Manual Vacuum Sealer System & Starter Bags review and price compare 2025
you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
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 | Seal-a-Meal. |
Color | Limited Edition |
Operation Mode | Manual |
product features
- by entering your model number.
- THE FRESH SOLUTION FOR FOOD STORAGE: Vacuum sealing removes all the air from specially designed bags, then uses heat to create a secure seal, ensuring food not only takes up less space in the fridge, freezer, or pantry, but also stays fresh longer compared to non-vacuum storage methods. USE WITH SEAL-A-MEAL & FOODSAVER BAGS & ROLLS: Compatible with 8-inch, 11-inch, 1-quart, and 1-gallon Seal-a-Meal and FoodSaver vacuum seal bags and rolls, including FoodSaver Easy Seal & Peel vacuum seal rolls a
- PRESERVES TASTE & NUTRIENTS: Confidently store fresh fruits, vegetables, cuts of meat, fish, and more! When air is removed from the bag and finished with an airtight vacuum seal, food is protected from the deteriorating effects of air, which causes freezer burn and spoilage. EVERYTHING INCLUDED TO GET STARTED: (4) 1-quart vacuum seal bags, user manual, and 1-year limited warranty
- MAKES SAVING TIME & MONEY EASY: Prepare meals or ingredients ahead of time for no-hassle weeknight dinners that you can microwave or simmer in the bag, and spend less time grocery shopping by buying in bulk and storing extra food for later without fear of freezer burn
- ONE-PRESS VACUUM SEALING: Simply press firmly down on the lid with both hands and hold until the Hands-Free Indicator Light illuminates. It is then safe to remove your hands from the Lid. The unit will continue to vacuum and seal the bag
- NOT JUST FOR FOOD STORAGE: Use your vacuum sealer to store liquids and creams when you travel, protect important papers or photographs from mildew or possible water damage, create your own refreezable ice packs, and much more
product description
Color:Limited Edition
Air out. Freshness in. The Seal-a-Meal Manual Vacuum Sealer System is the fresh solution for food storage. This system keeps food fresh longer by removing air from specially designed bags and creates a secure, airtight seal so you can store food in refrigerator, freezer, and pantry for a longer period of time compared to non-vacuum storage methods.
product details
important information
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Questions about Manual Vacuum Sealer System & Starter Bags
Q:
does it come with bags
Answer: The bags that come with the unit actually doesn't seal as well as some no-brand bag roll I bought. They are not just slightly less tightly sealed -- they are NOT sealed at all after the 1st pass! FYI, I bought this roll from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0063HZVBC It's 100% sealed in the first pass.
Answer: It comes with starter bags. I can't remember the amount
Answer: It comes with 4 bags. I bought a roll at Target at a very good price, and a friend taught me to wash the bags and reuse them, which stretches your dollar.
Answer: can't you read?
Answer: Yes, mine came with three or four 8" bags, but they will be gone almost immediately. I found it better to just buy a couple of rolls of bags. Then you can trim them to the size you need.
Answer: mind did. I think it was 6 - 8 inch bags.
Answer: it came with about 4 or 5 the sealer works great
Answer: No. Not at this price!
Q:
Is there a way i can seal small items with out wasting a huge bag.
Answer: Buy small bags (quart size). Depends how small your food is, starting place the food on the bottom of the bag, shake the bag, then begin to do your sealing process. You then can place the new load in the same procedure and seal. You now have your food stack or lined up in separate compartments but one bag. The food then can be trimmed to separate them or leave it in one bag then freeze them
Answer: I made smaller bags. I cut off a section and sealed two ends, then put hamburger patties individually in their own small bag. Sealed that end. That way no waste.
Answer: You can cut the bag in half or to fit the item you are vacuum sealing. Then just seal the open end(s) before vacuum sealing. Hope this helps.
Answer: I buy the rolls & cut them the size I need them. Just be careful not it too small or it doesn't have enough room to close and seal. Learned that the hard way. Hope this helps
Answer: If your using a tall 12" bag (for example) seal the top closed without anything in it. Now you have a sealed bag on both ends. Cut the bag MidWay in half. You now have 2 smaller 6" bags to work with. Fill bag, seal it and ready to go is the other half...Hope it helps!
Answer: These vacuum sealers will seal almost anything. I regularly use cheap quart zip lock type freezer bags from the dollar store. I cut the zipper part off with scissors put a serving of food in, fold a pleat in the opening and vacuum and seal perfectly.
Answer: In addition to the rolls, I have purchased both pint and quart sized bags online. No need to spend a lot of money on brand names. They all work the same. I've just worn out my second Seal-A-Meal in 16 years and am purchasing a new one today. Very easy to use.
Answer: In addition to the rolls, I have purchased both pint and quart sized bags online. No need to spend a lot of money on brand names. They all work the same. I've just worn out my second Seal-A-Meal in 16 years and am purchasing a new one today. Very easy to use.
Answer: Sure, use the 8 inch roll and just be sure to cut off enough to seal both ends.
Q:
Does this work with the bags only, or is it compatible with the rolls of FoodSaver?
Answer: Yes, it works with the foodsaver bags. I ordered a roll when I ordered the sealer, and cut the rolls down to smaller sizes when I need them. The only problem I have run into is sometimes I dont get a side sealed correctly when I cut them down, and the sealer will just keep vacuuming and not seal. Now I know to just reseal the side I cut, and once I do that it works perfectly.
Answer: It works with both.
Q:
I want to preserve my fresh garden herbs. Will this do the trick?
Answer: This vacuum sealer is perfect for vacuum sealing fresh garden herbs.
Answer: how long can i store seal a meal vegetables in refrigerator not freezer
Q:
Can you use the seal feature without the vacuum on this system?
Answer: No, it's all a single operation. To start the operation you have to close it, hold it by hand, it starts the vacuum and finishes with the heat that seals it.
Answer: Don't see any reason it wouldn't seal if you just put it on the seal strip.
Answer: The machine is started by pressing down on the lid. A light will come on to let you know you can take your hand off of the lid and the machine will seal. It all works as one so you wouldn't be able to just seal.
Answer: Yes you can it's a little tricky but you just have to line the edge of the bag along the front
Answer: Yes you can, but it would be just like a ziplock baggie.
Q:
do I have to buy a specific brand of bags made just for this FSSMSL0160-000 sealer, or are the bags interchangeable?
Answer: The bags are all interchangeable. I like to buy the box of bags and rolls from Costco. I forgot the price - maybe $39 or more. But you have a good size variety and they last forever.
Answer: i used the bags that came with the sealer as well as bags i purchased on ebay. they both work fine as long as they fit the machine. as far as specific brand, i am comfortable purchasing anything that fits.
Answer: All the bags are interchangeable.
Answer: I also assume the bags are interchangeable.
Answer: Pretty much interchangeable..
Answer: If you value your money; you would not waste it with this product.
Q:
Can the vacuum sealed bags be used as a boiling bag?? I have the old seal a meal from thes to seal veggies pre cooked and then boiled. Will it work?
Answer: I have used them for veges and home made soup, on Med heat. You need to partially thaw first to make sure there are no holes in the bag. Probably would work for Spaggeti sauce, but I wouldn't boil the water then put the bag and contents in if its a rapid boil. Have to experiment.
Answer: Yes you can use the bags to boil.I take my left-overs from the freezer to the boiling water to re-heat.
Answer: Yes they can. Just boil water and drop in bag.
Answer: I do not know as I haven't tried that yet.
Q:
Does anyone knows how long the manufacture's warranty is for this unit
Answer: This is a terrible product...if yours does need to be returned for some reason through the one year Seal A Meal warranty, be prepared to do a dog and pony show...and you'll still end up with a non-working product!
Answer: Our vacuum sealers have a one year limited warranty.
Answer: Sorry I don't but thought they were good for a year. You could email seal-a-meal .com and ask that question. I bought two of these units for my sister in laws and they love them.
Answer: I don't know. However, I would caution you to not purchase this item. I purchased TWO and neither worked. Obviously, I returned them (Amazon has a fabulous return policy and system!) I ended up buying a Food Saver brand, which is fabulous.
Answer: Sorry I don't know. Besides I sent this one back since it did not work properly and purchased a more expensive vaccum sealer which we love.
Q:
can I buy replacement parts for it
Answer: For customer service and parts please contacts us at http://www.sealameal.com/contactus.
Q:
does the machine cut the bag after seal or do i have to cut the bag?
Answer: This model does not have a built-in cutter. You will have to use scissors to cut the bag prior to sealing and/or vacuum sealing.
Answer: No it does not cut the bags for you
Answer: You must cut the bag.
Answer: This machine does not cut bags. Also, this machine only worked for me until after the warranty expired about 3 and 1/2 months. I cannot recommend this sealer to anyone. Thanks.
Answer: bags don't need to be cut however I found this machine not worth the money
Answer: You must cut the bag. I really like this item. Bags are cheapest on Amazon, not Wally World!!
Answer: you cut the bag. I was so disappointed with the machine save your money and buy the "food Saver"
Q:
what comes with this product
Answer: Just a few bags come with the seal-a-meal so buy either a roll to make your own sizes or a box of quart size. You'll love the seal-a-meal. For instance, now when I buy a loaf of bread, I immediately put four slices per bag and freeze them. No more dried out bread!
Answer: You get 3 or 4 sample bags. So if you intend to use it regularly, either buy a box of bags or a roll of bags so you can adjust to whatever size you need.
Answer: Just a few bags came with the sealer.
Answer: The actual sealer and 6 - 8" bags.
Q:
does it have a bag cutter bar
Answer: No. It just seals and does a very good job.
Answer: No, it does not.
Answer: No, it does not.
Q:
Does this have an accessory port to attach a hose? If so, will the FoodSaver hose fit?
Answer: Never seen any ports on the unit. Nothing in the instructions indicates that capability. This is a basic unit, it works well but no frills.
Answer: As far as I am aware, the FoodSaver does not have a port for a hose. However, it is a great product for the money.
Answer: No, there is no vacuum accessory port on this model.
Answer: No it does not. Its a no frills, inexpensive unit. Love mine!
Answer: No, it does not that I am aware of. Great device for the money.
Answer: No it does not. Works great and is an excellent product tho.
Answer: No this model does not have one. It is a very basic model.
Answer: Sorry, there is no excess report. No place to plug in any hoes
Answer: No
Q:
Can you add a liquid without it being sucked out? I'm wanting it for marinating meat.
Answer: There is a simple way to seal without suction (vacuum). The sealer bar is in front of the vacuum chamber. Simply put bag edge on the sealing portion in the very front. Otherwise the law of physics apply, and it real doesn't matter what sealer you use. It will suck liquid or marinades out of the bag. There is no seal only button. Please for you others, I will not respond any more!
Answer: I've used a foodsaver for years to package bags of soup. There is some soup pulled into the drip tray but it is very minimal. The slot that the unit is pulling the air out through is very thin and once the liquid hits it, the added resistance is enough to trip the sealing strip to heat and seal the bag.
Answer: A great idea is to first freeze liquids in a ziplock bag. Once frozen, open the ziplock, but do not remove the frozen content. Place the unzipped ziplock inside the food sealer bag with the zip facing DOWN. Seal!!
Q:
When sealing steaks should the steaks be frozen first ?
Answer: You do not have to freeze the steaks prior to vacuum sealing, but we do always recommend pre-freezing any foods that have a lot of juices as this will allow the juice to remain in the food while vacuum sealing. This will help with flavor once you do thaw and cook the food, as well as helping to ensure you get the best vacuum pack initially.
Answer: No, we seal them then freeze them. However, there are conflicting opinions.
Q:
Will this machine seal mylar bags?
Answer: We only recommend using Seal-A-Meal® or FoodSaver® bags.
Answer: The Product is designed specifically for their bags. I have not found generic bags that will do. I suspect that you may void the warranty or have a nasty melting problem if you try. More likely though, I think it will simply fail to engage because it does not sense the proper texture of material in the groove where you must place the bag ends.
Answer: tried sealing one or two when we received the sealer and the rolls. as far as I can tell they sealed fine...have not used them "for real" yet so cannot give a sure answer.
Answer: Notice the manufacturer didn't say no. Where I come from that means yes but I'm not allowed to say.
Q:
Is it 110V or 220V?
Answer: All of our products that are sold in the United States and Canada are manufactured and UL approved for 110-120 voltage.
Q:
How to make bags from the rolls?
Answer: Cut a length from the roll the size that you wi8sh to make. Place one of the open ends on the bar that makes
Answer: hi; first you cut the size you need from the roll. then you seal one side and now you have a bag, sealed already at three sides. load the bag and seal the remaining/open side and .. ready you are!
Answer: Cut the size bag you want, then seal one side. This will give you three sealed sides. Load your bag and seal as you would an ordinary bag.
Answer: Simply cut bag to desired length, place one end partially in(over the heating strip but not in the vacuum chamber) press and hold until hands free illuminates, then release when light goes out. That seals one end and the other is done once item is in bag, insert that end all the way into vacuum chamber, press and hold, wait for hands free, then once light extinguishes release. Hope that helps
Answer: The rolls come in tubular form. Simply seal one end. Cut to desired length, insert food and seal the other end. They are much more economical than purchasing bags. I love them.
Answer: Seal one end. (The roll must stay tightly rolled or the machine will suck out the air from as much material as has been unrolled) Cut to size. Fill and seal.
Q:
How long does it take to seal a bag?
Answer: I just got mine and I am not happy with how long it takes. It takes 60 seconds to seal even if you are using a roll and just sealing one end to make a bag. You then have to wait another minute to suck the air and seal the other end. That is a long time of holding the lid down.
Answer: The amount of time used to seal the bag would depend on the size and contents of the bag.
Answer: It depends on the size of the bag. Not long at all. I love this device. I have saved money by using it. You should play with it to get used to using it as with anything new. Ive found it to be worth having.
Answer: In my personal opinion I wouldn't buy this machine. It didn't work a all for me
Answer: about 1 min
Q:
I'm going to be sealing baked goods. Can you stop the machine, or are you at the mercy of an automatic process? Will my stuff potentially be crushed?
Answer: This Vacuum Sealer does not have a pulse vac button; with baked goods we recommend pre-freezing before vac and sealing.
Q:
I want this for the bags of salad I buy. Am I able to reseal the bag of salad itself, or do I have to use their special bags?
Answer: I wouldn't because the plastic in the bagged salad is very thin and the seal a meal is made for the heavier plastic bags sold with it. You would probably end up with a gooey mess of melted plastic and ruin the machine if you tried it. There are bag clips you could use on your salads, that's what I use. Or, there are battery operated bag closers, that melt the bags closed at a safer temperature but I'm not sure where to get them. I have one I bought years ago through a mail order catalog. They are rather small and hand held. Good luck.
Answer: Actually yes you can. You’ll need to fold over the top of the salad bag several times prior to sealing. That way the plastic is thicker and can seal without incident.
Answer: I would like to say that the salad bags are to thin, and would melt through. I haven't tried it though.
Answer: Requires special bags.
Q:
Can a heavy duty ziploc bag with the top cut off work in the machine? Thanks Sue
Answer: greetings sue i cut the top off of a ziploc bag and, yes, it did seal it you might have to play with the bag to get all of the air out !!
Answer: I don't believe you can do that, the bags the machines uses are a different material. I think the ziploc would just melt
Answer: Yes, you can seal the bags but you can't get the air out unless you use their bags.
Answer: No, you need bags designed for these machines, everything else melts
Answer: I do not know. But I will try heavy duty zip lock and let you know..
Answer: Sorry, I've had no experience along those lines
Q:
can you use any seal bags like food saver bags or seal a meal bags
Answer: I've used food saver bags and seal a a meal. Both work fine. Need heavier plastic than zip lock.
Answer: I only use seal a meal not to sure about the other seal products.
Answer: I seal potato chips, crackers, cookies, etc. I have only used foodsaver freezer bags.
Answer: Yes. The sealing process is the same; so, any seal bags work.
Answer: Yes I believe you can. I have used both.
Q:
can i reheat the food why it is still in the vacuum sealed bag? and if so what is the best way to reheat?
Answer: Yes. You can heat cooked foods, such as leftovers, in a Seal-a-Meal® bag. The bags should never be used to cook raw foods. When microwaving, cut open a corner of the bag before putting it in the microwave so steam can escape. Avoid microwaving foods containing a lot of oil, as oil will get hot very quickly and could cause the sides of the bag to stick together.
Answer: To heat food that I sealed in a bag I use a knife to put a slit in the bag to let the steam escape if I am using the microwave. Or, you can put the sealed bag in water till hot. Either way works.
Answer: what method of reheating. boiling water, skillet-stove top, microwave, grill?
Q:
Trying to decide between this model and the Seal-a-Meal VS108-P Vacuum Sealer. Anyone know the differences?
Answer: The 108 -p has the accessory port
Answer: They are both made by the same manufacturer and are essentially the same machine. And my experience after one was returned, is that it works really well. Does the job for a good price
Q:
Can this vacum sealer be used with the metallized bags?
Answer: I have used it to seal bags with liners that look like metal such as chip bags, but I would never buy this model again.
Answer: I have sealed Potato chip bags, but don't know how much metal was in the bag.
Answer: No, and attempting to might even damage the device.
Q:
Does it come with bags
Answer: The bags that come with the unit actually doesn't seal as well as some no-brand bag roll I bought. They are not just slightly less tightly sealed -- they are NOT sealed at all after the 1st pass! FYI, I bought this roll from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0063HZVBC It's 100% sealed in the first pass.
Answer: It comes with starter bags. I can't remember the amount
Answer: It comes with 4 bags. I bought a roll at Target at a very good price, and a friend taught me to wash the bags and reuse them, which stretches your dollar.
Answer: can't you read?
Answer: Yes, mine came with three or four 8" bags, but they will be gone almost immediately. I found it better to just buy a couple of rolls of bags. Then you can trim them to the size you need.
Answer: mind did. I think it was 6 - 8 inch bags.
Answer: it came with about 4 or 5 the sealer works great
Answer: No. Not at this price!
Q:
Can you seal cakes or cupcakes, or will it just flatten it out?
Answer: We would recommended pre-frezzing cakes, breads, cupcakes before Vacuum Sealing.
Q:
I have one of the original Seal-A-Meal appliances, do the bags for the new ones work for the original ones? Christy
Answer: I would imagine so as a thermal seal is still melting the food-grade plastic. This is my first sealer so I can't answer 100% but I know most of the bags they advertise will cross over for use with other brands.
Answer: I would imagine so. I'm not really experienced in "seal-a-meal appliances, but from what I can tell, logically, they all appear to be interchangable. The plastic lies across the vacuum tray that draws out the air and the sealing bar "melts" the plastic, sealing the strip of plastic. The bags that came with mine were 8 inches across. Provided your's will seal standard sized bags I would think it should work.
Answer: I'm not sure, because I am still using the ones that came with the unit. The whole thing is new for me and I'm just starting out, but the roll of new bags that I bought appears to be the same as the ones with the unit.
Answer: Yes. You can use any style heat seal bag.
Answer: the slightly ribbed plastic bags are what are required. smooth bags like ziplock bags will not work
Answer: As far as I know, any thermal plastic type bag will work in these machines.
Answer: Sorry but I don't have any old bags to try. The old bags had holes you had to fit over pegs which aren't necessary anymore. The new bags are different, heavier material. I'd say try it and see if it works! I don't think you would hurt it.
Q:
extended warranty available?
Q:
How long would meat or fish last without freezing the sealed bags
Answer: As long as the sealed bags are refrigerated, the food should stay fresh 3-5 times longer than non-vacuum packaged foods. Vacuum packaging is not a substitute for refrigeration or freezing. Any perishable foods that require refrigeration must still be refrigerated or frozen after vacuum packaging.
Answer: six months to a year
Q:
How long did yours last? I've had it for less than a year and the sealer quit. It vacuums, but no longer heats/seals. Light for sealing quit too.
Answer: we bought 3 of them in aug of 2013 for christmas gifts, by june of 2014 the sealer quit, they replaced it and again in aug, it stopped working and again they were great and replaced it... keeping my fingers crossed.. and the other two i boughtone is working great and the other one just got replaced. this company has been so great. i will buy their items again
Answer: Ive only tried to use it 2 times and both times it was bad. it doesn't vacuum worth crap and when I keep trying it burns the bags while sealing. Piece of crap!
Q:
How many pressure does the device draw? I would prefer at least 25mb of vacuum.
Answer: We do not publish exact pressure levels that our products pull, as this information would be considered proprietary. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Q:
Is there an accessory for vacuum sealing mason jars, like the kind Food Saver sells for their products?
Answer: Sorry, I don't think it can seal mason jars. The box says it comes with starter bags, so I think it can only seal bags.
Answer: This model is designed to seal bags. It did not include any accessories to seal jars. The ones that seal jars were higher priced and I selected this one to seal bags only and for the low price. It does a great job on bags.
Answer: No, the Seal-a-Meal vacuum sealers do not have accessory containers available.
Answer: no, this is only for bags
Q:
It is very loud. My mom had one in the '70s & I don't remember it being so loud.
Answer: From the 70's to now technology has changed a great deal.
Answer: Yes. It is loud. I returned the one I bought (because it didn't work not because of the noise) and went back to FoodSaver. It is less noisy and has a smoother vacuum process (less vibration). In my opinion.
Answer: You are very right. It is very loud but it just plain works! I tried the other two brands, one from Qvc and both just didn't work at all. I had A Seal a Meal when I was younger in the early 90's and it ran forever until I dropped it. :-/
Answer: It is normal for the unit to make noise while functioning. For further assistance, please call us at 1-800-363-8144; Monday through Saturday from 8 AM to 8 PM, EST.
Answer: Yes it was very loud
Q:
How are "rolls" accommodated in this sealer? The advrt for this Vacuum Sealer FSSMSL0160-000 says it fits ..................and rolls.
Answer: "Rolls" are not accommodated within the sealer, as they are in some larger models. You must use a two-step process, first sealing one end to make a 'bag', then after food is added, seal the other end to ensure an airtight seal. Works well, just a little more manual than others. jag
Answer: Thank you for your inquiry. You can use Seal-a-Meal® rolls to make custom sized bags. Please follow the link below:
Q:
Can I use this to seal mason jars with the attachments
Answer: No, the Seal-a-Meal vacuum sealer will not seal mason jars. There is no attachment that will work to do that with those units.
Answer: It says you can, but mine does not work properly. (It was used).
Q:
can i use foof saver mason jar sealer
Answer: You can use FoodSaver bags and rolls with this vacuum sealer; however, it is not compatible with any accessories such as the Jar Sealer.
Answer: This unit is incredibly limited and kinda crappy. Mine stopped working after a few months. And no you cannot use the food saver mason jar sealer with this item.
Answer: No. There is no hose port. You can't use anything that takes a hose to connect it. You can only use bags as far as I can tell. That's OK for me as I am single and don't save much food for longtime storage in my pantry.
Answer: No.
Q:
Does it have the port to attach the attachment to seal mason jars with?
Q:
How long does my seal a meal have to warm up before use?
Answer:
Answer:
Answer: It doesn't need any warm up time!?????????????If it's running and not pulling all of the air from the bag, you have a problem. Make sure the bag is in the correct position in the machine. Also, it does not like moisture! Dry wipe your product prior to sealing. If the machine is not running, you Definately have a problem!
Answer: We returned the seal a meal because it did not have a cutter and had to use their bags. We bought a Nesco instead and love it. Use it all the time.
Answer: It happens immediately. However, I have replaced a gasket with a new one, and now the thing isn't working at all.
Answer: No warmup needed.
Q:
Which ones are double sealers
Answer: For assistance with this, please contact Seal-a-meal® at (800) 363-8144. We are available Monday through Saturday from 8 AM to 8 PM, EST. Thank you.
Q:
compare to foodsaver
Answer: The FoodSaver units sometimes have extra features. FoodSaver are Seal-a-Meal are sister companies and the vacuum bags and rolls are interchangeable.
Q:
Is this compact enough to put in a suitcase? Traveling to alaska and would like to seal our catch for travel purposes
Answer: Yes, it is about the size of a shredder, you know the little one that sits on top of a small trash can
Answer: Yes, it is small enough.
Answer: Yes
Answer: yes
Q:
Where would I buy the plastic for it? Like the rolls? Does it take any kind if just a certain type?
Q:
Where can I get my seal a meal fixed?
Answer: I have no idea where it can be fixed.
Q:
Is it working on 220 w electricity?
Answer: Neither the box nor the machine itself have mention of an acceptable electric range. Therefore, I would assume that running it on 220 would put it at risk of burning out
Answer: no 110 electricity and it works great.
Answer: No, all of our products that are sold in the United States and Canada are manufactured and UL approved for 110-120 voltage.
Answer: yes but it doesn't have enough power it looks like to have good sucking pressure.
Q:
I'd like to use it to seal at least 40-50 bags in the same moment. How many bags can I vacuum and seal continuously?
Answer: This unit is not designed to seal a large number of bags at the same time period. The quantity of bags you can seal at the same time will vary depending on your vacuum seal conditions.
Answer: I've never attempted that many at a time but you can seal multiple bags at a time.
Answer: When we buy bulk meat I usually do about 10-12 at one time. I would think for that many you many have to wait inbetween every 15 or so and let it cool.
Answer: This unit is not a professional unit---it's only for home use and as far as I can tell it will only do 1 at a time.
Q:
How do you seal the bag from a roll?
Answer: Peel desired length off ,cut and seal the bottom, add whatever and seal the top
Q:
Can I use this with the silver mylar bags?
Answer: its cheap and the motor went out on me in a week. get a better more heavy duty one. don't know if the bags will work or not, don't think theres a difference
Answer: Sorry I can't help. We don't have these bags in Brazil, at least not for home use.
Answer: u can use anything pretty much just melts it shut.. but u cant control the amount it vacuums on anything
Q:
Can i use any bags with this vacuum sealer model#cmvs-s150
Answer: This page is for questions about Seal-a-Meal vacuum sealers and not Cusimax. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Answer: Any vacuum sealer bags would be fine, but not like a sandwich or freezer zip lock
Answer: I have no idea. The one I purchased did not form a vacuum so I returned it
Product reviews of Manual Vacuum Sealer System & Starter Bags
Jethro : GREAT !!!!
I bought one of these three years ago and it still works great !
My neighbor bought an expensive one which quit on him after a year or so , he has been using mine every year , as well as me , so it gets lots of use.
I see a quite a few reviews where people have had troubles with sealing , the only time I have had a problem is when the bags are no good , tried a different roll and it works fine again , if you have a sealing problem , try a different roll of bags.
Fantastic machine for the price , will buy another if this one ever quits !
Sany123 : Great Sealer but Does Take Hand Strength
I purchased this item, along with the bags it uses (some bags come with the sealer, and I purchased more as a separate item) because I plan to dehydrate fruits and vegetables from my garden and the Farmer's Market this summer. Of course, I tried the sealer as soon as I got it to seal some food and some soaps and candles. The sealer works very well. The only problem is is that it does take ALOT of downward force on the hands to start the vacuum-sealing. I have rheumatoid arthritis, and my hands and wrists are affected. It WAS painful for me to push down so hard. However, after the vacuum-sealing starts, you can take your hands off and let the machine continue its work. It DID seal both the food and the candles/soap very well. I'm glad I purchased this product as it works well and wasn't as expensive as many others.
K. Zavarin : Good sealer for occasional use
Very good unit for the money. I didn't want to pay a fortune since I wouldn't be using very often. Soon after I got it, I decided to test it out: vacuumed and sealed some lotus root slices, which darken very quickly when exposed to air... and waited. Just threw them away - over a year, and they looked as good as the day I froze them. No major problems sealing food, unless it has a lot of juices; e.g., if you are freezing pieces of meat, make sure they are quite dry, or that liquid will be sucked up to the bag opening and you won't get a good seal. Also, vacuum function works well for most meat, veggies, fruit, cookie dough, etc., but don't try it with baked goods - they will shrink it to the height of a pancake (think SpaceSaver bags); use seal only. Occasionally I don't get a complete seal and end up having to re-seal, but that may be due to operator error. Cord is very short - you may have to use an extension cord depending on your outlet location. However, overall very happy with the unit for occasional use.
Andrea P. Flohr : It's a hassle and I wish I would have just went ahead and bought the better one. This just sits on the shelf
I was so excited to get it and I used up a whole box of the bags for freezing meats, and pre-packaging veggies for snacks. Sadly, nothing held a seal and I discovered a ripple in the strip that heats & melts the seams together. I used the edge of a plastic scraper to smooth it out, and it worked ok for a tings, but I have to do that every time I want to seal something. It's a hassle and I wish I would have just went ahead and bought the better one. This just sits on the shelf:(
Jessica S : Worth the investment-- no freezer burn!
I have been using the product for 4 months. I was looking for a way to store frozen breast milk that was air tight, dependable, economical and less wasteful than traditional milk storage bags. I had been using Ziploc vacuum bags, but they are expensive and unreliable.
I freeze my milk in milk trays. You basically end up with milk ice cubes. I transfer them into a Seal-a-Meal or Food Saver bag (usually off the roll) and seal them up. This milk could be in my deep freezer for up to a year. I have no worries about freezer burn or leaking.
I haven't used this product for anything else yet, but I will tell you it is absolutely worth the investment. I'm in love!
Amazon Customer : Food saver vaccum
Works good on some products. Too much water or blood lessens its effectiveness. Fresh shrimp is a NO. Too wet with shells on. You must put bags in the proper place for this to work. Keep inside edges of bags DRY! Wipe with paper towel. Keep suction tray clean and DRY!
Stan : Basic Inexpensive Sealer
PRO : Seals well. Pulls a good vaccum. Good results. Very good price ($30)
Con: Sealing end of bag leaves 2" Of wasted material. Takes a bit of pressure on cover to activate. IB says to leave 3" more length than item needs. I can see where the excess goes now.
Update 1 year later- had this for 13 months. The heating element has developed a bubble that was not there when I first opened the box. Probably a bit of metal or plastic that got under the heating strip in manufacture and over time formed a bubble. This bubble is impressed into every bag I seal and has resulted in leaks. I left a nice ribeye sealed in the refrig to defrost. A few days later, several jars next to the ribeye were glued to the frig glass shelf. The sealed pouch leaked blood/fluid sticking the bottles to the glass refrig shelf. Appears the fluids pulled under vacuum got around the bubble leaving a channel for a future leak when I let the pouch slowly defrost in the refrig. It was good while it lasted. Down rating this to 2 stars.
Max Power : Seals aren't consistent
I've always wanted a vacuum sealer and this one seemed reasonably priced and well reviewed.
The first unit I received left a small 2-3mm section of the bag unsealed so I had to return it.
The replacement was better and would seal completely. However, the seals are not always consistent. Sometimes the unit seals the bag and it will hold the vacuum but I've had several instances where bags with the same contents would leak. I would say 1 out of 4 bags will leak within a week or so and lose the vacuum. You can't tell visually that the seal isn't good and the leakage is pretty slow so you won't know until a few days have gone by.
I haven't even used up all the bags that came with the unit since it hasn't been good enough to pull me away from zip top bags.
Andrea P. Flohr : It's a hassle and I wish I would have just went ahead and bought the better one. This just sits on the shelf
I was so excited to get it and I used up a whole box of the bags for freezing meats, and pre-packaging veggies for snacks. Sadly, nothing held a seal and I discovered a ripple in the strip that heats & melts the seams together. I used the edge of a plastic scraper to smooth it out, and it worked ok for a tings, but I have to do that every time I want to seal something. It's a hassle and I wish I would have just went ahead and bought the better one. This just sits on the shelf:(
Mavwrik : When I got this I loved it, it worked great
When I got this I loved it, it worked great, right up until it stopped working. I have only had it 3 months. I didn't even get through one box of bags I ordered with it & now it's just a heap of... Well, I am not happy about it. 3 months? Really? I had a washer/dryer for 30 years & used them 3 times a week. I only used this Sealer maybe twice a week & it couldn't even make 3 months.
Update: I can verify, although I got 3 months of perfect use the unit sealing function has died just like many of the 1 star reviews have previously stated. After 2 weeks & 4 emails to the company their Customer Service is still trying to make it my fault it stopped sealing because I am not cleaning the gaskets, not true. Or that it's Amazon's fault because it was manufactured a year ago & sat in the warehouse several months before they shipped it to me & the gaskets got cracked, also not true. If the gaskets cracked by sitting a long time then why did it work when I got for the 3 months? Also, the rep emailing me is extremely rude & uppity. She is however good at her job. She has me at the point where I am ready to burn it & move on.
Max Power : Seals aren't consistent
I've always wanted a vacuum sealer and this one seemed reasonably priced and well reviewed.
The first unit I received left a small 2-3mm section of the bag unsealed so I had to return it.
The replacement was better and would seal completely. However, the seals are not always consistent. Sometimes the unit seals the bag and it will hold the vacuum but I've had several instances where bags with the same contents would leak. I would say 1 out of 4 bags will leak within a week or so and lose the vacuum. You can't tell visually that the seal isn't good and the leakage is pretty slow so you won't know until a few days have gone by.
I haven't even used up all the bags that came with the unit since it hasn't been good enough to pull me away from zip top bags.
Jessica S : Worth the investment-- no freezer burn!
I have been using the product for 4 months. I was looking for a way to store frozen breast milk that was air tight, dependable, economical and less wasteful than traditional milk storage bags. I had been using Ziploc vacuum bags, but they are expensive and unreliable.
I freeze my milk in milk trays. You basically end up with milk ice cubes. I transfer them into a Seal-a-Meal or Food Saver bag (usually off the roll) and seal them up. This milk could be in my deep freezer for up to a year. I have no worries about freezer burn or leaking.
I haven't used this product for anything else yet, but I will tell you it is absolutely worth the investment. I'm in love!
Syn : Basic no-frills
Basic unit that does one thing, vaccum seals. Highly recommended to use the pre-made bags available in the 100 or 200pk here. I've been quite happy with being able to split up sale/bulk goods to freeze. A point to keep in mind with meats is to bag them and set in freezer for an hour or so to avoid being too juicy that it disrupts the seal.
KODY : Great Vacuum Sealer!
I as going to buy a Seal-a-Meal unit on one of the shopping channels that they had as the special of the day but had trouble with the price tag of over $150 after taxes and shipping. Of course I came over to Amazon to see what they had and to find something comparable. I have only used it a couple of times but this unit is so easy to use and works GREAT! I have already bought some of the other brand rolls of bags to use on this unit which are cheaper than the brands. Thanks you Amazon reviewers...you are what led me to buy this!
michael l. : Inconsistent.
This thing came pretty highly recommended from a couple different people, so maybe i just got a defective unit, but mine was very inconsistent. I followed all the directions and even watched a couple videos to make sure i wasnt doing anything wrong. Kinda disappointed.
I also found that the vacuum was very loud and not very strong. Even on the few things i was able to vacuum, there were air pockets and bubbles. I returned this and ordered a different brand.
Jennifer Shelton : A very cost- effective method for frozen food storage.
These items are wonderful and easy to use. Following ALL instructions is mandatory, but they are easy to follow. Vacuum sealing of items with liquid is difficult, but either pre-freezing the item for a few hours or placing a paper towel to collect liquid while sealing are both viable options.
I did a comparison test between two freezing packages. One was the Seal-a-Meal using the variable sized Seal-a-Meal bag roll vs. a commonly used zipper type freezer bag. I used meat from the same package, same weight and size. 1 was packaged with the Seal-a-Meal, the other placed in a freezer bag. After vacuum sealing one package, both were put in the freezer, same conditions.
Within 2 days, the zipper freezer bag meat was covered in ice crystals, freezer- burning the meat. The Seal-a-Meal bag was free of ice crystals and the seal was still holding. At 1 month, the Seal-a-Meal bag was still frost- free, the vacuum seal intact and meat was a normal color. Don't get me started on the other freezer bag!
I have already used this for sealing other items than food as well. (I went on a sealing spree!) Paper towels sealed, then put outside for 2-3 weeks in heavy rain. Was still dry!
I will recommend this product to anyone and would purchase again if needed in the future.
Raemar3356 : Was not a good product from the beginning.
Although it kinda sealed for about a month with minimal usage, it just wasn't reliable. It didn't always seal completely and food would get freezer burned. And the gasket was constantly coming out of the channel it's in. I now have 2 rolls of vacuum seal bags and just got sick of it this morning and threw it out. Not worth buying.
Amazon Reviewer : Not recommended for purchase
Bought this to replace a similar product that failed after about 15 years of use. We have had this for a little over 15 months and it has failed. It is a piece of junk. The suction on the unit is fine but it fails to seal anymore. Not sure that it is even worth trying to fix the sealer part. Do yourself a favor and spend your hard earned money on a product that will last longer than 15 months.
Amazon Customer : ... using it and after about 15 seals it looks good. I am a beginner food dehydrator for backpacking ...
I've just started using it and after about 15 seals it looks good. I am a beginner food dehydrator for backpacking purposes. I dry my food and then package it for trips. People have complained that a) It doesn't seal - mine does - no problems - you have to make sure that the cut you are sealing (assuming you are using rolls) is straight without ragged edges. b) The bags lose their seal after packaging - I have had this problem with "sharp" food - don't ask :). You want to make sure that the food you are sealing isn't going to poke through the plastic bag as it gets compressed - the compressor is pretty strong so a lot of force is being used to draw out the air. If you aren't careful afterwards and scrape the bags too much they will puncture and you will lose your seal. I'm using FoodSaver rolls - I bet you could find heavier plastic if you looked. The unit seems very sturdy and does what I would expect for something that was easy on the pocketbook.
Shasta : disposable short term use only
Worked very well, while it worked. I bought it in April 2014 and it stopped sealing in June 2015.
If you want something to last, this is not the product for you. If you want something that you will use for a short period of time and then send it to the landfill, this is your item. Having this item really helped me eat healthier for the past year because I could make my own frozen meals with real food and not one full of chemicals. Just wish it was build to last.... Such a disappointment that so much of what we make it disposable crap. Not sure which one to try next... Maybe I'll get a vintage sealer from eBay when companies too pride in their work and made things to last, not just to break a few months past warranty.
Raemar3356 : Was not a good product from the beginning.
Although it kinda sealed for about a month with minimal usage, it just wasn't reliable. It didn't always seal completely and food would get freezer burned. And the gasket was constantly coming out of the channel it's in. I now have 2 rolls of vacuum seal bags and just got sick of it this morning and threw it out. Not worth buying.
D'Arla Nowlin : but it has done a great job, so far
This is a no-frills sealer, but it has done a great job, so far. You can use rolls or bags with it. After reading other reviews, I knew to pre-freeze anything that had enough juices or liquids to pose a problem during the vacuum sealing process. For most things, I can put the food in the bag, fold the top underneath, freeze overnight, and then vacuum seal it the next day. For things like soups and sauces, I freeze them in covered plastic containers, then pop them out of the container, and vacuum seal them. Everything then stays fresh and I don't lose food to freezer burn. I love that I can freeze individual portions of food, and have a variety of meals quickly available without having to cook every day. I'm now freezing and using leftovers that we used to often let spoil before we finished them. I'm very glad I bought this. It saves money on groceries, and it saves time and effort.
Zale R. Carroll : Love this so much that I want to vacuum pack everything!
Took me a minute to figure out how to get it to seal but when I did it was magic! I prep a couple weeks worth of breakfast on the weekends and portion it out and seal a single serving, then toss it in the freezer. Super handy when I'm rushing out the door to just grab something. We dehydrate figs from our tree and seal them too for use during the spring. Much better than plastic food containers that take up space.
Laura : Doesn't keep a seal on veggies
I am completely baffled as to how anyone got this product to work. I can and freeze a lot of veggies in the summer so I purchased this item thinking that it might do a better job of keeping my produce fresh. I got the item today, attempted to freeze 1.5 cups of corn kernels and after 6 attempts finally gave up. It appears to suck the air from the bag but in the process it also sucks the juice from the item which won't let a seal stay on the bag. If any liquid is on the seal the bag won't seal. This might be fine for meat, but it doesn't work for a bag of veggies. This was a completely waste of money so I'm returning it. Very disappointed as I wanted to be able to better store my produce. :-(
Jennifer Shelton : A very cost- effective method for frozen food storage.
These items are wonderful and easy to use. Following ALL instructions is mandatory, but they are easy to follow. Vacuum sealing of items with liquid is difficult, but either pre-freezing the item for a few hours or placing a paper towel to collect liquid while sealing are both viable options.
I did a comparison test between two freezing packages. One was the Seal-a-Meal using the variable sized Seal-a-Meal bag roll vs. a commonly used zipper type freezer bag. I used meat from the same package, same weight and size. 1 was packaged with the Seal-a-Meal, the other placed in a freezer bag. After vacuum sealing one package, both were put in the freezer, same conditions.
Within 2 days, the zipper freezer bag meat was covered in ice crystals, freezer- burning the meat. The Seal-a-Meal bag was free of ice crystals and the seal was still holding. At 1 month, the Seal-a-Meal bag was still frost- free, the vacuum seal intact and meat was a normal color. Don't get me started on the other freezer bag!
I have already used this for sealing other items than food as well. (I went on a sealing spree!) Paper towels sealed, then put outside for 2-3 weeks in heavy rain. Was still dry!
I will recommend this product to anyone and would purchase again if needed in the future.
Ron : My "How to use". the Seal-A-Meal. Added some picture details. Handiest kitchen item EVER !!
Good price for a great product !! Not sure why I ever used Ziploc freezer bags instead of this
vacuum sealer and bags!! Ziploc bags were hard to squeeze air out of (using rolling pin) to get
as much air as possible out of the Ziploc bag before sealing. This sealer is very easy to size and
seal vacuum bags.
1. Insert end of bag while on roll just past the sealing/heating strip (NOT into vacuum area)
ensuring that the end of the plastic is flat with no wrinkles.
2. Close top and press down with heels of both hands on the words “press here” (just INSIDE
of the two hands) shown on the unit.
3. Vacuum pumping begins and starts to seal quickly.
4. When BOTH LED’s come on, let go.
5. When lights go out, DO NOT press the "Open/Cancel" button !! Allow unit to continue sealing
(LED's go out after about 10 seconds) for up to 30 seconds or more before the sealing stops and
you hear a “pfft” sound as vacuum escapes and lid pops up a bit. If it doesn’t continue seal for
at least 20 seconds, there might be something wrong. If longer than 40 seconds, press
“Open/Cancel” button to release/stop sealing.
Note: If you want a double seal (I do this), slide bag in another 1/2 inch and repeat steps 2 thru 5.
TIP: If item to be stored contains juices, before sealing in bags, place item(s) in the unsealed bag
(I pre-freeze in ziploc first), place in freezer for about 45 minutes before sealing. This will
freeze any juices in the item to be sealed so juices won't be sucked into the seal when you
are vacuum sealing the bag. MUCH more reliable seal and keeps unit much cleaner.
6. Cut off required length of bag plus about two inches.
Note: My items are already in a ziploc bag so I lay item on top of the roll to measure while bag
is STILL inside the seal-a-meal.
7. Place item to be stored into the bag.
8. If item has been in the freezer, wipe inner lip of bag with paper towel to dry
9. Insert unsealed end of bag just past the sealing/heating strip and half way into juice catch tray.
Note: Ensure that the end of the bag is a flat as possible with NO WRINKLES. If necessary,
lower top of unit, hold down one side of top and stretch bag with other hand so bag is flat
before sealing. If item is thick, place pot holder under item to allow better flattening of bag.
10. With top closed, press down with both hands just inside of the two hands shown on the unit.
11. Vacuum pumping begins and will take up to around 20 seconds.
Note: If “Sealing” LED doesn’t come on, there is a vacuum leak !! Press “Open/Cancel”,
remove wrinkles (if possible) and try again !
12. When BOTH LED’s come on, let go.
13. After about 20 seconds or so, vacuum and sealing is done and lights go out.
14. When lights go out, DO NOT press the "Open/Cancel" button !! Allow unit to continue sealing
for up to 30 seconds or more before the sealing stops and you hear a “pfft” sound as vacuum
escapes and lid pops up a bit. If it doesn’t continue seal for at least 20 seconds, there might
be something wrong. If more than 40 seconds, press “Open/Cancel” to release/stop sealing.
Note: If you want a double seal (I do this), slide bag OUT about 1/2 inch and repeat steps 10 thru 14.
I LOVE this product !!
Amazon Junkie : Amazingly good quality and utility for such an inexpensive tool. No unneeded bells or whistles, it just works.
I almost spent a ton of money on a new-fangled bag sealer (over 6 times what this cost) but luckily common sense took over.
This is a very simple, no bells nor whistles sealer that just works, period. The price can not be beat.
To seal the end of a roll (to make a bag) just insert the open edge of the bag just onto the heater bar and press down on the top. A few seconds later it shuts off and your edge is sealed.
To vacuum seal a bag, put the open ends of your bag further in, into a small trough and inside the vacuum area. Push down on the top until the light goes off, wait another 10 seconds and it is done. There is no vacuum hose attachment (a dumb gimmick added to other sealers to justify a higher price) and nothing else needed. No switch to break, etc. Even the button on top labeled "Open/ Cancel" is not a lever or catch. It is simply a vacuum release, so no plastic latch or catch to break as often happens on plastic consumer goods.
Appearance wise it looks clean and elegant, not cheap and silkscreened. It is made of plastic, but not the cheap brittle kind, it seems that if you are careful and do not abuse it, it will last a long time.
Seems odd though that it is referred to as "hands free" because it is not. You push down on the two ends of the sealer bar until the vacuum takes over and holds the top closed, then the "hands free" light comes on and you can take your hands off. That is an excellent feature, because if for some reason it will not hold vacuum (if the bag is in crooked or some food or liquid is in the seal area) it will not seal, the top will not stay closed and the heater bar will not turn on to seal it. Thusly, you are guaranteed that if the top sealed closed under vacuum, you have a good seal and your bag will seal and stay sealed.
I bought this to replace an older Seal-a-meal with a latch that broke, and an unneeded vacuum port and the rest of the stuff that I now dislike. Simple is best and the price can not be beat. Get this one.
Sea girl : My sister told me it was great and I'm not disappointed
I love this Seal-a-meal. I used it constantly over Christmas this year. It is for normal home use. Not buying huge cows to freeze in the freezer. Wonderful to use just the sealer for chips, brown sugar, crackers, cheese, and more without the vacuuming. Cooked 4 pounds of sausage and vacuum sealed it individually to put it in my freezer so It was ready to pull out and use for breakfast casseroles over Christmas.Loved everything you can do with it daily. I think of something new to use it for everyday. I have been using the bags (they work great) but I'm using it so much I think I'm going to try the rolls they offer on Amazon.
Syn : Basic no-frills
Basic unit that does one thing, vaccum seals. Highly recommended to use the pre-made bags available in the 100 or 200pk here. I've been quite happy with being able to split up sale/bulk goods to freeze. A point to keep in mind with meats is to bag them and set in freezer for an hour or so to avoid being too juicy that it disrupts the seal.
Anna Garcia : Pain in the Vac
Broke on me after about 3 months of heavy use. I remember when I was using it I would often time daydream on engineering it to work better. It takes awhile, it's obnoxiously loud. I'm sure a more expensive model would still suffer from the same problem of being made with 1990s technology. You have to press really hard along the entire machine for the seal to work right. it's really tiresome and I can't imagine elderly or disabled people having an easy time using this. For what it's worth, it did what it was suppose to and did it well. A horrible experience though especially if you're going to be mass producing something. It's just you and the carpel tunnel-inducing machine for hours listening to it's motors and fans do their very loud work.
eclecticCritiques : OK But Time Consuming
Don't think I would buy this model nor recommend it. Seller is find. Product as described by seller. Timely delivery My problem is with the product itself.
It works WHEN you place the bags in properly. It took me 15 minutes to do that the first time I used it and takes more time than I am willing to spend in inserting bags JUST SO in order for them to seal. Got to be an easier way and more customer friendly product ... probably more expensive, but worth it.
You can buy this model. It is OK for what it is and if you have the patience and time to devote to bag insertion. I didn't find the instruction clear and that makes it more difficult.
RECOMMEND seller
Do Not recommend product
Barry Robinson : Get it. I'm glad I did.
I have used this thing like crazy sealing everything in sight. So far after about 3-4 dozen seals, it has worked fantastically. It does need a 'cool down' period between seals as if the sealing bar is hot, it will not allow to bags to fully have the air removed. The sealing bar stays warm and although doesn't seal the bag, it makes the bag soft enough to stop the air suction tricking the unit into thinking the air has been removed and activating the seal mode prematurely. Just let it cool for 20-30 seconds and try again. Just take a little extra time between seals, with the lid up so it can cool quicker, and then seal away. It seals hard like one of those vacuumed coffee packs. Besides the tons of dry goods that I have sealed which are rock hard like a brick, I'm now buying meat in bulk packs, breaking into portions, sealing them and tossing them into the freezer. I use the roll packs I get off of Amazon in 8" and 11" and they work perfectly. You can't beat the price.
Mccynk : Tempermental
I like the concept. This machine is not a slam-dunk to operate (or I have one that is faulty). When you follow the directions it doesn't always work. if you take your hands off when the hands free button lights up the thing will pop open and fill with air again before sealing. If you try a 2nd time too soon, it will seal the bag without sucking the air out. I've had to give it 3-4 tries every time before I get one that works right. Thankfully, it was not expensive.
vv in nj : A Waste!
Well, as others have said, this is a piece of junk! After using it only occasionally, the Seal-a-Meal stopped working altogether. The unit will not heat up enough to seal the package and it certainly won't vacuum out the air. Customer service, though courteous, has no solution except to say to pop out the trough, wash it out and then put it back in 30 minutes.Doing this does not solve the heating problem. Don't waste your time or money. It worked well when I first got it, but it is useless now.
runnin mama : Doesn't work with liquids!!!
This seals okay for "simple" things... relatively dry, not very bulky items. Steaks for example. But I bought this for sous-vide cooking and am definitely limited in what it works for. It doesn't make a seal if you are working with liquids. It just sucks the liquid into the drip tray which results in you losing your ingredients, and then the plastic gets wet and won't seal. I've tried doing sauces in the bags that came with it and rolls of vacuum seal bag materials and it just doesn't work. I end up with a big mess too.
Even with the easier stuff it was still hit or miss. Just the natural juices released by fish or if you put a tiny bit of marinade in a bag, sometimes the vacuum will suck it through the opening while it's trying to seal and not work. And you have to press on the bar really hard sometimes. I would not recommend this product.
Zale R. Carroll : Love this so much that I want to vacuum pack everything!
Took me a minute to figure out how to get it to seal but when I did it was magic! I prep a couple weeks worth of breakfast on the weekends and portion it out and seal a single serving, then toss it in the freezer. Super handy when I'm rushing out the door to just grab something. We dehydrate figs from our tree and seal them too for use during the spring. Much better than plastic food containers that take up space.
Justin Mumma : Still works 4 Years later
I bought this at the beginning of 2014 to waterproof some camping supplies in vacuum bags. I never got around to reviewing it but I was very happy with it and loved this price. I never expected it to last but I’ve started using it to seal food and the thing is still going great after 4 years.
Sany123 : Great Sealer but Does Take Hand Strength
I purchased this item, along with the bags it uses (some bags come with the sealer, and I purchased more as a separate item) because I plan to dehydrate fruits and vegetables from my garden and the Farmer's Market this summer. Of course, I tried the sealer as soon as I got it to seal some food and some soaps and candles. The sealer works very well. The only problem is is that it does take ALOT of downward force on the hands to start the vacuum-sealing. I have rheumatoid arthritis, and my hands and wrists are affected. It WAS painful for me to push down so hard. However, after the vacuum-sealing starts, you can take your hands off and let the machine continue its work. It DID seal both the food and the candles/soap very well. I'm glad I purchased this product as it works well and wasn't as expensive as many others.
trickivic : Awesome product!
I usually shop once a month for my groceries. Then I vacuum seal all meats in individual portion, date and freeze. This sealer does a great job and is so easy to use. I love the click that assures me that the bag is locked in place. I would recommend this to anyone that is looking for a good vacuum sealer. I'm almost 75 yr. old and female, so I don't have as much strength in my hands as I used to. Good product for seniors or anyone that appreciates ease of use and saving money.
Fred H. : It's dead
I had been thinking about getting one of these, so I took a chance and bought this unit in Sept 2019. It no longer seals. I am a casual user, probably have used 1.5 rolls of bag material (seal a meal brand), and then it just quit sucking air.... When it was working, it worked great and I really like having a vacuum sealer, but I would recommend looking around a little more as this unit is just not reliable.
John : Bad design
My unit has died.. Six months old, only used a dozen times Don’t cry for me it most likely is a blessing, wasn’t very happy with it while it was functional
This sealer required that only the very edge of a bag be inserted as obtain a vacuum seal even if you were just sealing one side of a roll to create a custom bag Better units have a separate sealing function that doesn’t require a vacuum be established which is preferable. That reason alone is reason enough to avoid this sealer even if was dependable
WDM : Sadly, not woth the money.
I chose the Seal-A-Meal as the one (model VS110) I had been using for over 15 years finally gave up- the heat strip no longer worked. When I tried to just seal the end of a bag made from a roll of material nothing happened. I then tried to seal in something in one of the bags provided but it sealed prior to all of the air being evacuated.
Hanna : Doesn't work/Horrible customer service
I ordered my Seal A Meal, when it arrived it did not work. In calling customer service they have you complete all these trouble shooting maneuvers which ultimately confirm the thing does not work, and half your day is now gone. When I received my replacement Seal A Meal, after having to email pictures and cut cords, it also did not work! I called the same customer service number and was on hold for 24 minutes before being told I must have been switched to the wrong department. I was given another "direct number" to call. I am not lying when I say I was on hold for one hour and eleven minutes (I even have a screenshot to prove it! And at least my kitchen got cleaned while I was waiting...) and do you know they told me I had the wrong department and then gave me the original number to call. GRRRR It's not that hard people!!!! And I do not have time for this! I'm so angry. So I have wasted lots of time and still do not have a working Seal A Meal!!!!
Sunshine : Excellent for premade bags
I needed to replace a previous vacuum sealer and found that this was one of the least expensive. I have used it for a few months and it does an excellent job with premade bags. Making your own bags from rolls of bag material is a bit difficult in that you have to have cut the material exactly square and place it specifically before the vacuum chamber. My previous unit had a switch for "seal or vacuum". This unit does not have that switch and tries to figure it out itself. Other than that it is a compact unit, simple to use and does the job.
Ron : My "How to use". the Seal-A-Meal. Added some picture details. Handiest kitchen item EVER !!
Good price for a great product !! Not sure why I ever used Ziploc freezer bags instead of this
vacuum sealer and bags!! Ziploc bags were hard to squeeze air out of (using rolling pin) to get
as much air as possible out of the Ziploc bag before sealing. This sealer is very easy to size and
seal vacuum bags.
1. Insert end of bag while on roll just past the sealing/heating strip (NOT into vacuum area)
ensuring that the end of the plastic is flat with no wrinkles.
2. Close top and press down with heels of both hands on the words “press here” (just INSIDE
of the two hands) shown on the unit.
3. Vacuum pumping begins and starts to seal quickly.
4. When BOTH LED’s come on, let go.
5. When lights go out, DO NOT press the "Open/Cancel" button !! Allow unit to continue sealing
(LED's go out after about 10 seconds) for up to 30 seconds or more before the sealing stops and
you hear a “pfft” sound as vacuum escapes and lid pops up a bit. If it doesn’t continue seal for
at least 20 seconds, there might be something wrong. If longer than 40 seconds, press
“Open/Cancel” button to release/stop sealing.
Note: If you want a double seal (I do this), slide bag in another 1/2 inch and repeat steps 2 thru 5.
TIP: If item to be stored contains juices, before sealing in bags, place item(s) in the unsealed bag
(I pre-freeze in ziploc first), place in freezer for about 45 minutes before sealing. This will
freeze any juices in the item to be sealed so juices won't be sucked into the seal when you
are vacuum sealing the bag. MUCH more reliable seal and keeps unit much cleaner.
6. Cut off required length of bag plus about two inches.
Note: My items are already in a ziploc bag so I lay item on top of the roll to measure while bag
is STILL inside the seal-a-meal.
7. Place item to be stored into the bag.
8. If item has been in the freezer, wipe inner lip of bag with paper towel to dry
9. Insert unsealed end of bag just past the sealing/heating strip and half way into juice catch tray.
Note: Ensure that the end of the bag is a flat as possible with NO WRINKLES. If necessary,
lower top of unit, hold down one side of top and stretch bag with other hand so bag is flat
before sealing. If item is thick, place pot holder under item to allow better flattening of bag.
10. With top closed, press down with both hands just inside of the two hands shown on the unit.
11. Vacuum pumping begins and will take up to around 20 seconds.
Note: If “Sealing” LED doesn’t come on, there is a vacuum leak !! Press “Open/Cancel”,
remove wrinkles (if possible) and try again !
12. When BOTH LED’s come on, let go.
13. After about 20 seconds or so, vacuum and sealing is done and lights go out.
14. When lights go out, DO NOT press the "Open/Cancel" button !! Allow unit to continue sealing
for up to 30 seconds or more before the sealing stops and you hear a “pfft” sound as vacuum
escapes and lid pops up a bit. If it doesn’t continue seal for at least 20 seconds, there might
be something wrong. If more than 40 seconds, press “Open/Cancel” to release/stop sealing.
Note: If you want a double seal (I do this), slide bag OUT about 1/2 inch and repeat steps 10 thru 14.
I LOVE this product !!
Patrick Riley : Didn't last past 6 months
I bought this sealer a little over a year ago to vacuum pack trout that I catch. It worked great for about 6 months. Then it quit vacuuming & would just sit there with the motor running. It also doesn't work on any bag less than the width of the machine. You get what you pay for. I'm going to go to a $100 unit.
*Edit 1/6/2021
This company reached out to me after my bad review of their product & went above & beyond to make things right. They sent me an upgraded, newer unit free of charge & I must say that it works perfectly. I'm a fan! 5 Stars!!
Jessica S : Worth the investment-- no freezer burn!
I have been using the product for 4 months. I was looking for a way to store frozen breast milk that was air tight, dependable, economical and less wasteful than traditional milk storage bags. I had been using Ziploc vacuum bags, but they are expensive and unreliable.
I freeze my milk in milk trays. You basically end up with milk ice cubes. I transfer them into a Seal-a-Meal or Food Saver bag (usually off the roll) and seal them up. This milk could be in my deep freezer for up to a year. I have no worries about freezer burn or leaking.
I haven't used this product for anything else yet, but I will tell you it is absolutely worth the investment. I'm in love!
Barbara G. : I loved this from the 70's
This arrived on June 10 - it is not allowed on 7/30 to be returned...it stopped working last night...it began not removing the air 1 week ago, I contacted the manufacturer who told me what to do, I did it, and now it has stopped doing anything. The rubber seal comes apart, and it won't turn on. I loved this from the 70's, but this product does not work as well as the one I had back then. I will pay more and try for Food Saver - believe it or not, they are the ones I called by mistake and have such wonderful customer service, they tried to help me over the phone with a product that did not belong to them....sad, I'm now stuck with a product that does not work, less than 2 months after ordering....sad
Amazon Junkie : Amazingly good quality and utility for such an inexpensive tool. No unneeded bells or whistles, it just works.
I almost spent a ton of money on a new-fangled bag sealer (over 6 times what this cost) but luckily common sense took over.
This is a very simple, no bells nor whistles sealer that just works, period. The price can not be beat.
To seal the end of a roll (to make a bag) just insert the open edge of the bag just onto the heater bar and press down on the top. A few seconds later it shuts off and your edge is sealed.
To vacuum seal a bag, put the open ends of your bag further in, into a small trough and inside the vacuum area. Push down on the top until the light goes off, wait another 10 seconds and it is done. There is no vacuum hose attachment (a dumb gimmick added to other sealers to justify a higher price) and nothing else needed. No switch to break, etc. Even the button on top labeled "Open/ Cancel" is not a lever or catch. It is simply a vacuum release, so no plastic latch or catch to break as often happens on plastic consumer goods.
Appearance wise it looks clean and elegant, not cheap and silkscreened. It is made of plastic, but not the cheap brittle kind, it seems that if you are careful and do not abuse it, it will last a long time.
Seems odd though that it is referred to as "hands free" because it is not. You push down on the two ends of the sealer bar until the vacuum takes over and holds the top closed, then the "hands free" light comes on and you can take your hands off. That is an excellent feature, because if for some reason it will not hold vacuum (if the bag is in crooked or some food or liquid is in the seal area) it will not seal, the top will not stay closed and the heater bar will not turn on to seal it. Thusly, you are guaranteed that if the top sealed closed under vacuum, you have a good seal and your bag will seal and stay sealed.
I bought this to replace an older Seal-a-meal with a latch that broke, and an unneeded vacuum port and the rest of the stuff that I now dislike. Simple is best and the price can not be beat. Get this one.
Sea girl : My sister told me it was great and I'm not disappointed
I love this Seal-a-meal. I used it constantly over Christmas this year. It is for normal home use. Not buying huge cows to freeze in the freezer. Wonderful to use just the sealer for chips, brown sugar, crackers, cheese, and more without the vacuuming. Cooked 4 pounds of sausage and vacuum sealed it individually to put it in my freezer so It was ready to pull out and use for breakfast casseroles over Christmas.Loved everything you can do with it daily. I think of something new to use it for everyday. I have been using the bags (they work great) but I'm using it so much I think I'm going to try the rolls they offer on Amazon.
you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
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