Do you use vacuum sealers? If you do, you probably can’t imagine living without them. From extending the freezer life and shelf life of food to cooking sous vide, vacuum sealers do many incredible things. However, if you do not use vacuum sealers or are not familiar with them, you should consider learning more about them in this article.
There are plenty of inexpensive vacuum sealers out there, but if you’re going to invest money in these products, you’re going to want to get good quality for reasonable prices. Two of the top brands that produce the best vacuum sealer are Ziploc and FoodSaver. These brands have some of the best products in the market.
Ziploc is a brand of zipper storage bags and containers produced by S.C. Johnson & Son. You’ll be able to find many freezer bags, with sizes ranging from pint, quart, gallon or two gallons. These ziplock bags are all made from BPA-free plastic and have a double zipper.
The brand also produces vacuum sealers such as the Ziploc Vacuum Sealer v200 series, including products such as the Ziploc Vacuum Sealer v201.
FoodSaver, on the other hand, is one of the best-known names in home vacuum sealing systems. FoodSaver sells about a dozen vacuum sealing systems, which keep your food fresh up to 5 times longer in the freezer than ordinary storage methods. In addition, they are designed to work fast and prevent freezer burn.
FoodSaver also produces an array of useful accessories like bags, containers, jar sealers and wine-bottle stoppers. So which of these two popular brands have the better products when it comes to vacuum sealing?
Ziploc Vacuum Sealer vs Foodsaver Comparison
- The ideal money and time saving solution
- Easy to operate
- Two sealing modes
- Lab tested quality
- A full starter kit; also includes a wine stopper cork, 5 medium vacuum bags (78 x 118 inch ) and one extra long vacuum bag roll (78 x 790 inch )
- VERSATILITY & CONVENIENCE IN THE KITCHEN
- SIMPLE TO USE
- STRETCH YOUR DOLLAR
- NOT JUST FOR FOOD STORAGE
- SIMPLE TO CL
Let’s compare the top products of these two brands. We’ll look at which product is better in each of these six areas:
- Cost
- Ease of use
- Durability
- Type of Bags
- Power
- Seal
At the end of this Ziploc vacuum sealer vs FoodSaver review, you should be able to make an intelligent, informed choice between the products offered by these brands. So let’s get started.
How do Food Sealing Systems work?
A vacuum sealer machine expels air from plastic bags, vacuum sealer rolls, and specially designed containers and seals them shut to preserve the bags’ contents. Many people use them to freeze foods such as meat, poultry, vegetables, peanuts or cheese.
There are many advantages to vacuum-sealing your food. First, you’ll be able to preserve the food by preventing the growth of mold and bacteria. Secondly, it protects your food from getting freezer burn, which ruins the texture and taste.
It’s a great solution since you’ll be saving time and money by freezing a bulk of different foods in your freezer. In addition, you’ll have access to fresh food year-round, so you can cook your favorite dishes whenever you want without having to run to the store every time.
Vacuum sealers are also used for batch cooking and sous vide. Sous Vide is a cooking method in which food is vacuum-sealed in a plastic bag and then placed in a water bath or steam environment for longer than usual cooking times at an accurately regulated temperature. The Sous Vide method allows for food to be evenly cooked and to retain moisture and tenderness. You’ll be able to achieve restaurant-quality results by cooking meat or fish with the Sous Vide method.
An alternative to having a vacuum sealer is to store food in a mason jar, and vacuum seals the food contents using a jar sealer. However, mason jars are unsuitable for freezing foods in your freezer (since they are made from glass, not plastic). They are primarily used for strawberry jams and other fruit jams, nuts, chocolate sauces, and other liquids and fragile foods.
FoodSaver vs Ziploc Vacuum Sealer – Cost
Cost is one of the most important things to consider when looking for a vacuum sealer, especially if you’re on a budget. Therefore, it’s essential to consider the cost of the vacuum sealer and the bags it uses.
FoodSaver has some of the most affordable yet powerful vacuum sealers out there. One of such is the FoodSaver V2244. This inexpensive device can provide everything you need without breaking the bank. You can purchase this device on Amazon, and you get a lot of value for your investment since it helps you save food, prevent waste, and save money.
Ziploc also offers some inexpensive vacuum sealer systems for purchase. One such vacuum sealer is the Ziploc Vacuum sealer V203. It is a good, easy-to-use vacuum sealer that delivers good results for a very affordable price.
These vacuum sealer systems do not have all the bells and whistles of pricier ones, but they get the job done. They are also suitable investments when their food-saving abilities are factored in.
Your choice in this area depends on your needs. If you need vacuum sealers for the lowest prices you can get, you might consider going for Ziploc models. However, if you need proven, powerful yet affordable sealers, then FoodSaver offers some of the best value out there.
Vacuum Bags
Most Ziploc vacuum sealers accommodate any generic bag, which may be cheaper than the Ziplock brand bags. However, vacuum sealers that require a particular type of bag, such as most FoodSaver models, usually perform better in sealing. Such vacuum sealers and vacuum bags are generally pricier, though.
FoodSaver sells a pack of 44 pre-cut vacuum bags, which measure 8 inches x 10 inches or 1 Quart. They are made from BPA-free material and are durable, and create an airtight barrier around foods. These bags help prevent freezer burn and keep the food fresh for longer.
FoodSaver also offers a vacuum seal roll, which allows you to make custom-sized vacuum bags. This way, you can cut the roll to whatever length you need. For certain types of foods, working with a seal roll might be better and less expensive.
Seal – Ziploc vs Foodsaver vacuum sealer
The sealing ability of a vacuum sealer is a fundamental criterion to consider before choosing to buy one. If the seal of a vacuum-sealed bag fails, the shelf life of the contents is destroyed and will go to waste. When selecting a sealer, the following will ensure that it will perform the sealing job properly:
- A large sealing bar results in a much stronger seal
- Multiple sealing wires allows it to make numerous seals at once
- A strong seal bar heats up quickly, allowing it to seal swiftly through wrinkles in the bag and tiny bits of food or moisture.
FoodSaver has many vacuum sealers out there with extraordinary sealing abilities. The FoodSaver V3240 vacuum sealer has a reinforced sealing system to automatically seal a bag twice for a strong, thick sealed end. Thus, it produces pretty reliable seals which, you can rest assured, won’t fail. Also, you’ll be able to
Ziploc vacuum sealers also perform well in this aspect. However, FoodSaver sealers have some of the best sealing abilities out there.
Power – Foodsaver vs Ziploc
Having a robust and powerful motor enables a vacuum sealer to do its job of extracting the air out of a bag well. Thus, the contents are better preserved and have a longer shelf life. In addition, more expensive systems usually have more power thanks to their quality parts and better motors.
The FoodSaver V3240 vacuum sealer has enough power to crush an empty soda can. More expensive models such as the FoodSaver GameSaver have even more power yet run smoothly and quietly.
Ziploc doesn’t have many high-end vacuum sealers on the market. However, their available models perform well for their prices. So if you need very powerful vacuum sealers to get as much air as possible out of your bags or containers, then FoodSaver high-end models would suit you just fine. Just be ready to pay for the power.
You can check how many watts the vacuum sealer uses, which will give you an idea of how powerful it is.
Ease of Use – Ziploc v203 vs Foodsaver
Most vacuum sealers are easy to use with straightforward instructions and controls. However, this is still an area worthy of consideration when deciding which vacuum sealer to buy. A vacuum sealer should have easily accessible controls and well-labeled buttons to avoid confusing the user.
It is also essential to make sure that the machine locks down by itself without requiring you to push down on it until it’s done sealing. Another thing to consider is the control it offers. Having the option of both automatic and manual control is best. However, with some food items, automatic control may not be ideal. So having manual control to determine when the vacuuming stops and when the sealing begins is very beneficial.
Ziploc vacuum systems are pretty easy to use. Some models, such as the Ziploc V151, have a great pulse function which allows you to customize the vacuuming and sealing experience according to the type of food being stored.
The FoodSaver V3240 features a straightforward, attractive and easy-to-use control panel. You can adjust the Speed setting from Normal to Gentle, depending on the food type. You can also choose between Moist and Dry for the Food setting. It also features other conveniences, such as easy roll storage and a built-in cutter, making the sealing process more manageable.
It would help if you also considered how easy it is to clean the vacuum sealer after each use. For example, some models allow you to take off the upper lid or a drip tray so you can clean it and put it back in place when it’s clean and dry.
Both brands offer easy-to-use products, but the higher-end FoodSaver products have more features and conveniences, making for a better experience. If you’re looking for affordable, easy-to-use vacuum sealers, however, Ziploc sealers offer incredible value.
Durability
No doubt, when shopping for products, you go for durable ones which will last longer. With vacuum sealers, the more durable ones are made out of durable materials such as steel. Such systems will last longer than the ones with plastic parts.
Both Ziploc and FoodSaver have high-quality, durable vacuum sealers. They also offer product warranties which reassure buyers that they stand by their products. You can also dig through buyer reviews to determine how durable the device you chose to purchase is.
Which Brand Wins? – Foodsaver vs Ziploc
Considering these six areas in this Ziploc vs FoodSaver vacuum sealer review, which brand comes out top?
Ziploc has quality, affordable products with a good enough sealing mechanism. Their vacuum systems are also quite powerful, durable, and easy to use with some nifty features such as the Pulse function. Their vacuum sealers also support multipurpose and generic bags, which you can easily find online, and are usually more affordable.
However, Ziploc doesn’t have high-end vacuum sealers with stronger seals, more power, and more features. However, if you’re looking for affordable yet decent vacuum sealer systems, Ziploc is a good choice.
FoodSaver, on the other hand, produces vacuum sealers in different price ranges – from affordable to expensive. Thus, you can find a good fit regardless of your budget. Their low-end systems are great value products, while their high-end vacuum sealers offer more power, stronger sealings, and are more durable. Therefore, the broader selection of the products provided by FoodSaver gives it the upper hand over Ziploc.
Ultimately, the choice is yours. I hope this FoodSaver vs Ziploc vacuum sealer review has both informed and entertained you. Be sure to choose whatever brand or product suits your needs best. Remember to take into consideration the points discussed above when choosing a vacuum sealer from these two brands.
I have the Ziploc Vacuum Sealer and I love it… 6 years and still performs like the day I purchased it, however since the Pandemic it’s become difficult to find the bags! Any help would be greatly appreciated… Thanks