Anova Vacuum Sealer Pro Review

I’ve had my fair share of experience with vacuum sealers. Maybe more than my fair share, as these appliances started becoming commonplace in restaurant kitchens at least a decade before they became the go-to investment for intrepid home cooks looking to expand their culinary repertoire. At one point, it would have been unimaginable to think that the large vacuum sealers I worked with in restaurants would ever make it to the home market. Luckily, time and technology have made big waves in this sector, and vacuum sealers today are much smaller and more efficient than the ones I cut my teeth on. 

Recently tasked with testing home vacuum sealers, I got a full overview of the spread that’s available today. From ultra-compact handheld sealers to trimmed-down versions of the same type of chamber sealer I worked with at Eleven Madison Park, these appliances have a lot to offer the home chef. Useful for both storage/preservation and cooking, a good vacuum sealer can save you hundreds of dollars a year.

Of the 25 models we tested, the Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro proved to be the best overall, with plenty of useful functions and features in a slim profile. More compact than the Anova Chamber Sealer and more powerful than the brand’s base model, the Pro has modes for wet and dry ingredients, a manual pulse option for ultimate control, and a port for using the hose accessory. This accessory can be paired with things like Mason jars and rigid plastic food storage containers for removing excess air and prolonging shelf life. Overall, it’s the perfect choice if you’re considering adding a vacuum sealer to your kitchen.

Why It’s Great

The Anova Pro’s Locking Handles Save Space

Many vacuum sealers have some kind of handle that lifts the top of the machine so that you can place the bag’s edge in before sealing. The Anova Pro has a swivel handle that lifts during use, then folds down and locks during storage. Unlike other vacuum sealers we tested, the handle does not stick out awkwardly, so the entire unit can pack flat.

Double Seals Won’t Budge

Anova uses double-sealing technology on all its sealers. That means two metal bars heat up to melt the plastic bag shut when you set the machine to seal. Double seals mean double the strength. When we tested the Anova Pro, the seal never budged or failed despite high water temperatures and long stints in the water bath. While we would expect that from any sealer, a surprising amount of other brands did fail under certain conditions. That’s the last thing you want to happen after you’ve shelled out for a pair of primo duck breasts to sous vide for a special occasion.

The Anova Precision Pro vs. the Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer

Anova does make a base model that did well in our testing, but overall I prefer the Pro. The Pro is slightly more expensive, but that price increase comes with a lot of bang for the buck. First, it is a bit larger, which allows it to have room to store a roll of bags and a cutter. I don’t know about you, but I hate to have to dig around for accessories when I go to start a kitchen project and I can really appreciate an appliance that houses everything I need in one unit.

The second big difference is that the Pro model has a few extra features, namely a port for a hose attachment and two special buttons: moist and dry. The moist and dry buttons come with built-in smart technology that allows the sealer to decide how much suction to apply based on the contents of the bag. This takes a lot of pressure off the user and allows for a more hands-free experience. The hose attachment is meant to pair with certain kinds of jars and rigid food storage containers—a nice extra.

The last difference that I consider to be the most crucial is that the Pro has a locking lid. The swivel handle lifts to open the top then closes and clamps down tight after you add a bag. Ultimately, this led to a more secure sealing process and virtually eliminated any issues with the bag becoming crooked or misaligned during sealing.

The Verdict

It was hard for me to find many faults with the Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro, which I consider to be one of best vacuum sealers available on the market today. It’s the perfect choice for both the occasional and frequent user, with all the necessary features to seal everything from bony cuts of meat to delicate crackers. Everything comes housed in a simple, compact body that even includes storage and a cutter for plastic bags.

The Pros

The Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro is sleek and streamlined, with intuitive, simple controls. It’s one of the only models on the market that explicitly lets you seal liquids in the bag (hello, marinade). Surprisingly, the powerful double-sealing heating strip that seals the bag isn’t bested by a little water on the plastic, like other sealers were. Also unlike other vacuum sealers, the Pro doesn’t need a refractory period in between sealings and can seal bag after bag with no issue. Anova claims the machine can handle up to 100 continuous sealings if the situation should ever arise.

The minimalist design isn’t just for looks—it also has fewer cracks and crevices for food and liquids to get trapped. It’s lightweight and compact enough to store in a drawer, with no bulky handles or parts that jut out. Built inside the interior is a handy compartment designed to store a roll of plastic bags. There’s an attached cutter so that you can feed the bag directly from the storage area to the sealing area in one fluid motion.

The Cons

The Anova Pro is pricier than models with comparable performance when not on sale. Other than that, the manual could be a bit more instructive, like including text to accompany the diagrams that explain how to use the sealer.

Key Specs

• Weight: 5 pounds
• Number of settings: 3
• Dimensions: 14.75 x 7 x 4 inches
• Included accessories: 1 18.9-inch hose attachment, 1 roll of bags
• Built-in storage and bag cutter?: Yes
• Continuous seals: 100
• Time-out period between sealings: None
• Pulse setting: Yes
• Warranty: 2 years

FAQs

Is the Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro better than other Anova vacuum sealers?

While we do appreciate the aspects of Anova’s other sealers, including the base model and the chamber model, if we had to pick just one to buy it would be the Pro. It strikes just the right sweet spot in terms of size, power, and price.

Does the Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro only work with the Anova sous vide machine?

If you want to start using sous vide cooking techniques, it’s true that you’ll need a vacuum sealer and a sous vide machine. That being said, there’s no reason that you have to use the same brand for both products. While we love the Anova vacuum sealer, you could use any vacuum sealer to prepare food for a trip in the sous vide bath. Likewise, if you have an Anova vacuum sealer, you aren’t limited to using the brand’s immersion circulator. We also like the Breville Joule Turbo Sous Vide, which is compact but powerful.

How do you use a vacuum sealer for sous vide?

The term sous vide translates to “under vacuum” and refers to an ingredient that’s sealed in a vacuum-sealed bag and cooked in a water bath. While you could get away with a passable substitution by squeezing all the air out of a sealable plastic bag, you would most likely face leakage which could ruin your dish. The best way to avoid this pitfall is to spring for a vacuum sealer, which removes every last bit of air and seals the bag securely for cooking in water. 

Can you freeze vacuum-sealed food?

Yes, and it’s one of the best reasons to get a vacuum sealer. Unlike other methods of food storage which are prone to letting in air and thus, freezer burn, vacuum-sealed food is completely protected from the harsh environment of the freezer. Even unappealing flavors and aromas from the freezer can’t penetrate the thick plastic bags used for vacuum sealing.

Why We’re the Experts

• Taylor Murray has been working in food and food media for over 10 years, including in award-winning restaurants. 
• She has tested numerous items for Serious Eats, including tagines and deep-dish pizza pans.
• Taylor helped test 25 vacuum sealers, including the Anova Pro. We used them to seal frozen ground beef, bone-in pork chops, oil-soaked sponges, ping pong balls, and delicate Chex cereal. We also evaluated how easy they were to handle and use.