Yes, bag sealers do work. Their effectiveness is based on the technique and the bag material they’re sealing. Bag sealers use a small, heated element that melts and fuses layers of thermoplastic together. For the best results, you must preheat the sealer, apply steady pressure and pull it across the bag at an even speed. Moving it too fast can leave the bag unsealed. Moving too slowly can burn the plastic. They work well on smooth, standard plastic bags for candy and snacks or on specific bags for the sealer.

A food sealer is worth it for people who regularly buy meat or produce in bulk and want to reduce food waste. For people who buy family-sized packs of groceries like meat, fish or cheese, food sealers let you divide them into individual meal portions and freeze them without freezer burn. Extending the freezer life of food can help reduce food waste by preventing food from spoiling quickly.

No, you can’t use standard Ziploc bags or other resealable food storage bags directly in a food sealer. This is because their smooth plastic and lack of air channels prevent the sealer from pulling the air out. Also, the heat strip can melt or fail to seal the bag’s thin material. Standard Ziploc bags allow air and moisture to slowly seep in over time, which can lead to freezer burn.

Food stored in a vacuum-sealed bag can last up to 2 to 3 times longer than traditionally stored food. It varies based on where you keep it and the type of food being stored. Freezing vacuum-sealed food has the longest shelf life by preventing freezer burn and slowing oxidation. Vacuum-sealed bags in a refrigerator only add a shorter boost to preserving perishable items because vacuum sealing does not stop anaerobic bacteria growth on its own.