Weston 65-0201 Vacuum Sealer PRO 2300 (Stainless Steel)

Pros: I researched vacuum sealers thoroughly and this one came up the winner. I've had mine for more than 2 years now and it totally rocks! It seals quickly and keeps my food as fresh as the day I put it in the freezer. No more freezer-burned meats. This is a high-end machine and it's wide profile lets you seal a large variety of bag sizes.

Cons: It's big and heavy. It's also a bit pricey, but quality does cost. I've made up for the price in the sheer quantity of food that hasn't had to be thrown out due to freezer burn and the fact that I can stock up during sales without worrying about that. Would like more options in bags, though - maybe some lighter-weight ones. These are a bit expensive, though you can reuse them if you clean them thoroughly.

Other Thoughts: This was a great investment, especially with current food prices. I use mine a lot, freezing veggies from the garden, meat from stock-up trips to the big-box store, and the occasional bonanza of fish when my brother gets a chance to go out ocean fishing with friends. All in all, I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.

Pros: Fast! Not a bag hog. I get to select the seal point w/o having to leave a long tab of unused and expensive bag for the machine to work. I can cut bags lengthwise and reseal with vacuum from the end for long thin items. Uses 10-15% less bag material than any of the Foodsaver machines. A little quieter than the Foodsaver machines and 3 times faster. Don’t have to fuss around trying to get the machine to engage due to curled up bags that won’t go into the slot on the Foodsaver.

Cons: Very large and a little heavy. Hey, this thing is not a toy like some of the others on the market. Priced correctly for how well it works but still pricey for occasional use. Does not compare to a chamber machine at all. Must still use the high priced embossed bags. Still wish I could afford a chamber machine.

Other Thoughts: I've owned 3 different versions of the Foodsaver machines. They break. There is no support or replacement parts from Foodsaver. Foodsaver feels you should just buy a new one every time a Foodsaver breaks I guess. I pack and freeze homemade sausage a couple times a year. When I need a vac packer I usually pack 200-300lbs in a week’s time. This machine is gonna really make my life easy when I need to pack a whole batch of sausage.