Product reviewed: Weston Professional Advantage Vacuum Sealer
A vacuum sealer is one of those small appliances you might not think to buy for yourself. But once you own one, you’ll appreciate how useful and convenient it is — especially if you’re a bulk shopper or major meal prepper.
I’ve had a new vacuum sealer on my wish list for a while.
I can’t pass up those 3-pound pieces of salmon and other family-size food packages at the warehouse club store — even though I don’t cook for a family anymore. Unfortunately, regular zip-top freezer bags leave most foods covered with ice crystals and freezer burn in no time.
Now, thanks to the Weston Professional Advantage Vacuum Sealer, my freezer is packed with foods that will retain their quality for months. Compared to another vacuum sealer brand I had in the past, this machine feels more substantial. You have to apply a bit of pressure to lock the lid, but once you do, it creates an air-tight vacuum seal. So far, it has done a great job of keeping my foods fresher for longer.
I love the attractive stainless finish on this vacuum sealer, as well as the fact that you can seal foods either automatically or manually. The automatic seal setting allows you to quickly vacuum out all the air in the package, while the manual setting allows you to control the amount of air removed, so you can seal more delicate foods such as bread or fresh fruit.
The Weston model comes with different sizes of BPA-free freezer bags, and there’s an assortment of additional sizes on the company’s website. You also can use any other brand of freezer bags, as long as they’re designed for a vacuum sealer.
This machine did a fast and fabulous job with salmon fillets, chicken breasts and 2 pounds of mozzarella cheese to store in my freezer. I also sealed 2 pounds of whole-wheat flour to keep fresh in my pantry. The Weston appliance is nice and wide, allowing you to seal bags up to 11 inches wide. I tested the extra-large bags and manual seal function on a loaf of sourdough bread, and it worked perfectly to provide a tight seal without crushing the bread.
Although I don’t use a vacuum sealer daily, it’s such a convenient and practical thing to have. I hate to be without one! Use this handy appliance for grocery items and meal prep or home-grown vegetables and fruits.
