FoodSaver GameSaver Big Game
DC adaptor, rugged construction & carry handle make it perfect for home and outdoor use
Features
- 11” double-wide seal bar
- 12V DC & 110/120V compatible
- Handles up to 80 consecutive seals
- Built-in bag storage and cutter
- Integrated carry handle
- Removable drip tray
- Lifetime limited warranty
VacMaster PRO380
Wide enough to seal two 8” vacuum bags simultaneously, tons of features, & perfect for home butchers!
Features
- 16” single “extra wide” seal bar
- Double piston fan-cooled pump
- 26 inHg vacuum strength
- Bag storage
- Bag cutter
- 1-year limited warranty
Cabela’s 15” Commercial-Grade Vacuum Sealer
Plenty of commercial grade features but for a fraction of the price
Features
- 15” double seal bar
- Double piston pump
- 26 inHg vacuum strength
- Built in bag roller & cutter
- Cabela’s liquid blockers included
- 1-year limited warranty
Check out our review of the best commercial vacuum sealers ›
FoodSaver GameSaver Outdoorsman
Despite its name it lacks the outdoor capabilities of the GameSaver Big Game
Features
- 11” single “extra wide” seal bar
- Handles up to 40 consecutive seals
- Removable drip tray
- 5-year limited warranty
- No bag cutter
- No bag storage
VacMaster VP215
The best for vacuum sealing liquids and marinated meat
Features
- 10” double seal bar
- No wait time between seals
- ¼ HP rotary oil pump
- 10″W x 13″L x 5”H vacuum chamber
- Requires oil top-ups
- 1-year limited warranty
Read our full review of the VacMaster VP215 ›
Weston Pro 2300
Powerful & durable no-nonsense sealer
Features
- 15” single “extra-large” seal bar
- Double piston fan-cooled pump
- 28 inHg vacuum strength
- Easily available spare parts
- 2-year warranty
- No bag cutter
- No bag storage
Buying Guide
Edge Sealer vs Vacuum Chamber
For most people looking for the absolute best vacuum chamber we would usually recommend a chamber vacuum sealer. They outperform the clamshell style edge sealers in almost every way including seal time, wait time between seals, ability to easily vacuum seal liquids, easier maintenance and availability of spare parts.
However, the big downside of chamber vacuums is that you are limited in volume. You can only seal whatever you can fit inside the chamber! Chamber vacuum sealers like the VacMaster VP215, for example, have much better performance compared to an edge sealer but there’s no way you’ll fit a whole rib cage in the chamber.
For home users sealing really large items we recommend going for an edge sealing vacuum sealer as you are then only limited by the size of the vacuum bag and the width of the seal bar.
Consecutive Seals
If you’ve got a lot of large items to seal check how many consecutive seals the vacuum sealer is capable of. Sealers like the FoodSaver GameSaver Big Game will run for up to 80 consecutive seals before you need to stop to give the vacuum pump time to cool down. Cheaper vacuum sealers will struggle unless you wait a few minutes between every seal.
Double Seal
Look for sealers with a double seal or dual seal bar to maximise the freshness and longevity of your large cuts of meat. Double seals provide a superior barrier against air leaks and strengthen the seal against tearing when moving larger cuts to your freezer.
Vacuum Bags for Large Items
If you’re vacuum sealing large cuts of meat, like a rib cage for a pig roast, you’ll struggle to fit them into standard sized vacuum bags. We recommend opting for rolls of uncut pleated bags as they offer the best bang for buck and unfold to offer the largest volume.
Just make sure your vacuum sealer is powerful enough to handle all the extra air that will need to be pumped out as these bags are huge!
Bag Storage & Cutting
Nice features to have include an integrated bag roller and bag cutter.
Having your vacuum bag storage and bag cutter built into the machine makes your job a lot easier and faster which you’ll appreciate if you’re sealing a lot of large items. If you’re only sealing one or two items at a time, then you can certainly manage without them.
Drip Tray & Liquid Protection
If you’re vacuum bagging items that contain a lot of moisture or liquid such as marinated meat, then look for a vacuum sealer with some kind of moisture protection.
Many sealers have a removable drip tray that will catch leaks and allow for easy removal and cleaning.
High end sealers often have a moisture stop feature that detects excess moisture and pauses the vacuuming process before it gets sucked into the pump.
Check out our top tips for vacuum sealing liquids and marinated foods ›
Seal Bar Width
It’s not just the size of the vacuum bag that will limit how much you can seal in one go but also the width of the seal bar.
Small vacuum sealers for general home use have seal bars in the 8”-11” range. If you’re sealing larger items, you’ll need to look for something wider in the 12”-16” range like the VacMaster PRO380 which is even wide enough to vacuum seal two 8” bags at the same time!
AC/DC Power
If you’re vacuum sealing large cuts of meat out on a hunting or fishing trip, then you’ll be pleased to know that sealers like the FoodSaver GameSaver Big Game come with the option of 110/120V AC power for home use and 12V DC adapters for outdoors use.
You’ll be able to take your vacuum sealer with you and hook it up to a boat or RV battery and seal fresh cuts of meat straight into vacuum bags!
