Avid Armor Chamber Vacuum Sealer Model USV20 Ultra Series, Compact Size Perfect for Liquid-Rich Wet Foods Fresh Meats, Marinades, Soups, Sauces and More. Vacuum Packaging the Professional Way review and price compare 2025
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Product overview
| Brand | Avid Armor |
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Color | Stainless steel |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 10.5 x 13.5 x 8.5 inches |
| Item Weight | 17.3 Pounds |
product features
- by entering your model number.
- Working Chamber Size: 12.25"W x 8.5"L x 3"in Height. Perfect for smaller portions and cuts of foods. Accessory Port to vacuum seal external canisters and containers
- Clear View Glass Lid for Easy Loading - Provides Full Visibility of Vacuum & Seal Process
- Easy to Use One Touch Controls - Locks In Freshness, Prevents Freezer Burn and for Sous Vide Cooking. Adjustable Seal Time Function - Ensures a Perfect Positive Seal.
- 11" L Seal Bar with 2 Sealing Wires for pouch sizes: 6x10, 6x12, 8x10, 8x12 and 11x10"
- Fast, No Maintenance Dry Piston Vacuum Pump - High Vacuum Pressure on Foods, Infusions and Marinades
- PRIDE IN OUR PRODUCTS AND USA CUSTOMER SUPPORT: Our Team takes pride in handling your orders, questions and any necessary support from our USA office and warehouse. Have comfort in knowing that upon receipt of your order, before shipping, your machine is tested and calibrated in our US warehouse by one of our certified technicians. Each machine includes a check-out card with test date and technician's name. Our goal is complete satisfaction!
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Product Description
Introducing the Avid Armor Ultra Series USV20 Compact Chamber Vacuum Sealer System
The USV20 Chamber Vacuum Sealer is equipped with many of the features as its predecessor, the USV32, including the same pump and seal bar, but in a smaller, more compact design to sit neatly on your countertop. The USV20 has a sleek, stainless-steel body, a flat, tempered glass lid, and side handles for easy carrying. The USV20 also has an integrated accessory port for quickly and easily vacuum sealing external jars and canisters. The USV20 model would be ideal if you are looking to vacuum seal individual or small family size portions for long term freezer storage or sous vide cooking.
USV20 Chamber Vacuum Sealer
How Chamber Vacuum Sealers Work
The pouch is placed in the 'chamber', the lid is closed to create an airtight seal. During the vacuum cycle, air is removed from the chamber, the pouch is sealed, and lastly, air is put back into the chamber, immediately creating a vacuum packed pouch. Since air isn't being sucked out of the pouch itself, you are able to effectively vacuum seal any liquid with ease.
- Dimensions: 14” W x 12” D x 8.25” H / 17” H with lid open
- Chamber Dimensions: 12.25” W x 8.5” L x 3” H
- Max Pouch Size: 11.5" Wide and 10" Long
- No maintenance, dry rocker vacuum pump
Processing Fresh ... FIELD TO SEALED!
A powerful, compact chamber vacuum sealer for any home kitchen.
- Heavy-Duty Stainless Steel Construction
- Clear View Tempered Glass Lid provides full visibility of vacuum & seal process
- Pouch clamp to hold the pouch securely in place
- One Touch 'Auto Vac & Seal' Function
- Adjustable Vacuum Time Function (15-60 seconds) to achieve maximum vacuum on every pouch.
- Adjustable Seal Time Function (3-9 seconds) to ensure positive seal on all different pouch types.
- Accessory Port to vacuum seal external canisters and containers
- Marinate Function to quickly and easily marinate meats and other foods in any container inside the chamber
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| The compact design of the USV20 Chamber Vacuum Sealer is ideal for someone wanting to package in smaller portions or individual servings for sous vide cooking. | The USV20 Chamber Vacuum Sealer is made to create a maximum level of vacuum when sealing all types of food, but excels at vacuum sealing liquid or liquid rich food. Everything from soups, sauces, and marinades to your favorite infused cocktail or sous vide recipe. | The USV20 features an accessory port right inside the chamber which allows you to connect external vacuum canisters, containers and jars and vacuum seal them with ease. | Marinating protein and other food items has never been faster or easier. Place your food and marinade in a container and place directly in the chamber. The food is put under vacuum which allows the pores to open up and the marinade will infuse into the product in a matter of minutes! |
Compatible size vacuum pouches:
| Dimensions | 6"x10" | 8"x10" | 11"x10" |
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| Overall Dimensions | 14"W x 15.5"D x 9.5" H | 14"W x 12" D x 8.25" H |
|---|---|---|
| Chamber Dimensions | 11.5"W x 12"L x 3.5" H | 12.25"W x 8.5"L x 3"H |
| Seal Bar Length | 11.5 inches | 11.5 inches |
| Vacuum Time Settings | 20-99 Seconds | 15-60 Seconds |
| Seal Time Settings | 3-9 Seconds | 3-9 Seconds |
| Sealing | Double Seal | Double Seal |
| Pump | Dry - 70L/min | Dry - 70L/min |
| Accessory Port / Canisters | NO | YES |
| Marinate Function | YES | YES |
| Weight | 26.40 lbs | 17.55 lbs |
product description
product details
important information
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Questions about Avid Armor Chamber Vacuum Sealer Model USV20 Ultra Series, Compact Size Perfect for Liquid-Rich Wet Foods Fresh Meats, Marinades, Soups, Sauces and More. Vacuum Packaging the Professional Way
Q:
Instruction says "Always leave lid in resting position when storing" to avoid compressing the gasket. Does this mean leave lid up when not in use?
Answer: It is best to leave the lid to the USV20 open for several reasons, which does include compressing the gasket. Additionally an open lid will help keep the machine chamber from odor (aquired during the vac process). Personally I like to keep the small cardboard piece which came with the machine (new) which is placed between seal bar and clamp. This piece will keep the lid mostly closed but also open slightly to keep chamber fresh. The most important note is not to close, store with weighted items on top. Thanks!
Answer: The instructions we read said to not stack things on the machine because it would compress the seal. Since it’s a flat surface, it’s tempting to stack things on it. We store the machine with the lid down, but nothing on top of it.
Answer: I kept the packing piece of cardboard (remove this when using the chamber sealer) that keeps the lid a tiny bit ajar. This protects the rubber Gasket from early wear & tear that could necessitate replacement (available from Avid Armor). The main thing is do not store things on top of the lid (too much pressure on the Gasket).
Answer: I think it means don't store things on top of it which will compress the gasket. I leave mine down.
Q:
can it be used with regular average bags those that come in rolls?
Answer: You can get rolls of bags that work. You don’t need to buy the special textured bags like Foodsaver units use. I bought 1000 precut bags for mine for $65. They are so inexpensive I didn’t see the need to buy bags in a roll and have to seal them twice.
Answer: Yes. If you have some left over rolls or bags with embossing yes you can use them. Please know the USV20 comes with sample vac pouches so you will see the difference. Once ready to purchase flat pouches you will see that they are much more affordable then rolls and embossed bags. Thanks!
Answer: If you are referring to "food saver" bags, the answer is yes. However, they are much more expensive than regular heat seal bags from places like Butcher's Supply in Nashville, TN. Also, the dimpled bags necessary for Food Saver machines are not necessary in a Chamber Vac.
Answer: Rolls work fine. Just seal one side first.
Answer: Yes, they work but are more expensive than chamber bags
Answer: Yes use the Avid Armor roll bags.
Answer: No. You need to buy chamber sealer bags and there are many sizes available at reasonable prices.
Answer: Not sure. If it is too thin. It will be melting down
Q:
Will it seal 7 mil mylar gabs?
Answer: Yes our USV20 will vac and seal most mylar bags. There is a range of mylar which contain 'metalized' layer where a higher heat is required. If you wish we would be happy to test you mylar bags to ensure success. Let us know! Thanks Avid Armor
Q:
The description says 6x12 and 8x12 bags, that seems to 3.5 inches longer than the chamber at 8.5. why not a 10x12?
Answer: With our USV20 you can use 12" pouches, they will tuck over / under the seal bar. I find that the best (for my family) is the 6x10 for individuall portions like one small steak, chicken. Then a 11x10 for my larger items. This is a great pouch since the wider side 11" is open. I can pack of up to a 3 pound roast or multiple protein items. Hope this helps! Thanks
Q:
How much vacuum is developed?
Answer: About 30 psi vacuum.
Answer: It pulls down to -29"
Q:
Does this have the gasket problem that the A420 has?
Answer: No the USV20 and USV32 chamber machines are proven with no lid or gasket issues. As for the A420, the gasket on our first production run was was slightly under tolerance therefore may cause an issue. However we have corrected this problem and gaskets improved. Thanks!
Answer: Not so far.......we ordered the USV20 first but the chamber is really small (at least for our needs) with a really odd shaped floor that seriously limits how much you can seal. So we returned it & ordered the USV32, which we love. We got the USV32 at the end of May & have used it hard all summer with no gasket problems. Besides, with USV32 they include a spare gasket & sealer strip. US-made, excellent quality & no plastic (as far as I can tell) in critical parts in the machine.
Answer: I have read about some whistling problems and sealing issues with that model but I haven’t had any problems with mine. If you have a food saver……burn it!
Answer: I have had no problems at all with this vacuum sealer.
Answer: I have not had any problem with this machine at all. Works perfectly.
Answer: No,I've never had any problems with this unit
Answer: I have had zero issues with mine
Q:
how loud is it when running? (in decibels if you can measure it)
Answer: My Foodsaver 2244 running is about 78-80 DB. A microwave Panasonic 1200w running is 58-60 and USV20 is about the same as the foodsaver 78-80 DB depending on phase of operation. There is probably a +/- 2 DB variance on each. Livable and well below losing your hearing.
Answer: My food saver sealer is a lot louder then this one is. I do not think it is loud at all.
Answer: Pretty loud but I don't think you need hearing protection but I'm no expert
Q:
Hi Is there any way we can import this machine to Europe? Thanks for any reply.
Answer: Contact Avid Armor directly. They have an awesome customer service department and get back to you promptly.
Q:
Received my unit but keep getting E1 error. Tried pressing down lid, removing & reinstalling gasket with lip outward (it arrived inward) Pls help
Answer: If you just got it I would exchange it.
Q:
does it use a special oil?
Answer: Our USV20 features a dry maintenance free piston pump. No oil or maintenance required.
Answer: It does not use oil. It is a dry pump.
Answer: There is no oil needed for this unt.
Answer: No, it’s a dry pump. I like this about this unit.
Answer: It does not, it’s a no maintenance dry vacuum pump.
Q:
Does this machine work on dual voltage or only 110-120v?
Answer: !10 - 120V only. NOT dual voltage. Thanks!
Answer: Yes, it is wired for normal 110/120 voltage & has a standard 3-prong plug.
Answer: 110-120 V only.
Answer: 110 volts
Q:
So on the USV20, when vacuuming meats that have moisture, do you have to manually dry prior to vacuum sealing for longer lasting verses a vacuum seale
Answer: When using wet or moist products with model USV20, no you do not need to manually dry the product first. This is the advantage of using a chamber machine versus a suction type sealer. In fact you can add marinades or liquids to what you are packaging to infuse or flavor. Plus you can do soups, chilis and other liquid products. The only no-no is products infused with air like chocolate mousse. Thanks!
Answer: No, there’s no need to manually dry meats. In fact one of my favorite dishes to vacuum seal is pot roast which has stewed beef, carrots, potatoes, celery, tomatoes, and gravy. You can freeze & enjoy later!
Answer: This unit creates a vaccum pressure on the bag without compressing the bag, then the bag is sealed, then the vaccum pressure is released causing the bag to shrink arround the product in the bag. I love this unit because you can seal wet food and sauces
Answer: Absolutely not!!! Vacuum chamber dealers are a different concept. You can vac pack soups, stews, gravy, anything liquid. The air is removed from the chamber, sealed, then atmospheric pressure takes over.
Answer: Chamber vacuum sealers like the USV20 don’t care about liquid. I’ve vacuum packed a bag of water just for fun. :)
Answer: No you don't have to worry about the moisture you can actually vac seal meat with marinate.
Answer: The beauty of a chamber vacuum is that you can vacuum seal liquids so moisture doesn’t matter
Answer: No l don’t
Answer: No you do not,
Q:
When will the accessories make the debut? It was said to be soon ? Thanks!
Answer: Our canister set is now available. The set includes 3 sizes and vacuum hose. Please look for the set as Avid Armor Food Storage Canisters...thanks!
Q:
What is causing the avid armor bags to puff up and the machine usv20 to make a knocking noise when using it?
Answer:
Answer:
Q:
Does this unit need to be stored "upright", or can I store it on it's side? I'm thinking the back hinge side with the control panel facing up.
Answer: With our USV20 being a dry pump you can move it and store it in different positions. However please know due to the rectangular design you do not gain much space with storing the machine on its back. Thanks!
Answer: I think that should be fine. It’s a tank
Answer: I leave it up right!
Q:
At what temperature does water boil in this unit?
Answer: The water is not necessarily boiling due to heat or temp. It appears to be boiling due to vacuum pressure. Thanks
Answer: Never used this to boil water. It doesn’t heat other than to seal the bags
Q:
Does the pouch clamp effectively solve the problem of keeping the ends of the bag lined up over the seal bar when the contents are not flat?
Answer: I recently used mine to seal venison sausage. Clamp worked fine, no issue with sealing for me. It just holds it in place, not really a clamp.
Answer: I haven't had any problems with it.
Q:
What is the duty cycle of the heat/sealer function? Is there a cooldown period before the next seal?
Answer: The USV20 is made to vacuum and seal back to back packages. The pump and seal bar are different functions were no cold down is required. Simply vac n seal then remove pouch from chamber and use again.. Thanks!
Answer: When the vacuum is complete and the sealing begins, it counts down from X to 0 after which there is about 3 or so seconds before the beep sounds to signal you can open the lid and remove the product. If I had to guess, and I shouldn't have to, I would assume this is being counting as a sealing function and not a cool down of the unit. The bag seal is being given time to cool to ensure a good seal. Just a note that extra time beyond the set seal time occurs.
Answer: I have not had to let my unit cool down yet. By the time We get ready for the next item to seal the machine is ready. I am not so sure you need to worry about a duty cycle.
Answer: Once a bag is sealed, you can move right on to the next one without any wait.
Q:
What is the precise height with the door open? I see the dimensions list 17" but I need a more exact measurement as my clearance is exactly 17.0"
Answer:
Answer:
Answer: Height closed is 7” top is 10” so it is 17”
Answer: It's a fraction taller than 17.. But you don't have to open it all the way to use it. We love it.!!
Answer: I have to agree it is very close to 17” . Not greater than 17”. If it has to give a number. I would say 17.6”
Answer: I have 17 inches. But you do not need to have the lid fully open to be able to use it.
Answer: It’s just shy 17 inches. By like a 1/16-1/8 of an inch from counter surface to edge
Answer: It is 17” with the top standing open. I took a picture to show you, but only videos are allowed. ????
Answer: Sorry, 17 1/4"
Answer: Exactly 17in.
Q:
Will this work with Mylar bags?
Answer: The USV20 will seal some mylar bags. This is depending on the thickness and if there are any metalized properties within the bag. Be happy to test you mylar bags to insure a positive seal. Please contact us..
Q:
What is the largest volume of liquid/soup that can be sealed in one bag in the USV20?
Answer: Fill the bag and account for any boil over and you should be good
Q:
Can this be used to make compressed fruit?
Answer: It will compress the cells of the fruit as will any vacuum.
Answer: Yes our USV20 chamber vac sealer will work for compressions, pickling and marinating. Good luck and enjoy! Thanks
Answer: Yep. You can adjust the vacuuming time and sealing time to how “compressed” you want it. Something you’ll need to play with
Q:
Do these take the same bags as thevacmastee ?
Answer: The USV20 is a chamber vacuum sealer - which all chamber sealers use "chamber pouches". Chamber pouches are smooth or flat on both sides.
Q:
Where to get the hose for the suction ? Could you use the food savor bags? Thanks!
Answer: Thanks. Yes the hose and contaainers will be available in a week or so. Slight delay to market. Also we have had a few customers use their Foodsaver style hose and containers...and jar attachments. The FS hose is not a perfect fit, but with some modification will work. More to come in about 1 week! Yes you can use the FS bags. Once you get familiar with the USV20 chamber machine try using the vacuum pouches which are smooth on both sides and save some money!
Answer:
Answer:
Answer: Food Saver bags will not work. Avid bags are inexpensive and are awesome.
Answer: You can use the foodsavor hose also the foodsavor bags will work, but they are much more expensive.
Answer: They said it is allowed to use.
Q:
Can this unit seal the 7mm retort bag for pressure canning?
Answer: not sure only used 3m bags
Q:
Does this machine come with the vacuum hose? If not does Avid Armor sell one separately?
Answer: No, it only comes with a starter pack of bags. You would have to purchase a vacuum hose/canner separately. I'd have to also say that this product is amazing!
Answer: The USV20 do not come with accessory hose. We do offer one separately sold on our site. Plus our canister set comes with hose. Thanks!
Answer: No it doesn't come with any hose.
Q:
Does the marinating of meat really work faster in a Vacuum chamber?
Answer: Yes it works much faster. instead of over knighting a brine if your short of time even a half hour in the vacuum pack will drive the brine flavor deep
Q:
The avid armor usv20 takes 11x10 bags? The chamber dimension shows on the description is 12x8.5 is this wrong. Thanks for tour help
Answer: You are correct with the specs. The 11x10" bag is the perfect size for the USV20 allowing you to pack up to a 3 lb roast or several steak cuts per bag. In reference to the length, the 10" works well since you lose some length due to adding thickness to bag and having a little extra length to lay over the seal bar is good. You will like the 11x10 bags. Thanks!
Answer: The chamber it’s self is 12x8.5 but 11x10 bags are usable.
Answer: Yes, it takes 11x10 inch bags.
Q:
Can the usv20 unit handle 4 cups (quart-size) of soup or stew without spillage? thanks!
Answer: Yes our USV20 using our 11x10" chamber pouch can vacuum and seal 4 cups of liquids such as soup or stew. Remember it is best to vacuum pack at room temprature to prevent 'steaming' in the vac process. Once packed you will like the low profile pouch (lay flat) which are easier to store in fridge or freezer. Thanks
Answer: Just out of curiosity I just did 4 cups of water in a 10x11 bag and it worked perfectly. You will not be disappointed in this machine.
Answer: I think that 32 fl. oz would be fine in an 11x10 bag.
Answer: And make sure that it all cooled down before vacuuming it.
Answer: y0u sure can
Answer: Yes
Q:
Can you seal a mason jar with this?
Answer: The answer of using the FoodSaver mason jar sealing lid is correct for all practical purposes. I have seen videos where a Chamber Vacuum sealer has been used to seal mason jars so I tried.
Answer: Kerr 8 oz Widemouth Mason jars fit nicely inside the chamber.
Answer: If you use the foodsaver jar adaptor.
Q:
Can I seal without vacuum?
Answer: No, using a chamber vacuum sealer a partial vacuum (normally about 50 to 60%) is required to make a positive seal. This is due to most chamber vacs requiring a vacuum or negative pressure for the seal bar to raise and form a seal. Thanks
Answer: Yes, it has a seal only button. Still have to have the lid closed.
Answer: Yes you can, we are very happy with ours.
Q:
What about larger pieces of meat? , such a tomahawk, i have checked both usv32 and usv20 and im not sure if i would be able to vacuum and seal
Answer: That may be an issue. I could not seal a 3 bone rib roast
Q:
What size bags can I use? Also, can you provide a link for bags or pouches that are safe for sous vide cooking? Thanks in advance.
Answer: Pretty much you make your own bags. The material comes in rolls and you cut off the size you need and then seal one end with the vacuum sealer. The plastic bag material is available on Amazon. I Sous Vide a lot and the bags work great.
Answer: 8 X 12 bags are as big as it uses. It works perfect with them.
Q:
What is the differences between this and the v20? Does this include accessories such as bags and containers?
Answer: some bags come with it........it is just easy to use
Q:
How many bags are with the starter kit
Answer: For model USV32 there are 30 sample pouches (bags) included. Thanks!
Answer: Short answer is you should order more when you purchase. If I recall correctly they give you 10 bags total as a free sample. In my opinion they are of high quality and hold up well to sharp foods like crab legs but any non-textured vacuum bag seems to work just fine according to the reviews.
Answer: I received a small package of 10x11" with mine. No sure how many. No more than a dozen.
Answer: I think 10
Q:
what is the largest bag size you can use on the USV20?
Answer: For the USV20, we like the new 11x10" pouch. This size allows you to pack off several steaks or even a 3 pound roast. Thanks
Answer: Per the manufacturer’s specifications:
Q:
Can this product be used with a ziplock type bag???
Answer: Yes it can! It can be used with any type of vinyl or plastic food saver type bag and can reseal it using the heat sealer just as easily as it does the dedicated food saver or vacuum seal bags.
Answer: Yes for chmaber vacuum machines there is zipper vacuum pouch available. Basically the end with the zipper has a heat seal. The opposite end is open where you load the product. Then vacuum and seal. To open cut or tear the end, open zipper for product access. Thanks
Answer: It would probably pull a vacuum with a Ziploc bag but I think the bag would be too thin to actually seal. I think the heating element would burn through the Ziploc bag.
Answer: No. Wrong type and thickness of plastic. Won’t seal properly
Q:
Can i use food saver bags?
Answer: You can use food saver bags if that is your preference or if your just trying to use up a current stock of bags.
Answer: Yes, they work fine. But once you use those up, I suggest buying chamber vacuum bags in bulk. They are cheaper.
Answer: Yes you can. I used up my surplus of Foodsaver compatible bags with the Avid Armor. Was thrilled when I got to reorder bags and realized how much less expensive chamber vac bags are.
Answer: Sure can but overall chamber bags are cheaper
Answer: Yes, but I wouldn’t because of cost. Unless you have some left over buy the bags made for these machines.
Answer: Yes, but you should use regular bags that are a lot less expensive
Answer: I don’t know. I would contact Avid Armor.
Answer: No you cannot
Answer: Yes I have.
Q:
Will this vacuum sealer work with Grounded Compostable chamber bags?
Answer: Yes our USV20 and other vacuum chamber machines will vacuum and seal compostable chamber bags. The important piece of the bag is the inside laminate which is a low grade poly which the heat seal bar melts / welds close. Looking at one of the largest sellers of these compostable chamber bags, they quote the following: "Please, note that these bags are suitable for use on commercial "in-chamber" vacuum machines with temperature adjustment - they will not work on household vacuum sealers." The USV20 model has adjustable heat and in an in-chamber. Thanks!
Q:
The machine is making a loud squeal/whistle sound when we try & seal something. Any idea what’s causing it?
Answer: Sounds like the seal gasket around the lid may have trash stuck to it not letting it seal away around.
Answer: Sorry, I have not had the same experience
Q:
Can I vac seal hamburger buns without totally crushing them?
Answer: Using a chamber vacuum sealer like our model USV20, to make a heat seal on the pouch a vacuum inside the chamber is required. Normally this is about 60% vacuum making it difficult to package breads using a chamber. However we have some customer who will pack their breads and buns by par freezing first (let bread pre freeze to firm up, normally less than 24 hours. This is due to less than 24 hours of freezing will not get freezer burn) then vacuum seal in their chamber machine. Thanks
Q:
Can I use regular vacuum sealer bags with this?
Answer: Vacuum chamber machines normally use chamber pouches which are flat on both sides. You will find them more economical. However you can use the embossed bags used with suction-type machines. As a tip we have some customers using the embossed bags on the outside of their machine to vacuum seal longer or larger items. Thanks
Answer: Yes, they work fine. But you can use the even cheaper bulk vacuum chamber bags, so I’d use those after your supply if regular bags runs out.
Answer: You could, but why? Foodsaver-type bags are far more expensive than the ones available for chamber vacuum sealers.
Answer: Not sure what you mean by regular (embossed bags?) but yes you could use these ones, even if priced higher and the machine could work with the cheaper ones not embossed.
Answer: Yes you can. But they’re more expensive than the vacuum chamber bags.
Answer: As long as they are smooth they should work. Bags are very cheap to buy for this machine.
Answer: You can use the food saver type bags if you want but it is a waste of money unless you have some left over . The camber bags range 75% or more cheaper than the food saver vac bags .
Answer: If you mean the textured bags that are used in FoodSaver machines yes. I don’t see the need unless you have a bunch left over. The bags for this machine are incredibly inexpensive.
Answer: Yes, but why would you. They are terribly expensive. Much less expensive bags are available from many vendors.
Answer: Yes, (no ziplock) if you buy on bulk it will be cheaper don’t buy the ones for food saver those are more expensive will work but you will waste money.
Q:
Can I purchase spare parts such as seal bars and gaskets? If so, where?
Answer: I'm not sure about your question. Upon receiving the sealer, I found that it was to small for my purposes.
Answer: On their website.
Q:
Whats the advantage yo using one of these giant units instead of a regular vacuum sealer?
Answer: There are two key advantages. First vacuum packaging wet, liquid or even marinades are not a problem. With our chamber vacuum machine what you put in the pouch stays in the pouch. Second using vacuum pouches vs embossed vacuum bags for the suction-type machines is more economical. Vac pouches cost less per piece. In addition there are many more advantages like pickling, infusions, best sous vide cooking results. Keep in mind using a chamber machine is actually the older technology and used everyday in commercial kitchens, meat shops, cheese shops and other type of processors. Thanks for your interest...
Answer: The bags are much cheaper than a suction vacuum sealer and the machine doesn’t overheat as easily. I used to use a Cabelas commercial vacuum sealer and when processing game or sausage, The suction vacuum sealers always overheated and shut off. I would have to take 15 to 20 minute breaks to let the suction sealer cool down.
Answer: These work better if you’re using the vacuum bag for marinating. This doesn’t extract air (and liquid) from the bag. Instead it creates a vacuum in the chamber. If your goal is to vacuum seal food the smaller units work great, but this design is more flexible
Answer: Chamber vacuum sealer work with wet/juicy items. My Foodsaver had issues sealing juicy steaks all the time. That is a non issue with the USV20. You can vacuum seal a bag of water if you want with this thing :)
Answer: You can use it to seal soup or something which has lots of liquids, which you can't use with non-chamber type sealer.
Q:
I am new to Amazon Business and I dont see if this item is returnable?
Q:
Should the clamp be over both layers of the pouch or just the lower layer?
Answer: You can use the pouch clamp in many different ways, either ontop of one layer or both layers of pouch. Once you used the USV20 several times and comfortable with loading, I like to not use the clamp and simply grab the pouch both sides (left to right) and simply tuck the open end between the seal bar and the clamp (not using clamp). By tucking the pouch between the seal bar and clamp are, this will secure the open end of pouch. Simply tuck and vacuum seal. Thanks!
Answer: I put it over both layers to keep the pouch in place and it works great. I found when only putting it on the lower layer, the pouch would sometimes be incorrectly positioned for a proper seal depending on how full it was.
Answer: It should be over both layers. If you fill the bag too full you will have a hard time holding it in the clamp. Sometimes it helps to put a small 1 or 1-1/2 inch tall bowl in the bottom of the chamber to hold the bag up off the bottom.
Answer: Photo on the Avid Armor website shows both layers of pouch held by clamp.
Answer: Just the lower layer
Answer: Both... The clamp is to hold the two layers in place so they seal properly.
Answer: I put the clamp down it both sides of the bag so it will seal evenly
Answer: Just the lower part
Answer: Over both layers to get them together
Answer: Both, it is only used to hold the bag in place during vacuuming.
Q:
what is the horse power of the pump
Q:
Where is it made?
Answer: Our model USV20 was designed/developed here in the US and made in China. Each unit certified, meeting testing requirements and we test each unit here in our Kansas warehouse prior to shipping to customers. Thanks!
Answer: From what I understand from talking with Avid Armor all vacuum machines are made in China, Avid Armor is made to company specs from their company in Arizona.
Q:
How much hg can this sealer pull? Thanks.
Answer: It defaults to 20.
Q:
Will this be restocked?
Answer: Yes! We will be adding a few more units per day. Will be back into to full stock in the next few weeks!
Product reviews of Avid Armor Chamber Vacuum Sealer Model USV20 Ultra Series, Compact Size Perfect for Liquid-Rich Wet Foods Fresh Meats, Marinades, Soups, Sauces and More. Vacuum Packaging the Professional Way
LG : Straight out of the box, baby!
Wow! Straight out of the box winner!! (Only wish contents weren’t printed on the shipping box but husband loved his (now-early) anniversary gift.) We tried three different things—smoked cheese, a Reece’s peanut butter cup, and olives in liquid. All sealed to perfection. Pleased with the double seal (didn’t wipe droplets from olive bag just to see how it worked—worked great, automatic “double seal” line— even in our 3mil bags!). Reece’s cup not smashed. Blocks of cheese super tight on the seal. Not a drop of liquid leaking. Will update review if things change but compare to the Food Saver I’ve been fighting for two years, I could not be happier.
MITCHELL MCKINION : So far so good
I bought this after using my brothers vac master for a while . After returning his commercial vac machine I new we would never go back to food saver styles . It has really been worth the money and worked great plus it’s a lot less expensive and not near as heavy to move . Instead of taking the processed meat or fish the the vac master I take the Avid to it which makes ease of use and clean up better .I hope it keeps up the good work but so far so good
Bonnie : seals like a dream
food sealers have nothing on this chamber vacuum sealer, will be testing it on raw fresh caught tuna in 2 weeks, can you say sushi!
Jamie Rawson : Pleased with my new Avid Armor Chamber Vacuum
I've had this machine for about month now and I am please with it's performance. This is the 1st chamber style vacuum sealer that I have used and love it compared to the external style vacuum sealers i.e. Food Savers. The biggest advantage is it's ability to vacuum liquid or really moist food like fish.
LG : Straight out of the box, baby!
Wow! Straight out of the box winner!! (Only wish contents weren’t printed on the shipping box but husband loved his (now-early) anniversary gift.) We tried three different things—smoked cheese, a Reece’s peanut butter cup, and olives in liquid. All sealed to perfection. Pleased with the double seal (didn’t wipe droplets from olive bag just to see how it worked—worked great, automatic “double seal” line— even in our 3mil bags!). Reece’s cup not smashed. Blocks of cheese super tight on the seal. Not a drop of liquid leaking. Will update review if things change but compare to the Food Saver I’ve been fighting for two years, I could not be happier.
Elle B. : I use this so often, I bought a second freezer
I am something of a vacuum sealer collector, but this is my first chamber sealer. With that said, I can honestly say that it does everything I need it to and more. I plan to gift many of my other, external machines to family and friends now that I have this one.
During the initial unpacking of this sealer, I was intimidated by all of the options and the pressure dial. Now that I’ve used it, I feel ridiculous for feeling that way. It’s the simplest thing. It’s just as easy as an external machine, if not easier. It certainly takes less arm strength. For those of you worried that you might struggle to understand how to use this machine, don’t. It’s so simple anyone can learn in about 3 minutes.
I live in a small household but love to buy in bulk. I have owned many external vacuum sealers priced anywhere from $50-$300. Most of them work, although obviously some are better than others, but they all have the same flaw, they can’t handle liquids. This means that while attempting to seal pounds of meat, vegetables, cheeses, and soups, I found myself pre-freezing everything to ensure they wouldn’t cause sealing issues. This became such a burden and waste of my time, that I knew it was time for a chamber sealer. I’m so thrilled with my purchase. This machine has already saved me more time than I can imagine.
I often use a sous vide cooker and previously was forced to cook my meat unmarinated. No more! This machine allows me to put my meat and marinade together in the same bag and instantly seal it. No freezing, no wasted time. Then I can leave it in the fridge overnight, or simply pop them into the water to cook. This has made for the moistest chicken and fish I’ve ever had in my life. Additionally, the ability to seal hamburger or chicken breasts without having the partially freeze them first has literally doubled the amount of time I have to focus on other things. Now that I can instantly seal anything I want, I bought a second freezer to store all of the items that I didn’t bother to freeze before.
Overall, I cannot recommend this machine enough. I love it. It’s got a relatively small footprint, handles liquids like a champ, double seals all of your bags, and the bags themselves are amazingly affordable when bought in bulk. If you’re on the fence about this sealer, just take the plunge. I regret all of the external machines that I’ve bought over the years. This is the real deal.
During the initial unpacking of this sealer, I was intimidated by all of the options and the pressure dial. Now that I’ve used it, I feel ridiculous for feeling that way. It’s the simplest thing. It’s just as easy as an external machine, if not easier. It certainly takes less arm strength. For those of you worried that you might struggle to understand how to use this machine, don’t. It’s so simple anyone can learn in about 3 minutes.
I live in a small household but love to buy in bulk. I have owned many external vacuum sealers priced anywhere from $50-$300. Most of them work, although obviously some are better than others, but they all have the same flaw, they can’t handle liquids. This means that while attempting to seal pounds of meat, vegetables, cheeses, and soups, I found myself pre-freezing everything to ensure they wouldn’t cause sealing issues. This became such a burden and waste of my time, that I knew it was time for a chamber sealer. I’m so thrilled with my purchase. This machine has already saved me more time than I can imagine.
I often use a sous vide cooker and previously was forced to cook my meat unmarinated. No more! This machine allows me to put my meat and marinade together in the same bag and instantly seal it. No freezing, no wasted time. Then I can leave it in the fridge overnight, or simply pop them into the water to cook. This has made for the moistest chicken and fish I’ve ever had in my life. Additionally, the ability to seal hamburger or chicken breasts without having the partially freeze them first has literally doubled the amount of time I have to focus on other things. Now that I can instantly seal anything I want, I bought a second freezer to store all of the items that I didn’t bother to freeze before.
Overall, I cannot recommend this machine enough. I love it. It’s got a relatively small footprint, handles liquids like a champ, double seals all of your bags, and the bags themselves are amazingly affordable when bought in bulk. If you’re on the fence about this sealer, just take the plunge. I regret all of the external machines that I’ve bought over the years. This is the real deal.
Jan : Don't Judge It By Its Size
This machine was a replacement for a much larger, oil pump vacuum machine that broke. The old machine was 20 years old and weighed over 80 lbs. It could accommodate very large vacuum bags. I no longer needed a machine this large and was looking for something much lighter and smaller that I could easily store in a kitchen cabinet and use on the counter. I recently cut a side of beef tenderloin into steaks and tenderloin tips. This Avid Armor Model USV20 is perfect for my current needs, and it is even smaller than my toaster oven.
The bag holder latch works well and kept the bag straight in place thereby providing a good double seal. The sealing bar was a pleasant surprise since it worked better than anticipated. The vacuum time took longer than my old machine, but the vacuum obtained was equal to my old machine. The size of the vacuum chamber is more than adequate for steaks, chicken pieces, 1/2 slab of baby back ribs, corn on the cob, etc. The auto vac & seal control button operates more like a touch screen than a button you depress.
The bag holder latch works well and kept the bag straight in place thereby providing a good double seal. The sealing bar was a pleasant surprise since it worked better than anticipated. The vacuum time took longer than my old machine, but the vacuum obtained was equal to my old machine. The size of the vacuum chamber is more than adequate for steaks, chicken pieces, 1/2 slab of baby back ribs, corn on the cob, etc. The auto vac & seal control button operates more like a touch screen than a button you depress.
mojamsand : Great way to vacuum/marinate
Works so much better than a vacuum sealer and makes marinating a breeze!
Sleepy In Seattle : It sucks (hurray!)
I've long lusted after chamber sealers but the price and size was always a deal breaker. We just had our old food saver and die and discovering this Avid Armor USV20 solved both blockers was very exciting!
The sealer was packed super well and arrived sooner than expected. It came with a really clear quick start guide and we were sealing things up in no time.
Only slight knock is that the control pad for changing vacuum duration seconds was a little unresponsive feeling. Would have preferred some buttons with more concrete feedback vs the capacitive ones it comes with.
The sealer was packed super well and arrived sooner than expected. It came with a really clear quick start guide and we were sealing things up in no time.
Only slight knock is that the control pad for changing vacuum duration seconds was a little unresponsive feeling. Would have preferred some buttons with more concrete feedback vs the capacitive ones it comes with.
Ruby : I am really impressed!
Just got this product, and it seems great. First, the packaging was truly done with care, and I appreciated all the instructions, tips and bags that came with it. (and they were in understandable English, by the way). I tested it with a half avocado and it was super. At first I thought it wasn't working--didn't seem to be vacuuming out the air--then BAM! all the air was out and it was sealed perfectly. You can adjust the time for the vacuum and the seal, and it even has a marinade setting. The other thing is that it is fairly light. I can keep it in a cabinet and take it out to use with ease--I love clean kitchen counters. And it was supposed to come between the 25th and Dec 3rd--came today on November 21st!
Rob : Best Money Spent All Year
I buy over 500 items a year on Amazon. Very rarely do I leave a review for anything. We buy meat in bulk and use our vacuum machine ones every 2-3 months. We've killed 4 Foodsavers of ever quality over the last 4 years, not to mention the added frustration of time lost due to heat buildup...etc.
We've used this product for 6 months now, not a single hiccup. No lost time...etc. I was hesitant to spend $400 on a Vacuum Chamber, but was at my wits end with the Foodsaver style sealers. This is the perfect machine for most every household IMO. Easily seals bags with 2-3 1" cut steak, back to back ribs...etc. Only thing it won't fit are the largest of roasts.
Best money spent all year, hands down.
We've used this product for 6 months now, not a single hiccup. No lost time...etc. I was hesitant to spend $400 on a Vacuum Chamber, but was at my wits end with the Foodsaver style sealers. This is the perfect machine for most every household IMO. Easily seals bags with 2-3 1" cut steak, back to back ribs...etc. Only thing it won't fit are the largest of roasts.
Best money spent all year, hands down.
Kiana : Save Food, Money, and Time!
I want to say I've purchased my chamber the Avid Armor USV20 less than a month and I just want to start off by honestly saying it's better than I expected!
I initially got into food preservation at the beginning of the pandemic and learned more about vacuum sealing in general as time went on. I used a cheap vacuum sealer for a few months but got over the hassle I had to deal with when it came to moist or wet foods (needing to partially freeze them first). You can honestly get away with just using a vacuum sealer if you're willing to deal with the hassle, but the reality is you are less likely to build a habit if it's not convenient. Using this USV20 has made it incredibly convenient and has allowed me to be much more consistent with sealing away my food.
I tend to cook for myself and have noticed that when you become more involved in the kitchen it's a bit tough to cook for one. You could meal prep and eat the same food throughout the week (I've done that), but you may end up disliking some foods (that's no good). There's no need to cook a big batch of food, but rather just casually seal away your leftovers. With time you'll start to accumulate a surplus of food. This is great because you can still "meal prep", but rather than having the same meal for 5 days straight, you can have it every 3 days (or however long; can last for a really long time in the freezer!).
Vacuum sealing food really makes food come off as "fresh" especially if you pair it with sous vide machine to reheat your food (it's a much gentler way of reheating your food and won't be fried or dried like what microwaves do)
If you're someone who is trying to eat better, always have food around, save money, or just busy I really think you'll like what this chamber sealer can do. It's the cheapest chamber vacuum sealer I can find (I actually found cheaper ones on eBay, but the letters were not in English) and has great value and quality.
I do have one con and is that after 5 to 6 runs in a row your bags will stick a bit more to the heating bar (this is to be expected because it hasn't had a chance to cool down). Due to the sticking, if I do a batch of sealing that is more than 4 bags, I will just wait a minute for the bar to cool down before doing the rest. I don't think this is necessary, but I rather take preventative measures cause this machine is not cheap.
Hope this helps!
I initially got into food preservation at the beginning of the pandemic and learned more about vacuum sealing in general as time went on. I used a cheap vacuum sealer for a few months but got over the hassle I had to deal with when it came to moist or wet foods (needing to partially freeze them first). You can honestly get away with just using a vacuum sealer if you're willing to deal with the hassle, but the reality is you are less likely to build a habit if it's not convenient. Using this USV20 has made it incredibly convenient and has allowed me to be much more consistent with sealing away my food.
I tend to cook for myself and have noticed that when you become more involved in the kitchen it's a bit tough to cook for one. You could meal prep and eat the same food throughout the week (I've done that), but you may end up disliking some foods (that's no good). There's no need to cook a big batch of food, but rather just casually seal away your leftovers. With time you'll start to accumulate a surplus of food. This is great because you can still "meal prep", but rather than having the same meal for 5 days straight, you can have it every 3 days (or however long; can last for a really long time in the freezer!).
Vacuum sealing food really makes food come off as "fresh" especially if you pair it with sous vide machine to reheat your food (it's a much gentler way of reheating your food and won't be fried or dried like what microwaves do)
If you're someone who is trying to eat better, always have food around, save money, or just busy I really think you'll like what this chamber sealer can do. It's the cheapest chamber vacuum sealer I can find (I actually found cheaper ones on eBay, but the letters were not in English) and has great value and quality.
I do have one con and is that after 5 to 6 runs in a row your bags will stick a bit more to the heating bar (this is to be expected because it hasn't had a chance to cool down). Due to the sticking, if I do a batch of sealing that is more than 4 bags, I will just wait a minute for the bar to cool down before doing the rest. I don't think this is necessary, but I rather take preventative measures cause this machine is not cheap.
Hope this helps!
Maria Huet : Chamber Vac Sealer
This item is fantastic and as described!
Amazon Customer : Way quicker and better than the other vacuum sealers I've had. It is actually fun to use.
I seal a lot of foods raised and produced around my home. This chamber vacuum is so much better than the other vacuum sealers I have used. it doesn't make the mess with liquids getting sucked out of the bag because the whole chamber is under a vacuum until the bag of food is sealed. Then, when air is let back in the chamber the bag, sealed in a vacuum, sucks down and the liquid cannot escape. It makes me smile to use it.
KotaPony : A great household unit!
This vacuum sealer is the best thing I never knew I always needed. I find myself using it all the time for more than I imagined. It’s great to portion out leftovers, or divide bulk buys for freezing. Sometimes I find myself looking for things to vac seal just because it’s fun.
I had been looking hard at the bigger chamber models, but they were really overkill for my needs. I’m very glad I found and went with this smaller model. It fits under the counter in my kitchen, and is light weight to tote around if I want to batch process in another location. This mobile aspect is a feature I really appreciate and use fairly often.
I do some batch processing at times, and I did wonder if this unit would hold up. So far I’ve used it in two longer sessions of over an hour non-stop each, and it seems to have fared just fine.
I like that the settings are easy to adjust. And that it does not make annoying beeps every time you seal something. It has a double seal line, and that’s nice. So far I haven’t had any trouble with bags not sealing well. I have used 2 different off-brands of vacuum bags with it and both have worked fine, so it doesn’t seem too finicky about the brand of bags you use.
In terms of size, I mainly use an 8x10 bag or smaller and find this is a nice size for most things I do. The unit will take up to an 11x10 bag max so it wouldn’t seal a whole roasting chicken or a big beef roast. Cut up the chicken or cut a big roast in half though and you could seal it all easily.
I find the vacuum suction power to be very good. Most leftovers I use 20-30 seconds of vacuum time and find that’s plenty. I sealed some bean seed to save for next season and went a full 60 seconds on it, which is the maximum time this unit will do. I was very impressed at the result - those beans were packed tight!
I haven’t used the hose port to speak to how well it works, but I do like that it has one as an option. Most chamber models do not.
I do find that I need to put light pressure on the lid to make sure it grabs and starts pulling vacuum. The timer runs as soon as the motor starts, whether you are pulling vacuum on the chamber or not. So if the lid doesn’t seal til half way through the cycle, it still stops and seals at the end of the time (effectively giving you a 15 second time of vacuum pull rather than 30, for example). This has caught me once or twice, and I had to cut open a bag and reseal it. (Note that there is a cancel button if you realize and think quickly enough.) I read a review from someone who found this really annoying, but I don’t find it a big deal. I just stay in the habit of pressing gently down on the lid with one hand while hitting the start button with the other.
The one complaint I have with the unit is that I find the control buttons touchy. Sometimes I hit the button and nothing happens. Most of the time it starts on the second try, it’s never been worse than 3 tries. It’s a smooth control panel, so you can’t feel a button depress. I’m old school enough to miss that, but it’s not a deal breaker for me. Most of the time one press and it starts fine. Perhaps there’s just an element of me needing to learn just how / where to press.
So definitely overall I recommend this as a great unit for household needs, including those who do a lot of garden or meat preserving.
I had been looking hard at the bigger chamber models, but they were really overkill for my needs. I’m very glad I found and went with this smaller model. It fits under the counter in my kitchen, and is light weight to tote around if I want to batch process in another location. This mobile aspect is a feature I really appreciate and use fairly often.
I do some batch processing at times, and I did wonder if this unit would hold up. So far I’ve used it in two longer sessions of over an hour non-stop each, and it seems to have fared just fine.
I like that the settings are easy to adjust. And that it does not make annoying beeps every time you seal something. It has a double seal line, and that’s nice. So far I haven’t had any trouble with bags not sealing well. I have used 2 different off-brands of vacuum bags with it and both have worked fine, so it doesn’t seem too finicky about the brand of bags you use.
In terms of size, I mainly use an 8x10 bag or smaller and find this is a nice size for most things I do. The unit will take up to an 11x10 bag max so it wouldn’t seal a whole roasting chicken or a big beef roast. Cut up the chicken or cut a big roast in half though and you could seal it all easily.
I find the vacuum suction power to be very good. Most leftovers I use 20-30 seconds of vacuum time and find that’s plenty. I sealed some bean seed to save for next season and went a full 60 seconds on it, which is the maximum time this unit will do. I was very impressed at the result - those beans were packed tight!
I haven’t used the hose port to speak to how well it works, but I do like that it has one as an option. Most chamber models do not.
I do find that I need to put light pressure on the lid to make sure it grabs and starts pulling vacuum. The timer runs as soon as the motor starts, whether you are pulling vacuum on the chamber or not. So if the lid doesn’t seal til half way through the cycle, it still stops and seals at the end of the time (effectively giving you a 15 second time of vacuum pull rather than 30, for example). This has caught me once or twice, and I had to cut open a bag and reseal it. (Note that there is a cancel button if you realize and think quickly enough.) I read a review from someone who found this really annoying, but I don’t find it a big deal. I just stay in the habit of pressing gently down on the lid with one hand while hitting the start button with the other.
The one complaint I have with the unit is that I find the control buttons touchy. Sometimes I hit the button and nothing happens. Most of the time it starts on the second try, it’s never been worse than 3 tries. It’s a smooth control panel, so you can’t feel a button depress. I’m old school enough to miss that, but it’s not a deal breaker for me. Most of the time one press and it starts fine. Perhaps there’s just an element of me needing to learn just how / where to press.
So definitely overall I recommend this as a great unit for household needs, including those who do a lot of garden or meat preserving.
KBritt : Checks all the boxes for vacuum sealing foods
I have wanted all the benefits of chamber vacuum sealing for some time, namely the efficiency of sealing liquids and the reduced costs of bags, but I didn't have the space to store the models most frequently offered in chamber vacs until I found the Avid Armor USV20 model . Now, I store this (right-sized) model in my utility room and transport it very easily to the kitchen to do the sealing. I seal a lot of food, and I am exceedingly pleased with its performance, the ease of use, and its portability. For my uses, the size is more than adequate for the volumes of food I seal. Every time I use it I rejoice about NOT fighting the Food Saver (no offense to them, but chamber vacuum sealing is so much better).
Paul A. Johnson : Powerful, compact, and convenient
I have had three or four vacuum sealers over the years. I have often had to carefully watch for moisture heading toward the top of the bad and quickly seal it. With this chamber vacuum I don’t have to worry about that. Last night I vacuum leftover beef stew.
It is small and compact but more than adequate for my needs. It fits well in the appliance garage in my kitchen even with the lid open.
A three section plastic file folder holder works well for conveniently storing the three sizes of bags.
It is small and compact but more than adequate for my needs. It fits well in the appliance garage in my kitchen even with the lid open.
A three section plastic file folder holder works well for conveniently storing the three sizes of bags.
M. Jalbert : Incredible upgrade from my old vacuum sealers.
Maria Huet : Chamber Vac Sealer
This item is fantastic and as described!
Tomas : Great
Works as advertised for thing I did words to beg my wife’s rice crispy treats and it worked great set up with the kids in California. During the pandemic all the prices have gone sky high so it is what it is.
c1one : Well Built Chamber Vacuum Sealer at a Great Price!
This unit is well built and you can buy replacement heat sealers (typical to replace with wear over time.) Easy setup, in fact just plug it in and go.
Great seal, great price, excellent unit.
Rosemary A. Peterson : Great value! Much more efficient than other vacuum dealers.
This unit is a gem! Easy to use and have not had any failed seals so far! Great for freezing or for sous vide cooking. I have prepped and seasoned food, then frozen in individual servings. I’m now ready to sous vide at a moments notice!
Penny Wondergem : Great customer service.
We purchased this vacuum sealer just before going fishing in hopes of using it to vacuum our fish that we caught. It worked great other than the right back corner did not shut tight and every time we used it we have to push it down. So we sent it back and got another one quickly in the mail...no problem. The new one works great and I love the ease of using it. Thank you for the great product!!!! And great customer service!!!
LA Guy : quality unit
small enough to move around the kitchen...well made-rugged...very pleased with my purchase - much better than the Food Storage trash I've been putting up with for years...thx you
MITCHELL MCKINION : So far so good
I bought this after using my brothers vac master for a while . After returning his commercial vac machine I new we would never go back to food saver styles . It has really been worth the money and worked great plus it’s a lot less expensive and not near as heavy to move . Instead of taking the processed meat or fish the the vac master I take the Avid to it which makes ease of use and clean up better .I hope it keeps up the good work but so far so good
mj : Don't hesitate...this is a must have
Ok. Now on to this marvel. I was reluctant for 2 reasons. Price and size. Yes, it's pricey, but so is my health (high BP when using FS). The bags are dramatically less expensive than obviously ziplocks and FS brand (which I quit buying long ago). The seal on USV20 is thicker and I assume more reliable (time will tell). I've pulled steaks out (today) sealed by FS recently which had a lot of air in it already. The bags are reusable as well. We haven't sealed/used a lot yet, but anticipate that being a benefit.
Sealing: I have only used the default vacuum setting to this point, but appreciate the ability and suggestions for adjusting based on food. It's pretty easy to do, simply put the bag with food in the chamber, open end under the clip on the 11" seal bar. Close and viola. The pictures are beef vegetable stew and the video shows pork chops for sous vide. The default setting creates a nice tight seal, better than what I've experienced with FS by a long shot.
Size: I was concerned about the smaller size, but I have sealed two 3lb pork shoulders with ease. Our use case has been sealing meats from Costco runs, so I don't anticipate that being an issue. I buy BBQ (Meatchurch) rub in bulk and seal 1# bags for storage and gifts. I plan on using this A LOT especially when we buy veggies from Costco...we end up throwing 1/2 away...I plan to freeze our veggies, and left overs simply for the ease of use of this thing. One benefit of the smaller size is it fits underneath our island in our pull-out.
Sound: It is a bit loud, but no louder than a FS and much less annoying...plus you get the bonus suck at the end. There is fan that will run (indefinitely ?) after the first seal.
Overall: I am extremely happy with my first chamber sealer. It's easy to use and if it holds true, it will save us in the end on food costs. I have thrown out too many freezer burnt FS meats and don't anticipate that with the USV20. I gave it 4 out of 5 for value for the money, because right now, it's speculation...but I'm confident.
Rob Logan : Perfect for home use
This unit feels solid and the design clean. The port for my canning jars sold me. It seals the jars in around 3 seconds unlike food saver that seemed to never stop running! Foodsaver will meet the circular file.
KBritt : Checks all the boxes for vacuum sealing foods
I have wanted all the benefits of chamber vacuum sealing for some time, namely the efficiency of sealing liquids and the reduced costs of bags, but I didn't have the space to store the models most frequently offered in chamber vacs until I found the Avid Armor USV20 model . Now, I store this (right-sized) model in my utility room and transport it very easily to the kitchen to do the sealing. I seal a lot of food, and I am exceedingly pleased with its performance, the ease of use, and its portability. For my uses, the size is more than adequate for the volumes of food I seal. Every time I use it I rejoice about NOT fighting the Food Saver (no offense to them, but chamber vacuum sealing is so much better).
Amazon Customer : Great Product. Money Well spent.
I was looking for a chamber vacuum sealer for a while but they were all too big to fit on a counter top. Size is not a problem with this one. It fits fine under the hanging cabinet and it is relatively light if you need to move it forward. We had a conventional sealer for a long time but you cannot compare the performance to this little device. I love the design and it seems to be well built.
Erica Bratsch : Look no further....
I absolutely LOVE my Avid Armor Ultra Series USV20. After going through a Food Sealer machine each year, for the last 5 years, I decided to invest in the Avid Armor Ultra Series USV20 Chamber Vacuum Sealer System. What a difference. I could tell on the 1st package we sealed that the Avid Armor Ultra Series USV20 does a much better job at removing all the air from the bag. I am confident that the food will not get freezer burn or have freezer taste.
TJB63 : Great for Home use.
First off, let me get this off my chest, I think Amazon should not do business or Outright BAN the use of any company that offers bribes for good reviews. Usually some companies will offer accessories or cheap gifts for blatant 5 star reviews, with that said, I took a star off for Avid Armor's 'Bribe' included in the packaging for writing a review w/pictures in exchange for another year of warranty coverage. I believe your product will speak for itself, if it's good, reviews will reflect that, if it's a dog, reviews will reflect that also, When companies offer 'Extras' for reviews, all that does is taint the review process and makes ANY Good review that much more questionable, Avid, You seem to have a Great Product and seem to be a Great company, If you want to offer a 2 year warranty, then offer it, but STOP encouraging positive reviews with bribes, I detest when companies resort to cheap tactics to sell their products, From everything I see and read, Avid should be above that cheap snake oil sales tactic.
OK, On to the review, I bought this for several reasons not really knowing much about Avid Armor, I just assumed they were another Chinese company selling on Amazon, Was I wrong, they are based in the USA and make a quality product by all accounts, I just bought mine, so longevity remains to be seen, but my understanding is this USV20 model was released in 2019, it's now 2021 so if it was junk, I'd like to believe the reviews both here and YouTube would reflect that.
It IS on the small side, So if you are upgrading from a Foodsaver type machine and as in my case only have 2 people in the household, then this is perfect, although keep the Foodsaver for larger items like roasts/hams etc. The Chamber on this USV20 has a maximum depth of 3" so don't expect to be sealing large bulky items. The size though makes it perfect for the Countertop and will serve probably 95% of the home owners needs, hence why you should hang onto the old Foodsaver for the other 5%
I haven't found much I don't like, although this is my first Chamber Vacuum sealer, so I'm no expert on what to have and not have for features. For me, the small size was a plus although it's bigger brother the USV32 was tempting, I went with this smaller unit solely for it's ability to seal outside the unit, allowing Mason jars and other Vacuum canisters to be used thus expanding it's range of capabilities to a different level, that's something the larger UVS32 can't do.
As for Bulk and weight, Think small toaster oven, the unit weighs around 17 pounds and is easily picked up by the integrated handles and moved wherever needed, another plus for Avid.
I found with the Old Foodsaver that long term storage for dry goods like Rice was not good in Foodsaver bags, eventually the seal starts to leak (ask me how I know) Yet, with the Avid on the other hand it has a Dual Seal and gives commercial grade packaging that should last until the item is used. I suppose I should mention the Bag cost, cause everyone else seems too, Bags are way cheaper than Channel Vacuum type bags as used in sealers like the Foodsaver, plus there are multiple sources online for bags in bulk where you can buy rolls or precut bags/pouches for literally pennies on the dollar, so if you vacuum pack a LOT, in the long run the cost savings pays for the machine along the the quality of packaging the Avid is capable of doing.
It was tough finding the answer to one thing I was wondering, Yes, it appears that you CAN use Mylar bags, I even watched a video and also saw the Co-Owner of Avid state that in most cases you can, You just need to increase the Seal time to the Max of 9 seconds. However I haven't tried this yet and I would assume Thick Mylar bags over say 6 mil or thicker probably wouldn't do as well as say a 3-4 mil bag. Another plus for me is the old Foodsaver bags will also work just fine. Once I do my next batch of Freeze dried food, I'm going to try this on the Mylar bags instead of just sealing with an O2 absorber and an impulse sealer, which works fine for long term storage, but removing the air in a chamber vac will not only increase the long term, but make storage take up less space. After watching a video of someone doing just that, sealing a Mylar bag, I have no doubt it can easily be done.
One thing I'd like to see Avid offer as an accessory for their Chamber Vacs is a Cover since these units can sit out on the counter if you so choose, a cover would be nice, I ordered a 'Printer Cover' for mine, it should work but finding one close to the dimensions was a challenge. Yeah, it'd be nice if it was included along with an extra seal tape/gasket like they do on the UVS 32 model, But keep in mind, this unit was designed to meet a certain price point for the average budget minded homeowner and the manufacturer still needs to be able to show a profit at the end of the quarter or they go out of business, So I'm fine with all this being offered instead as accessories, I believe a spare gasket and heat seal which are both consumable eventually, come in at less than $25 off Avid's website, not bad at all.
In closing, I'm very happy with my purchase, it'll be nice to be able to seal soups and liquids without them getting sucked up into the machine, that alone is a big plus for any Chamber Vacuum purchase over a Foodsaver type sealer. My only complaint was covered in the first paragraph and the lack of a cover which are both minor in the scheme of things. One last thing, Keep in mind, Avid themselves state that most people get these and then return them not because it broke, but simply to upgrade to the larger unit, So I'd recommend if you are interested in these, Go watch some comparison videos on YouTube between the 32 model and the 20 -- Other companies sell much larger units that are meant to be Restaurant Quality stationary units weighing 100#'s or more, So unless you are packing hundreds of pounds of food everyday, then those units are overkill for the homeowner. Also, My research showed if nothing else, Stay away from the Cheap Unbranded No Name Chinese junk sold elsewhere, YouTube has a few comparison videos on the internals, and unless you are purposely looking to burn down your home, then steer clear.
Thanks for Reading this far. I'll try to come back with updates if needed.
OK, On to the review, I bought this for several reasons not really knowing much about Avid Armor, I just assumed they were another Chinese company selling on Amazon, Was I wrong, they are based in the USA and make a quality product by all accounts, I just bought mine, so longevity remains to be seen, but my understanding is this USV20 model was released in 2019, it's now 2021 so if it was junk, I'd like to believe the reviews both here and YouTube would reflect that.
It IS on the small side, So if you are upgrading from a Foodsaver type machine and as in my case only have 2 people in the household, then this is perfect, although keep the Foodsaver for larger items like roasts/hams etc. The Chamber on this USV20 has a maximum depth of 3" so don't expect to be sealing large bulky items. The size though makes it perfect for the Countertop and will serve probably 95% of the home owners needs, hence why you should hang onto the old Foodsaver for the other 5%
I haven't found much I don't like, although this is my first Chamber Vacuum sealer, so I'm no expert on what to have and not have for features. For me, the small size was a plus although it's bigger brother the USV32 was tempting, I went with this smaller unit solely for it's ability to seal outside the unit, allowing Mason jars and other Vacuum canisters to be used thus expanding it's range of capabilities to a different level, that's something the larger UVS32 can't do.
As for Bulk and weight, Think small toaster oven, the unit weighs around 17 pounds and is easily picked up by the integrated handles and moved wherever needed, another plus for Avid.
I found with the Old Foodsaver that long term storage for dry goods like Rice was not good in Foodsaver bags, eventually the seal starts to leak (ask me how I know) Yet, with the Avid on the other hand it has a Dual Seal and gives commercial grade packaging that should last until the item is used. I suppose I should mention the Bag cost, cause everyone else seems too, Bags are way cheaper than Channel Vacuum type bags as used in sealers like the Foodsaver, plus there are multiple sources online for bags in bulk where you can buy rolls or precut bags/pouches for literally pennies on the dollar, so if you vacuum pack a LOT, in the long run the cost savings pays for the machine along the the quality of packaging the Avid is capable of doing.
It was tough finding the answer to one thing I was wondering, Yes, it appears that you CAN use Mylar bags, I even watched a video and also saw the Co-Owner of Avid state that in most cases you can, You just need to increase the Seal time to the Max of 9 seconds. However I haven't tried this yet and I would assume Thick Mylar bags over say 6 mil or thicker probably wouldn't do as well as say a 3-4 mil bag. Another plus for me is the old Foodsaver bags will also work just fine. Once I do my next batch of Freeze dried food, I'm going to try this on the Mylar bags instead of just sealing with an O2 absorber and an impulse sealer, which works fine for long term storage, but removing the air in a chamber vac will not only increase the long term, but make storage take up less space. After watching a video of someone doing just that, sealing a Mylar bag, I have no doubt it can easily be done.
One thing I'd like to see Avid offer as an accessory for their Chamber Vacs is a Cover since these units can sit out on the counter if you so choose, a cover would be nice, I ordered a 'Printer Cover' for mine, it should work but finding one close to the dimensions was a challenge. Yeah, it'd be nice if it was included along with an extra seal tape/gasket like they do on the UVS 32 model, But keep in mind, this unit was designed to meet a certain price point for the average budget minded homeowner and the manufacturer still needs to be able to show a profit at the end of the quarter or they go out of business, So I'm fine with all this being offered instead as accessories, I believe a spare gasket and heat seal which are both consumable eventually, come in at less than $25 off Avid's website, not bad at all.
In closing, I'm very happy with my purchase, it'll be nice to be able to seal soups and liquids without them getting sucked up into the machine, that alone is a big plus for any Chamber Vacuum purchase over a Foodsaver type sealer. My only complaint was covered in the first paragraph and the lack of a cover which are both minor in the scheme of things. One last thing, Keep in mind, Avid themselves state that most people get these and then return them not because it broke, but simply to upgrade to the larger unit, So I'd recommend if you are interested in these, Go watch some comparison videos on YouTube between the 32 model and the 20 -- Other companies sell much larger units that are meant to be Restaurant Quality stationary units weighing 100#'s or more, So unless you are packing hundreds of pounds of food everyday, then those units are overkill for the homeowner. Also, My research showed if nothing else, Stay away from the Cheap Unbranded No Name Chinese junk sold elsewhere, YouTube has a few comparison videos on the internals, and unless you are purposely looking to burn down your home, then steer clear.
Thanks for Reading this far. I'll try to come back with updates if needed.
billy : WOW! THIS THING WORKS GREAT
This is one of the best purchases i have made in some time, much better than a foodsaver, yes it costs a little more but you are getting a well built pro class piece of equipment it is worth every penny
c1one : Well Built Chamber Vacuum Sealer at a Great Price!
This unit is well built and you can buy replacement heat sealers (typical to replace with wear over time.) Easy setup, in fact just plug it in and go.
Great seal, great price, excellent unit.
Rob Logan : Perfect for home use
This unit feels solid and the design clean. The port for my canning jars sold me. It seals the jars in around 3 seconds unlike food saver that seemed to never stop running! Foodsaver will meet the circular file.
Mike : Well Made
This machine is very well made and easy to use. I suggest also buying the canisters as they expand the machine's capabilities. I've had mine now for about 6 months, use it daily and it's trouble-free. I'm really adamant about having fresh coffee in the morning, which is just one of the canister's uses. Buying in bulk has saved me more than I paid for the Machine. Suffice to say, this was one of my better investments...
Amazon Customer : Best decision I've made in a long time
I LOVE it. After an old Foodsaver my parents gave me started acting up, I tried multiple types of vacuum sealers and sent them right back. They just didn't have good suction, were complicated, wouldn't seal, etc. One was even $189.00 and was just awful, I had much higher hopes for that price.
I never considered a chamber vacuum sealer like this because they seemed so large and expensive. This is definitely bigger than non-chamber models, but still small enough that I don't even care because it does such a good job and can even do liquids.
It's a bit hefty, but you can tell its high quality and not a bunch of plastic. It's certainly more expensive that your little countertop types but worth it - in this case you get what you pay for.
Please note: I've used roll bags in the photo, but had to create a sealed edge with my old Foodsaver. These chamber vacuums are meant for pouches.
I never considered a chamber vacuum sealer like this because they seemed so large and expensive. This is definitely bigger than non-chamber models, but still small enough that I don't even care because it does such a good job and can even do liquids.
It's a bit hefty, but you can tell its high quality and not a bunch of plastic. It's certainly more expensive that your little countertop types but worth it - in this case you get what you pay for.
Please note: I've used roll bags in the photo, but had to create a sealed edge with my old Foodsaver. These chamber vacuums are meant for pouches.
Jamie Rawson : Pleased with my new Avid Armor Chamber Vacuum
I've had this machine for about month now and I am please with it's performance. This is the 1st chamber style vacuum sealer that I have used and love it compared to the external style vacuum sealers i.e. Food Savers. The biggest advantage is it's ability to vacuum liquid or really moist food like fish.
R. Rowell : It’s a beast
Being just the two of us we buy packages of meat and fish which are more than we need for a dinner. So we divide it up into one meal portions and vacuum seal and freeze. We also use a sous vide often and we seal meat and fish with herbs and then cook them.
My only criticism is it’s not quite big enough to seal up a roast or whole chicken. But that my fault for not going bigger.
My only criticism is it’s not quite big enough to seal up a roast or whole chicken. But that my fault for not going bigger.
Erica Bratsch : Look no further....
I absolutely LOVE my Avid Armor Ultra Series USV20. After going through a Food Sealer machine each year, for the last 5 years, I decided to invest in the Avid Armor Ultra Series USV20 Chamber Vacuum Sealer System. What a difference. I could tell on the 1st package we sealed that the Avid Armor Ultra Series USV20 does a much better job at removing all the air from the bag. I am confident that the food will not get freezer burn or have freezer taste.
Jack Pickard : Light enough to be portable
The chamber size is pretty small. At 22lbs easily portable for storage. Suction power seems adequate but for bigger jobs I would allow time to cool.
Maria Huet : Chamber Vac Sealer
This item is fantastic and as described!
Thomas : This product works as described
I just received my chamber vac today. It seems to work well and I can't wait to use it on some Deer meat. It was easy to use, had good suction power and seems to be a good, durable product. It is little pricey but time will tell if it was worth the price.
Gadgets, Tech & Kitchen Guy : Great price, solid piece of hardware
Looking forward to using this, upgraded from a higher-end FoodSaver. I do a lot of sous vide, and will definitely take advantage of now being able to bag up sous and stocks. Will update this review later. $400 for a chamber sealer? How could I not want one?
Amazon Customer : Great Product. Money Well spent.
I was looking for a chamber vacuum sealer for a while but they were all too big to fit on a counter top. Size is not a problem with this one. It fits fine under the hanging cabinet and it is relatively light if you need to move it forward. We had a conventional sealer for a long time but you cannot compare the performance to this little device. I love the design and it seems to be well built.
LA Guy : quality unit
small enough to move around the kitchen...well made-rugged...very pleased with my purchase - much better than the Food Storage trash I've been putting up with for years...thx you
MITCHELL MCKINION : So far so good
I bought this after using my brothers vac master for a while . After returning his commercial vac machine I new we would never go back to food saver styles . It has really been worth the money and worked great plus it’s a lot less expensive and not near as heavy to move . Instead of taking the processed meat or fish the the vac master I take the Avid to it which makes ease of use and clean up better .I hope it keeps up the good work but so far so good
Amber : Works great!
So far I have put around 50lbs of venison through this thing and it has worked amazing. The seal bar will get too hot with continuous use and I’m still trying to figure out the marinate function (it blew marinate out all inside the chamber). It works so much better than the old Food Saver I had though.
Leslie Traweek : Works great so far!
Bonnie : seals like a dream
food sealers have nothing on this chamber vacuum sealer, will be testing it on raw fresh caught tuna in 2 weeks, can you say sushi!
rodney dailey : Outstanding
The machine works outstanding. It has a small footprint, perfect for the counter top. The design allows for a 11” wide x 12” deep bag. We vacuum seal hundreds of bags of fish and game each year and this is by far the best I’ve used. High quality machine and the pump never needs oil.
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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