How to Choose the Right Commercial Food Sealer for Your Business

If you’re a restaurant owner, one of the biggest expenses you face is the cost of food. That’s why it’s imperative to eliminate food waste whenever possible. One of the best ways to ensure your ingredients and prepared dishes stay fresh longer is to invest in a food sealer. Choosing the right vacuum food sealer for your business’s needs can be overwhelming at first. By the time you’re done reading this article, you’ll have a clear path forward. Let’s get started!

Large Batch Cooking

Vacuum sealers allow your restaurant crew to make large batches of soup, stews, lasagnas, and casseroles and keep them fresh for longer. Cooking a dish during a slow period can help you save time when business picks back up.

Pre-Portion Ingredients

Make your kitchen line go even faster by pre-portioning out the ingredients of dishes that you make regularly. The added bonus is that your ingredients will stay fresher for longer!

Manage Bulk Ingredients

As a restaurant owner, you know that buying ingredients in bulk can help your bottom line—especially when it comes to expensive ingredients like meats and cheeses. Use a vacuum sealer to keep your ingredients fresh until you need them. In some cases, you can double their shelf life.

Reduce Food Waste

Vacuum sealers remove oxygen from the packages, limiting the production of the microorganisms that cause food to spoil. Vacuum-sealed frozen foods can last 2-3 years (only 6-12 months when stored conventionally). Refrigerated vacuum-sealed foods can last 1-2 weeks (1-3 days when stored conventionally). Vacuum sealing can drastically extend the life of your ingredients and provide a great deal of savings for your business.

How frequently will your restaurant use the vacuum seal?

If you’re vacuum sealing more than 30 times a day, choose an in-chamber machine.

What is the size of the food items you’ll be sealing?

The size of your package will determine how large (or small) of a machine you’ll need. 

Will you be sealing liquid? 

If the answer is ‘yes,’ make sure to choose a chamber sealer (external vacuum sealers cannot seal liquid unless it’s frozen first).

Let’s look at some additional pros and cons of in-chamber vacuum sealers and external vacuum sealers.

Chamber Vacuum Sealers	External Vacuum Sealers
In-chamber vacuum sealers operate by placing the bag and its food contents inside the machine. Air in the chamber and air in the bag are removed at the same time, which keeps the pressure the same and liquids in place. In-chamber sealers are more expensive than external sealers. However, in-chamber bags are less expensive. Ideal for medium to high processing operations, large batch cooking, and sealing liquids or liquid-rich foods. In-chamber sealers generally outperform external models and have more features available for customization and control.	External vacuum sealers operate by placing the bag and its food contents outside the machine. Special vacuum sealer bags are required for this type of sealer. One side of the bag is textured to allow for a better grip for the vacuum and seal. These bags are more expensive than smooth in-chamber bags. Liquids must be frozen before being sealed by an external vacuum sealer. Most external vacuum sealers are bar style. However, another option is a pistol vacuum sealer. It uses special bags where you attach the gun and manually draw out the air. Ideal for low food storage requirements. External sealers are less expensive but lack the range of features available with in-chamber models.

Are you ready to take control of your restaurant’s food costs? Take a look at our vacuum food sealers today! Don’t forget to shop for everything else your restaurant needs at everyday low prices at Zoro.

Product Compliance and Suitability

The product statements contained in this guide are intended for general informational purposes only. Such product statements do not constitute a product recommendation or representation as to the appropriateness, accuracy, completeness, correctness, or currentness of the information provided. Information provided in this guide does not replace the use by you of any manufacturer instructions, technical product manual, or other professional resource or adviser available to you. Always read, understand, and follow all manufacturer instructions.