NESCO VS-12, Deluxe Vacuum Sealer with Bag Starter Kit and Viewing Lid, Compact Design, Silver review and price compare 2025
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you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
Product overview
Brand
NESCO
Material
Plastic
Color
Silver
Item Dimensions LxWxH
15.75 x 8 x 4.5 inches
Item Weight
6 Pounds
product features
This fits your .
by entering your model number.
Double Line Seals for Added Strength
Hands-Free Sealing with Locked Handle
Variable Settings: Regular or Gentle
Double Vacuum Pump
Sealing Choices: Dry, Moist, and Double
Included Components: vacuum sealer
From the manufacturer
NESCO, VS-12, Deluxe Vacuum Sealer
The NESCO VS-12 Deluxe Vacuum Sealer offers all the versatility and performance you could ever need from a vacuum sealer. Choose from 3 “Seal” settings—Dry, Moist, and Double— then choose your vacuum pressure—Normal or Gentle—to keep softer foods safe. The built-in bag cutter and roll storage compartment with clear viewing window make this an all-in-one stop for keeping food fresh up to 5 times longer than traditional methods. This sealer can accommodate up to an 11.8” width bag providing the versatility needed for a wide range of sealing jobs. Two rolls are included to get you started, one 8.6” x 9.85’ roll and one 11.8”x 9.85 roll. The NESCO Deluxe Vacuum Sealer is compatible with any brand of vacuum sealer bags.
Features
130 Watt Double Vacuum Pump
Ensures maximum air extraction when sealing larger food items.
Variable Settings & Sealing Choices
Allows user to choose the best sealing options.
Optional Double Heat Seal
Double seals for added strength and tab guides for better positioning.
Built-In Storage & Bag Cutter
Conveniently store rolls and bags in unit and bag cutter creates custom bag sizes.
Size
18 x 8.5 x 4.75
18 x 9 x 5
15.75 x 8 x 4.5
Watts
110
130
130
Bag Cutter
N/A
Yes
Yes
Roll storage
N/A
Yes
Yes
Consecutive Seals
25
25
100
Accessories Included
(10) 11 In x 15.75 In Bags (10) 8.6 In x 11.8 In Bags
(2) 7.9 In x 9.8 Ft Rolls (5) 8.6 In x 11.8 In Bags (5) 11 In x 15.75 In Bags
(1) 8 In x 9.85 Ft Roll (1)11 In x 9.8 Ft Roll
product description
The new NESCO VS-12 Deluxe Vacuum Sealer gives you the ability to choose what settings work best for the food you are sealing. Choose from regular for firm items and gentle for softer foods. Sealing choices of dry, moist and double. The pulse vacuum option is great for sealing delicate items like buns and bakery. Simply press the manual seal button to double seal when you have reached the desired vacuum level. Features a double vacuum pump for optimal performance and double line seals for added strength. Also has a bag roll storage compartment and a bag cutter. Cord Length - 54" cord length.
product details
important information
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Questions about NESCO VS-12, Deluxe Vacuum Sealer with Bag Starter Kit and Viewing Lid, Compact Design, Silver
Q:
Does the VS-12 work with the vacuum hose?
Answer: The Foodsaver hose does work with the Nesco VS-12. On my first attempt I was unable to fit the hose adapter into the Nesco hose port. However, a wise person on one of these review sites wrote that you must close and latch the cover of the vacuum sealer first, and then the hose adapter will fit into the port. It worked! Especially nice because Nesco apparently no longer makes their own hose attachment.
Answer: Mine has a small vacuum port inside the cover. I actually went to the autoparts store and bought a 12" section of vacuum hose to use for this purpose. Good for jars if you have the attachment, but using it on ziploc bags is difficult and the bags don't hold and air tight seal. Hope this helps.
Answer: Mine came with the vacuum hose and works magnificently as long as the directions from Nesco are followed . Nesco VS 12 Deluxe version comes with vacuum hose but no other attachments . However I bought a jar attachment thats Food Saver brand that plugs into the port on my Nesco machine and works great on mason jars .
Answer: There is a port in the top of the unit for a vacuum hose. I was disappointed to find that not only doesn't the unit come with its own hose, but, when I called the manufacturer, they told me that due to lack of interest, they no longer sell the hose or containers. They pointed me to a website that sells Foodsaver brand hoses, and said those would work. I tried both types of Foodsaver hoses, and neither fit. It's back to the store with this.
Answer: I did not buy any vacuum hose. When using the regular seal/vacuum that is sufficient to do the job.
Answer: Yes, there's a port for a hose to the right of the control panel on the cover. You'll need to purchase those accessories separately (hose, canisters, bottle cork etc.) as they don't come with your sealing machine. Happy sealing! ☺️
Answer: I don't have a vacuum hose so I can't answer this question
Answer: I modified one end of a FoodSaver hose to fit into the Nesco's canister/marinate hose port. I used a utility knife to *scrape*, NOT cut, one end of the hose until it just barely fit. It must fit deep enough to open the check valve just below the port's surface. With this fairly easy modification you can use all the various FoodSaver accessories.
Answer: I don't know I only use the bags.
Answer: I don't know - haven't tried that
Q:
How does gentle mode work? is it reduced pressure? half pressure? a shorter vacuum time? 5 seconds rather than 10 seconds? ty
Answer: "Gentle" setting provides less vaccum pressure whereas "Normal" setting provides full vaccum pressure. Also, there's sealing settings..."Dry" setting provides a shorter sealing time for dry foods, "Moist" setting provides a longer sealing time for wet foods and "Double" setting provides a double seal for extra security. Happy sealing! ????
Answer: It's made for more delicate foods like berries and chips/crackers that get pulverized by the full pressure/"regular" mode. That way you don't have your crackers turn into crumbs and your berries turn into juice -- they just stay whole crackers and in-tact berries.
Answer: I've never used that mode, but it does a great job for my purposes.
Answer: There's also a manual pulse vaccum button that allows you to control how much suction is applied to your bag of goodies. Great feature!! ☺️
Q:
can i use sous vide bags
Answer: The bags used are sous vide bags.
Answer: If you mean zip lock bags that you may have used when you sous vide the answer is no. But all bags designed to be used in a vacuum sealer machine can be used for sous vide cooking.
Q:
What is the guarantee?
Answer: We do have a 1 year warranty on the product.
Q:
Can a "universal" 7.87 inch wide roll (8") be used in the nesco vs-12 deluxe vacuum sealer machine?
Answer: Yes, in fact, the unit accommodates up to 11.8" wide roll or bag.
Q:
Is the VS-12 compatible with a Foodsaver hose and canisters?
Answer: Yes it is.
Answer: Yes it is.
Answer: Yes! I'm using one myself.
Answer: yes
Q:
Can I use other brand bags?
Answer: Yes you can, these are also compatible with the Food Saver brand bags.
Answer: I buy them in bulk off Amazon. They work great and aren’t a name brand.
Answer: Yes you can use any brand you want but the best use the original from nesco
Answer: Yes you can, I prefer the ones made by foodsaver.
Answer: I think so!
Q:
Can you make continuous, consecutive seals and if so, how approx. how many....or is there a wait period between seals???
Answer: I do several at s time but it’s better to wait in between seals to give the machine time to recover
Answer: I do several bags in a row (5-6) then let it rest for 1-2 minutes before starting again. I buy meat and shrimp in bulk and often seal 20-40 lbs at a time.
Answer: It is best to give it 2 minutes cool down time between seals.
Answer: Seals can be made one right after the other until the machine gets too warm and shuts down. I don't remember but maybe after eight seals. After it cools, go again.
Answer: Seal, then cut bag to preferred length. It’s now ready to seal again.
Answer: I'm sorry but I don't use it that way . I use it maybe 10 times a day on foodstuff and canisters, but never in a consecutive manner .
Q:
Are accessories interchangeable? i have a nutrichef vacuum sealer. can i use the nutrichef tubing, canister and wine stopper with a nesco?
Answer: Not sure about nutrichef accessories in particular but food saver accessories work. I’m using the tube from an old food saver I previously had.
Answer: Not sure
Q:
Hola! quería saber si esta maquina funciona también con bolsa lisas o no gofradas? muchas gracias
Answer: Si! Sirve con varias tipos de bolsas.
Q:
Does the tape on the Sealer need to be replaced from time to time? Did anyone have issues?
Answer: I haven’t replaced mine. I’ve had it about 2 years.
Answer: I’m having problems with my machine not working well in general.
Q:
Melted bags on sealer
Answer: I have never melted a bag on my sealer. Make sure you are using the correct bags and sealing them correctly
Q:
Are the sealer bands replaceable? Bags have melted to them and they are not functioning.
Answer: Your bags should not be melting to the sealer I think you accidentally peeled off the protective cover on the sealing bar thinking it was not supposed to be on there.
Answer: I think the question is why did the bags melt. I have never had a bag even come close to melting. Are you using the correct bags? If so sounds like you have other issues also. As far as the bands are concerned I am not sure if they can be replaced. You Tube can probably give you that answer.
Answer: I believe so, go to their Website. I haven’t had that problem and I’ve been using mine since last year, a lot!
Answer: I think so but, you will need to contact the manufacturer. Covid has made this harder.
Q:
how long will the vacuum remain for frozen items?
Answer: Items sealed should be fine for at least a year in the freezer. I have sealed documents in bags, stored in room temperature and the vacuum seems to stay intact for much longer than a year. I believe that a significant factor regarding the longevity of the vacuum (seal) is the quality of the bags.
Answer: Once you have processed your item using the vacuum and the item is sealed, the vacuum lasts until the item is opened for use.
Answer: I have sealed many items that I put in the freezer; everything from cheese to soups. I have NOT had any seals fail due to freezing temps. Because the air is evacuated from around the food, it is resistant to "freezer burn" and should keep longer at any temperature. I hope this information helps you.
Answer: I have gone close to a year with no breakdown of the seal. This Vac Sealer makes a good seal.
Answer: It is air free until you open the bag!!
Answer: Weeks with quality bags and using the Nesco double seal.
Answer: I think I read somewhere 6 months, but I am not sure honestly.
Q:
Can you suggest the best recommended replacement bags in multi-sizes? Thank you!
Answer: There are many options here on Amazon to choose from … just make sure they are for a vacuum sealer machine and are the size you want .. or you can order a roll and make your own size… hope this helps ya happy sealing!
Answer: Can you please elaborate and let us know what exactly you mean to find out? Your question is rather vague and the way it is structured it would be impossible to answer without making a bunch of assumptions.
Answer: I just get them on amazon and they work fine
Q:
IS this a good one for the money? I want to get something a step up from the average under $50 ones. Thanks for your time...
Answer: Yes, it is a good value for the money. I am extreely happy with it.
Answer: The unit removes the air from your bags, but I found that it does not create as strong a vacuum as the name-brand one that I had prior to this. I also do not love the fact that the tray cannot be removed to wash it. I owned this, but returned it for something that works better.
Answer: tried several other systems (cheaper) and returned them all. this one has met and exceeded all my expectations. yes it costs more but it actually works
Answer: Yes it definitely is! There are many functions and it is a great machine all around.
Q:
Can this sealer work with any foodsaver bags? Both roll and individual?
Answer: Yes it can! This sealer is compatible with any brand of vacuum sealing bags and rolls that are 11.8 inches in width or less.
Answer: It comes with a roll of material, and that works fine. I bought some individual bags which were a little thicker, and it seems to work well with those as well. I've also sealed up plastic bags that food comes in (for example, a bag of rice that I wanted to reseal) and it worked fine there, too. Seems like it should work on any plastic, since it works by heating up a small strip of metal within the clamp that holds the plastic.
Answer: It should. I used a generic roll and it worked fine. This has an accessory port, but it does not come with with the accessory. By "bag" I assume you're talking about pre-cut that you fill and then seal the other side.
Answer: Yes, it will work with any bags advertised to work with a food sealer.
Answer: Yes. Those are what I use. The Food Saver rolls are too large in diameter so I unroll about half of the roll and use that way. Unroll until the Food Saver roll fits into the sealer. Then drop in what you roll off. There is no need for the center spool. It will work perfectly. I don't use the pre-made bags but I am sure that they will work just fine.
Answer: Let me begin by saying I love this Appliance. I have only used the bags that were sold with this vacuum sealer.
Answer: It can and it works awesome!
Answer: I use the Food saver brand and it works fine.
Answer: Yes it can
Q:
Is there a hose kit to use the jars?
Answer: Most universal hoses will fit this model vacuum sealer.
Answer: There doesn't seem to be one available from Nesco but the Nesco VS-12 machine has a port for the hose and a setting for canisters. I bought the set that FoodSaver makes and it works just fine with this.
Answer: Model VS-08P is the hose / cannister attachment the company makes according to my physical copy of the owner's manual, but it is no longer available or impossible to find. Nesco's website doesn't even have it listed.
Answer: NO but if you have one you can use the plug in. This is also slow to seal. BUT it gives a great seal.
Answer: There is one availble as an additional attachment at an additional charge per the product manual.
Answer: You can order it separately. The unit does not come with it
Answer: No
Q:
Can this vacuum air out of existing bags like chips, cereal, etc? (I'm aware they can't be used for proper airtightness.)
Answer: yes, it can. you can vacuum out all the air and then seal the bag - not ideal for fragile things like chips - or just seal the bag.
Answer: Yes, all the time. Suck out a little air an manually seal.
Answer: Not sure but I think you must use the bags that come with machine
Answer: Sorry I never tried but don't see why it wouldn't. Thanks for the idea, I will try that now.
Q:
May seem like silly question, but are the bags porous like zip freezer bags? For example you can put cannabis in a ziplock and smell it in the room!
Answer: Our vacuum sealer bags are not porous. They are designed to not permeate smells after vacuuming.
Answer: I never tried that but these bags last for a long time in the freezer. I can't smell anything in the bags.
Answer: It depends on bags you use. I am using NESCO bags and they are not porous.
Answer: If it was porous you couldn’t vacuum seal.
Answer: The police K-9 drug dog will still smell it.
Q:
How big is the roll storage?
Answer: It’s a cylindrical chamber 12 inches long and 2.75 inches in diameter. Seems like it holds a pretty stout roll of material.
Answer: It will hold any length of roll sold but it won't hold large volume rolls. You can easily cut large volume rolls on the machine but you can't store it in the holder.
Q:
How wide is the sealing strip
Answer: The strip itself is 5/8 inch x 12.5 inches. The machine works better than any other that I have had before this one.
Q:
Has anyone tried to seal strawberries? Would they get smashed?
Answer: They would not get smashed, the vacuum is not that heavy to smash the berries.
Answer: I have not tried it with strawberries, but I have used the pulse vacuum button as a means to control the extent of air withdrawal in other circumstances and suspect that it would work well with fruit like strawberries. There is also a "gentle" setting for automatic vacuuming that might produce the same result.
Answer: Yes they would, I would try freezing them first than sealing them.
Answer: Freeze them first or use the pulse feature
Q:
I live in the northeast Washington state mountains about 3500 ft above sea level. Will this unit have enough vacuum to perform satisfactorily?
Answer: There should be no issue with the vacuum sealer working as it should at that sea level. Thank you
Q:
can the user manual be downloaded?
Answer: yes. use the link and then select the vs-12. https://www.nesco.com/customer-service/owners-manual-download/
Answer: manual is available at Nesco's site: https://www.nesco.com/product/deluxe-vacuum-sealer/
I want to vacuum-seal (uncooked) homemade egg noodles for freezing. will this perform that function without clumping together the noodles into a glob?
Answer: I've never frozen or even vacuum sealed egg noodles but I think if you try to get them distributed evenly in the bag as flat as you can and freeze them laying flat they should be fine.
Answer: Sure. The only place you can't put the noodles is over the sealer and vacuum chamber which is the last two inches of the bag. Spread em out.
Answer: I would say YES. this has a pulse mode where you control the vacuum process. I've sealed left over crackers using this method
Answer: Yes, just “pulse” the vacuum to prevent too much compression of your item. I also do this with liquids, because freezing liquids first doesn’t totally prevent moisture from seeping up the bag. With liquids, even with solids in the mix, once sealed and lay the sealed item flat, you will notice the contents leveling throughout the entire sealed bag, thus helping the eliminate air space that essentially causes freezer burn and you can stack those items, taking up less storage space in your refrigerator or freezer, which ever is the case. I hope that helps you.
Answer: I have done this in the past. I partially froze the item so the liquid would not be vacuumed into the motor. With a little practice it will become a second hand procedure.
Answer: I think you can. As long as you use the gentle setting and then hit manual seal before they are completely pressed down. I did it with grated cheese and it worked
Answer: You can stop the vacuuming at any point you want .
Answer: Yes you can. I would suggest using the pulse function so that you can control the process.
Answer: If they are soft it will clump them up. If they’re hard it’ll probably smash them. If they are wet this machine will not work.
Q:
Will this fit a 50 foot roll?
Answer: No, but you can set a big roll at the back and use the cutter. This is a big help. No crooked cuts with scissors!
Answer: A fifty-foot roll is larger than the machine itself. So no.
Answer: No but I buy that size and just cut off what I need and do a manual seal on one end, place my food inside and vacuum seal. Works great
Answer: no
Q:
The instructions in this unit say to wait 1 minute after each seal. Also, not recommended to seal more than 1 or 2 items consecutively, correct or not
Answer: The machine lights up and indicates when it is ready to seal. I have found that the machine keeps up with the pace I am sealing items. I smoke pulled pork, chicken wings, beef jerky etc. I will break the pulled pork into serving sizes - vacuum seal - then freeze. Same with chicken wings we will smoke then freeze then throw into air fryer when ready to server. I will smoke 10 to 15 pounds pulled pork and have no problems waiting on the Nesco - I will smoke 8 dozen chicken wings - and 12 to a bag - no problems waiting on Nesco - Very happy with product.
Answer: By the time I seal a bag, put it aside, cut another bag, fill it, the Nesco has cooled down..I seal spring veggies consecutively..
Answer: That's what the instructions say. I guess it slows the process down some but I have not found it to be a problem. Most people aren't willing to spend the money for an industrial or production line unit, nor do they have space or need for one.
Answer:
Answer:
Answer: I have never had a problem with dealing. I seal one get the other ready and seal. No problems with mine.
Answer: You can do it consecutively, I've done it. But I wouldn't do more than 2 or 3.
Q:
my vs-12 is only been delivered in August and first used this week...it is not sealing in vacum and seal mode, very dissappointed
Answer: 1 Make sure the bag opening is clean and 2nd make sure your rough side is on top. I noticed when i bought some new bags it did not work due to the ruff side issue. next I noticed when i leveled my item in the bag with the machine it seem to work better
Answer: Mine worked fine! I believe you have a faulty product. It should be returned and replaced.
Q:
Is the gasket on this unit a replaceable part? My old rival seal-a-meal finally failed because the gasket deteriorated.
Answer: from what I understand the seal is replaceable
Q:
does the machine have a bag cutter built in?
Answer: Yes, it does have a bag cutter. It comes with a roll of film and you cut it to the size bag you need and seal the end before the filling.
Answer: Yes, it does. The machine has room for one roll of bags at a time. And the cutter. It works well.
Answer: Yes. It also has a storage area inside for keeping the roll. You feed the material under the cutting strip then slice across. I also purchased quart size bags on Amazon which I use for a lot of my sealing. FYI -- this product comes with (I think, two) "starter" rolls.
Answer: Yes it has a cutter....
Answer: Yes, there's a slider right beside the roll holder.
Answer: Yes it does. This sealer is well worth the money
Answer: Yes, it does. It works left to right or right to left.
Answer: Yes it is used to cut from the roll inside the sealer
Answer: Yes. And it is easy to use.
Answer: Yes it does and it is easy to use.
Q:
Do you have a how to use video. I’ve never used a sealer before?
Answer: We do not have any videos on use but you may be able to reference Youtube for suggestions.
Answer: google search the nesco vs-12. videos available
Q:
How much kpa dose it have?
Answer: As Don said, it's 25.1 inches of mercury, which converts to 84.998 kilopascals (kPa).
Answer: Mine is the Nesco V12..it is 130-Watt, 25.1 InHG..Quess you would have to convert to kpa..They are great machines..
Answer: I don't know. But I use it all the time and have had no problems
Q:
Who do I need to talk to about order fulfillment? This thing has been on back order now for almost 2 months. Getting ready to bail.
Answer: It is a fabulous sealer, my son did extensive research and this was the one he settled on. Good price and high quality sealing and you can use any bags, including ziplocks if you want to.
Answer: Available at other sources, such as Kohl's right now and other stores
Answer: Amazon
Q:
can I seal a plastic container that has a dip for freezing?
Answer: This machine is compatible with our vacuum sealer containers and food saver products.
Answer: Yes, but you'll need to buy the hose, canisters and other accessories separately. They do not come with the sealing machine.
Answer: can not answer that
Q:
What the electric power supplay
Answer: The one i have operates on normal 120v household current in the USA. Not sure if they have a model for overseas power.
Answer: This is 120 V
Answer: It seems to work on 220V as well
Answer: It's 110.
Answer: It requires 110v
Q:
Will this fit a 50ft roll?
Answer: The roll width must fit in the port where it vacuums the air out.
Answer: The lid will not close on a full roll. I put mine in, cut the number of bags I need to length, and then remove to seal. I store the bag in the holder as it helps keep the lid open slightly to protect the seal against crushing.
Answer: I do not believe so...
Q:
Air is not being sucked out of the bag it starts then stops what can I do
Answer: Either the bag is too full and needs to be thinned out; there might be a wrinkle in the bag causing it to prevent air from being removed; or the bag is not tucked up far enough to the top end so the air can be sucked out. I've learned the hard way ;o).
Answer: I have not had this issue. Since i do not use automatic mode.
Q:
How about blanched veggie, Ive tried other brands theu dont seal
Answer: Just like other commenters have said, make sure that the area of the bag you're sealing is dry and you should have no issues with blanched veggies. Freezing the veggies beforehand, using a larger bag, or wiping the bag well will work well.
Answer: I would recommend with any sealer that you blanch then freeze your veggies prior to sealing. Anything wet will not seal well.
Answer: Are you getting moisture between the layers of the bag? That could be the trouble. Try either freezing the veg on a sheet tray and then packing/sealing them OR make sure they're dry as possible then bag them. Before you seal, get a paper towel and fold it until you have a neat wad that fits the width of the bag. Put it inside next to where you're going to seal it and then try. The towel should capture any moisture on it's leading edge and allow both the vacuum and the seal. Gotta be careful. Pulling liquids into the vacuum can damage the machine.
Answer: My first one...I bough precut bag which was a great time saver....love this machine.....keep an eye on the gasket on the lid....if it becomes dislodged it will not seal......just a quick look each time is enough
Answer: I blanch and freeze them first
Answer: You have to use a very large bag so the moisture is contained allowing the bag to seal
Answer: This is a great unit for a lot of things fire that works
Q:
can this vacuum sealer be used with pre cut bags?
Answer: I have used with the Nesco precut bags
Answer: Yes
Q:
Could anyone share the foodsaver hose or kit model # they've successfully used for jars and canisters with the vs-12? thanks!
Answer: This is what I got
Answer:
Answer: I have had so many FoodSavers that have died, that i have a lot of misc. tubes and hoses to use. I have found one that works, but I can't tell you what kit it came from. However, I can included a video to help. It is the one with a white plastic piece on each end and a hose in between. I use the hose with the canisters. put the lid and ring on your canning jar. I tighten the ring snuggly and then back it off a bit so it holds the lid in place but not too tight. I then secure the lever on my V-12 and hit the canister button. It is working just fine for me.
Q:
says 100 cosecutive seals? Most here say cooldown needed?
Answer: Depends on haw fast you are sealing. slow down, you get more without a cool down. Go fast, less time. This is a home unit, not a commercial one.
Q:
where do I order bags for it?
Answer: I just got 2 rolls yesterday I ordered from Amazon I just ordered 2 bigs rolls 11x50 they fit alright. Hope this helps you
Answer: Foos Saver brand bags are$$$ . Amazon and ebay have rolls, pre-cut of all sizes...i just receive the attachments for sealing mason jars from Goodmans in Hialeah Fl...i love this unit...portion control is super important...start with small bags..
Answer: Any bags work with this machine - go to walmart
Answer: Any of the vacuum seal rolls will work. Just large rolls will not fit in the storage area but that doesn’t stop you from using them.
Answer: Amazon ..I use foodsaver brand
Q:
Whats the suction pressure on this unit?
Answer: just packaged up 200 lbs of Polish sausage (5 links to a package) and it did a great job. It was the right amount of suction without flattening the links
Answer: It has manual settings on it there’s a function there that says gentle strong or dry so you need to push one of them and it automatically adjust to the pressure for what you have in your bag
Q:
what comes in the box I just received the sealer and 2 rolls of bags. I thought it came with the the hose to do containers?
Answer: No, this unit does not come with the hose and containers. Those are accessories that can be purchased separately.
Answer: I did not receive a hose. I got one on Amazon. FYI, the brand Foodsaver seems to be getting out of the container business. I find the Nesco, more than a year after purchase FAR superior to the FoodSaver machine. This is after 25-years with many replacements of failed FoodSaver machines.
Answer: mine came with the same .checked site no mention of hoses and container in contents
Answer: That's all it comes with. The sealer and two different size rolls.
Answer: No, the hose comes with the kit itself for canning jars, not with the sealer.
Answer: It does not come with the hose for containers.
Answer: I recently purchased and attachments to vacuum containers are not included.
Answer: No, the hose is an optional purchase.
Answer: Mine came with the same! I think you have to order those separately.
Q:
What size bags fit in the nesco vs-12? how many different sizes are offered for the vs-12 model?
Answer: I think it’s 12, 10 and 8 inch
Q:
Hi, Can I use 70 micron bags on this machine???
Answer: I use some bags that are 4 mil thick (4/1000 of an inch) which I think is about 100 microns, so I think you would be OK, if I’ve done my math right!
Answer: I don’t know what 70 micron bags are, but this machine will seal Mostar bags that are designed for sealing. I love this machine and use it almost every day.
Answer: I would just avoid the machine, it doesn't work very well and only lasts for a couple of months. It is big, bulky and slow.
Q:
Can you marinate in bags?
Answer: Should work as well as marinating in zip-lock.
Answer: Instructions talk about marinating using a tube and canister and don't mention bags.
Answer: Yes, it’s pretty easy to marinate in bags.
Answer: Yes. It works well for marinating.
Answer: No.....you can’t seal anything with liquid
Answer: You would have to seal without vacuuming.
Answer: Yes you definitely can!
Answer: the instructions say that you can.
Q:
So how long is it backorder? I'm going on 1 month....
Answer: prob. a lot longer..Retail supplies of every description is very low..Gov. paying people not to work so cant get product made...
Q:
Does this seal with blanched veggies?
Answer: Yes
Product reviews of NESCO VS-12, Deluxe Vacuum Sealer with Bag Starter Kit and Viewing Lid, Compact Design, Silver
Amazon Customer : Doesn't Work as Advertised
I've tried using this vacuum sealer several times and could never get it to work. I can't say anything about the suction power because I could never get to that stage. I wasn't able to even make a bag because the heating element never got hot enough to seal an end of the plastic bag. I felt the heating element after it failed time and again to seal a bag and it was barely warm - certainly not hot enough to melt plastic. I will be returning these appliance and asking for a refund. My recommendation for this machine is: DON'T BUY IT! It will be a waste of your money and your time!
Charles Mojica : Buy thin bags, not food saver or similar bags.
I’ve had this vacuum sealer since February 2020, as a replacement for my failing Foodsaver. The bags it brought were thin and would seal perfectly in one go. The suction power is incredible. I broke a vacuum canister. It does its job, right up to the point where you get FoodSaver like bags. You’ll notice right away, the Nesco bags and the Foodsaver bags feel different. The Nesco bags feel flimsy, but they do work perfectly. Once I ran out and used my Foodsaver rolls, that’s when I realized that the whole “it’s compatible with all brands of bags” statement is a LIE. They should change it to “compatible with thin vacuum sealer bags”. Nesco bags? No problem. Walmart brand bags? Easy peasy. Foodsaver or Amazon bags? You will almost never get a perfect seal on the first go. The heating element must be too weak for these bags, since they’re thicker and more robust. I’ve had to do manual seal up to 2 more times after vacuum sealing, because you still see some honeycomb texture in the seal, and some air is still escaping. Yes, I’ve tried it in different positions, with the textured part against the heating element, and flipped over. Used the dry seal, wet seal and double. No difference. It is very frustrating and time consuming when you are vacuum sealing a lot of things when you’ve done groceries and want to preserve things, and all you have are thick bags, because my Walmart no longer stocks up on their bags, and when I tried to buy some bags off Amazon, they were just as thick as food saver bags and gave me the same issues.
That’s my only problem with this sealer, the heat element is too weak for regular Foodsaver bags. Solution would be to buy more Nesco bags, yeah, but what am I supposed to do with all the rolls I already have? I was misled into believing this would work with those bags, that’s why I bought it in the first place. Very disappointed. Gonna get a Foodsaver vacuum sealer again, that is, if I don’t succumb to temptation and finally get a vacmaster.
Bigpones : Worked great until it didn't.
This thing worked great until it didn't. I used it occasionally, stored it properly with the handle in the upright position. I just went to use it and now it's not sealing after the vacuum. Yes, I checked the bag which are new not re-used. Yes, I checked to make sure the bag was seated properly with no kinks. Yes, it was dry and not wet, I wasn't vac-sealing wet items. I even changed to a different outlet for whatever stupid reason, like it would work in one outlet but not another. I bought this based on Thewirecutter.com recommendations, probably just a lemon. Also, it stopped working exactly 1 year and 17 days after use.
joshua phillips : Not worth it
I use vacuum sealers A LOT - this sealer looks good but the control panel is NO good. From the first time I used it, the "manual" button would take anywhere from 3 to 15 times of pushing the button before it would work. The "auto vacuum" button would work MOST of the time but occasionally that button would NOT work either. So I requested an exchange because that machine was not working correctly, then the 2nd machine (exact same model) did the very same thing. In short, it must be a problem with that particular model - very bad control panel. Now I am trying to get a full refund.
Kathryn Pulsifer : That it works
I used it three times and the fourth time it did not work. I bought it because it was rated the best by ATK but I was very disappointed although when I called Amazon, they got me in touch with the manufacturer and they said they are going to send me a new one which is very nice of them but I am a little gun shy because I wonder if the next one will be the same way
MnE : Really good but kinda expensive!
Pros: -I love the double seal feature, it holds multiple size rolls and the guide bar has a teo way razor for cutting the bags, suction is what is needed to vacuum seal. Cons: So 1st its big ive had 3 this is by far the largest weve owned. Also the marinade feature: not really a working feature. Ive tried it could ways i get same result by just using moist setting and manual pump n seal!, bag holder yes it holds it but would be nice that it didnt just lay in there i mean cut a ridge eachside n use a plastic/wooden or metal rod to hold it n place n slide into ridge would help with uneven cuts and unravelling. But thats it those minor nit picks are the issues which to me isnt a big deal. The worst thing to me is its size!
Dan Killian : Best kitchen gadget
I love this sealer, it's simple to use, has great suction, and it has multiple functions. The suction is strong, I sealed several different custom size bags for burgers, chicken, and porkchops, bulk cooking and baking seasonings/ spices, like pancake flour, bisquick, fry batters, multiple sizes of bulk and shredded cheese, and even sliced pickles too!
Amazon Customer : Game Changer!!!
This is my all time favorite kitchen appliance! Purchased originally to help organize my refrigerator and marinade, and make some freezer meals. Then Rona hit! We were able to save so much money and unneeded trips to the store because of this! Resealed chips, cereal, pasta's in the bags they came in. Purchased meat from the meat market and divided it up ourselves into the portion sizes we needed. Froze leftovers, sealed fruits and veggies in the fridge, and then right when they were about to expire, repackaged and froze them in individual bags for smoothies. Everything stays fresher longer.....even avacado's! I watched several YouTube video reviews before I decided on this one, and there is absolutely nothing about this I don't love. The locking handle is awesome. When Rona finally leaves and we can travel again, I will def be utilizing this to pack and travel. You seriously will not regret this purchase!
Cactususan : Probably the Best Sealer on the Market
And that's what AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN thinks! I had a FoodSaver / Game Saver for years and years and loved it. When it quit, I started comparing the available units and had certain criteria: bag storage in the unit and a cutter, as well as having good performance. The Food Saver brand just didn't have the features and ratings that I wanted. (If you're looking for a new unit, look at the ones without bag storage and cutters, and note how inconvenient they are.)
In the photos, I show cornmeal being sealed. (If it's kept in the freezer in a Ziploc bag, it's still tastes like freezer. Blech.) There's a pic of it loose, and then the end product. That little bag of cornmeal is hard as rock, and that's the goal. There's not a bit of air in it. Then it goes in the freezer to extend its life even further and keep its fresh taste and nutrition. The seal is nice and wide, and you can see that it's done an excellent job. There's also an option to create a double seal when you seal moist items. I use that when I make my own ice packs (using water and alcohol), and it works great.
Another reason why this is a must-have in my house is for my Southern California earthquake supplies. All the first- aid items are vacuum sealed. Sterile towels remain sterile, bandages stay clean. Even Top Ramen stays fresh. Also small things like instant coffee, chewing gum, matches. They'll remain fresh and usable. One of the best things I've sealed is packages of disinfecting wipes. Left on their own, they will dehydrate, but when vacuum sealed they stay wet indefinitely. I also use my sealer for camping supplies.
As always, read and follow. Love it!
Babek : Very high Suction power, high quality, double seal
After returning two other products that I bought recently I found the right one. I was thinking about 5 stars I've given to this product 5 star means everything should be perfect and really is so far. I have received this product today, I'm surprised. I'm really happy with this product. I wish I could have the vacuum hose in the package. Overall value, quality very good. double seal and suction power amazing. Update 1/28/2020; recommended this sealer is amazing. Optional double seal, suction power, high quality material, built-in roll storage/cutter, continues sealing, tested, perfectly done!
semcg : doesn't work
I had a FoodSaver for years before buying the Nesco as a less expensive option when the FoodSaver started acting up. The Nesco had received good reviews and was a good price. But I found it very difficult to use, and within a couple of months of purchase, it stopped working altogether. There is no suction, and it won't complete a seal. This was a complete waste of money. I'm glad I didn't discard my old FoodSaver; at least it still works, albeit not as well as it used to. I'm back to the drawing board of finding a new vacuum sealer that works well and is a good value.
A. Ellis : Works great so far
Just got this unit, but happy so far; seems well-made. The controls on top are kind of old fashioned, but very easy to use and understand. The suction is more than powerful enough, in fact it is so strong that you have to be careful sealing certain foods or you will end up with a gooey mush; I think this thing could mash cooked potatoes! Fortunately, it has 2 selectable suction levels, plus a very useful "pulse vacuum" mode to get just the right level of vacuum before sealing. The lid is easy to use and I like having a place to store the bag roll. The layout is flexible enough that you can create a bag any size you want. It has a port on top for connecting a hose to a hard container, but I haven't tried that yet. The only negative so far is there is no on/off switch, so you have to unplug it to turn off the bright LED's, but that is not a big deal since I don't leave it out on the kitchen counter anyway.
Dan Killian : Best kitchen gadget
I love this sealer, it's simple to use, has great suction, and it has multiple functions. The suction is strong, I sealed several different custom size bags for burgers, chicken, and porkchops, bulk cooking and baking seasonings/ spices, like pancake flour, bisquick, fry batters, multiple sizes of bulk and shredded cheese, and even sliced pickles too!
D. Goggans : Everything I wanted. Passed my heavy use test perfectly.
This is my first vacuum sealer, and I did a lot of research before I settled on this one. I bought my first chest freezer at the end of February in anticipation of the lockdown that came a few weeks later, and I was able to use my new vacuum sealer to preserve a six-month supply of meat with no problem at all. I bought rolls of bag material on Amazon by OutOfAir, a highly rated brand that is currently unavailable. You can use any brand of bag material, but I will wait to reorder for the OutOfAir to come back in stock, if possible. Very pleased with this sealer, and I gave it quite a workout.
Jim McClurg : A game changer in the kitchen
This has saved so much food in our house! With our kids gone we had left over food going to waste regularly. The vacuum packed foods retain their flavor in the fridge and freezer and the frozen foods do not get damaged by frost. Chicken and beef no longer get a "gamey" taste. I have frozen and vac-packed grilled hamburgers and steaks and they re-heat (in the microwave!) tasting like I'd just grilled them. I have never liked re-heated chicken - ever. But this process keeps the chicken from oxidizing and getting that nasty day-old flavor. We use it to vac-pack foods that we cook using sous vide, too. My kids make fun of me vac-packing everything but it's been several years and it's still one of the most used appliances in our kitchen. It's that good. * Note: Buy pre-sized vacuum bags and skip the rolled product.
G.E. : Great machine, good price.
Absolutely love this! I had been wanting one for a long time but not sure if it would be worth it for the occasional use. Got tired of the freezer burn and frost accumulation in our garden vegetables we were freezing in zipper freezer bags. Wish I had bought this years ago. Besides veggies, I have used it to vacuum seal baked goods, meat, flour for the freezer and rice for long term storage. It uses generic replacement rolls and bags which I bought on line. I would recommend buying extra when you purchase the machine if you plan on using it a lot. The starter supply goes fast.
MnE : Really good but kinda expensive!
Pros: -I love the double seal feature, it holds multiple size rolls and the guide bar has a teo way razor for cutting the bags, suction is what is needed to vacuum seal. Cons: So 1st its big ive had 3 this is by far the largest weve owned. Also the marinade feature: not really a working feature. Ive tried it could ways i get same result by just using moist setting and manual pump n seal!, bag holder yes it holds it but would be nice that it didnt just lay in there i mean cut a ridge eachside n use a plastic/wooden or metal rod to hold it n place n slide into ridge would help with uneven cuts and unravelling. But thats it those minor nit picks are the issues which to me isnt a big deal. The worst thing to me is its size!
BusyBee : This model is faulty. This is a known problem, yet Amazon keeps selling it.
Nesco VS-12 unit stopped working with less than ten uses. When going through the vacuum countdown, it gets stuck on "6" and eventually shuts down without completing the cycle. When I contacted the company for warranty service, they agreed to replace. Then they told me they are out of stock and unlikely to have more until mid-late November. Bottom line: there's probably a reason Amazon is offering such a steep discount on this unit.
M. Bear : Mine may have been defective...
PROS: -Sealing is not an issue, it seal just fine. Fantastic, actually. - It’s compact and light enough to move it around—store it in the cabinet or on the counter. - it was delivered to me looking brand new.
CONS: - it DID NOT SUCK THE AIR OUT! I tested 5 times with different bags, it just did not vacuum the air out and it went straight to the sealing!!! I watched the demonstration video and I believe I placed the bag correctly. - it’s obnoxiously LOUD!
Returning! I may have gotten a defective one but that just to show how lacking their QA is, as I read a lot of reviews that have the same issue.
It’s too bad really as I was looking forward to using this for Sous Vide cooking.
GTnH : Need to double seal
This worked normally for awhile, then I started to get very small leaks through the seal - even at the end that was the bag making seal. Now I have to double seal everything. I also have found that using the manual vacuum (pulse) first works better than using the automatic vacuum because I have had air left using the auto vacuum.
Retired in Leeds : POOR design. Unsuitable for food.
Unsuitable. Do not buy this for vacuum packing food. We found that after sealing only 2 bags the seals began to fail. After many attempts to find the problem we called NESCO customer support. The agent recommended that 3 minutes elapse between each seal. !!!!! (minimum 2 required per bag 4 if you are doing it correctly) Sure enough the fine print requires 2 minutes. This makes the product unsuitable for the intended purpose of vacuum packing food in any usable quantity. I hope you find something that works.
Amazon Customer : vacuum
We purchased this sealer in September of 2020, and it is not sealing (taking the air out). Of course the warranty has expired. This machine worked great for 4 months, but the vacuum does not hold. Yes we are using new bags and we have kept it clean (after every use). It's just my husband and I, so it doesn't get over used. The sealing of the bags works fine and the cutter and the roller. The vacuum sucks.
alan gerard : Short lived
It worked great for about 10 uses then died. No power. Hard to clean. No removable drip tray. Seals constantly come un-seated. I was hoping that this unit would last a couple of years but I was disappointed. This was basically a waste of money. It has good features like double sealing etc but they are worthless once the unit dies and there is no way to contact the company to honor the "one year" warranty.
SamKool : good suction power
i've had this for 14 months, since 10/2018. i use it very often and so far the motor/suction is holding up. i especially like the double line seal option/feature. also, i read somewhere someone uses it to seal a bag of potato chips (w/out suction of course). i would've never thought of that but now i do it all the time. no more stale chips!
1/11/2021: motor died. i got 27 months out of it. good thing my credit card added 2 years of warranty. i am replacing it with this same v-12 because i use it a bit more than the avg. person so the value is still there. when this replacement gives out i may upgrade to a heavier duty machine. i orginally paid $116.00 incl. tax so at that price it's worth it. if the price increases too much i'd have to reconsider.
Amazon Customer : Game Changer!!!
This is my all time favorite kitchen appliance! Purchased originally to help organize my refrigerator and marinade, and make some freezer meals. Then Rona hit! We were able to save so much money and unneeded trips to the store because of this! Resealed chips, cereal, pasta's in the bags they came in. Purchased meat from the meat market and divided it up ourselves into the portion sizes we needed. Froze leftovers, sealed fruits and veggies in the fridge, and then right when they were about to expire, repackaged and froze them in individual bags for smoothies. Everything stays fresher longer.....even avacado's! I watched several YouTube video reviews before I decided on this one, and there is absolutely nothing about this I don't love. The locking handle is awesome. When Rona finally leaves and we can travel again, I will def be utilizing this to pack and travel. You seriously will not regret this purchase!
Emma : Where can one get parts
Item worked very well at first. I liked the design, roll storage and ease of cuttoff. Problem I experienced was the Neco bags lost their vacuum after being in freezer. I started using Food Saver bags and they worked better so I stayed with them. Main issue the the machine was the upper and lower rubber seals surronding the vacuum chamber stuck together. I later read note the mfr put on the unit saying this could happen. Wrote to company saying I wanted to order new seals with no response. Also, could not find seals on any of the companies that sold repair parts. Only complaints, repair part availability and Nesco bags holding vacuum. Otherwise nice unit but no longe useable for lack of vacuum chamber seals.
The Dude : Instructions not clear
The heating element has some sort of tape over it and I'm not sure if I should remove it or not. The instructions do not mention it but I feel like I will wreck it if I use it and it was meant to be removed
Charles Mojica : Buy thin bags, not food saver or similar bags.
I’ve had this vacuum sealer since February 2020, as a replacement for my failing Foodsaver. The bags it brought were thin and would seal perfectly in one go. The suction power is incredible. I broke a vacuum canister. It does its job, right up to the point where you get FoodSaver like bags. You’ll notice right away, the Nesco bags and the Foodsaver bags feel different. The Nesco bags feel flimsy, but they do work perfectly. Once I ran out and used my Foodsaver rolls, that’s when I realized that the whole “it’s compatible with all brands of bags” statement is a LIE. They should change it to “compatible with thin vacuum sealer bags”. Nesco bags? No problem. Walmart brand bags? Easy peasy. Foodsaver or Amazon bags? You will almost never get a perfect seal on the first go. The heating element must be too weak for these bags, since they’re thicker and more robust. I’ve had to do manual seal up to 2 more times after vacuum sealing, because you still see some honeycomb texture in the seal, and some air is still escaping. Yes, I’ve tried it in different positions, with the textured part against the heating element, and flipped over. Used the dry seal, wet seal and double. No difference. It is very frustrating and time consuming when you are vacuum sealing a lot of things when you’ve done groceries and want to preserve things, and all you have are thick bags, because my Walmart no longer stocks up on their bags, and when I tried to buy some bags off Amazon, they were just as thick as food saver bags and gave me the same issues.
That’s my only problem with this sealer, the heat element is too weak for regular Foodsaver bags. Solution would be to buy more Nesco bags, yeah, but what am I supposed to do with all the rolls I already have? I was misled into believing this would work with those bags, that’s why I bought it in the first place. Very disappointed. Gonna get a Foodsaver vacuum sealer again, that is, if I don’t succumb to temptation and finally get a vacmaster.
DeLane Jenkins : Hard to beat!
For the money and features, it’s hard to beat! I purchased it to vacuum seal about 50 lbs of fresh tuna steaks and it handled the job without a hiccup. The only drawback I’ll say is the ability to seal wet items. This is easily overcome by freezing the item briefly before vacuum sealing. If I were to buy anything other than this, it would be a chamber sealer, which is significantly more expensive. For now, this does everything I need easily!
joshua phillips : Not worth it
I use vacuum sealers A LOT - this sealer looks good but the control panel is NO good. From the first time I used it, the "manual" button would take anywhere from 3 to 15 times of pushing the button before it would work. The "auto vacuum" button would work MOST of the time but occasionally that button would NOT work either. So I requested an exchange because that machine was not working correctly, then the 2nd machine (exact same model) did the very same thing. In short, it must be a problem with that particular model - very bad control panel. Now I am trying to get a full refund.
Howard B. Richter : Support is Exceptional and so far it’s a great value for the money.
Support is Exceptional and so far it’s a great value for the money.
After using the one for a few days, I had an issue with the unit sucking in some Juices from the meat I was packaging. juices from the meat I was packaging. When I called support (they answered almost immediately) and we talked through it. I found out I needed to use more of a gap (I.e. 3 inches and not 1) between the suction and the meat. Then gave me some ideas on better ways to use it.
At this point I have only used the NESCO VS-12 for a few days. weeks and it’s been great (will update this review if that changes).
I hope you have the same experience that I have had.
R. Lee Harrell Jr. : Not for meat!
If you’re looking to something dry, like cereal, grain, or rice, this is the sealer for you. If you’re looking to seal meat like me, keep looking. Poor design pulls all the moisture from the meat to the top of the bag, preventing it from making a good seal.
Very disappointing performance.
jawshoouh : Best non-chamber vac sealer
I only have one other back sealer to compare this to, but it appears to be a great sub-$100, non-chamber, vac sealer (I got it on sale on Amazon a few weeks ago). It's not the fastest, but it's not a race when you're back sealing, right? I haven't done any marinading yet, but for storage of veggies and other perishables and for sous vide, it's great. The built-in bag roll storage and cutter (manual cutter) are great, it's super easy to use, and the double-seal feature is fantastic. Would highly recommended especially if you don't have the budget (or counter space) for a chamber vac.
johnnyc : I tested and passed flying colors
This is a great sealer for about $100, I tried less expensive units only to send back as the seal areas failed with slow vacuum seal leaks. The Nesco is a bit slower but i can see why after working with less expensive sealers, i believe the Nesco is engineered to vacuum and pause to allow bag to settle before sealing then a longer seal time to allow time and temp for a great seal.
Coming from manufacturing sealing cosmetics and apparel I am used to looking for defective seals, the Nesco seems to produce a flawless seal over and over. Look at my pic you can see I sealed many items one after another and I didn’t have to wait or go slow the Nesco powered through with no flaws in the seal. Nesco has 5 seal options including the double seal option for moist applications which I have used.
I love the internal cutter, the area for a small 11” roll to sit in, the see through window to see the roll and the single hand clamp that works great. The build quality appears to be very high quality to last.
Again look at the seal area in my pics that is the most important thing to consider when purchasing a sealer.
Mark T : VS-12 Nesco Vacuum Sealer
This is a large, heavy duty food sealer. It substantial and appliance like in weight. It is a refinement of years of development. It is easy to use and almost foolproof. It has adjustable vacuum levels to prevent crushing delicate air filled food such as puff cereal. The wide sealing element allows the use of gallon sized zip type freezer bags. it is not bullet proof though. Care must be given to the rate of speed at which bags are sealed. The vacuum motor is a dry type, not oil filled. It has a duty cycle that requires 20 - 30 seconds between bags to prevent overheating. This seems a long time, but is much faster than it's competitors. It is loud while developing vacuum; All the machines I have used are. Over all this is the best I have found. I find it useful to seal meat for freezing and dividing bulk sized "family sized" packs into convenient meal portions. Price point is good for a machine with all the bells and whistles. I recommend this machine.
Nancy Simmons : Seems great. Time will tell.
The sealer itself gets a tentative 5 star rating, as I’ve only had it a week.
The company (or maybe the reseller, or maybe amazon) jacked the price up 40% after a positive mention on a popular TV show. This is not cool. I guess sales slowed, so the price is now back to within a few bucks of what it was before.
Pros: It’s quiet. My last sealer was a seal a meal that sounded like someone was jackhammering concrete. This one just makes a quiet purring noise.
It’s more convenient. With the last one I had, in order to double seal both ends of a bag from a roll I had to do 4 complete vacuum cycles. With this one, I just seal the bottom (one shot double seal and no need to run the vacuum motor) fill the bag, then vacuum and seal.
Pulse vacuum. This is awesome. For moist foods, just vacuum til the juice starts to rise, then seal. Works great for sous vide, where you really just need a snug seal where the food is in good contact with the bag. Also great for delicate foods, as the “gentle” mode is a little stout for things like pastry and bread.
Vacuum is quite strong. I was a little dubious as the pump is so quiet, so I vacuum sealed an empty beer can. While it didn’t flatten it completely, it sufficiently squashed it to convince me it was a fairly high powered pump.
Cons:
The touch pad is a little cheap feeling. Sometimes takes multiple tries to get it to perform the desired function.
The countdown timer, while seemingly convenient, is a bit of a gimmick. It sits at 9 seconds for 15-20 seconds THEN counts down from 9 to 0. And that 9 second countdown has ranged anywhere from 14 seconds to the advertised 9 seconds.
Overall it seems like the best for its price range. We’ll see if it outlasts the 9 months my old one lasted.
RealBigSwede : NESCO VS-12, Deluxe Vacuum Sealer
This is our 4 Vacuum Sealer (the other from a well known company)and this is much better vacuum. plus it make a double seal when it seal the bag. Love the locking handle make it easy and you know that the bag are seal the first time!! plus this can seal more in one sitting I can seal 15 bags in on sitting the other 2-3 then it had to rest for 15 min to cool down. So, more work in less time!. Plus this can do 3 differed sealing Dry, Wet and Double. {Plus you can see inside none of the other could you. Now when I do wet food I can stop it before it suck out the liquate that I want to stay inside.
verbilkent : Amazing!
This replaced my 12 year old vacuum sealer. Two things people don't think about that this has: 1. Double seal! You can set the sealer to do a double seal. Periodically you get a seal that leaks, with double you never have that issue. 2. Ability to cut bags to size and use any bag you want to. It has a bag cutter. You can use any size roll. It can hold a roll inside, but I buy larger bulk rolls. You can feed from the front and cut your bags to size. Saves tons of money by buying bags in bulk. Great suction on the vacuum pump. Highly recommend to buy it.
Adam : Great value, works very well.
This is the 1st vacuum sealer I've purchased. It works exactly as advertised. Leaves a very nice double seal and vacuums the air out very quickly. I only wish it had a marking to tell you how much to cut in order to be able to place the bag in the machine, but otherwise it works great.
Cactususan : Probably the Best Sealer on the Market
And that's what AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN thinks! I had a FoodSaver / Game Saver for years and years and loved it. When it quit, I started comparing the available units and had certain criteria: bag storage in the unit and a cutter, as well as having good performance. The Food Saver brand just didn't have the features and ratings that I wanted. (If you're looking for a new unit, look at the ones without bag storage and cutters, and note how inconvenient they are.)
In the photos, I show cornmeal being sealed. (If it's kept in the freezer in a Ziploc bag, it's still tastes like freezer. Blech.) There's a pic of it loose, and then the end product. That little bag of cornmeal is hard as rock, and that's the goal. There's not a bit of air in it. Then it goes in the freezer to extend its life even further and keep its fresh taste and nutrition. The seal is nice and wide, and you can see that it's done an excellent job. There's also an option to create a double seal when you seal moist items. I use that when I make my own ice packs (using water and alcohol), and it works great.
Another reason why this is a must-have in my house is for my Southern California earthquake supplies. All the first- aid items are vacuum sealed. Sterile towels remain sterile, bandages stay clean. Even Top Ramen stays fresh. Also small things like instant coffee, chewing gum, matches. They'll remain fresh and usable. One of the best things I've sealed is packages of disinfecting wipes. Left on their own, they will dehydrate, but when vacuum sealed they stay wet indefinitely. I also use my sealer for camping supplies.
As always, read and follow. Love it!
CharlestonSCBill : Works Great and Saves Bag Material
This VS-12, Deluxe Vacuum Sealer, from NESCO is exactly what I needed for storing bulk products. I've have had no less than 5 of the automatic units in less than 15 years. Over time they all became horrible disappointments. This is completely manual and works better than any automatic. We buy many grocery items, meats, cheeses in bulk and portion them into smaller packages, In addition, I also bake brioche rolls, Cuban rolls, Italian bread. All of which get frozen. The pulse feature on the NESCO works perfectly for that purpose. Going manual saves on bagging material. Although, I'm still using the name brand bag rolls for long term storage the NESCO unit lets me use less expensive bag material for shorter term storage. Other features which I like are the Double Vacuum Pump and the Double Line Seals for Added Strength. Many times the other brand failed to seal properly
Jack (NMI) Stecker : Better than my more expensive foodsaver. Forget Foodsaver. Foodsaver has crappy support IMI.
I have used 2 other brands of vacuum sealers including more expensive models. The footprint is small. It has better sealing options than those. Forget Foodsaver. Had this for a few days now and It is a lot better than the foodsaver product that is half again as much. So Like I said Forget Foodsaver
dokdmento : Nice sealer. My favorite!
I have the old one and was looking for one that works w liquids. It’s about the sam as the old one but has a few more features. The cutter has been redesigned and also the locking mechanism. The cover now locks with the handle which is a nice feature to open and close. It will also double seal bags for extra strength. Well made, only one complaint. The cord storage could be designed better w maybe the plug snapping onto the cord to keep it in place. Well satisfied w this and the previous one which I’m giving away. Oh, it’s quieter than the old one
D. Engman : Very impressive
My wife and I figure we have owned 4 Costco Food Saver vacuum sealers through the years. All have failed for one reason, they can't get enough suction because the seal has gone bad. Go to Food Saver site and see if they sell replacements, Yes, but never for the model we have. First thing I did before making this purchase was go to Nesco's site to see if replacement seals are available, Yes, and they fit this unit. I also like that the seal is at least twice as wide as the Food saver, also, the ability to double seal in one shot. So far I am thrilled with this purchase.
Julie : Good deal. Good quality.
I’ve sealed close to a hundred bags of cold-smoked cheese using this without a single hiccup. It has performed flawlessly. Automatic! …close the lid. Press the button and it does the rest while I’m loading the next bag. I read hundreds of reviews for numerous sealers. I’m very pleased with this purchase. By the way, these bags found on Amazon have worked outstanding in this sealer: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017LFB4UG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 --Bill (the husband)
Julie : Good deal. Good quality.
I’ve sealed close to a hundred bags of cold-smoked cheese using this without a single hiccup. It has performed flawlessly. Automatic! …close the lid. Press the button and it does the rest while I’m loading the next bag. I read hundreds of reviews for numerous sealers. I’m very pleased with this purchase. By the way, these bags found on Amazon have worked outstanding in this sealer: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017LFB4UG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 --Bill (the husband)
Troy : Do not recommend
Naught this to vacuum seal wild game. Instructions state do not seal mor than 1-2 bags continuously. This is a very LIGHT DUTY product. Called there customer service and they verified it’s for more of a once a day or every other day use. Sending it back
KLW : Nice little
Nice little unit for small jobs. I use this for small bathces of homemade jerky and fruit leather etc. It's fine for that but i wouldn't rely on it for large sealing projects. There's a good wait period between seals as well as load time that makes for a rather slow project but if your not in a hurry, it does the job well. I use it to seal open potato chip bags and cereal etc. to keep them fresh between uses. Works great!
verbilkent : Amazing!
This replaced my 12 year old vacuum sealer. Two things people don't think about that this has: 1. Double seal! You can set the sealer to do a double seal. Periodically you get a seal that leaks, with double you never have that issue. 2. Ability to cut bags to size and use any bag you want to. It has a bag cutter. You can use any size roll. It can hold a roll inside, but I buy larger bulk rolls. You can feed from the front and cut your bags to size. Saves tons of money by buying bags in bulk. Great suction on the vacuum pump. Highly recommend to buy it.
Boy Roy : Easy to use vaccume sealer.
I like the fact that this sealer has a handle to close instead of having to press down on each side, you can hold your bag in place with the other hand to be sure it doesn't slip out. I like the fact that it has a manual vaccume to allow you to seal many things that would otherwise be crunched flat even on the delicate vaccume setting. This is my first experience with vaccume sealing and I am still in the learning experience but I am very satisfied with my purchase. There are sealers that are 5 times the price but this one works well for me. One complaint is that it came with two rolls of bags that were wrinkled making it difficult to get the bag ready for sealing without having leaks in the seal. I bought other bags and they were perfectly free of wrinkles; which made it soo much easier to use.
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