Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Food Saver Vacuum Sealing System

The Food Saver line of vacuum sealers offers you maximum flexibility when sealing food. With different levels of cost, features and usage, there is a Food Saver vacuum sealer designed to meet each user’s needs. Below are reviews of several of the different Food Saver Vacuum Sealing Systems from the least to the greatest so you will have a better idea of which machine or machines will best suit you. I’ve categorized them by cost and features to help you narrow down your selection.

 

Here’s a Quick List of the Machines Included in This Review

 

Economy

• Food Saver Fresh Saver Handheld Vacuum Sealing System
• Food Saver Meal Saver Compact Vacuum Sealing System
• Food Saver FM2000 Vacuum Sealing System
• Food Saver Game Saver Outdoorsman Vacuum Sealing System GM2050

Standard

• Food Saver V3240 Vacuum Sealing System
• Food Saver Game Saver Deluxe Plus
• Food Saver Game Saver Wingman GM2150 Food Preservation System

Deluxe

• Food Saver 4840 2-in-1 Vacuum Sealing System with Bonus Built-In Retractatable Handheld Sealer
• Food Saver V3860 Automatic 2-Speed Vacuum Sealer With Roll Storage and Cutter
• Food Saver Game Saver Titanium Vacuum Sealer System
• Food Saver 5860 Series 2-in-1 Automatic Bag-Making Vacuum Sealing System

Tier 1: Economical and Convenient Food Saver Systems

Economy Food Saver machines are designed for low to moderate use and are available at an affordable price. With the money you save keeping food fresh longer, you can recoup the cost of one of these machines quickly.

The primary difference between the economic starter machines and the more sophisticated models is in the number of options for speed and pressure and the number of seals that can be completed between cool downs.

Food Saver Freshsaver Handheld Vacuum Sealing System

Available in several colors this little machine offers great flexibility and portability. Unlike a counter top model, the handheld can be carried to the item you want to seal. That means you can seal dry goods right in the pantry and quickly stack them away.

The Handheld Vacuum Sealer is designed to work with bags that have a built-in valve but can also work with the Food Saver adapter hose to seal other containers.

This machine would make an excellent choice for travel. Take your handheld vacuum sealer with you to reseal snacks while camping or on the road. For vacation, use the handheld system to compactly reseal clothes for the return trip home.

The Food Saver FreshSaver Handheld Vacuum Sealing System would also make an excellent choice for sealing passports, cash, and other important documents while traveling. You could keep this handy device in your car to seal your electronics in a watertight bag before a day at the beach.

Food Saver Meal Saver Compact Vacuum Sealing System

This Food Saver Machine works much like the handheld system, but with the added benefit of a countertop storage system and a built-in power cord.

The Food Saver Meal Saver works with Food Saver vacuum zipper bags and meal containers and features a retractable vacuum hose. This system has limited suction power and will not work with Food Saver canisters, though.

The Compact System would be best for someone who uses mostly individual bags for short term food storage and wants the convenience of a continuous power source.

Food Saver FM2000 Vacuum Sealing System

For countertop use and continuous power supply, the Food Saver FM2000 Vacuum Sealing System is a great choice. This is a redesign of the former compact counter top Food Saver and reduces bag material usage by 40%, making it an even more economical option than previous models.

Using manual operation, a lock-in-place latch firmly holds your bag during sealing once the lid is locked, you can complete your food storage task with just the push of a button.

The compact size of this device does require that some sacrifices be made. The FM2000 does not come with a built-in bag holder or cutter.

The FM2000 is usually packaged with the Food Saver hose adapter for use with canisters. But you will need to purchase the compatible handheld unit separately to use with Food Saver vacuum zipper bags.

Food Saver Game Saver Outdoorsman Vacuum Sealing System GM2050

Food Saver’s Game Saver systems are designed with outdoorsmen in mind, but they are useful for anyone who needs to package a lot of items at once.

This starter model of the Game Saver can seal 40 bags consecutively, a real convenience when you are working with bulk goods. A light indicator shows when you have properly locked the sealer in place using the side lever.

As with all the outdoor and counter top Food Savers, the Game Saver features the patented drip tray that is removable for easy cleaning. Like the FM2000, the Game Saver comes with an accessory hose and port.

Tier 2: Suitable for Most Uses; More Features and a Moderate Price

Standard Food Saver Systems come with extra features that allow for greater versatility and convenience.

Options such as moist/dry settings and speed controls are included with many of these models. These machines may also have convenient storage designs or additional tools and attachments such as built-in roll dispensers and cutters.

These mid-range Food Savers are a great choice for someone who is more than an occasional user. A standard model would be particularly useful someone who uses the Food Saver system for recipe preparation rather than just food storage. The extra settings and features allow for use with a wider range of foods and sealing techniques.

Food Saver V3240 Vacuum Sealing System

This vacuum sealer is operated manually, with the user inserting the end of the back and then locking the sealer lid in place. The V3240 permits the user to choose between two vacuum speeds and also has an extra Crush Free Instant Seal option for delicate foods.

The moist/dry food setting adjusts the seal level meaning that that you can seal foods that may release juice or other liquids during the sealing process.

Note: For truly wet foods you will still need to use a specially made container or follow the manufacturer’s instructions for safe handling.

This sealing system also includes a built-in roll holder and bag cutter for convenience access and storage.

The Food Saver V3240 kit includes the Food Saver adapter hose for use with Food Saver containers and canisters and the Food Saver dishwasher-safe drip tray.

Food Saver Game Saver Deluxe Vacuum Sealing Kit

With the Game Saver series, Food Saver has sought to meet the needs of hunters and fisherman who often have a large amount of food that needs to be sealed in a short period of time. The Game Saver sealing systems emphasize being able to complete multiple seals consecutively. The Game Saver Deluxe can complete 25 seals between breaks.

The Game Saver Deluxe includes built-in bag storage and a cutter. Push button controls allow the user to select from 2 seal levels and 2 vacuum speeds. Like the Food Saver V3240 it includes a Crush Free Instant Seal to protect delicate foods.

Game Savers are built for lots of use and may be heavier and take up more space than regular counter top models. But with powerful suction, the added hose accessory, and drip tray this machine will serve a moderate food storage user well.

Food Saver Game Saver Wingman GM2150 Food Preservation System

This machine answers the call of the wild with food storage power. The Food Saver Game Saver Wingman can seal up to 60 consecutive times without a break.

This system includes a manual locking mechanism with a side latch for ease of use. The Wingman also incorporates the latest Food Saver technology to reduce bag waste.

Also included with the Wingman is the adapter hose and washable drip tray. The hose is compatible with the FA2000-000 Handheld Sealer that can be purchased separately.

With a low profile, this machine is easy to store and easy to use.

Tier 3: All The Features You Could Need With a Deluxe Food Saver System

Deluxe Food Saver Vacuum Sealing Systems are intended for users who need maximum versatility and high usage rates.

A deluxe level Food Saver System may include the highest vacuum power settings, wider sealing channels or a built-in hand sealer. These systems will also be able to make more consecutive seals between breaks than smaller, less powerful models.

If you plan to handle your own large cuts of meat, need to be able to seal a large quantity without pausing or want to have all your vacuum sealing options assembled in one machine, then you should look at one of these deluxe Food Saver systems.

Food Saver 4840 2-in-1 Vacuum Sealing System with Bonus Built-In Retractable Handheld Sealer

The Food Saver 4840 2-in-1 Vacuum Sealing System offers all in one place convenience. With this system, you have a full bodied vacuum sealer plus a handheld sealer. The retractable handheld sealer is powered by the main machine, so there’s no need to replace batteries. Use the full sealer channel to seal bag edges or the built-in handheld sealer for zipper bags, containers, and canisters.

The Food Saver 4840 automatically detects when a bag is placed in the sealing channel and begins the vacuum sealing process for you.

This Food Saver is thicker from top to bottom, taking advantage of vertical space, thus using up less counter space to store. The Food Saver 4840 includes the washable drip tray included with all Food Saver countertop systems. In addition, The 4840 has moist and dry vacuum settings. When using the moist setting, the system slightly reduces the vacuum strength to avoid pulling liquid into the machine.

The Food Saver 4840 2-in-1 Vacuum Sealing System includes convenient built-in roll storage with a cutter as well. Everything you need is assembled in one place and ready for use with this Food Saver deluxe system.

Food Saver V3860 Automatic 2-Speed Vacuum Sealer with Roll Storage and Cutter

The Food Saver V3860 is designed with a streamlined vertical footprint for minimum counter space usage. The V3860 Vacuum Sealing System includes a built-in retractable hose for use with Food Saver canisters and the Food Saver Handheld accessory. The V3860 includes moist and dry sealing levels as well. The systems operation is fully automated and hands-free. Using SmartSeal Technology, sealing begins once you place a bag in the sealing channel.

This Food Saver has a Stop button that permits you to interrupt the vacuum process in order to prevent over-suctioning delicate foods. The many features of the V3860 Vacuum Sealing System put more control in the hands of the user for preparing marinades and sous vide dishes.

Game Saver Food Saver Titanium Vacuum Sealer System

Made for maximum usage, this Game Saver powerhouse can seal up to 100 bags at a time. The extra wide sealing channel can accommodate bags up to 15 inches wide. The Food Saver Game Saver Titanium Vacuum Sealer also uses a high-performance dual pump to pull even more air out of each package.

The Titanium is equipped with single and dual sealing strips. The single seal provides a quick seal on regular packages, or for extra secure packaging you can use a double seal.

The Titanium has an attractive stainless steel finish and extra-large rubberized buttons, providing both style and function in one machine. Built-in roll storage and a bag cutter are included with this machine as well.

The foam gasket on this system is replaceable and it includes an accessory port for use with the Food Saver adapter hose and other Food Saver accessories. This vacuum system even includes a carrying handle and built-in storage for the accessory hose.

Food Saver 5860 Series 2-in-1 Automatic Bag-Making Vacuum Sealing System

The Food Saver 5800 Series includes not only the 2-in-1 built-in handheld sealer but also an automatic bag maker. This feature automatically dispenses and rewinds bag segments, cuts and seals them.

There is an indicator light to alert you to any problems. The built-in sealer is retractable and can be used with the Food Saver marinade container to marinade meats in just 15 minutes.

The Food Saver 5800 offers push-button convenience. Press a button to distribute a bag then press again when it the correct length has been dispensed. During sealing, you can press the Seal button to pause the vacuum process instantly in order to preserve delicate foods. Powerful and quick, this sealer gets the job done with ease and convenience.

As you can see, you have a lot of options when it comes to selecting a Food Saver Vacuum Sealing System. Over time, you may even find that you want a different machine for different jobs around your home. Be sure to refer back to this guide whenever you are contemplating purchasing a new machine to fit your growing food and other storage needs.