The 9 Best Vacuum Sealers for Sous Vide Infusion in 2022

Best Overall: Nesco VS-12

When you’re infusing a spirit or syrup via sous vide, you need to be sure that the seal on your bag is strong. The Nesco can double-seal bags so you can be sure you won’t get any leaks. The sealer also has a built-in bag holder so you don’t have to go searching around your drawers for extra rolls and it also has a sliding bag cutter, so you can customize the size of bag you’re using.

It’s easy to use but still features multiple seal settings (dry, moist, double) and vacuum pressure options (regular, gentle). It’s not crazy expensive but also not super cheap, so it’s best suited for those who are interested in regularly using a sous vide.

Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 15.75 x 8 x 4.5 inches | Weight: 6 pounds

Best Budget: NutriChef PKVS

Ideal for the more casual sous vide experimenter, this affordable sealer does its job in a straightforward way. There are two settings: dry or moist, so you can still feel good about sealing in a liquid. The machine comes with a handy starter pack that includes reusable vacuum bags and an air suction hose to help remove as much air as possible from the bags.

While it’s compact and easy to store it also looks good on a counter. Feel free to leave it out so everyone who enters your kitchen knows you’re high-tech in the kitchen and bar with the gadgets to prove it. 

Material: Engineered ABS | Dimensions:  6.07 x 14.18 x 3 inches | Weight: 2.9 Pounds

Best Easy to Use: Anova Precision

While cocktail Youtuber Matej Novak often uses Mason jars instead of sealed bags for his infusions, he also puts this compact model to use. Great for small kitchens, it’s not too pricey and a good pick for beginners.

“The bags are sturdy and the seal is strong,” says Novak. It doesn’t have much in the way of extras—no bag cutter, no bag storage—but it does have the ability to air pulse so you can suck the air out of a bag gently in a controlled manner, which comes in handy with delicate foods. It’s small but strong enough to get the job done.

Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 16.73 x 4.8 x 3.14 inches | Weight: 2.31 Pounds

Related: Best Sous Vides for Infusing Liquor

Best Compact: Geryon

Lightweight (just over 2.5 pounds) and compact, this vacuum sealer easily hides away when you’re not prepping your famous sweet pea-infused spring gin. Since it is so compact, there’s not a lot of room for extra features, such as a bag-cutter or storage, but it does feature a dry and moist setting along with two levels of vacuum power.

The sealer comes with a starter kit that includes multiple bags plus an air suction hose. It also snaps apart easily for simplified cleaning. Best of all, it’s affordable, so you don’t have to drop a ton of cash on your newfound hobby. This is an apartment-dwelling utilitarian’s vacuum sealer. 

Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 14.4 x 5.5 x 2.56 inches | Weight: 2.6 Pounds

Related: The Best Ice Cube Trays in 2023

Best Chambered Vacuum Sealer: PolyScience 300 Series

While edge sealers create a vacuum within the bag, chambered vacuum sealers create a vacuum within, well, a chamber. They’re stronger and better for liquids.

“Investing in a chamber vacuum machine will elevate your sous vide game,” says Alex Day, partner of Gin & Luck. “These used to cost many thousands of dollars, but as they’ve become more and more popular, new models are coming out.” While Day uses a PolyScience MiniPack MX2 Infuser, the brand’s 300 Series is more accessible and about half the cost. That said, if you do spring for Day’s pick, you’ll be treated to some pre-loaded recipes from the famed Death & Co. team.

Chamber vacuums like the 300 Series “allow you not only to extract as much oxygen from a bag as possible, but also to explore the compression of liquid into ingredients for unique garnishes,” Day says. If you’re really looking to up your cocktailing game at home with not only sous vide infusions but also quick-pickle or compressed fruit garnishes, this is the tool for you and your wildest dreams. 

Material: Stainless Steel | Dimensions: 14 x 18.2 x 11.8 inches | Weight: 55.5 pounds

Best Edge Sealer: FoodSaver PowerVac

As we touched on above, an edge sealer is the most common type of vacuum sealer. It creates a vacuum within a bag and then seals the bag shut. And while edge sealers are not quite as good as chamber vacuums when it comes to liquids, they are much cheaper. This one also has a “moist” setting, so you can create an airtight seal on your liquid infusions. It also features a removable drip tray for easy clean-up and bag alignment. Food, spirits and travel writer Noah Kaufman vouches for this compact, no-nonsense model, touting its affordability and reliability. It’s a good starter tool for sous vide beginners. 

Material: Silicone, Plastic, Steel | Dimensions: 15.94 x 6.16 x 2.71 inches | Weight: NA

Related: The Best Cobbler Shakers in 2023

Best Freezer Bags: FoodSaver 1-Quart Liquid Block Heat-Seal Bags

While these bags are designed to be used for juicy foods like marinating meats or soups and stews, they also work for spirits and syrups. BPA-free, these sous vide-safe bags are made with a “multi-ply” material to help keep the contents extra fresh.

They include a “liquid-blocking strip” that helps create a super-strong seal—because you don’t want your pink peppercorn-infused tequila leaching into the water bath. They work best with FoodSaver vacuum sealers, but users have said they have had success using them with other brands of vacuum sealers. Like other freezer bags, these can be washed and reused, so you can feel a bit better about paying more than you’re used to for plastic bags. 

Material: Multi-Ply | Dimensions: 2.2 x 4.1 x 8.6 inches | Weight: 0.4 Pounds

Best Container: Anova Precision Container

Created specifically for sous vide, this rounded container encourages optimal circulation. Novak uses his Anova tub for bigger jobs—capacity is 12 liters—and also appreciates the inclusion of a fitted lid.

“The water doesn’t evaporate if you’re doing longer infusions,” he says. And before you ask, yes, the lid includes a port that holds the immersion circulator in place so you don’t have to do any shoving or cut a hole into a lid yourself. The container also comes with an integrated wire rack that helps keep bags under the water line for more consistent results. This is the container for someone who is invested in regularly sous viding. 

Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 15.35 x 9.41 x 8.37 inches | Weight: 3.31 Pounds