Best Vacuum Sealer: Nesco vs. Anova vs. FoodSaver
Wet-food seals, double seals, latches, bag cutters and drip trays: how Nesco, Anova and FoodSaver vacuum sealers compare, and which one to buy.
A vacuum sealer pays for itself on freezer burn alone. Meat bought in bulk, coffee, berries and leftovers keep for months when the air is pulled out and the bag is heat-sealed. Most countertop sealers pull a similar vacuum, and on dry food nearly all of them work. The differences show up with wet food, with how reliable the seal is, and in small things you deal with every time: the latch, the bag cutter and how hard the drip tray is to clean.
This guide covers what separates a good vacuum sealer from a frustrating one, and which sealer fits which kitchen.
Quick verdict
- Best vacuum sealer overall: the Nesco Deluxe Vacuum Sealer (VS-12). The most settings of any sealer here, an optional double seal, an easy one-hand handle latch and a built-in bag roll and cutter.
- Most reliable seal: the Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro. It double-seals every bag and made the cleanest seals in a back-to-back sealing run, with a pulse mode for wet and delicate food.
- Easiest to clean: the FoodSaver FM2100 Vacuum Sealer. A removable drip tray, bag storage and a cutter, and it handled wet peaches well.
The vacuum sealers side by side
| Vacuum sealer | Shop | Seal | Wet food control | Latch | Bag storage and cutter | Drip tray |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nesco Deluxe Vacuum Sealer (VS-12) |  View on Amazon
| 3 mm, optional double seal | Moist setting, pulse, gentle, marinate | One-hand handle | Yes | Fixed |
| Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro |  View on Amazon
| 3 mm, always double | Moist setting and pulse | One-hand handle | Yes | Fixed |
| FoodSaver FM2100 Vacuum Sealer |  View on Amazon
| 1 mm single | Moist setting (no pulse) | Rotating side lever | Yes | Removable |
| FoodSaver PowerVac Compact Vacuum Sealer |  View on Amazon
| 3 mm single | Moist setting (no pulse) | Press to latch | No | Removable |
Best overall
Nesco Deluxe Vacuum Sealer (VS-12)
The most settings of any sealer here, an optional double seal that rescued a wet bag, a one-hand latch and a built-in bag roll and cutter.
- 3 mm seal
- Pulse, gentle, marinate
- Bag roll and cutter
Good for
- Most households
- Working through a batch
Skip it if
- Easy cleanup (the drip tray doesn't come out)
What makes a vacuum sealer good
On dry food, nearly all of them work
Countertop sealers all work the same way: the open end of the bag goes over a heat bar into a small chamber with a gasket, a pump pulls the air out, and the heat bar melts the bag shut. Most pull out roughly 70 to 80 percent of the air, which is plenty for storage. Cereal and pretzels sealed in the pantry were unchanged after four months, and frozen coffee, strawberries and lasagna came out of the freezer in good shape. On dry and frozen food, almost any decent sealer does the job, so ease of use matters more than raw suction. Sealing protects quality rather than safety: food kept frozen at 0°F stays safe indefinitely, but air in the package causes the dry, discolored patches of freezer burn.
Wet and delicate food is the real test
Juicy food is where external sealers struggle. As the pump pulls air, liquid gets drawn toward the heat bar, and a wet seal can fail. Canned peaches showed the differences clearly. The FoodSaver PowerVac's moist cycle missed about a tenth of the seal and left liquid in the drip tray. The FoodSaver FM2100's moist setting let only a little liquid past and made a solid seal. The Anova did better on pulse than on its moist setting, and its double seal held even with moisture past both lines. The Nesco's double seal saved it on the moist cycle when the first seal was compromised; on pulse it sealed solidly.
Two habits help any sealer: pre-freeze wet or saucy food for an hour or two before sealing, and leave extra headroom in the bag so liquid has farther to travel.
Pulse and gentle modes
A pulse (manual) button lets you pull just enough vacuum and then seal when you choose. It's what keeps strawberries from being crushed and bread from being flattened. A sealer with both an automatic mode and a pulse or gentle mode is worth having. The Nesco and Anova both have pulse; neither FoodSaver here does.
Seal thickness and the double seal
A wider heat seal is more reliable. The FoodSaver FM2100 makes the thinnest seal here, about 1 mm, while the Nesco, Anova and PowerVac make about 3 mm. A double seal is the best insurance: if one line fails, the second still holds. The Anova double-seals every bag automatically; the Nesco does it when you choose. For bags meant to sit in the freezer for many months, that second line matters.
Back-to-back sealing
Heat bars get hot when you seal a lot of bags in a row, and seals can suffer. Run nonstop for five minutes, the FoodSaver FM2100 made 14 seals, the Anova and Nesco 13, and the PowerVac 12. Counts were similar; quality wasn't. The Anova's seals were picture-perfect every time, with the Nesco a hair behind. If you portion out a big meat order in one session, those two keep up best.
The small things you notice every time
- The latch. A handle you push down with one finger (Nesco, Anova) is the easiest. Rotating side levers (FoodSaver FM2100) and press-to-latch lids take more effort, which adds up over a dozen bags.
- Bag storage and cutter. A built-in roll holder and slide cutter let you make bags to size. The Nesco, Anova and FM2100 have both; the PowerVac has neither.
- Cleaning. Raw meat and wet food drip. Only the FoodSaver models' drip trays lift out to rinse in the sink; on the Nesco and Anova you wipe the tray in place.
- Bags. Most rolls are 11 inches wide and fit all of these 12-inch sealers. Some sealers work only with their own bags; all four here take standard textured vacuum bags.
- Weight. The Nesco is the heaviest at a little over 6 pounds, which keeps it steady but makes it heavier to pull out of a drawer.
The picks in detail
Nesco Deluxe Vacuum Sealer (VS-12): best overall
The Nesco has the most options of any sealer here: dry and moist, normal and gentle, pulse, a marinate program and a choice of single or double seal. Its handle latch closes with one hand and makes it obvious when the lid is locked, and the viewing lid and built-in bag roll and cutter make it easy to work through a batch. It seals reliably, its seals were nearly as clean as the Anova's, and its double seal rescued a wet bag that a single seal would have lost. It's a heavy machine for a countertop sealer, and its drip tray doesn't come out.
Best overall
Nesco Deluxe Vacuum Sealer (VS-12)
The most settings of any sealer here, an optional double seal that rescued a wet bag, a one-hand latch and a built-in bag roll and cutter.
- 3 mm seal
- Pulse, gentle, marinate
- Bag roll and cutter
Good for
- Most households
- Working through a batch
Skip it if
- Easy cleanup (the drip tray doesn't come out)
Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro: most reliable seal
The Anova Pro double-seals every bag, and its seals were the cleanest of any external sealer, staying perfect through a five-minute back-to-back run. It has a one-finger handle latch, bag storage, a cutter and a pulse mode that handled wet peaches better than its moist program. It's a natural partner for a sous vide cooker. It tied with the Nesco for the top spot, and either is a safe choice; the Anova wins for seal quality, the Nesco for options.
Most reliable seal
Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro
Double-seals every bag, with the cleanest seals of any external sealer through a five-minute back-to-back run, and a pulse mode for wet food.
- Always double seal
- Pulse mode
- Bag storage and cutter
Good for
- Bulk buyers and hunters
- Sous vide cooks
Skip it if
- You want the most settings (the Nesco has more)
FoodSaver FM2100 Vacuum Sealer: easiest to clean
The FM2100 has a removable drip tray you can carry to the sink, which matters after sealing raw chicken. It has a roll holder and cutter, and its moist setting made a solid seal on wet peaches with only a little liquid getting past. It also made as many seals in the five-minute run as any of the four picks here. The trade-offs: no pulse mode, a side lever that takes more effort than a handle, and the thinnest seal of the group, so double-seal important bags by hitting seal a second time.
Easiest to clean
FoodSaver FM2100 Vacuum Sealer
A removable drip tray you can carry to the sink, a roll holder and cutter, and a moist setting that sealed wet peaches with little liquid getting past.
- Removable drip tray
- Roll holder and cutter
- Moist setting
Good for
- Lots of raw meat
- Back-to-back sealing
Skip it if
- Delicate food (no pulse mode)
FoodSaver PowerVac Compact: for dry food in a small kitchen
The PowerVac is compact and designed to store upright, and its drip tray is removable. It's fine for dry goods and frozen portions, but it has no pulse mode, no bag storage or cutter, and its moist cycle failed on wet peaches. Pre-freeze anything juicy before sealing it in this one.
For small kitchens
FoodSaver PowerVac Compact Vacuum Sealer
Compact and designed to store upright, with a removable drip tray; fine for dry goods and frozen portions.
- Stores upright
- Removable drip tray
Good for
- Dry or frozen food
- Small kitchens
Skip it if
- Wet food (its moist cycle failed)
- Bag storage or a cutter
Other sealers worth knowing about
- Bonsenkitchen makes basic sealers that sealed well, and one made the most seals in a back-to-back run. They're a good way to find out whether vacuum sealing is for you.
- Chamber vacuum sealers, such as Anova's Precision Chamber Vacuum Sealer, put the whole bag inside a chamber. They can seal soups, marinades, even a bag of water without spilling, and chamber pouches cost a fraction of external-sealer bags. They're bigger and heavier.
- Handheld and battery sealers are tiny and store in a drawer, but many only pull air from their own zip bags and containers rather than heat-sealing, and they can fail when liquid touches the valve.
Most reliable seal
Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro
Double-seals every bag, with the cleanest seals of any external sealer through a five-minute back-to-back run, and a pulse mode for wet food.
- Always double seal
- Pulse mode
- Bag storage and cutter
Good for
- Bulk buyers and hunters
- Sous vide cooks
Skip it if
- You want the most settings (the Nesco has more)
How to choose
- Buy meat in bulk and seal big batches? The Nesco or Anova, for clean seals and an easy latch through a long session.
- Seal a lot of wet food? Pick a sealer with pulse and a double seal, and pre-freeze the food. If it's most of what you seal, look at a chamber sealer.
- Hate cleaning? A removable drip tray, like the FoodSaver FM2100's.
- Use sous vide? The Anova Pro's automatic double seal adds insurance for long cooks in a water bath.
- Short on space? A compact upright model, or a drawer-sized sealer for dry food.
Planning to stock up? See the food storage container guide for everyday leftovers. For portioning bulk meat, a good cutting board helps too.
Who should buy which
- Most households: the Nesco Deluxe VS-12.
- Bulk buyers, hunters and sous vide cooks who want the most reliable seal: the Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro.
- Anyone who seals a lot of raw meat and wants easy cleanup: the FoodSaver FM2100.
- Small kitchens sealing mostly dry or frozen food: the FoodSaver PowerVac.
Posted by Kristopher Larson
Frequently asked questions
Is a vacuum sealer worth it?
If you buy meat in bulk, freeze leftovers or store coffee and snacks, yes. Removing the air prevents freezer burn and keeps dry food fresh for months. Vacuum-sealed cereal and pretzels stayed unchanged after four months in the pantry, and frozen strawberries, coffee and lasagna came out in good shape.
How do you vacuum seal wet food or liquids?
Freeze soups, sauces and juicy meat on a tray or in the bag for an hour or two first, then seal. Leave extra space at the top of the bag, and use the pulse or moist setting so the sealer stops before liquid reaches the heat bar. A double seal adds insurance. If you seal liquids often, a chamber vacuum sealer handles them far better.
What is the difference between an external and a chamber vacuum sealer?
An external sealer pulls air out through the open end of the bag, so liquid can be drawn toward the seal. A chamber sealer puts the whole bag in a sealed chamber, so liquid stays put, and it uses cheaper smooth pouches. Chamber sealers are larger and heavier.
Do vacuum sealer bags work in any machine?
Most external sealers, including the Nesco, Anova and FoodSaver models in this guide, use standard textured (embossed) vacuum bags and rolls, and an 11-inch roll fits 12-inch sealers. Smooth chamber pouches don't work in external sealers, and some handheld sealers only work with their own zip bags.
What is a double seal on a vacuum sealer?
Two parallel heat seals across the bag instead of one. If one line has a gap, often from moisture, the second still holds. The Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro double-seals every bag, and the Nesco VS-12 can do it on request. On other sealers you can press seal a second time just above the first line.
How long does vacuum-sealed meat last in the freezer?
Much longer than in ordinary freezer bags, because there's no air to cause freezer burn. Food kept at 0°F stays safe indefinitely, and vacuum sealing protects quality for many months. Label bags with the date, keep the freezer at 0°F, and check that the seal is still tight before using older packages.
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