Plastic Bag Vacuum Sealer

When preparing foods to be cooked sous vide, a plastic bag holding the food must be sealed in a way that removes any air it might contain. The low-tech approach is to use heavy-duty resealable plastic bags and press out excess air by placing the bag on the edge of a counter and gradually moving the bag down to expel the air. This is also a good method for storing sensitive liquids.

The most expensive kind of sealer is a chamber vacuum sealer. To use a vacuum sealer, a bag is placed on its side with its opening running along a sealing bar. The lid is closed, a powerful vacuum is produced, and the seal is made with heat. This has the enormous advantage of being able to seal in liquids, whereas other machines do not.