One of the things I get the most questions about in my videos on Instagram is our VacMaster chamber sealer. So I figured I would tell you about it and answer the most commonly asked questions I get!
If you are already ready to buy, I share what machines we have and how to save some money at the end of this post!
What’s a chamber sealer?
A chamber sealer is a type of vacuum packaging machine that removes air from the sealed container and entire chamber, which creates a more complete airtight seal.
How is it different from a vacuum sealer?
Unlike conventional vacuum sealers that suck the air out of the bag, chamber sealers equalize pressure within the chamber before sealing, making them suitable for sealing liquids and delicate items.
Why are chamber sealers better?
Since the machine doesn’t use suction, all the air is removed from the entire chamber. This extends the freshness and makes for a better seal.
Benefits of a VacMaster chamber sealer
- Sealing takes less time compared to a vacuum sealer
- Bags are less expensive
- Bags are premade – there’s no cutting & sealing one end of the bag before adding food
- If properly maintained, a chamber sealer should last you a very long time!
- Chamber sealers can handle more volume compared to a vacuum sealer
How do I know if I would use it enough?
- Do you buy food in bulk and wish you had a great way to reseal it?
- Do you like to meal prep and have it on hand in the freezer?
- Do you hunt, fish, or garden and preserve your harvest?
- Do you like marinating meat?
- Do you camp, hunt, or take trips?
- Do you travel?
If you answered yes to any of the questions above, you would probably love having a VacMaster chamber sealer!
Uses for a chamber sealer
- Package premade meals (meal prep, postpartum prep, etc)
- Package raw meat (either purchased in bulk or from hunting, fishing, farm animals, etc.)
- Package liquids – soups, stews, broth
- Package dry goods for camping trips
- Airline travel – seal your large liquids for your checked baggage
- Package bulk dry goods in smaller portions (coffee beans, wheat berries, oats, etc.)
How to choose a chamber sealer
There are two primary types of chamber vacuum sealers and the pumps distinguish the two.
Dry pumps are maintenance-free whereas oil pumps require periodical maintenance in the form of oil changes. An oil pump machine will last longer, with proper maintenance, than the dry pump.
Dry pumps do not pull as strong a vacuum as the oil pump. But, they both pull the same amount of vacuum [down to a fraction of a percentage] oil pumps just do it faster. The average home user will not see a difference.
The difference only becomes apparent in a commercial setting where time is a factor. A chamber vacuum sealer with an oil pump is able to run continuously without the need for breaks that a dry pump unit will require. An oil pump is ideal if you will be sealing a large quantity of items, perfect for processing game or sealing product for a business at a continuous rate. It really comes down to your needs and what you require of the machine.
Comparison of VacMaster chamber sealers.
How do I use a VacMaster chamber sealer?
The VacMaster chamber sealer is really easy to use! There are really only a few buttons and settings.
There is a seal setting, a cool down setting, and a duration setting. Once you have your machine, you can refer to this graphic to adjust the timing depending on what you are sealing.
Is it worth it?
We think so! We have had our VP215 for over 6 years and it has been a great tool for our homestead. We put hundreds of pounds of meat through it each year (moose, salmon, shrimp, chicken, halibut, etc). We also use it for meal prep, repackaging cheese and dry goods, and preserving our harvest from the garden. So ours has really been put the test and we are very pleased!
We purchased the VP215 with our own money far before I ever became affiliated with VacMaster. I was genuinely sharing it on social media just because we use it so much and they offered me a discount code for my followers.
Tips for buying
We now own the VP215 and the VP320. If you don’t plan to use the machine as intensely, the VP95 would be a great home unit!
My code HAPPYHOME always gets you 15% off. But if VacMaster is running a sale, you can usually use code HAPPYHOMEEXTRA5 to stack 5% on top of whatever sale they are running!
As always, feel free to reach out if you have specific questions!
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