FoodSaver PowerVac Compact Vacuum Sealing Machine

Curated from 104 real Reddit conversations

Refreshed on: March 3, 2025

FoodSaver PowerVac Compact Vacuum Sealing Machine

Brand: FOODSAVER

Price: $69

Snoop Score:

6.4

Sentiment

7.6

Popularity

8.6

Technical

6.4

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Snoop's Take

The FoodSaver PowerVac Compact Vacuum Sealing Machine is designed to preserve the freshness of food while minimizing waste. With its vertical storage capability, this stainless steel and black vacuum sealer works efficiently for both dry and wet food, making it an essential kitchen tool for meal prep and bulk storage. Consumer feedback highlights the effectiveness of the FoodSaver in preventing freezer burn and extending the shelf life of food, with users noting, "The ability to freeze stuff and not get freezer burn has made all the difference here." Many users appreciate its versatility, finding it useful for portioning meals and preserving leftovers, while others share hacks that enhance its functionality. However, some criticisms regarding durability and performance surfaced, indicating that while many are satisfied, there are instances of breakdowns after limited use. Overall, the FoodSaver PowerVac Compact Vacuum Sealing Machine is recommended for those looking to enhance their food preservation efforts, particularly for frequent use in meal prep and storing bulk items. Despite some concerns about reliability, its positive reception among users suggests it performs well within its category.

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Time will tell if it will be as durable as the one it replaced but based solely on functionality I can give it a solid recommendation.
Positive Feedback

Made me quite mad.
Negative Feedback

6.4

FoodSaver PowerVac Compact Vacuum Sealing Machine

Buy on Amazon for $69

Home Kitchen Food Storage

8 / 10

Sous Vide Meal Prep

0 / 10

Commercial Food Packaging

0 / 10

Outdoor & Travel Preservation

3 / 10

See how this compares to all Vacuum Sealers

What it does well!

Key strengths users can’t stop talking about.

Long-lasting food preservation

“Time will tell if it will be as durable as the one it replaced but based solely on functionality I can give it a solid recommendation.”➕

“Great to hear from an experienced user.”➕

Useful hacks shared by users

“Looks for FoodSaver related videos on youtube, lots of handy hacks like sealing paint brushes and rollers overnight when you're in the middle of painting a room.”➕

“Over time, vacuum bags can develop air leaks from contact with other items in the freezer.”➕

Long-lasting performance and reliability

“I love my vacuum sealer.....it’s a Food Saver and I’ve had it for years and it’s performed perfectly every time.”➕

“I use mine all the time. I inherited it when my dad in law died,he loved it too.”➕

“Check thrift stores - I found a 200 dollar Foodsaver model for 20 bucks 7 years ago and still have it.”➕

“Ours was worth it, and we paid full price. We've had it five years so far, and used it for everything from sealing up sale meats and garden veggies to preserving old photos.”➕

Useful for bulk food storage and meal prep

“The freezer and sealer come in handy.”➕

Prevents freezer burn effectively

“The ability to freeze stuff and not get freezer burn has made all the difference here.”➕

“I've found steaks that were a year old at the bottom of my deep freeze and they tasted fine and no freezer burn.”➕

“Once I realized that, pffft....these things are frikkin must haves.”➕

“Vacuum seal and if we forget to defrost something for dinner we can sous vide the steaks from frozen and just add extra time on the sous vide.”➕

Useful for portioning meat

“They keep way longer and I have burgers for like 6 months.”➕

Long-lasting performance

“I have the smallest cheapest food saver and I've had it for over 8 years.”➕

Effective for sealing liquids

“It has a catch for liquid so it doesn’t get sucked up and when there is that much liquid I usually double seal it - haven’t had an issue before, but do it just in case.”➕

“You don't have to let your FoodSaver or similar vacuum sealer go through its whole vacuum seal process; at any time during the vacuum part of the cycle, you can just hit the "Seal" button and it will immediately stop the vacuum and seal the edge.”➕

“If you want liquids in the bag, freezing them prior to vac sealing is an option.”➕

“Underrated tip right here folks! A+”➕

Effective for freezing bulk meat

“I do use it for freezing meat like ground beef. I’ll get a package as close to 6 lbs as I can and freeze it in 1 lb packets.”➕

Effective for preserving cooked food

“Put your food in single serving square containers, freeze it and then vac pack your food to be better able to stack it as well as reuse the containers.”➕

Versatile use for various food types

“I dehydrated sliced bananas, strawberries, blueberries, and canned vegetables for soup.”➕

Great for portioning leftovers and preventing staleness

“Its great! I use it all the time. Particularly for things like cereal, crackers, bread.”➕

User satisfaction with product quality

“regret not buying it sooner.”➕

“when I freeze multiple portions I make a bigger bag and decide portions with parchment paper and vacuum and freeze.”➕

Availability of reliable bags

“Have had zero issues with the Kirkland vacuum bags.”➕

Ability to double seal for added security

“Use the vacuum seal function once. Then move slightly above that spot and use the heat seal only function to add a second level of seal.”➕

“You seal it once, then dry out the lip of the bag and put it back in and hit seal right away, or hit pulse.”➕

User-friendly for various sealing techniques

“Success is much more about technique than machine.”➕

User-friendly sealing process

“You are two years too late in my 10 year journey.”➕

““Seal” and “vacuum & seal” are all you need.”➕

Effective for sealing various food types

“I love my Foodsaver! I spent about $130 USD for mine (the v4440), and it has more than paid for itself.”➕

Effective for sealing Mylar bags

“the seal has held up...so far.”➕

“Can a foodsaver seal smooth bags? Yes. Can it suck the air out first? No.”➕

User satisfaction with long-term use

“Will the foodsaver sealer work fine to seal the Mylar and should I still vacuum the air from things.”➕

Effective for long-term food storage

“Since I got it, I’ve been using ziplock bags to cook in, and I’m relatively happy with my results in most cases.”➕

“Having a Foodsaver for storing food for long periods of time is, in and of itself, worth having for anyone.”➕

Useful for meal prep and portioning

“Only thing I would add, is the benefit of being able to buy larger quantities of meats for example, and portion them out to store for later use.”➕

Customizable bag sizes for needs

“I like the vacuum sealers that let me stop the “sucking” and seal the bag on command.”➕

General ease of use with various models

“Pretty much any model will work.”➕

“I got the one that sells on meh.com for $20 periodically and it’s perfect.”➕

Effective for freezing smaller portions of food

“Added benefit of being able to freeze smaller portions of food and do things like veggies with space between the pieces.”➕

Where it needs some work!

Areas to watch—feedback on possible improvements.

Product failed after limited use

“Made me quite mad.”➕

Frequent breakdowns after limited use

“Finally got a Boss on Amazon and I am very pleased with it.”➕

Not cost-effective for infrequent use

“if you turn over stuff quickly I don’t think a vacuum sealer makes sense.”➕

“Ground beef, chicken breasts and thighs go on sale so often I can load up when I run low without needing to vacuum seal.”➕

Frequent breakdowns reported

“I’d keep the Foodsaver and use it until it inevitably breaks.”➕

Weak motor performance compared to competitors

“The foodsavers and other cheap ones just have weak motors and don't do a great job.”➕

Seal button malfunction during vacuum process

“My Food Saver seal button doesn't work when the vacuum is running.”➕

Difficulty sealing Mylar bags

“Sealing seems to take more heat than the sealer can put out.”➕

“The textured side allows air to flow out along the textured channels.”➕

Less expensive models may have limitations

“The less expensive Foodsaver models have a reputation of breaking down under heavy use particularly if liquid gets into the pump.”➕

Compare On All Talked About Dimensions

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Hooflszcok Vacuum Sealer Machine for Food	$42	8.0	Details	Buy
QIQIAOB 95kpa Vacuum Sealer Machine	$279	7.8	Details	Buy
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GJX Vacuum Sealer Machine with 20 Bags	$34	7.0	Details	Buy
FOODSAVER Vacuum Sealer Machine	$144	6.9	Details	Buy
Bonsenkitchen Vacuum Sealer Machine	$29	6.9	Details	Buy
MEGAWISE MegaWise Powerful and Compact Vacuum Sealer Machine	$21	6.8	Details	Buy
Avid Armor Chamber Vacuum Sealer Machine USV20 Ultra Series	$296	6.7	Details	Buy
FoodSaver PowerVac Compact Vacuum Sealing Machine	$69	6.4	Details	Buy
Anova Culinary Vacuum Sealer	$55	6.4	Details	Buy
SANBORA Vacuum Sealer Machine 7-in-1	$74	6.3	Details	Buy
Emojoy Vacuum Sealer Machine	$19	6.1	Details	Buy
MZROT Vacuum Sealer Machine for Food Preservation	$169	5.9	Details	Buy
Weston Brands Vacuum Sealer Machine for Food Preservation	$399	5.8	Details	Buy
Potane Precision Vacuum Sealer Machine	$84	5.4	Details	Buy
LKKNC Vacuum Sealer Machine	$99	5.2	Details	Buy
Nesco Deluxe Food VS-12 Vacuum Sealer	$95	3.6	Details	Buy
GERYON Vacuum Sealer Machine for Food Storage	$41	2.9	Details	Buy

Core Power Plays

The specs and strengths that make it shine.

Inquiries about sealing liquids

“Have you tried sealing any bags with liquid in them? I almost bought this over the weekend but wanted to see how it handled sealing bags for sous vide that have sauce or similar in the bag.”➕

Discussion about using Costco bags

“vac sealer is the solution for me. costco brand rolls suck.”➕

Preference for stronger models among users

“Next step up from that would be the really expensive super fast doggies.”➕

Preference for bags over containers for storage

“Originally I got it just for storing hops, but it has been invaluable for Sous Vide, and bacon storage.”➕

Hidden Hero Hacks

Unexpected tricks and side‑door uses you’ll love.

Discussion about meal prep techniques and freezing tips

“Some of the posts here convinced me to consider buying a vacuum sealer to extend the shelf life of some of my food and reduce food waste.”➕

“Thanks for the chicken pot pie idea. I love home made pot pies but don’t have time on week nights.”➕

“Great tips, thanks so much!”➕

Discussion about using vacuum sealers for sous vide

“Can you sous vide these bags? I mean is it safe?”➕

Curiosity about diverse uses for vacuum sealers

“I've considered getting one to keep things like meats longer in the freezer, especially with groceries as expensive as they are these days.”➕

Discussion about sealing techniques and tips

“How would you double seal with either of the vacuum sealers I have?”➕

User experiences with vacuum sealing techniques

“I guess I'm lucky I found this out years ago ago long before I did sous vide, and now I just make sure any vacuum sealer I buy can do this, because it seems that some can't maybe?”➕

Discussion about vacuum sealing for sous vide

“Does it taste just as good when sous vide from frozen?”➕

Buyer’s Cheat Sheet

What to check before you click ‘Add to Cart.’

Preference for the Weston model

“The Weston is better. I have a bigger model and that thing is a beast.”➕

Discussion about using other bag brands

“Has anyone tried the Kirkland brand bags that were next to it?”➕

Discussion about vacuum sealers under $100 for sous vide

“Vacuum Sealer recommendations I was expecting to see this question asked 100 times by now, but I don't really see it anywhere.”➕

“i also like to fishe and was looking for somthing like your mentioned vacuum sealer. thanks”➕

Debate on vacuum sealers' worth

“Are vacuum sealers worth the cost? I had a vacuum sealer about ten years ago, but the bags were so expensive I stopped using it.”➕

Discussion about vacuum sealer brands

“Vacuum sealer recommendations. Hey all, this is sous vide adjacent, so I hope it is allowed.”➕

“A vacuum sealer does a pretty good job at protecting your food ....unless you’re working at a restaurant i dont think you’d need anything worth more than a 100.”➕

Discussion about price and value of vacuum sealers

“I am VERY happy with my chamber and would buy another if it broke.”➕

Comments on the value of bulk purchases

“stuff takes much, much, much longer to go bad/freezer burn when vaccum sealed.”➕

Tips for preventing liquid mess while sealing

“I'm not MANDATING anyone do it my way; I'm just letting them know that depending upon their vacuum sealer, this might be an option.”➕

Discussion about affordability and value of vacuum sealers

“Decent vacuum sealers seem to be in the $100-150 range so not sure it will be worth it.”➕

“I found it's more how you use them vs the quality difference between brands.”➕

“I’d say definitely invest in these especially if you already have mason jars.”➕

Tips for sealing bags with liquids

“Cheap one will be fine.”➕

“Most have a manual stop/seal option that you can press if there’s too much moisture in the bag.”➕

Discussion on comparing FoodSaver models

“So what do I want? Bags or containers for storing bulk hop pellets?”➕

Advice on choosing between manual and automatic models

“The general recommendation around here is to go with a Manual model, which is to say it doesn't automatically start vacuuming on bag placement.”➕

Cautionary Callouts

Know the pitfalls before they catch you off guard.

Discussion about keeping both sealers

“After reading some reviews, I’m leaning more towards the Weston, since it can also do liquids.”➕

“Keep them both, but seal one up with the other to keep it fresh until you need it.”➕

“I almost spit my coffee out. Lol”➕

“Keep both one will die”➕

Curiosity about the effectiveness of other models

“My question is for anyone familiar with the top model of food saver vacuum sealer.”➕

“sealing with the tiny bit of liquid is a no no because you can clean the vacuum chamber right?”➕

Discussion about vacuum sealers' durability and performance

“Best vacuum sealer? [deleted]”➕

“Back when I was shopping for one, the advice was to at least get a "hunting" model.”➕

“Vacmaster. A chamber style system a far superior to sucking the air out of the bag and sealing.”➕

“I’d get a commercial grade one of any well known brand.”➕

Discussion about the necessity of sous vide function

“Is the cheaper one ok?”➕

Discussion about the effectiveness of chamber sealers vs. regular food savers

“Upgraded to Chamber Vacuum sealer. Game changer $600 @ Costco”➕

“Is it really that much better than using the bag + bowl of water trick? My girlfriend is convinced it’s a waste of money”➕

“For dry meats and veggies it’s a total waste of money for a chamber sealer. Get a regular food saver for $100-150 and it’s worth it’s weight in gold.”➕

FoodSaver PowerVac Compact Vacuum Sealing Machine

Curated from 104 real Reddit conversations

FoodSaver PowerVac Compact Vacuum Sealing Machine

Snoop's Take

FoodSaver PowerVac Compact Vacuum Sealing Machine

Home Kitchen Food Storage

Sous Vide Meal Prep

Commercial Food Packaging

Outdoor & Travel Preservation

What it does well!

Where it needs some work!

Compare On All Talked About Dimensions

Core Power Plays

Hidden Hero Hacks

Buyer’s Cheat Sheet

Cautionary Callouts

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