Quick Marination Using Vacuum Sealers – Our Top Picks
Marination is generally perceived as a lengthy, time consuming process spanning over several hours (and in some cases multiple days) of wait to infuse flavors to innermost depths of food.
These perceptions, however, are quickly changing over the past few years thanks to technological advancements brought about by modern vacuum sealers.
Vacuum sealers lower the food marination time from the previous benchmark of hours and days to the new normal of minutes (yes, you read it right, minutes!) and hence are quickly becoming an integral part of modern-day kitchens.
Whether you are a professional pressed for time to spend in kitchen after returning from office, a housewife frequently taken by surprise over unannounced visits by family or friends, or a restauranteur managing bulk of orders on a day-to-day basis; you cannot help falling in love with the convenience offered by quick marination feature of vacuum sealers.
Below, we take a look at some of the most prominent brands of vacuum sealers that currently dominate the segment of quick marination:
1. FoodSaver
1.1 FoodSaver V4400 2-in-1 Vacuum Sealer Machine
FoodSaver V4400 is one of the most widely used vacuum sealers in the market today.
It packs powerful features like Automatic Bag Detection and Automatic Moisture Detection that not only make the machine extremely user-friendly but also help to ensure the quality of vacuum suction and bag sealing.
A Pull-Out Drip Tray Drawer collects all the moisture and food particles that are sucked into the sealing chamber and makes the cleaning process a matter of seconds.
An auxiliary handheld retractable sealer provides the flexibility of vacuum sealing mason jars, zipper bags, and canisters.
The equipment comes ETL/UL certified from NRTLs (Nationally Recognized Test Laboratories) so you can rest assured about its safety standards.
Built-in storage for bag-rolls coupled with a cutter makes the sealer compact in size and offers the customization to cut varying lengths of sealing bags depending on the size of the food to be sealed.
A Quick Marinating Canister, which needs to be purchased separately from FoodServe, makes marination a matter of one button push and ten minutes.
After filling the FoodServe Canister with food and marinating sauce, the handheld sealer is attached to the top of the Canister Lid and the sealer is put on ‘Marinate Mode’.
During the marinate mode, a vacuum is created in the canister which opens pores of food and enables the marinating sauce to seep deep into the innermost layers of the food.
The vacuum is held for a few minutes and then is followed by a 30 sec ‘rest’ period where the vacuum is released.
This cycle is repeated several times.
This repeated ‘pulsing’ action of vacuum followed by ‘rest’ ensures effective marination in the least amount of time.
The sophistication of the V4400 coupled with a simple interface makes it a popular sealing and quick marinating option in the market today.
2. Avid
2.1 Avid Armor Ultra Series USV20
Amid Armor USV20 is a powerful vacuum sealing machine in the market, whose chamber-styled sealing system gives it an edge when vacuum sealing liquid-rich foods like soups, sauces, and marinades.
Unlike the standard suction-type vacuum sealers, which suck the air out only from the food bag to create vacuum, a chamber-styled sealing system extracts air from the entire chamber surrounding the food bag enabling the food to be vacuum sealed without the problem of liquid spattering out the bag.
A polished stainless-steel body covered by a top glass lid not only makes the design hygienic and easy to clean but it also enables the user to always keep the food bag in view while it is being vacuumed and sealed.
The machine interface provides end-users the flexibility to adjust vacuuming and sealing times based on their needs.
Moreover, the added modes of ‘Auto Vac & Seal’ and ‘Marinate’ are perfect for the users who do not wish to adjust vacuuming and sealing durations every single time they operate the vacuum sealer.
Food can be marinated using one of two ways.
A bowl or any other utensil carrying marinated food can either be directly placed inside the vacuum chamber or else ‘Avid Armor Food Vacuum Canister Set’ (sold separately) can be used to connect the cannisters to vacuum system using an external vacuum hose (included in the canister set).
The former option offers convenience, as no external setup needs to be carried out to marinate the food; the latter option on the other hand offers customization, as Avid Armor Cannister Set can marinate larger portions of food which would not fit inside the vacuum chamber.
‘Marinate’ mode creates vacuum to enable better infusion of marinade with the food, and it can be run as many times as desired to achieve the required level of marination.
A chamber-styled vacuum sealing system combined with a hygienic design makes Avid Armor USV20 an effective and powerful food marinating option.
3.Wevac
3.1 Wevac Chamber Vacuum Sealer CV10
Next on the list we have another chamber styled vacuum sealer: Wevac CV10. While retaining all the advantages of a chamber vacuum sealer, having a footprint of only 11.2” width x 13.5” depth makes WEVAC CV10 one of the most compact designs in the market that does not compromise on vacuum sealing power.
Moreover, provision of external suction vacuum option enables the equipment to vacuum seal large food portions which would not fit inside the standard chamber size.
This vacuum sealer can either be operated in ‘Customized Vac’ mode, which allows the user to manually adjust the vacuum time; or in ‘Smart Vac’ mode, where the equipment itself decides the vacuuming duration depending upon size of the food bag.
The dry piston pump – the component responsible for creating the vacuum – is extremely reliable (having a service life greater than 30,000 runs!) making this vacuum sealer virtually maintenance-free.
Due to its compact size, this vacuum sealer is suitable for only regular (flat) vacuum bags.
Hence, marination is only possible by placing the food and marinade mixture in a flat vacuum bag and then vacuum sealing inside the chamber.
Moreover, there is no provision for connecting the vacuum sealer with any external canister.
Feature of external suction vacuum can be used if marinating larger portion of food that does not fit inside the chamber.
‘Marinate’ mode can be used to create vacuum inside the food bag, and this step can be repeated as many times as required to achieve the required level of marination.
If you are looking for a compact and simple vacuum sealer to process small to moderate food portions, and one that does not need tons of accessories to operate, then Wevac CV10 is the right fit for you.
4. VESTA
4.1 Vesta Chamber Vac Elite
Vesta Chamber Vac Elite is another dual vacuum sealer combining the liquid-handling advantages of a vacuum chamber with the flexibility offered by external suction vacuum.
Its dual dry pump can generate vacuum pressure greater than 950 mbar, making it one of the most powerful vacuum sealers available in market for domestic use.
With the modes of ‘Smart Vac’, ‘Customized Vac’, ‘Marinate’, ‘Vac & Seal’, and ‘Pulse Vac’; this vacuum sealer offers convenience to users looking for a quick solution and offers customization to users desiring to adjust the vacuum and sealing options as per their needs. ‘Pulse Vac’ especially is a unique offering, allowing the user to develop vacuum for as long as the button is pressed.
Each ‘Marinate’ cycle is 9 minutes long, and consists of three phases: vacuum, hold, and release.
When selecting the ‘Marinate’ mode, the system asks for the number of marination cycles to be performed.
The Vesta Vac Elite can continuously perform up to eleven consecutive marination cycles (amounting to 99 minutes in total) and is quite convenient for users desiring longer marination times for their food.
Vesta Vac Elite can not be connected to any outside container and can only marinate food in vacuum bags.
Vesta Chamber Vac Elite can be a suitable option for someone looking for a powerful vacuum sealing device capable of automatically marinating food for longer durations.
5. NESCO
5.1 NESCO Deluxe Vacuum Sealer VS-12
NESCO VS-12 uses external suction vacuum to seal bags up to a maximum width of 11.8”.
It has a multitude of sealing and vacuuming options to choose from, including ‘Dry Seal’, ‘Moist Seal’, ‘Double Seal’, ‘Normal Pressure’, ‘Gentle Pressure’, ‘Canister’, and ‘Marinate’.
The sealer has a built-in bag roll storage compartment as well as a built-in cutter, so the user does not need to worry about separately stacking vacuum bags.
Moreover, two bag rolls are supplied with the purchase of the vacuum sealer to get the user started.
NESCO does not make their own hose attachment, but any hose with a compatible adapter can be used with the vacuum sealer to connect with an external canister to vacuum its contents.
The recommended cycle time between consecutive sealing operation is 2 minutes, so this machine is more suitable for applications that do not need to vacuum seal a large number of bags at a time.
Marination can be carried out in a vacuum bag or by connecting an external canister through a vacuum hose.
The ‘Marinate’ mode develops vacuum in stages and gradually infuses marinade into the item being marinated.
The display will show a value of ‘0’ when a marination cycle is complete.
The cycle can then be manually repeated as per the user’s need.
NESCO Deluxe Vacuum Sealer VS-12 is a smart choice for people who want to vacuum seal a few bags at a time and are interested to customize the sealing and vacuuming capability of the equipment to suit their needs.
6. Blusmart
6.1 Blusmart HOK00055 Vacuum Sealer
Blusmart HOK00055 is a compact vacuum suction sealer that incorporates a lot of exciting features.
It has a fully automatic lid design operated by soft-touch digital buttons to lift the lid and to close it back after placing the food bag (the lid then opens automatically after completion of vacuuming and sealing operations).
This feature not only makes the use of this vacuum sealer extremely convenient (by eliminating the need to manually press and close the lid) but also ensures a high-quality seal by application of uniform pressure across the sealing surface.
Other helpful features include a built-in weighing scale, LCD display, removable drip tray for easy cleaning, and a built-in bag cutter.
This vacuum sealer is shipped with a ‘Full Starter Kit’ consisting of 10 medium vacuum bags, one vacuum bag roll, and a vacuum hose.
This hose can be connected to any external food container to marinate or vacuum seal it.
Food can be marinated in a vacuum bag or the hose can be connected to an external container if the food portion is large.
To initiate marination, press ‘Vacuum Marinate’ option from the display – this will hold vacuum in the connected vacuum bag or container for a few minutes.
The marination time can be extended by repeating the process as many times as desired.
Automatic operation coupled with several convenient auxiliary features helps Blusmart HOK00055 stand out in the vacuum sealer market.
This can be the right fit for people looking to minimize their manual interaction with a vacuum sealing machine.
7. Comparison Table
FoodSaver V4400 |
Avid Armor USV20 |
Wevac CV10 |
Vesta SmartVac with Quick Marinate function |
NESCO VS-12 Vacuum sealer with Marinate Function |
Blusmart HOK00055 Vacuum Sealer with Marinate Option |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brand |
FoodSaver |
Avid Armor |
Wevac |
Vesta |
NESCO |
Blusmart |
Model |
V4400 |
USV20 |
CV10 |
Chamber Vac Elite |
VS-12 |
HOK00055 |
Color |
Black and Silver |
Black and Silver |
Black and Silver |
Black and Silver |
Black and Silver |
Black and Silver |
Dimensions |
16.14″ W x 7.09″ D x 7.85″ H |
14” W x 12” D x 8.25” H |
11.2″ W x 13.5″ D x 7.4″ H |
15″ W x13.4″ D x5.4″ H |
17″ W ×15″ D ×9″ H |
17.72″ W x 5.51″ D x 7.48″ H |
Weight |
10 lbs. |
17.55 lbs. |
17.82 lbs. |
13.45 lbs. |
10 lbs. |
5.24 lbs. |
Time to Vacuum Seal |
Maximum 30 seconds |
18 – 69 seconds (adjustable) |
Adjustable |
Maximum 105 seconds |
Adjustable |
Information not available |
Pulse Feature |
Present |
Feature not available |
Feature not available |
Present |
Present |
Feature not available |
Sealing Modes |
Accessory Mode/Marinate Mode |
Manual Time Setting/Auto Vac & Seal |
Smart Vac/Customized Vac/Marinate |
Smart Vac/Customized Vac/Marinate/Vac&Seal/Pulse Vac |
Vac&Seal/Manual Seal/Canister/Marinate/Pulse Vacuum |
Dry-Wet/Normal Vacuum/Soft Vacuum/Seal Only |
Built-in Cutter |
Present |
Feature not available |
Feature not available |
Feature not available |
Present |
Present |
Automatic Bag Detection |
Present |
Feature not available |
Feature not available |
Feature not available |
Feature not available |
Feature not available |
Automatic Moisture Detection |
Present |
Feature not available |
Feature not available |
Feature not available |
Feature not available |
Feature not available |
Compatibility Bags |
FoodSaver seal rolls, FoodSaver pre made bags, Freshsaver zipper bags |
Avid Armor Chamber Vacuum Pouches |
Wevac Vacuum Sealer Bags |
Vesta Precision Vacuum Seal Bags |
Any brand of vacuum sealer bags |
Any brand of vacuum sealer bags |
Bag Size |
All FoodSaver pre made bags, Freshsaver zipper bags |
6” x 10″/8″ x 10″/11″ x 10″ |
6” x 10”/6” x 12”/8” x 10”/8” x 12”/10” x 13” |
Maximum width 10″ |
Maximum width 11.8″ |
Maximum width 11″ |
Roll Size |
8″ x 10’/11″ x 10′ |
Roll option not available |
Maximum 8″ x 50′ |
Maximum width 10″ |
8.6” x 9.85’/11.8”x 9.85′ |
Maximum width 11″ |
Work with Wet/Juicy food |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Roll Storage Compartment |
Present |
Feature not available |
Feature not available |
Feature not available |
Present |
Feature not available |
Number of Bags you can Seal Continuously |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Cycle Time Between Seals |
20 seconds |
0 – 5 seconds |
30 seconds |
20 seconds |
One cycle every 2 minutes |
40 seconds |
Marinating Container |
Sold separately |
Sold separately |
Feature not available |
Feature not available |
Can be connected through external Vacuum Hose |
Sold Separately |
Negative Pressure Maximal |
508 mbar |
Information not available |
Information not available |
958 mbar |
850 mbar |
800 mbar |
Mason Jars Seal |
Yes (using FoodSaver Mason Jar Sealers, sold separately) |
Yes (using vacuum containers, sold separately) |
Feature not available |
Feature not available |
Yes |
Sold Separately |
Retractable Power Cord/Power Cord Storage |
Power cord storage chamber present |
Information not available |
Information not available |
Information not available |
Power cord wrapping posts present |
Feature not available |
Vacuum Hose |
Present |
Comes with vacuum containers (used for marination) |
Feature not available |
Feature not available |
Can connect with any external compatible hose adaptor |
Present |
Loud |
78-80 DB (relatively quiet) |
78-80 DB (relatively quiet) |
Information not available |
Relatively loud |
Relatively loud |
Relatively loud |
Cleaning |
Empty Drip Tray after each use |
Clean sealing chamber as per need |
Clean sealing chamber as per need |
Clean sealing chamber as per need |
Clean sealing surfaces as per need and condition |
Empty Drip Tray after each use |
Voltage |
120v |
120v – 60hz |
110-120v |
110-120v/220-240v |
110-120v |
110-120v |
Power |
128W |
300W |
Information not available |
270 W |
130 W |
Information not available |
ETL Certification |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Information not available |
Information not available |
Information not available |
Warranty |
5 year limited warranty |
1 year warranty |
Information not available |
2 years limited warranty |
1 year limited warranty |
1 year limited warranty |
Made in |
China |
China |
Information not available |
Information not available |
China |
China |
