VacMaster

VacMaster Chamber Vacuum Sealers: What You Need to Know

Chamber vacuum sealers create a vacuum inside a chamber that contains the food product you're sealing. When air is reintroduced, a hot bar seals the end of the pouch, and the plastic clings tightly to the food, maintaining a vacuum. Unlike external suction units, which suck air out of a bag, chamber units can be used to seal liquids and liquid-rich foods. Machines range from small countertop units to 600-pound freestanding units on casters.

VacMaster also offers bags and pouches for use with its machines and immersion circulators for sous vide cooking.

Common Questions About VacMaster Vacuum Sealers

How do you use the VacMaster VP215?

The most popular VacMaster machine, the VP215, weighs 84 pounds and uses an 11.25-inch by 15.25-inch chamber with 5 inches of depth to vacuum seal food for storage or sous vide cooking. Follow these steps to use this and similar VacMaster chamber vacuum sealers, such as the VacMaster VP320:

1. Select a pouch that works with the product you're packaging without exceeding the length of the seal bar. Leave a couple inches of space between the food you're sealing and the top of the chamber.
2. Fill the VacMaster pouch and lay it completely inside the chamber. Place the opening of the pouch across the seal bar and make sure liquid products lie below the bar.
3. Follow food-specific recommendations for seal strength and settings. Close the machine and hold the lid down firmly until the sealing process begins.
4. When the process is complete, inspect the pouch for air pockets or leaks to make sure it's sealed properly. If the product isn't vacuumed tightly enough, increase the seal time and try again.

What bags are available for my VacMaster vacuum sealer?

VacMaster bags for use with external suction units aren't compatible with chamber units, while VacMaster pouches are specifically designed for use in a chamber. Choose from bags that range from 6 inches long and 8 inches wide to 22 inches long and 34 inches wide. Use either style of bag with any VacMaster or other brand vacuum sealer with a corresponding sealing format and size.

What does an immersion circulator do?

Devices such as the VacMaster SV1 sous vide immersion circulator use electrical power to heat and circulate water in a bath for sous vide cooking, which is the process of cooking vacuum-packaged food slowly in a low-temperature water bath. Users set the temperature and attach this long, thin device to the side of a pot, bucket, or other container that holds the bath. The SV1 can heat as much as 4 gallons of water.

What is the purpose of a gas flush?

Modified atmosphere packaging, or MAP, guarantees a completely air-free seal by replacing oxygen with carbon dioxide, nitrogen, or other gas before creating the seal. Users can also choose to leave gas inside the sealed bag. Food will last longer when sealed with this method, but gas flush units such as the floor model VP680 are larger and more expensive.