replies guys. The Nesco was the winner of the comparison test at ATK. I watched a few YouTubes last night and one said the the drip tray in the Nesco does not come out for easy cleaning. Is this so ? Not a deal breaker though.

 

[philpom]

Thanks for all the replies guys. The Nesco was the winner of the comparison test at ATK. I watched a few YouTubes last night and one said the the drip tray in the Nesco does not come out for easy cleaning. Is this so ? Not a deal breaker though.

This is true snd the one downside although it hasn't proven to be a huge issue over the years. You could roll up a paper towel and tuck it in there. When packing wet stuff we just watch and hit the seal button when it starts to flow towards.

 

[Parshooter]

When packing wet stuff we just watch and hit the seal button when it starts to flow towards.

By "wet stuff" you mean raw meats correct ? When it "starts to flow towards" is all the air sucked out by then? I have never used one so please excuse any obvious questions.

 

[philpom]

Correct, you will see the juice heading towards the seal bar. Hit the seal button and you're golden.

By "wet stuff" you mean raw meats correct ? When it "starts to flow towards" is all the air sucked out by then? I have never used one so please excuse any obvious questions.

,

 

[uncle eddie]

My economy "Walmart" purchased FoodSaver vacuum sealer will "wake the dead" with its vacuum pump noise - but it has been working solidly for 20+ years.

I now use a LEM MaxVac 1000 (gifted) and love it.

Still hanging onto my FoodSaver in case of a break-down.

 

[Smoke-Chem BBQ]

Thanks for all the replies guys. The Nesco was the winner of the comparison test at ATK. I watched a few YouTubes last night and one said the the drip tray in the Nesco does not come out for easy cleaning. Is this so ? Not a deal breaker though.

We bought the Nesco, partly because we're impressed by how thoroughly ATK does their testing, but also because on the other sites reviewing vacuum sealers it tends to always be in the top 3. We've only had it six months, but so far we're very happy with it. I've not yet had to clean the drip tray, so can't comment on that.

 

[cooperman]

You will love the Nesco for sure.

 

[fxsales1959]

I've had my Inkbird sealer going on 4 years now. Bought both my kids one when they went on sale. Inkbird is a sponser here. @Inkbirdbbq

ditto here. my inkbird keeps chugging if you get decent bags.

https://www.amazon.com/INKBIRD-Vacuum-Machine-Compact-Preservation/dp/B0D251YQQL/ref=sr_1_9?crid=1IE5S0ZKYFDYQ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7ETq1CwsrU3WTFDYwxWRdFMuUGFsGC6haQCJ44VkksQpNOruCalrQPIBsEqBjc9Sa_iBahuVwJsrVhW6fUYP04PUzg4z9XgSD-mhEyx0BpG9NPKUwcQcoMBhgiXY50ZUbbrt-GvQ1wDhju7Qku_ITrnHRJDD8p27rpigAV_FaRJcCn0Vi882FbEFChtxm20Kk8M9NRO8xU4SJdsMu5XO7FQ9H6opbPa1dK8lc_QBK1OR7E20MNigw1i9p4TnmEEFFH3vefb2OfrJxP6Dx_Jz1PKEiWvGmWWYzqpkRIC1zz8.FU-K3Z9RJv5i330ndixBN6gg34ErUabtGECF2Ea8O_Q&dib_tag=se&keywords=inkbird+sealer&qid=1745530507&s=home-garden&sprefix=inkbird+sealer%2Cgarden%2C106&sr=1-9

 

[ajbert]

I have a Cabela's sealer I got over ten years ago. It is their commercial grade line and would have been a lot more than I wanted to spend had I not worked there with the employee discount. Never had a problem with it after all these years. I have ran it for over an hour with no breaks and it keeps on going. With some of the lower level sealers you will have to let them cool down if running it for longish periods. Not to say they are bad, they just need to rest now and then. Load up on bags of varied sizes. I have bags from 6"-15" wide and use them all depending on what I am sealing. Also, don't try to cut the bags to the perfect length. I tend to cut mine a little longer than needed because I've wasted my share by cutting for what I thought would be the perfect size only to find I cut too short.

 

[Parshooter]

Well I got the Nesco last week. I think the biggest learning curve will be how large to cut the bags. Here are few bags I did Saturday.