Works with Ziploc! & Vacuum chamber pouches! FOOD SHIELD reduces your running costs by up to 90%. It can even pack liquids and powders. Next Generation Vacuum Sealer. (Main product (Flagship model)) review and price compare 2025

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Product overview

product features

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[CAUTION] The embossed bag cannot be sucked. Only seals are possible.
1.Big water cup has 3.4 time bigger capacity than normal water cup
2. Silicon cushion has patterns on the surface so can seal tightly.
3.Cleaning tube can suck the water from the cup so the maintenance becomes much easier
*The panel design on the machine is written in English.

product description

Material Type:Main product (Flagship model )

Works with Zipper bags including "Ziploc", and chamber-type vacuum sealer bags!
FOOD SHIELD is a vacuum sealer with a snorkel suction that works with Zipper bags and "Vacuum Chamber Pouches." Uses commercials available Nylon-poly bags: cut up to 90% of costs.

The cost for 3-month if Packed 50bags per day.
Embossed bags: $1845
Ziploc or Nylon-poly bags: $360
*In case of (embossed bags (unit price 41 cents), Ziploc or Nylon-poly (unit price 8 cents))

FoodShield can be used with the following bags:
Nylon-poly bags (Recommended bags are "VacMaster 3-Mil Vacuum Chamber Pouches". Cannot be used with embossed bags or rolls for other types of sealers.)
Mylar bags (Cannot be used with gusset bags)

Works with liquids and powders.
FoodShield has a built-in liquid separation container, so it works with liquids and powders, too.

*YouTube has many types of videos, please search for "FoodShield."

Note: Some of the customers have problems while vacuuming and sealing. Most of these problems are caused by misusage. Please read the instruction manual carefully. The below is a quick instruction on how to avoid them.

To seal, press the nozzle button while vacuuming (the motor inside is working). The nozzle will be stored in the unit and sealing automatically begins.　
*Please do not press the start/stop button before pressing the nozzle button.

product details

important information

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Questions about Works with Ziploc! & Vacuum chamber pouches! FOOD SHIELD reduces your running costs by up to 90%. It can even pack liquids and powders. Next Generation Vacuum Sealer. (Main product (Flagship model))

Can this machine seal jars like the FoodSaver if not can you buy attachments for jars

Answer: FoodShield can seal jars. For details, please refer to the below Youtubes (Sorry that there is no English subtitle).

Can this run of 220V electricity?

Answer: Thanks for asking, but sorry not possible. It is necessary to use a transformer to run this machine at 220V.

Answer: No only 110

Answer: no

does it work with 220 v?

Answer: It doesn't work with 220V. Voltage range: 80-130V 50Hz/60Hz. Please use a transformer.

How many bags per hour can it seal?

Answer: Only for sealing, this machine can seal around 300-400bags per hour (10sec/bag). For vacuuming and sealing, the number will be 60-300bags (12sec-1min/bag). The number is up to the size of the bag (To say concretely, it is up to the air inside of the bag) . For demonstration video, please search youtube with "FoodShield". You can check how many second is needed for one bag packing.

Answer:

Answer: No idea but I have done 15 bags in less then 15 minutes before

Answer: It takes about 1 minute per bag.

Why not make a version with auto stop when vacuum is detected as sufficient like all other vacuum sealers do?

Answer: Because it can seal liquids. You would empty the bag of liquid before an auto vac sensor would trigger.

What is the difference between the flagship model and the basic model?

Answer: Hello, The flagship model has bigger water cup that allow to reduce the frequency of the drainage (The machine need to drain the liquid sucked from the bag when vacuuming) . If you want to pack the liquid material, the flagship model is better choice. If you want to pack the dry material, the basic model is enough.

For the seller: I bought this machine earlier this year and was looking to buy another as gift. Why is not available to "my location" any longer?

Can this unit be used to make smaller pouches by cutting a larger pouch and then sealing the open sides (NOT top) of the cut pouch, prior to filling?

Answer: Yes. You can seal the side of the bag. But please be careful about the sealing length. The maximum sealing length is 275mm(10.82").

Answer: Yes, so long as the length of the side to be sealed is not longer than the length of the heated sealing bar of the unit.

Answer: Yes. I’ve done this a lot. Just leave to suction tube retracted when sealing the new sides.

Answer: Yes there is a seal button. Really easy to do this.

Answer: Yes that should be fine.

How do i get warranty for my machine? The nozzle won't retract. Absolutely love this little machine. I am lost without it now during gardening season.

Answer: Sorry for the inconvenience. Please contact us from the below URL (Push the "Ask a question" button on Amazon site). https://www.amazon.com/sp?_encoding=UTF8&asin=&isAmazonFulfilled=1&isCBA=&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&orderID=&seller=A10GXDAQ1K6Z8Q&tab=&vasStoreID=

how wide of bag will this work with?

Answer: The bag width has to be less than 260mm(10.23").

Can you please make this in white? Would be totally willing to buy another one if made in white!

I purchased the newer model last week and have been using it. After about 4-5 days bag looses the vacuum the plastic is not longer tight?

Answer:

Answer: That will happen with some plastic baggies. Plastic ziplocks aren’t really great for long term storage. Mylar 7mm or 5mm is used successfully. Also, possibly you are creating a leak if you overheat the seal (melts too much).

Does this plug into a standard kitchen outlet?

Answer: Yes. 110V outlet

Answer: Yes

Answer: Yes. The machine has US standard outlet that has 3 pins (one of the pins is for grounding).

Answer: Yes, standard US plug.

Answer: Yes. Standard outlet is all you need.

Answer: Yes (assuming US).

What is different about the flagship model

Answer: The flagship model has a bigger water container, better silicon sealing cushion (Bigger water cup and better silicon sealing cushion is sold as an upgrade parts for the normal product). There are minor updates inside.

Why is the unit raised on top of a ream of paper in the videos?

Answer: It helps to the air pulled out. I found that if I lift the unit up in front it works much better & best way to vacuum liquids.

How many straight hours can it work?

Answer: It can work more than an hour straight.

What is the maximum mil mylar bag that this will successfully seal?

Answer: The ideal maximum mil is 3mil. You can seal a thicker bag by adjusting the sealing time longer. But maybe, the 4mil is the maximum.

can it seal mason jars

Answer: Only if you put a lid on the Mason jar and then seal the jar inside a ziplock container and vacuum the air from the bag. Why not just use the Mason jar method or put the contents in a Ziplock bag and vacuum the bag?

Answer: Probably not

How does the result compare with a vacuum chamber sealer?

Answer: I cannot see any real difference. Both give very good results, and I have compared my sealed steaks to 2 co-workers chamber sealed steaks and there was no noticable difference.

Answer: It doesn’t compare at all. You can’t vacuum seal liquids in any cheaper vacuum sealer like this, but they are less than half the price. It’s all about what you need, and can afford. If you can get by with freezing liquids before sealing them, get this one. It’s great. If you need to seal a ton of food, and especially liquids, a chamber vac is the only way to go.

Answer: I find that it seals as good as any of the sub $1000 chamber sealers. I have a couple people at work with chamber sealers, and the only thing I notice is their chamber sealers have a wider sealing strip.

Can the FoodShield be used to package delicate dried things, such as herbs or flowers? If so, what is the procedure?

Answer: There is no way to control how hard the suction is on the device. However, you are in complete control of the vac/seal process. So, you can stop the vacuum process before it crushes the delicate items. That being said, I find that this device is a good bit more gentle than other vacuum sealers. I did dehydrated shitake mushrooms, and it doesn't appear to have broken or damaged them even pulling as much air out as possible.

Answer: Can be used for herbs, but as it is the vacuum, everything will be compacted.

Answer: It works quite well with fresh Rosemary, also used it for Italian wedding cookies at Christmas

This machine is incredible compared to my foodsavers! i did not receive a nozzle cleaning tool with mine. do the new machines not require them?

Answer: Sorry inconvenience. Please contact to the maker directly with your order number and address to ship. I will send the alternative cleaning tool to you.

Need Replacement tape

Answer: Please use the alternative tape like "PTFE Tape/Teflon Tape for Vacuum, Hand and Impulse Sealers (1/2-inch x 30 feet) - Fits FoodSaver, Seal A Meal, Weston, Cabella's by IMPRESA". You can search and order it on Amazon.com

Answer:

I have the basic model, is it possible to upgrade it to the flagship model? If there is an upgrade where can I purchase it at?

Answer: Hello. Thank you for asking about the machine again. Although it is currently out of stock, You can buy the big water cup for flagship model at Amazon.com.

Answer: The upgrade model of the vacuum should be available at the same seller store on Amazon.

Answer: The only difference is the size of the liquid capture chamber. The unit is from japan I doubt you'd find parts in the US to swap out the chamber. Maybe look on amazon.jp?

How is the accessory hose used? It was included with the free chamber type bags but there is no mention of the hose in the user guide.

Answer: Thank you very much for your question. The accessory hose is used to connect "Vacuum Sealed Food Storage Containers" sold by the third party (Like Aicok Vacuum Sealed Food Storage Containers etc). I uploaded how to connect the hose to FoodShield, please refer the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G99T5Dh12kI, Sorry that I only have a Japanese version. But there is only one step, just connect the hose to the right hole where water cup is installed. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Can you use it with ziplock BPA free freezer bags?

Answer: I'd think so. I no longer have the machine and don't know if the ziplock freezer bags were BPA free or not. But I'd think as long as the freezer bags had the same freezer protection, I don't why the sealer won't work.

Answer: Yes. I found that it will seal just about any bag that food comes in such as cereal bags. It's a little more work getting the air out of them if you're trying to vacuum seal. For me the Food Saver type bags are easier to vacuum the air out of.

Answer: Bought it for my son and he returned it!

Answer: Yes

How many watts does the vaccum sealer need?

Answer: This machine needs 220W(Rated power consumption).

I have a a few boxes of foodsaver bags , can still use them

Answer: This machine can seal the Foodsaver bags, but the vacuuming is not perfect. Please check the youtube video below. I tried to vacuum and pack the embossed bags like Foodsaver bags, but there is still air inside. https://youtu.be/--l5rZMKMmc?t=1m27s

Will this work with 4 mill bags?

Answer: I didn't have any 4 mill bags to test with, but think the sealer would work. For 3 mill bags, I have the heat setting on #5 which is plenty. The setting goes up to 9. So, I'd think there is some wiggle room for a slightly thicker bag than a 3 mill.

Answer: It works with 4 mill bags.

Where can the replacement teflon tape be purchased?

Answer: Thanks for asking about the tape. The brand of Teflon tape is Nitto Denko's Nitoflon tape, The product number is No.973UL-S 0.13mm×13mm×10m 973X13X13.

I vacuum seal 100 items at at setting. Will this machine overheat? How many bags in a row, 3 mil, chamber bags, dry contents?

Answer: You can pack and seal 100 packs in a row. But please note you need to modify the sealing time according to the sealing result (If the sealing area is almost melten, please shorten the sealing time).

Answer: I usually do about 50 items at a time. It does get hot, so I just cut the seal time down after I do about 10-15 of them. Hands down the best dealer I've used.

How do you vacuum powder?

Answer: Not sure about vacuuming powder with bags as the machine works best when the food is close to the nozzle. However, if you a foodsaver jar attachment, there is the option of storing powder in mason jars using the port on the machine.

Answer: There is a you tube video for this.

Answer: use two bags

What and for how long is the warranty for this product?

Answer: not sure what the warranty is but it works great! I bought it to shrink wrap steaks to freeze then use with a sous vide. I have probably bagged over 40 steaks so far as well as numerous other fruits and berries to use for smoothies.

Answer: The warranty is a year after your purchase.

Answer: Exact details regarding the warranty are hard to locate and do not inspire confidence.

What is the benefit of the seal cushion that is offered as an upgrade to the Food Shield vacuum unit?

Answer: Did not know they had this. I will have to check it out.

Does this come with bags?

Answer: Mine did not come with bags.

Answer: I'm sorry that the package does not include the bags. Please buy Vacuum Chamber Pouches (Not the bag which has embossed inside).

Answer: No bags. You can use the chamber vacuum bags with this unit, that you can buy in bulk, and are alot cheeper than brand specific bags.

Answer: Mine came with sample bags.

Answer: No. I bought the Vacmaster bags (10" wide) and they work great. Also a good deal.

Do youm have Mason jar accessories for vacuum canning?

Answer: I don't believe they make a branded version but it's compatible with the standard vac hose and Mason jar vac attachments you see for other food pouch sealers

The vaccuum chamber bags on amazon all say not for use with your type machine. specifically which product does work. please give product name. my zip

Answer: The appearance of the Foodshiled is like a normal type vacuum sealer, but the function is not same. This machine can vacuum and seal the vacuum chamber bags (However, can not vacuum the home grade bags which has enbossed inside). Please check the below link for the demonstration video with the vacuum chamber bags (Vac master bags)

What is the water cup for?

Answer: Hello, Thank you for asking about FoodShield. The water cup works to filter the water or other material from the air sucked from bag thru nozzle. That is why the vacuum mechanism is protected from the unfiltered material, can work longer time.

Can it seal quart size Ziplock bags, or only gallon zize?

Answer: You can seal the Quart size Ziplocs bags.

Answer: Both would work, quart bags are certainly thinner, you’d just need to decrease the seal time. My advice: search 8”x12” Zipper vacuum sealer quart bags on amazon. Brand Foodvacbags. Very nice and worked perfectly for me.

Answer: I returned it because it didn’t have enough vacuum seal power.

Answer: Yed

How thick of vacuum chamber bags can you use? Is 3 mil the max?

Answer: You can seal the 4mil bags by extending the heating time. More than 4mil might be ok, but not recommended.

Answer: Correct. 3mil is the max thickness.

Answer: The machine is garbage. I returned it because it was worse than the gourmia one. It doesn't suck properly

Does it work with 1 mil bags?

Answer: Yes. It works with 1mil bag. However, more than 1mm might have a problem.

Answer: I don't know, as I use only 3 mm bags. The unit has adjustable heat seal timing indicated by lights on top. I found six lights on too long for 3 mm bags and reduced the time to five lights, which is right time on my unit for 3 mm bags. You can lower the heat time down to a minimum of two lights I think, as machine beeps at one light indicating it's ready. You'll just have to experiment to see what works with the bags you are using.

Answer: No idea if it does or not. The person who created this has a youtube channel go on there & ask him. He answered a few of my questions before I bought it. Here is link. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl0qkTZF6fvqKv7QOSBOxhg/videos

Answer: yes.

What is the widest bag or roll that it can seal, i need something that can seal a 16x16

Answer: Hello, sorry that the maximum width of the bag that FoodShield can serve is 10.43inch. But It might be possible to seal 16inch by sealing twice. Specifically speaking, first, pack the half of the width and vacuum and pack the rest of width again.

Does this plug into a standard kitchen outlet?

Answer: Yes. 110V outlet

Answer: Yes

Answer: Yes. The machine has US standard outlet that has 3 pins (one of the pins is for grounding).

Answer: Yes, standard US plug.

Answer: Yes. Standard outlet is all you need.

Answer: Yes (assuming US).

"The embossed bag cannot be sucked. Only seals are possible." --- What do you mean by embossed bag?

Answer: Embossed bag is the bag used for usual home vacuum sealer like food saver. This machine uses flat bag (No embossed part inside) like VacMaster bag.

if any powder gets vacumed into unit how does filter it out so not damage the pump

Answer: There is a chamber in the rear meant to catch any liquids or powders that might get inadvertently sucked into the system. If you look at the image that is what the white rectangle in the rear left corner is. It just lifts out and can be opened to drain and clean out. You must still be careful though.

Does this sealer need a cooling time when sealing multiple packages?

Answer: Normally this machine doesn't require cooling time because you can control the sealing time along the hotness of the heating wire. Please select less time when the heating wire is hot or the line of the seal looks overheated.

What is the widest width (open side) of VacMaster pouches that can be used with this unit?

Answer: Maximum Sealing length is 275mm(10.82")

Answer: 275mm(10.82")

Answer: Max 11"

Can this seal a retort pouch?

Answer: Yes. This machine can seal a retort pouch. Microwavable Pouch is also OK.

Does this machine have a port that would connect a vacuum tube for mason jar sealing?

Answer: Yes. Please search with "masonjar foodshield". I uploaded How to video on the internet.

Answer: Yes

How does the result compare with a vacuum chamber sealer?

Answer: I cannot see any real difference. Both give very good results, and I have compared my sealed steaks to 2 co-workers chamber sealed steaks and there was no noticable difference.

How wide (not how long) is the heating element. How wide/thick of a seal will it make? 5mm? 2mm?

Answer: The heat strip seal is 1/2 wide. I have only used 3Mil bags. I souve Vide with them all the time. Zero problems.

Product reviews of Works with Ziploc! & Vacuum chamber pouches! FOOD SHIELD reduces your running costs by up to 90%. It can even pack liquids and powders. Next Generation Vacuum Sealer. (Main product (Flagship model))

86386296 : This is it. Why would you buy anything else

I did my research for a really long time and just could not decide on which one to buy. Chamber type vacuumes are the best but expensive and very bulky. This one is combines the best features. Works great and can use flat bags that are much cheaper and more durable than Foodsave bags. I don't know why anyone would buy anything else.

Pros:
The seal is strong
Compact size
Visible chamber that let you see if liquids are getting in
Can use Ziplock bags, I do recommend buying flat Chamber type bags wich are cheaper and better quality

Cons:
Getting liguid chamber out to clean requires a bit of a force

Bonnie Keeny : Didn’t work for long!

It does not get all the air out unless you use very thin bags. After only using a couple of times it now will not work. Very disappointed!

Bonnie Keeny : Didn’t work for long!

It does not get all the air out unless you use very thin bags. After only using a couple of times it now will not work. Very disappointed!

Rogelio garcia : Best food savor machine to buy hands down

This is the only machine that lets you use camber bags,ziplock bags which saves you money from buying the other expensive bags.
Its a must have yes they are other machines that are a lot cheaper but you will pay for it in the long run because you can only use their type of bags which will cost you more money.
I meal prep my food and sometimes it goes bag from using food containers.with this food shield you can cook all your meat and vegetables and fruit and put them into whatever portion you want I usually 8 oz of chicken so I made alot of bags ready to go.So if you're like me and always on the rush when you're hungry or your kids are hungry all they have to do is go in the fridge and get the fruit or food they want to eat simple and easy saves time and money. Not sure why the other people gave it a bad review maybe they didn't use it right but I'm telling you right now this is the best machine you can buy hands down. I put picture of some food and vegetables I did.

Amazon Customer : Better than “Food Saver”!!!!

Definitely DO buy this! I owned this for a year now and it has preformed 100x’s better than the “foodsaver” machine. The fact that it uses any plastic food bag is reason enough. For best results, use the chamber vacuum sealer pouches. They are inexpensive and much more durable that ziplock. And you don’t have to Cut off the zip section. The machine takes a little getting used to as far as how to use it, but it’s no more difficult than a food saver. There are a few videos on YouTube that give very good instructions on how to use it. With good maintenance and regular cleaning the food shield should last you years as far as I can tell.

Gmo : Works as Promised

I have not had it long enough to comment on its durability; I suspect there aren't enough moving parts for it to break too easily, but time will tell. I can definitively say that in the few weeks I've used it so far, it has outperformed all my expectations. I couldn't quite stomach the thought of spending almost four figures on a vacuum sealer for sous vide when freezer Ziploc bags have served me fine, but figured this would be a good investment if it worked as promised so I could use the VacMaster pouches. It does work as promised. The seal is very good. The written instructions could be clearer (for example, I still don't know why there is a water chamber on the back of the unit), but they offer YouTube videos showing how to use the product.

trackman219 : Faster, less expensive and reliable!!

Have used this machine for a year with great results. A great machine for the small restaurant. We do 75 to 100 bags a week. That’s almost 5000 seals problem free. Savings on bags already over $600. Faster than the one that uses those expensive bags. No waiting for machine to do the next bag.

Tre : Vacuum seal most anything you want. except those bags with the textured sides

I liked that I could buy those cheap but heavy duty vac chamber bags

thomas : Works great

Works like a champ

Robin H : Awesome!

I've only used a Food Saver before this. When the second one died, I started doing some research. There's no comparison. I did watch most of the videos on You Tube, so I knew to move the food closer to the machine and move the bag around near the snorkel so it doesn't get sucked up into it. I did about 30 bags of items tonight: an entire filet, hamburger patties, dried fruit etc. It worked like a charm. I wanted to buy a chamber vac but I have no space for it it my kitchen. If I can't leave it on the counter all the time, it doesn't get used. This is perfect for that. I can't speak for it's durability because tonight was the first time I've used it, but if it continues to work like it did tonight, it'll be the cheapest, best game in town. Throw your Food Saver away and buy this! Bags are ridiculously inexpensive and easily purchased in many sizes.

Dean Hamoui : The closest thing to a chamber vacuum

I love the fact that I can use any plastic bag the downside of this machine is the His size of the heating element it is too short

KH : Like the big vacuum sealer but better

This works with liquids! Powder! That would shut most machines down. It has the ability to be cleaned just by turning it over & opening a little door on the back. This thing is amazing. It is worth every cent and more. It does the job of the big vacuum sealer but on your counter without the huge machine. Its incredible. Watch the YouTube videos for help.

andrew : Needs significant refinementecidedly not great.

I'd give 3.5 stars if I could. Update: I reached out to company. It cannot use standard embossed, mesh type vaccuum bags. Something like that is stated in the description, but should be more prominent(my fault for not reading entire description). It uses flat chamber style bags or ziploc. Ziploc, even the freezer bags are too fragile for most vacuuming. I went on a restaurant gear site and ordered the correct bags. I still don't much like the machine. I can't just push "on" and walk away. it needs constant fiddling around to get all the air out and you have to tell it when to retract the air probe thing. It's a great idea but it definitely needs work on the execution.
it feels like a great sturdy unit. Seals VERY well. Doesn't create or maintain a vacuum AT ALL. I have tried vacuum bags and Ziploc bags and it is decidedly not effective. I sent an inquiry about this to the company and we'll see what they say. I may have a defective unit.

What's the frequency, Kenneth? : Works well if you understand it—would buy again

If you know what you're getting this is an outstanding value. It works great with inexpensive 3-mil bags for sous vide. Operation may be confusing to some. It is a pain to clean when it sucks up chicken juice, etc., from the bag. Kinda sucks to turn it upside down and open it up to clean it. Would be nice if it had a larger reservoir or an external one. Would buy again. Hope the product evolves well, as I like the concept and basic implementation.

I'd buy it again

unravelling : well priced sealer

I've owned a few vacuum sealers, but this is my first snorkel style one. Well worth the money, I suggest buying this one before anything else because of what you can do with it. I have not attempted to use it on jars yet but it has many purposes.

Grendel : Big improvement in low price snorkel vacs

I use vacuum sealing a lot, like several times a week, anywhere between 2 and a dozen bags at a time, for at least 10 years. This sealer is very similar to the Sinbo machine I've been using, but much better. The heating element is slightly wider (5 vs 4mm), and about an inch longer. But the big improvements are the automatic controls and the ability to flush out the snorkel (they call it a nozzle) to remove crud that accumulates if you bag liquids or powders or, in my case, unfrozen meat or seafood.

Using the default setting the seal is just right, and consistent across the length of the bag (no melted or partially unsealed spots). You can do at least 3 or 4 bags in quick succession without the heat strip retaining too much heat, which can lead to melting completely through the bag if you're not careful. I haven't tried to push it very far, but this was an issue with my old sealer.

All in all, I'm a very satisfied customer. The only question is reliability. I've had 2 sealers made by another company. One lasted about 6 years, and the second still works marginally ok after 4 (needs a new heating element). If this one lasts as long I will not complain.

One last tip. When the instructions say "open the cover" it means raise it all the way up, not just release the catches and leave it partly open. After doing it right a couple of times I did not open it all the way, got flustered, and was ready to send it back before I realized it was a case of operator error.

S. Fowler : I'm loving this thing

I bought my first vacuum sealer about seven years ago and it never worked right. After fighting with it for months, I just gave up. My daughter convinced me to try again with a different brand and I chose this one at random. Wow, did I get lucky! I was able to figure it out within a few minutes and haven't had one issue with it since I got it.

The best part? I can use it with ziplock bags! From what I've read, it's supposed to only work with the heavier freezer bags, but I've got it to work with the cheap, off-brand sandwich bags just fine. When I seal something unfamiliar like that the first attempt is usually sacrificial while I figure out what this particular plastic requires, then I'm off to the races after a quick adjustment. This is saving us a LOT of money already. Worth every penny and then some.

Dean Hamoui : The closest thing to a chamber vacuum

I love the fact that I can use any plastic bag the downside of this machine is the His size of the heating element it is too short

Harald Mossle : Never buy this machine

I used it for 4 weeks around 80 bags, worked perfect. After not using it for five weeks or so now it does not suck out the air, sealing still very good, but what you do only for sealing. My recommendation buy an other machine.

Amazon Customer : Great Home Vacuum Sealer

I was looking for a chamber vacuum sealer, but I couldn't justify the cost for my limited home use. I stumbled upon the Genetech Food Shield and, after doing some research, decided to by one as a Christmas gift to myself. So far I'm very pleased with my purchase. The vacuum pressure is very impressive and the device is well constructed.

This is the "flagship model" (US290D), so it comes with a larger liquid cup, a cleaning tube, a silicone pressure strip, a removable filter and more. I like the fact that it uses regular chamber type bags, which are cheaper that the "Food Saver" type bags, as well as regular home food storage bags. The manual is well written and the manufacturer appears to be very responsive to questions/issues posted on Amazon.

I've used a Food Saver for many years and, so far, I like this nozzle type vacuum sealer better. I'm lookng forward to using the Food Shield often.

Amanda Loya : Does not work

Does not seal meat properly, gets hot right away, would like to return it.

Southerngent : Effective money saver

Great value, allows one to save money by buying in bulk and repackage into smaller units. Can easily vacuum seal liquids, such as soups. Works on smooth bags, clear and mylar. Can be used to store short term or long term. Clean up is relatively easy.

Dezi : Awesome!!

Awesome unit very easy to use right out of the box. Does exactly what it says it’s going to do and you don’t have to buy those pricey bags. I just got it today and vacuum packed for pieces of tuna. Probably could be a little tighter with the suction. But as far as I’m concerned it’s perfect for a first attempt. I will learn how to maneuver it to get more air out the more I practice. Definitely Worth the money and so glad I bought it.

thomas : Works great

Works like a champ

etz : Excellent customer support

I had an absolutely amazing customer service experience. My issues were resolved directly and swiftly. The unit is very robust can be used really well with zip lock bags. For commercial type VAC sealing quite impressed with this machine, its quite durable and robust, especially good with liquids and soups etc. Best part is you save tons on the bags compared to the machines that use ribbed bags.

Dean Hamoui : The closest thing to a chamber vacuum

I love the fact that I can use any plastic bag the downside of this machine is the His size of the heating element it is too short

My Own AMZN : The Best of Both Worlds (A Non-Bulky Machine That Uses Inexpensive Bags)

Update (02/25/2019 ):

Like a few others who have this machine, I was having problems getting a vacuum seal to stay. What happened was the machine would make a seal that looked good initially, then in a matter of minutes, hours or days the seal would not stay and air would get back in.

After fiddling around (trial and error) with different heat settings for different sized ziplock type bags, I think there were a few things wrong with my technique. I was too afraid a higher heat setting would melt the bag and therefore not a good seal. Plus out of habit, I didn't put the item sealed close enough to the suction snorkel. Also, when filling up a bag with items and the vacuum didn't seem to draw out all the air, I'd still try a seal hoping things would work out instead of aborting and repositioning again before starting the withdraw snorkel and seal.

After changing my approach, I did get better results.

In other words, "Go Brave or Go Home!"
1) The heat seal setting is a friend. Don't be afraid to increase the setting if needed
2) Move the item closer to the snorkel to create better airflow and prevent bag from collasping on the snorkel (This is counter intuitive for those used to channel type sealers as with those don't put right up to the channel to avoid all the juices sucked into the machine)
3) Don't be afraid to stop, then reposition the items and start again before the seal process

If you have the patience, don't give up on this machine as it is nice to use inexpensive bags. If deciding between a chamber machine or this machine, I'd say if you have the budget and countertop or kitchen space for a chamber machine, I say a chamber is more convenient and the way to go. On the other hand, if you really want to use inexpensive bags and aren't ready for a chamber machine, this sealer can be an alternative.

I decided to rate this sealer 4 stars instead of the original 5 as the learning curve can lead to frustration until getting the right feel on how this sealer works.

My original review follows:
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The Best of Both Worlds (A Non-Bulky Machine That Uses Inexpensive Bags)

This is a really nice vacuum sealer. It is a new kid on the block (at least in the USA market). But several videos of the machine can be seen by looking at the Japan version by searching under FoodShield JP290 on Youtube. Many of the videos are in Japanese, but just looking at the videos gives a good idea on how the machine operates, even if you don't understand Japanese.

The machine is lightweight physically. It only weighs about 5 lbs and nicely fits in a kitchen counter drawer. But don't let the lightness fool you. It seems sturdy built and doesn't feel cheap.

What sets this machine apart from most other external machines is that this machine uses a snorkel design instead of a channel design to evacuate the air from a bag before sealing. Because of this method, the machine uses smooth (less expensive) chamber type or even Ziploc type (after cutting off the Zip part off the bag) bags instead of the more costly common channel type bags. Additionally, this machine has a small container area that catches liquids. The container slips in and out of top left corner. The container doesn't hold a lot of liquid. But if the concern is mainly juices from meats, the container should be no problem. Today I vacuum sealed about a dozen pork chops and had plenty of liquid container space. I didn't have to worry about sucking up juice into the sealer's pump. Another nice feature of the machine is it produces a generous 5mm seal strip on the bag. Many machines do not have that large a seal size.

The FoodShield machine is what I call semi-automatic. There is no auto stop like many machines that sense when enough air is drawn out. Instead, a press of a button on the panel starts the vacuuming . When enough air is removed (according to the user, not automatically by the machine), a press of another button and the machine's snorkel retracts before sealing. Then there is an audio beep indicating the sealing is complete.

There is an accessory port for mason jars or canisters. There is a hose which is included. This fits the Foodsaver manson jar sealers, but there is no description of hose use in the user guide. I asked the seller how to use the hose. To use the accessory port, what needs to be done is to remove the clear plastic liquid container. This then shows two ports where the container connected. To use with the hose, connect to the port closest to the panel controls (right side when facing the machine). Additionally, the snorkel has to be in the out position and the side tabs locked (like sealing bags). Then press the start/stop button on the panel to start the vacuuming. There is no visual indicator for when the seal of a mason jar is done so best is to tell by sound. A mason jar sealer is not included. I have one from an old Foodsaver machine. The sealing is quick. I vacuum sealed the lid of an almost empty two quart mason jar and I could hear the seal happen in a matter of seconds.

The user guide is written in understandable English which was refreshing to see. On the bottom of the machine is a small rectangular shaped door which open up. It contains a filter for cleaning afterwards if the machine has pulled in any juices or liquids. Cleaning is relatively easy as it requires opening the latched door, removing a silicone cover and filter/sponge and rinsing. I did have an issue opening the door for the first time. I tried with my finger like the user guide showed. But for the life of me I could not open. I finally used a flat head screw driver and gently pushed in and that worked. After that one time, the door now releases without issue.

I did try using a Ziploc type freezer bag on a pork chop. This worked fine.

Here is what I consider pros/cons for this vacuum sealer:

PROS:
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- uses less expensive chamber style pouches or Ziploc type bags
- includes liquid capture area to protect machine from sucking up juices in pump
- understandable English user guide
- 5mm wide seal
- lightweight and quiet operation
- fits in kitchen counter drawer
- reasonably priced

CONS
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- have to remove liquid container to access accessory port for mason jar sealing. Wished the port was on outside of machine.
- snorkel design may take a slight learning curve

In summary, the FoodShield US290 vacuum sealer is a great vacuum sealer that fills a niche for those who want the savings of inexpensive chamber type or Ziploc bags yet offers the portability of common external vacuum sealers.

The snorkel design is a bit different than more common machine and may take a slight time to learn. For ease of use, I wish the mason jar port was on the outside of the machine. But these are two minor inconveniences compared to the great benefits of cost savings on bags, a liquid container catch area and generous 5mm seal strip.

Overall, this is a really nice machine and definitely a keeper.

I rate this vacuum sealer 5 stars.

Kindle Customer mike ransom : Works like a chamber unit; A-LOT LESS money !!!

TAKES A BIT OF CHANGING YOUR WAYS (WATCH A FEW VIDEOS ON YOU TUBE) AND A COUPLE PRACTICE RUNS AND YOUR GOOD TO GO.....YOU'LL GET A GREAT SEAL AND LIQUID WON'T BE A PROBLEM ANYMORE. COMES WITH A FEW BAGS, REGULAR FOOD-SAVER TYPE BAGS WONT WORK.....BUT YOU CAN BUY (500) 8X10 SIZE ON AMAZON FOR $26. THAT SHOULD LAST YOU A VERY LONG TIME.....YOU'LL BE HAPPY DAPPY WITH THIS UNIT.

you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you