Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website.
If, like Blair, you do a lot of meal prep at home, a chamber vacuum sealer can be a worthwhile addition to your kitchen. Unlike most suction sealers, the best chamber vacuum sealers work for both solid and liquid foods, so you can prep soups and full slow cooker recipes well in advance. They’re also better for preserving greater quantities of food.
Table of Contents
Many chamber vacuum sealers are designed for commercial use (and tend to be very expensive), but there are plenty that are great for home use! Blair and I researched the top products from the most well-known brands and put together this list of the best chamber vacuum sealers.
When determining our picks, we focused on ones with excellent performance that are easy to use and maintain, but we also factored in size since chamber vacuum sealers can be on the bulky side. We know an appliance has to be really extraordinary for you to dedicate counter (or cabinet) space to it. After careful consideration, here are our picks.
Our Top Picks:
1. Blair’s Top Pick for Most People: Avid Armor USV32 Chamber Vacuum Sealer – $599 at Amazon
2. Best Budget Chamber Vacuum Sealer: Anova Precision Chamber Vacuum Sealer – $349.99 at Best Buy
3. Best Compact Chamber Vacuum Sealer: Avid Armor USVX Ultra Series Chamber Vacuum Sealer – $429 at Amazon
4. Best Hybrid Chamber Vacuum Sealer: Vacmaster VP215 Chamber Vacuum Sealer – $999 at Amazon
Reviews of The Best Chamber Vacuum Sealers
1. Blair’s Top Pick for Most People: Avid Armor USV32 Chamber Vacuum Sealer
The Avid Armor USV32 chamber vacuum sealer is Blair’s pick for most people because it’s easy to use and can fit a decent volume of food, despite its compact size. One-touch buttons let you effortlessly control the vacuum and seal cycle, or, if you have more experience with chamber vacuum sealers, you can manually adjust vacuum and seal times depending on the type and amount of food you’re sealing.
This chamber vacuum sealer also serves triple duty: You can use it as a sous vide machine or to infuse a wet marinade a little more effectively (like Blair’s Honey Garlic Dijon Pork Tenderloin Marinade). Plus, it comes with an accessory hose, so you can use it to seal vacuum containers and jars even if they’re too tall to fit into the chamber. Other perks are a clear view glass lid so you can watch the progress as it seals, and side handles that make it easier to move around your kitchen.
The Specs
- Dimensions: 14 x 15.5 x 9.5 inches
- Weight: 26.4 pounds
- Seal Bar Length: 11.5 inches
- Type of Pump: No maintenance dry pump
The Pros
- Fairly compact size
- One-touch controls for effortless sealing
- No regular maintenance needed
The Cons
- May create some air pockets
- Noisy operation
What Others Are Saying
The Avid Armour USV32 Chamber Vacuum Sealer was named the best chamber vacuum sealer for home cooks by Taste of Home, and it has a 4.7-star rating on Amazon from almost 900 reviews.
Buy the Avid Armor USV32 Chamber Vacuum Sealer:
2. Best Budget: Anova Precision Chamber Vacuum Sealer
This more budget-friendly model from Anova is a good deal at around $350, but the price tag isn’t the only thing that caught our eye. It’s really easy to use, with pre-programmed settings (infuse/extract, compress/pickle, and dry/cool) and four functions—dry, marinade, pulse, and seal—to cover all your vacuum sealing needs. You can also operate it manually if you want to control the settings yourself.
Plus, the design is sleeker than most of the other options. While many chamber vacuums can be big and bulky, we felt that this one looks like it belongs in a home kitchen. It has a compact design, an eye-catching black finish, and a clear lid so you can keep track of what’s going on. We also like the LCD screen that shows sealing progress as you go and the fact that it operates with a dry pump, so there’s no regular maintenance required.
The Specs
- Dimensions: 11.2 x 13.6 x 8.9 inches
- Weight: 13.6 pounds
- Seal bar length: 11.8 inches
- Type of pump: No maintenance dry pump
The Pros
- Less expensive than similar models
- Pre-programmed settings make it easy to use
- Compact with a sleek design
The Cons
- The chamber is on the smaller side
- Not as strong as commercial models
What Others Are Saying
Serious Eats and Epicurious both tested the Anova Precision Chamber Vacuum Sealer and deemed it a good option for the home cook.
Buy the Anova Precision Chamber Vacuum Sealer:
3. Best Compact: Avid Armor USVX Ultra Series Chamber Vacuum Sealer
If you don’t have a lot of counter space to dedicate to a full-size model, we recommend the Avid Armor USVX Ultra Series Chamber Vacuum Sealer. This one is several inches smaller all-around than USV32 (Blair’s top pick from the brand), and it weighs considerably less, so it’s easier to move around your kitchen as needed. But despite its smaller size, it still packs in a lot of features.
While you can’t manually control it like some of the bigger models, it has 3 vacuum levels and 3 seal times for different types and volumes of foods. To make things easier, there’s a one-touch auto button that remembers your last settings. This chamber vacuum sealer also includes an accessory hose so you can use it with external canisters, and it has a marinade function for more versatility in the kitchen. We also like the black stainless steel design that blends in nicely with other kitchen appliances.
The Specs
- Dimensions: 12.25 x 12.75 x 8 inches
- Weight: 18.8 pounds
- Seal bar length: 10 inches
- Type of pump: No maintenance dry pump
The Pros
- Smaller and weighs less than others
- Various settings for all types of foods
- Sleek design
The Cons
- Doesn’t fit quart-size jars or large roasts
- Lid doesn’t stay open without holding it up
Buy the Avid Armor USVX Ultra Series Chamber Vacuum Sealer:
4. Best Hybrid: Vacmaster VP215 Chamber Vacuum Sealer
Made for both home and commercial use, the Vacmaster VP215 Chamber Vacuum Sealer is the most powerful model we recommend (but also the most expensive). The chamber is large enough to accommodate roasts and large canning jars, and it can double seal extra thick bags to keep foods fresh for up to 5 times longer than traditional storage methods. The design leaves a little something to be desired, but if you’re after quality and function above all else, we think this is a good trade-off.
Before investing in this more costly option, there are a couple of things to consider. For starters, it has an oil pump. This gives it extra power and durability but requires more regular maintenance than the other dry pump models. It also weighs 84 pounds, so you’ll want to have dedicated counter space for it so you don’t have to move it around after each use.
The Specs
- Dimensions: 14 x 20 x 15 inches
- Weight: 84 pounds
- Seal bar length: 10 inches
- Type of pump: Oil pump
The Pros
- Can fit a large volume of food plus bigger items like roasts
- Double seals even thick bags
- Powerful and durable
The Cons
- Large and heavy
- The oil pump needs regular maintenance
What Others Are Saying
The Vacmaster VP215 has a 4.6-star average rating on Amazon, with just over 700 reviews.
Buy the Vacmaster VP215 Chamber Vacuum Sealer:
Other Chamber Vacuum Sealers to Consider
These chamber vacuums are still worthy contenders, but they didn’t make our top picks for various reasons, which we’ve outlined below.
Wevac CV12 Chamber Vacuum Sealer
The Wevac CV12 has a decent number of good reviews, but the brand isn’t as well-known as some of the others we recommend. Additionally, several reviewers say it worked well at first but wasn’t built to last. With its questionable longevity, we couldn’t recommend it over the other tried-and-true models. The Wevac CV12 Chamber Vacuum Sealer is available at Amazon for $459.
Avid Armor GS53 Chamber Vacuum Sealer
This chamber vacuum sealer has one of the longest seal bars, so it’s a good pick for larger jobs, but it’s bulky and takes up a lot of countertop space. Plus, it’s an investment, and there are others from the brand that are just as good for a more budget-friendly price. The Avid Armor GS53 Chamber Vacuum Sealer is available at Amazon for $1,399.
Vevor DZ-260C Chamber Vacuum Sealer
While this chamber vacuum sealer comes recommended by several reviewers, we didn’t think it has anything that makes it stand out from the crowd, especially when compared to the Avid Armor and Vacmaster models, which are more highly rated. The Vevor DZ-260C Chamber Vacuum Sealer is available at Amazon for $429.99.
Avid Armor Euro Series ES41 Chamber Vacuum Sealer
This is a top-rated commercial model, but it’s considerably more expensive than the Vacmaster VP215, which is comparable in almost every way. We do think this model has a sleeker design, but that alone wasn’t enough to justify the higher cost for us. The Avid Armor Euro Series ES41 Chamber Vacuum Sealer is available at Amazon for $1,299.
Why You Can Trust Us
I’m Lindsay, a functional nutritionist, recipe creator, and author of 15 cookbooks. I’m also a professional product reviewer, and have personally tried more kitchen appliances and gadgets than I ever thought possible. I worked on this roundup of the best chamber vacuum sealers with Blair, the voice behind The Seasoned Mom and an advocate for meal prep and simplicity.
Together, Blair and I did extensive research to come up with our list of the best chamber vacuum sealers. We narrowed it down to the top manufacturers in the space and then dug through buying guides from trusted review sites and other culinary experts to narrow down our picks. Once we had a short list of contenders based on performance, ease of use, and care, we compared them side by side to crown our winners.
What to Know About Chamber Vacuum Sealers
Things to Consider When Choosing a Chamber Vacuum Sealer
When shopping for a chamber vacuum sealer, one of the first questions you want to ask yourself is, “How easy is it to use?” After all, the goal is to make food prep simpler, not create another unwanted chore. In addition, it’s a good idea to think about its size, any additional functions, and what type of maintenance is required.
Ease of use: When shopping for a chamber vacuum sealer, look for one-touch controls and straightforward adjustability. Ideally, you want both the vacuuming and sealing functions to be adjustable, with pre-programmed settings that you can use instead of manually controlling the machine. An automatic function is also a bonus.
Size: Size is another important consideration since these chamber vacuum sealers are much larger than regular edge vacuum sealers. Check the dimensions of the model and make sure you have a spot for it. If you’re planning to keep it on your countertop, don’t forget to measure the height and make sure it can slide back and out of the way underneath your cabinets.
Think about the weight too. If you want to stow the vacuum sealer away when you’re not using it, make sure it’s not too heavy for you to pick up and move around the kitchen.
Functions: Some chamber vacuum sealers vacuum and seal only, while others have dedicated marinating and/or pickling functions. Some come with hose attachments that let you seal external jars. This is especially handy if you’re buying a compact sealer with a smaller chamber that doesn’t fit full-size Mason jars.
Maintenance/Type of Pump: Outside of regular cleaning, some chamber vacuum cleaners use dry pumps that require no long-term maintenance at all. Others operate with an oil pump that requires you to change out the oil and give the machine a deep clean every so often. Before buying one, make sure you’re comfortable with the required effort and time commitment.
How do Chamber Vacuum Sealers Work?
Chamber vacuum sealers create a pressurized environment by pumping all the air out of the chamber, which includes the air inside the bag. This creates an even, airtight seal and makes it possible to vacuum seal liquids.
You place a bag or jar into the chamber, close the lid, then run the cycle. All of the air gets removed from the chamber and the bag, thanks to either a dry pump or an oil pump. Once air is removed, the bag is sealed, and air is pumped back into the chamber to make sure the bag is extra vacuum-packed. This whole process usually takes less than a minute, depending on the chamber vacuum you use.
Are Chamber Vacuum Sealers Better?
Each type of vacuum sealer has its pros and cons. Chamber vacuum sealers are better for sealing liquids and larger quantities of food. Since air isn’t “sucked” out of the bag like it is with regular sealers (often called suction sealers), you don’t have to worry about the liquid spilling out and creating a mess. You can also use any type of bag. You don’t need the specialized mesh bags that you do with suction vacuum sealers. However, chamber vacuum sealers are larger and more expensive. Some of them, like those with an oil pump, also require more care and maintenance.
Suction vacuum sealers work by sucking all the air out of a vacuum bag and then using a heated bar to seal the bag shut. Because they rely on suction, not pressure, like a chamber vacuum sealer, these types of sealers only work for solid foods. If you try to seal liquids, they will create a big mess. The upside is that they’re less expensive and less cumbersome. Many edge sealers are so compact that you can easily store them in a drawer or cabinet—they don’t take up space on your countertop and are easy to move around. They also require very minimal care. Usually, you just have to wipe them down between uses.
Are Chamber Vacuum Sealers Worth it?
If you do a lot of food prep or buy foods in bulk and want to make sure they’re appropriately preserved, we think a chamber vacuum sealer is worth it. Chamber vacuum sealers can also replace the canning process, so if you make jams (try Blair’s Spiced Apple Pear Jam if you haven’t already) or pickled foods, it may be worth it for you since you’ll save a lot of time by using a chamber vacuum sealer instead.
If you don’t have a frequent need for vacuum-sealing food, you may want to try an edge sealer. These are generally less expensive than chamber vacuum sealers, and they don’t take up as much space in your home. However, one important difference is that you can’t seal liquid foods in a regular edge vacuum sealer; they only work for solid foods.
If you prefer to skip vacuum sealers altogether, you can use jars or airtight containers to store leftovers and extra food. These classic ball Mason jars and reusable Mason jar lids are Blair’s favorite. Just keep in mind that the shelf-life will often be shorter.
More Great Recipes
If you want to get started with food prep, try out some of Blair’s most popular recipes below. You can double these recipes and use your chamber vacuum sealer to preserve the leftovers in the refrigerator or freezer until you’re ready to eat them.
- Dutch Oven Pork Roast with Gravy
- The Best Bean Soup Recipe
- Green Chicken Chili
- Irish Stew
- One Pan Homemade Hamburger Helper
Prices were accurate at the time of publication.
Oh my! Hundreds of $$ for a vacuum sealer.. really!
This, for example: https://anovaculinary.com/products/anova-precision-vacuum-sealer Its $59 and does all you need and is not a big appliance!
Thank you for sharing, Scott!