FoodSaver FM2100 Vacuum Sealer Machine, One-Touch Sealing, Roll Storage & Cutter, Dry & Moist Food, For Sous Vide Cooking, Accessory Port & Hose, Starter Bags & Roll Included

Why it's worth it

This is the machine that asks the least of you. Drop the open end of the bag into the channel and it starts the cycle on its own, and between the dual seal strips, the wet and dry modes, and the accessory port, it covers nearly everything a home kitchen throws at it.

Automatic bag detection is the feature you'll notice every single time. Set the open end of the bag in the channel and the machine takes it from there. No button, no holding the lid down with your elbow. That sounds like a small thing until you're on your eighth bag of portioned chicken thighs. FoodSaver has built this system into its machines for years, and published reviews keep putting the FM5480 near the top of the category for exactly this kind of low-effort consistency.

Two heat strips instead of one give the seal a backup. A single strip has to get every millimeter right. A wrinkle in the bag or a smear of marinade near the edge can leave a weak spot you won't find until the meat's freezer-burned. The FM5480 lays down two parallel seams at once, so one bad patch doesn't cost you the bag. Owners who freeze expensive cuts for a year or more consistently report fewer surprises with double-strip machines.

From our review of 5 vacuum sealers, by David Sinclair, Managing Editor

What we like

• +Automatic bag detection is the feature you'll notice every single time
• +Two heat strips instead of one give the seal a backup
• +The accessory port covers everything that isn't a bag
• +It's built for real batches, not just single portions

What to know

• –Bags are the ongoing cost, and the branded ones aren't the frugal option
• –It eats counter space