The Best Vacuum Sealers for Large Items

HomeKitchenFood PreservationBest Vacuum Sealer for Large Items
Last updated March 20th, 2023

If you’ve tried to vacuum seal large items like fish or game you’ll know vacuum sealers designed for general home use just don’t cut it. This is due to weak, overheating pumps that can’t keep up and seal bars that aren't wide enough to accommodate large cuts of meat.

If you need to vacuum seal large items like rib cages and hind quarters, here’s the best sealers to check out and a buying guide so you know what to consider before you purchase.

The best vacuum sealer for large items featured image

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FoodSaver GameSaver Big Game

DC adaptor, rugged construction & carry handle make it perfect for home and outdoor use

FoodSaver GameSaver Big Game product photo

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

Last update on 2024-03-28 at 04:18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

VacMaster PRO380

Wide enough to seal two 8” vacuum bags simultaneously, tons of features, & perfect for home butchers!

VacMaster PRO380 in Kitchen

Features

  • 16” single “extra wide” seal bar
  • Double piston fan-cooled pump
  • 26 inHg vacuum strength
  • Bag storage
  • Bag cutter
  • 1-year limited warranty

Last update on 2024-03-28 at 04:18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Cabela’s 15” Commercial-Grade Vacuum Sealer

Plenty of commercial grade features but for a fraction of the price

Cabela’s 15” Commercial-Grade Vacuum Sealer sealing a large cut of meat

Features

  • 1-year limited warranty

View on Cabelas.com ›

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

FoodSaver GameSaver Outdoorsman product photo

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

Last update on 2024-03-28 at 04:18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

VacMaster VP215

The best for vacuum sealing liquids and marinated meat

VacMaster VP215 with vacuum food pouch

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 ›

Last update on 2024-03-28 at 01:16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Weston Pro 2300

Powerful & durable no-nonsense sealer

Weston Pro 2300 vacuum sealer with large salmon

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

Last update on 2024-03-28 at 04:18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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.

Large side pleated vacuum sealer bag

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!

FoodSaver GameSaver Expandable Vacuum Bags
  • 11 inch x 18 foot rolls
  • 2 rolls included
  • Multi-ply material prevents freezer burn

Last update on 2024-03-28 at 04:18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Bag Storage & Cutting

Nice features to have include an integrated bag roller and bag cutter.

Vacuum sealer with built in bag storage and 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!

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