The media could not be loaded.
I’ve been using a FoodSaver v4840 since early 2020 heavily - it lives on my kitchen counter. I’m a big-time batch cooker, sous vide-er, and I cook our dog food and portion it into individual portions. That’s A LOT of bag sealing for a home cook!Value ComparisonThe current comparable FoodSaver model looks like it’s $234. At $159.99, this is an excellent value!Superior Design Feature #1: Top-Close vs. Slide-InOne of the biggest things that stands out: you close the top onto the bag on the Vesta versus sliding the bag opening into a slot on the FoodSaver. This is such a better design!After years of heavy use, my FoodSaver is failing with how it catches and senses when the bag is inside. There’s no way to see inside the machine without pulling the drawer out and turning the whole thing upside down. You’re obviously not supposed to mess with internal components like that, but they do need cleaning - this feels like planned obsolescence on FoodSaver’s part.GAME CHANGER: Precise Seal Placement Saves Money!The top-close design means you can control exactly where you seal the bags! This is HUGE and will save me money - you use WAY FEWER bags from the roll.On the FoodSaver, you have to shove the open end into the slot until the machine registers it - at least a couple inches, more when you have a cube or thick item in the bag. With the Vesta’s top-close design, you waste minimal bag material!Superior Design Feature #2: Hold Seal Function!This vacuum sealer actually HOLDS the seal if you press the seal button during the vacuum process! It will stop vacuuming and hold the seal where it is without letting air in, then seal it.On the FoodSaver, if I interrupt the seal process by pressing seal while it’s vacuuming (even though it’s sufficiently vacuumed), it releases some air into the bag before sealing - super frustrating!Superior Design Feature #3: Double Seal!Each seal is actually TWO seals! Two parallel seams down the bag provide extra security against leaks.Extensive Real-World TestingI’ve put this through its paces with multiple applications:Sous Vide Chicken: Sealed about 6 bags of chicken with various herb rubs. One bag with a lot of pesto on the seal area didn’t fully evacuate air (though it did seal), but that’s just the learning curve with any machine.Souper Cubes: Sealed 12 x 1 cup Souper Cubes of frozen white bean and veggie soup. The precise seal placement was perfect for minimizing bag waste!Sourdough Bread: Made 4 boules, sliced them, and portioned slices into separate bags. Used the pulse button to remove just the right amount of air without squishing the bread. The hold seal function maintained exactly the right vacuum without releasing additional air - perfect bread preservation!The Zipper Bag/Container IssueOne consideration: while the vacuum hose attachment is specifically meant for mason jars, it doesn’t work for vacuum zipper bags or special vacuum containers with the little vacuum buttons on them. Vesta sells a separate handheld machine for this, but the FoodSaver has this integrated in the hose attachment.I have a lot of the zipper bags and containers (I especially like using them for parmesan cheese to keep it fresh between microplaning), so I unfortunately still need both machines.Electrical Issue - Use CautionNote of caution: I’ve noticed that when I leave it plugged in, my circuit trips and I have to reset it. The circuit doesn’t blow immediately.This could indicate the unit is drawing standby power or there’s a minor electrical issue. I’d recommend unplugging when not in use as a safety precaution. This may be specific to my unit or my home’s electrical setup, but worth mentioning.Perfect ForHeavy-use home cooksSous vide enthusiastsBatch cooking and meal prep (Souper Cubes!)Sourdough bread preservationDog food portioningAnyone frustrated with FoodSaver’s wasteful designBudget-conscious vacuum sealers who want to save on bagsKey Advantages Over FoodSaverPrecise seal placement = less bag waste = money saved!Hold seal function prevents air from re-enteringTop-close design (easier to clean, better visibility)Double seal for extra securityBetter value ($160 vs $234)What You’ll Need SeparatelyHandheld vacuum sealer if you use zipper bags/containers with valve buttonsBottom LineAfter extensive testing with chicken, soup cubes, and bread, this is superior to FoodSaver in every way except zipper bag compatibility. The precise seal control and hold function are game-changers that save money and preserve food better!
