15 Reasons Why Vacuum Sealers Are More Useful Than You Think

Buy a vacuum sealer to keep things dry and food fresh.

The Most Useful FoodSaver Tips And Tricks

After hearing my daughter rave about her FoodSaver, I started looking into vacuum sealers to find out if I was missing out by not yet having one of my own. I ended up finding so many great vacuum sealer tips that before I knew it, this blog post had more or less written itself!

Below, you’ll find 15 smart and practical FoodSaver tips and tricks — or any other brand of vacuum sealer! And if these vacuum sealer hacks end up persuading you to get one for your own kitchen, at least we’ll both be in good company! ;-)

For food-specific vacuum sealer tips that will save you money and reduce food waste, visit the link below!

Related: Want To Save On Food? This Is The One Kitchen Gadget You Need

15 Genius Vacuum Sealer Tips

Buy a vacuum sealer to save money on food by buying in bulk then packaging in smaller portions.

1. Save By Buying In Bulk

You can save a considerable amount on your grocery bill by buying meat and veggies in bulk, or at least larger quantities than you might be used to. Portion them out into typical serving sizes, then vacuum seal and freeze whatever you won’t use right away.

Related: This Is What You Should (And Shouldn’t) Buy In Bulk

2. Avoid Spills In Transit

Going to a potluck? Avoid spills and accidents in transit by vacuum sealing your food beforehand. It’s also a great way to take food along without having to bring a container, which is a bonus if you tend to be forgetful about that sort of thing. ;-)

Use a vacuum sealer to seal individual microwave meals that you can freeze until you need a quick dinner.

3. Make Your Own Microwave Meals

Make your own “ready meals!” Arrange your leftovers on a heavy-duty waxed plate, then slip the whole thing into a bag, vacuum seal it, and stash it in your freezer. Take one to work to microwave at lunchtime, and make sure to check the temperature often while it’s heating. (Every 30 seconds or so should do the trick!)

4. Freeze Bananas For Future Banana Bread

If you have bananas that have taken a downward turn in terms of freshness, keep them for a future batch of delicious homemade banana bread! Place your bananas in a bag, vacuum seal them, and store in your freezer until you’re ready.

For fresh citrus juice whenever you need it, use a vacuum sealer to prepare individual portions for the freezer.

5. Freeze Portioned Citrus Juice

When a recipe calls for lemon or lime juice, you can’t beat the fresh stuff! Buy lemons and limes in season, juice them all at once, then freeze the juice in ice cube trays or a silicone mold. Place the frozen cubes in a FoodSaver bag, vacuum seal it, and store it in your freezer until needed.

If you just need a tablespoon or two of juice for a recipe, just remove one or two cubes at a time. If you need a lot, pull the whole bag out of the freezer, let the cubes thaw, then cut off a corner of the bag and pour out the juice.

Related: This Hack Gets The Most Juice Out Of Limes And Lemons

Use Rolls To Make Bags Of Any Size!

  • While pre-cut bags are conveniently pre-sealed on one end, heat-seal rolls are a much more versatile option in many situations.
  • With a roll, you can make bags as short or long as you want to avoid unnecessary waste.
  • You can even make mini bags by cutting the roll down the middle (though you will have to seal an extra side!)

6. Make Breakfast Quick And Easy

Breakfast sandwiches are a great on-the-go option, but they can take some time to make. Speed things up considerably by assembling several at once, then seal them in individual bags and freeze them. Just heat up a sandwich in the microwave for a speedy and delicious breakfast!

Keep snacks fresh by sealing bags of pretzels and even chips with your vacuum sealer.

7. Keep Your Snacks Fresh

Instead of transferring uneaten potato chips to another container, use a FoodSaver to vacuum out most of the air out and seal the original bag to keep them fresh. (I say ‘most of the air’ because the vacuum cycle can crush fragile chips, though pretzels and other sturdier snacks can take the pressure!)

8. Save Seeds

Vacuum seal seeds from your garden to use next year (and the year after that, and the year after that…)

Use a vacuum sealer to prevent toiletries from leaking in your luggage - just seal the containers in a bag.

9. Prevent Toiletry Leakage

Avoid toiletry explosions when traveling by using your FoodSaver to seal them up in bags. You can virtually eliminate the chance of facing a gooey mess when you open your suitcase!

You can also seal your own survival kit with necessities like a flashlight, flares, matches, and first aid materials. It won’t take up a lot of space, plus it’ll be waterproof until you open it.

10. Preserve Photos

Keep photos safe from dust, dirt, and insects in a (gently) vacuum-sealed bag.

Use a vacuum sealer to keep dust and insects out of your yarn, plus you can store a lot more in a smaller space.

11. Shrink Your Yarn

Store and organize your yarn in vacuum sealed bags. Not only will it help keep your yarn dust- and tangle-free, but it will take up a fraction of the space too. (And if you use the extra space as an excuse to get even more yarn… well, your secret is safe with me.) ;-)

12. Pre-Freeze Wet Foods

To vacuum seal and save wet or moist foods, but it’s a lot easier if you freeze them first. Place the item on a cookie sheet and place it in your freezer to “flash-freeze.” Once the food is solid, slip it into your bag and vacuum seal it. This is a great way to store all sorts of delicious fruits while they’re in season, like peaches, berries, tomatoes, etc.

Related: How To Freeze 20 Foods To Save Money And Make Life Easier

Use a vacuum sealer to protect your seasonal linens from silverfish and moths. Seal them up and they'll stay clean and fresh til you need them again.

13. Protect Seasonal Items

Seal up seasonal linens and clothes to keep them clean and dry until they’re needed. (This is another idea that could potentially save you a lot of storage space!)

14. Pre-Freeze Liquids

You can also use the “flash-freeze” method I described above to store liquids. Just pour the liquid into a traditional freezer bag or a shallow freezer-safe container. Place it in your freezer until it solidifies, vacuum seal the frozen disk/block of liquid in a bag. You can easily store your favorite soups and homemade broths for months this way.

Individual honey sticks are easy to make with a vacuum sealer and some straws, and they're super convenient.

15. Make Your Own Honey Sticks

Use your vacuum sealer to make your own honey sticks. Just seal one end of a clear, plastic straw and then fill the straw with honey. Then seal the other side.

They’re a great way to take honey on-the-go for snacks or a cup of tea. They also make a thoughtful gift!

Do you have any vacuum sealer tips you would add to this list?

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Jill Nystul Photo

Jill Nystul (aka Jillee)

Jill Nystul is an accomplished writer and author who founded the blog One Good Thing by Jillee in 2011. With over 30 years of experience in homemaking, she has become a trusted resource for contemporary homemakers by offering practical solutions to everyday household challenges.I share creative homemaking and lifestyle solutions that make your life easier and more enjoyable!

About Jillee

Jill Nystul

Jill’s 30 years of homemaking experience, make her the trusted source for practical household solutions.

About Jillee

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