Priced at around $70, the Rival VS107 Seal-a-Meal Vacuum Food Sealer is another popular choice. This machine can use Food Saver brand bags, or you can buy the Rival brand, which are slightly less expensive. These bags are not resealable. Most Amazon.com users were happy with their purchase of the Rival Seal-a-Meal.

Another low-cost choice is the Deni 1830S Freshlock Turbo II Vacuum Sealer, which you can get for around $40. Deni brand bags are slightly less expensive than their competitors. However, the vacuum pump on this device is simply not as powerful as that on the Food Saver and Rival models. It will not remove as much air from the bags, which means it will not preserve food as well. If you only plan to store food a short period of time, this may not be a problem. However, for truly extending shelf life and preventing freezer burn, it is better to pay up for a more efficient model.

Storage of moist foods is difficult with the Handi-Vac, and bags will not keep their seal indefinitely. This device is not the best choice for long-term storage. Another concern with the Handi-Vac is the fact that it uses batteries which will need to be periodically replaced.