For dry products, we used dry pinto beans and dry basmati rice and noted how much air or movement was left in the bag (i.e., they should feel rock-solid). For moist products, we used chicken thighs and salmon fillets and noted any air gaps left by the reduced suction power. For the wet test, we put a pork chop in ¼ cup of liquid marinade and noted whether we could perform a vacuum cycle without spillage into the drip tray. For the fragile items, we used the “pulse” mode (if available) to seal multigrain crackers and soft chocolate chip cookies. We also put these items through a regular dry seal to see how squished or damaged they became.

We also made batches of bags by hand from the roll (as opposed to using premade bags). Finally, we tested any accessories that came with the vacuum sealer when applicable, but did not let that impact the head-to-head testing.

Other vacuum sealers we liked

The box this vacuum sealer comes in says “Made for sous vide” right on the front, and we’d agree this is a great edge sealer for that job. The Moist mode removed air effectively without letting liquid leech too far toward the chamber. With the meat in a marinade, I tried it on Pulse and was similarly able to pull sufficient air out without spilling. It also puts a double heat seal on every bag, ensuring a strong seal for submerging in water. Oddly enough, I found the Dry function a little lacking on this unit, as my rice bag and beans bag were both able to flex and move around a little more than with other sealers. Another slight minus is that this machine doesn’t beep or do anything other than shut off the Seal light when it’s done. To be fair, the Nesco doesn’t beep either, but it does have a countdown to zero to remind you things are all done. On the plus side, making bags is just as easy as with the Nesco and by contrast, Anova’s is much more attractive in a glossy black finish that won’t stick out as much among your more modern appliances.

FoodSaver Premier Multi-Use

If sealing bags that stand up (or minimizing liquid leaching into the machine) is not a priority for you, then you could save some dollars by opting for this low-to-the-ground FoodSaver model instead of the FoodSaver Elite. One attribute of the Premier Multi-Use that I prefer to the Elite is that batching bags was easier. But this is a loud machine with relatively few presets (compared to the Elite). There is a fixed handheld attachment that sits on the top corner of the unit with the hose coiled up. It’s not as slick as the retractable hose on the Elite, but it does expand the possibilities.

Dash Superseal Vacuum Sealer

If you want something compact, this sealer definitely delivers. And as an everyday vacuum sealer for freezing and food storage, it functions just fine with a quiet, albeit slightly underpowered, motor. I wish the dry goods had been packed a little tighter, but on “moist” mode, it handled salmon and chicken well enough for the price point. Dash’s equipment is relatively basic, and that shows in its inability to pulse or let you effectively remove air from anything with too much liquid, like our marinated pork. It probably won’t be helping marinate much at all unless you opt to use the available accessory port with a compatible (but not included) hose and container like this mason jar system. However, if you generally season with dry spices, the (included) host and reusable zip-seal vacuum bags offer more storage flexibility and the parallel double seal lines on the heat-sealed bags were a nice bit of added security for immersion cooking. Lastly, unlike other compact models on this list, it does include a bag cutter that sticks magnetically to the back of the machine. But, frankly, it was too finicky to use (you have to set a loose roll of bags behind the unit and then drape the bag material properly to slice it). Scissors were, frankly, easier but even then I’d personally stick with pre-cut bags.

Weston Compact Vacuum Sealer

Like the Weston 2-in-1, this sealer is a solid middle-of-the-road option.It’s not quite as small as some other compact sealers tested, but still would fit in a drawer or slide into tight spaces in a cabinet, and it has a little nook to fully tuck away the power cord when not in use. It doesn’t have a “moist” mode, but the suction was gentle enough on “normal” to not immediately draw liquid up into the sealing strip area. It also has a “pulse” feature, which means you can dial in on how much vacuuming you want on certain fragile foods or liquid items, but you might have to practice. It’s a little louder than the Dash sealer, but it also pulls more air out of the bags, which makes a good sous vide gadget, if that’s what you’re looking for.

Avid Armor Ultra Series USV20

Interestingly, Avid Armor’s USV20 chamber sealer and Anova’s Precision chamber sealer are very similar. The size, capacity, bag clip, soft-close glass lid, and carrying handles were all identical.