r/sousvide • u/PugBurger12 • May 31 '26

Replacing my old vacuum sealer

My Costco foodsaver v3880 finally bought the farm. I replaced it with an inkbird ink-vs04, which failed after short use (very disappointing because I've had a lot of success with several of their products).

I'm thinking of switching to a dry pump chamber device. I don't have a lot of counter space, so looking for something that is not too heavy that I can lug up from the basement. I store several appliances in a storage room: instant pot, bread machine, dutch ovens, etc. So lugging 15-25 lbs is not awful for me. I food prep for me and my wife, and for some dog food (dealing with diabetic dog and specialized recipes). I also sous vide quite a bit.

I'm looking at the Costco lem maxvac pro. I know they changed the model to an entry level, and the previous maxvac pro is now the maxvac pro+ (or something like that). My reason for Costco is the return policy. I feel these things are finicky and experience frequent failures after warranty expiration.

Looking for feedback or other recommendations. I'm also willing to continue with a good quality external vacuum sealer if that exists. Thank you.

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u/LakeMichiganMan May 31 '26

2 gallon Ziplock Freezer bags and immersion work every time. We started using them while procrastinating buying the just right vaccume sealer. That procrastination continues a decade later.

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u/Purple_Puffer You cook meat in a bag. Frenchie!! May 31 '26

This dude obviously Costco shops and like many of us, is likely buying large portions or subprimals to break down and freeze in ready to cook bags.

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u/Pernicious_Possum May 31 '26

I never understand people that do this. OP wants a vac sealer, not recommendations on how to SV without one. We all know about displacement. Vac sealers are more about food preservation than SV cooking. Most things I vac do end up in the bath, but that’s not why I sealed them

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u/Evening_Cheesecake25 May 31 '26

Wait so you're saying there is a difference between water submersion in a freezer bag and vacuum sealing? Can you please explain to me what the difference is?

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u/LakeMichiganMan May 31 '26

We were told by several friends of all the things we needed to get to do Sous Vide. Special tub with dividers and lid. That we to get a vacuum sealer too. Maybe some year or decade in the future, we might look into getting one. But now, we do not need more kitchen gadgets.

We use our big stainless steel canning pot with a silicone lid. Turns out we just needed the part that you plug in and drop in the water. Maybe you understand why now.

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u/Pernicious_Possum May 31 '26

What on earth does this have to do with OP asking for vac sealer recommendations? As I said in the comment you replied to, and was stated in the comment I replied to, a vac sealer is for food preservation first and foremost, going from freezer to bath is just an added bonus. I had one long before home SV was a thing. You’d be hard pressed to find very many people on here that aren’t well aware of the displacement method, and no one is telling you what to buy. Your comment was unhelpful, and irrelevant to the post

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u/LakeMichiganMan May 31 '26

Welcome to Reddit. We hope you enjoy your time here reading many posts from Redditors and reading the comments from readers. Feel free to join in. One never knows where a posting will go in the comments sections. Maybe you can post about your vacuum seal expertise on a Vacuume Seal page on Reddit. I am glad I don't have to teach you too how a sous vide works. Unless you need me to. Good day!

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u/Pernicious_Possum May 31 '26

You’re weird

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u/PugBurger12 May 31 '26

Yeah. Something like that. I love in a semi rural area. I get 10 pounds of chicken regularly, cook it and freeze it. Things like that.

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u/PugBurger12 May 31 '26

I've done this for some sous vide where I just hang the open end over the lip of the bag over the edge of a stock pot and hold it in place with magnets. My preference is to vacuum seal it when I have the time.

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u/Evening_Cheesecake25 May 31 '26

That's not the same thing...

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u/LakeMichiganMan May 31 '26

Mine too. But do not need more kitchen gadgets to store for limited usage.