For those of us with memberships to bulk retailers like Sam’s Club and Costco, stocking up on groceries, especially meats, seafood, and vegetables, is a common practice. Efficient food preservation isn’t just a convenience; it’s a necessity to prevent waste and maximize savings. Our journey with vacuum sealers began in the early 90s, evolving with technology to find the best solutions for extending food freshness. Today, we’re excited to delve into a comprehensive review of the FoodSaver FM5000 2-in-1 Food Preservation System, a machine designed to revolutionize how you store food. We’ll explore its innovative features, highlight its pros, and honestly address any cons, helping you decide if this countertop powerhouse is the right fit for your kitchen.

FoodSaver FM5000 2-in-1 Vacuum Sealer: An In-Depth Review for Optimal Food Preservation

Investing in a high-quality vacuum sealer is a game-changer for anyone serious about meal prepping, bulk buying, or simply reducing food waste. The FoodSaver FM5000 series promises to keep your food fresh up to 5 times longer than traditional methods, protecting it from spoilage and dreaded freezer burn. Let’s break down its functionality and performance.

Countertop Design and Footprint: A Robust Addition to Your Kitchen

Upon unboxing, the first thing you’ll notice about the FoodSaver FM5000 is its substantial presence. This machine is indeed sizable, comparable in footprint to a standard inkjet printer, which is a testament to its robust construction and integrated features.

PROs:

• Exceptional Durability and Build Quality: The FM5000 feels incredibly sturdy and well-built. This robust construction not only ensures longevity but also contributes to consistent, reliable sealing performance. There’s no flimsy plastic here; it’s designed to withstand frequent use in a busy kitchen.
• Smart Power Cord Storage: A thoughtful design element is the integrated power cord wrap storage at the back of the unit. This feature is incredibly convenient for maintaining a tidy countertop, preventing messy, dangling cords and making storage much neater. It’s a small detail that significantly enhances user experience.
• Integrated Roll Storage and Bag Making: A major reason for its size is the brilliant integration of bag roll storage and a built-in cutter, allowing the machine to create custom-sized bags on demand. This innovative feature eliminates the need to search for separate bag rolls and scissors, streamlining the entire sealing process. More on this convenience below.

CONs:

• Significant Countertop Real Estate: Its considerable size means it occupies a noticeable amount of valuable countertop space. For kitchens with limited counter area, this could be a concern.
• Weight and Portability: The machine is relatively heavy, requiring both hands to lift and move. While this contributes to its stability, it means it’s not ideal for those who prefer to frequently move their appliances or store them away between uses. We typically store ours in the pantry and bring it out when needed, which is a minor workout in itself.

Effortless Custom Bag Creation: Convenience at Your Fingertips

One of the standout features of the FoodSaver FM5000 is its ingenious system for creating custom vacuum seal bags. Gone are the days of fumbling with separate rolls and scissors. This machine integrates the entire process for maximum efficiency.

The process is incredibly intuitive: first, you make an initial seal on the bag roll by simply turning a lever. Then, you roll out the desired length of bag material and smoothly slide the integrated cutter across. Finally, you create a second seal, effectively completing your custom-sized bag and preparing the roll for the next use. This ensures your next bag is always ready to go.

PROs:

• Seamless Integrated Storage: The bag roll is neatly stored within the machine, eliminating the need to search for it in drawers or cupboards. This makes the entire operation fluid and efficient.
• On-Demand Custom Sizing: You can measure, seal, and cut your bags precisely to the size you need, right on the machine. This not only saves time but also significantly reduces material waste, making it more economical in the long run compared to using pre-cut bags. It’s a truly convenient “measure-as-you-go” system.

CONs:

• Open Roll Storage (Minor Quirk): The bag roll storage area is open, which means the roll can occasionally fall out if you pick up and move the machine abruptly. While this is a minor inconvenience, it’s easily managed if the machine primarily stays on your counter or if you handle it with care during transport. It’s not a deal-breaker, but something to be aware of.

Mastering Delicate Foods: The Avocado Challenge and Advanced Settings

One of the ultimate tests for any vacuum sealer is its ability to handle delicate foods without crushing them. Our personal “avocado challenge” perfectly illustrates this. Avocados, being soft and prone to bruising, have historically been difficult to freeze well without losing their texture and appearance. Standard vacuum sealing often sucks all the air out, but also squishes the fragile fruit into an unappetizing pulp.

We embarked on this challenge by sealing one half of an avocado in the FoodSaver FM5000, specifically utilizing its intelligent features.

PROs:

• Precision with PulseVac Setting: The FoodSaver FM5000 shines with its “PulseVac” setting. This innovative feature allows for manual control over the vacuum process, enabling you to gently remove just enough air without compressing delicate items. It’s perfect for fragile foods like fluffy muffins, baked goods, fresh berries, potato chips, or, as our experiment shows, avocados. This prevents them from being crushed into a “gummy bear” consistency.

Using PulseVac, I carefully extracted just enough air from the avocado bag, making a conscious effort not to over-compress it. As depicted in the image below (on the right), the avocado slices remained remarkably intact and distinct, even with a minor spread of avocado juice – a significant success compared to previous attempts.

For comparison, the other half of the avocado was placed in a standard, non-vacuum-sealed bag. Both were then frozen for precisely one month.

One Month Later: A Stunning Reveal

The moment of truth arrived after a month in the freezer. Hello, avocado!

Front:

Back:

The vacuum-sealed avocado emerged from the freezer still a vibrant bright green, with its slices clearly defined and separate. The removal of oxygen prevented oxidation and ice crystal formation, the primary culprits behind freezer burn and discoloration. Even while still frozen, the quality was evident.

Let’s open the bag to inspect further:

Beautifully preserved slices, ready for smoothies, guacamole, or a fresh salad.

Now, let’s look at the avocado stored in the standard bag:

The difference is stark. The avocado from the standard bag suffered from severe freezer burn, showing dark spots, a dull color, and a visibly deteriorated texture. This experiment clearly demonstrates the superior preservation capabilities of the FoodSaver FM5000.

Additional Advanced Features:

• MOIST and DRY Settings: Beyond PulseVac, the machine offers specific settings for “MOIST” and “DRY” foods. This intelligence prevents issues like liquid being sucked into the machine when sealing wet items (like a batch of marinara sauce or marinated chicken). The MOIST setting automatically stops the vacuum process at the opportune moment, ensuring a perfect seal without making a mess or compromising the machine’s functionality. This extends the machine’s versatility to a wide array of ingredients, from delicate herbs to hearty stews.

The Versatile Handheld Sealer: Extend Freshness Beyond the Freezer

The “2-in-1” designation of the FoodSaver FM5000 refers to its dual functionality: the main vacuum chamber for bags and an integrated handheld sealer. This accessory significantly expands the system’s utility, allowing you to vacuum seal FoodSaver containers for marinating or long-term refrigerator storage, as well as specialized zipper bags designed for everyday fridge and pantry items.

PRO:

• Revolutionary Refrigerator Storage: To truly test the handheld sealer, I vacuum sealed a yellow bell pepper using a FoodSaver container and placed it in the crisper drawer. Life happened, and I completely forgot about it for an astounding six weeks! As I’m compiling this review, I suddenly remembered my forgotten experiment: “THE BELL PEPPER!!!”

Immediately, I retrieved it and took these photos:

The results were astonishing. There was absolutely no mold. While the stem had darkened slightly and the bell pepper felt a little softer than fresh, it maintained its vibrant yellow color and, most importantly, was still perfectly edible! I promptly chopped it up and added it to a pasta sauce. This real-world test highlights the incredible power of the handheld sealer for extending the life of fresh produce, cheese, deli meats, and opened dry goods in your refrigerator and pantry.

Additional Features and Considerations for the FoodSaver FM5000

CON:

• Initial Learning Curve: With its array of slots, buttons, levers, openings, and hinges, the FM5000 can initially feel a bit overwhelming. Remembering the correct sequence of operations or which button to push first might take a few uses. However, like any sophisticated appliance, this complexity is a trade-off for its extensive versatility and feature set. After a few practice runs, the operation becomes much more intuitive.

PROs:

• Effortless Cleanup with Removable Drip Tray: A highly appreciated feature is the removable drip tray. Spills or accidental liquid suction can happen, especially with moist foods. This tray catches any excess, making cleanup a breeze and ensuring the internal components of the machine remain clean and hygienic.
• Convenient Hands-Free Sealing: The design allows for hands-free sealing once the bag is positioned. You don’t need to hold the bag down; simply use your knuckles to push the sealing bar, and the machine takes over. This makes the sealing process faster and more ergonomic, especially when dealing with multiple bags.
• Capacity for Large-Scale Preservation: For those who hunt, fish, or process large quantities of meat, the FoodSaver offers expandable bags. With these, you could hypothetically vacuum seal an entire turkey! This illustrates the machine’s capability to handle preservation tasks of almost any scale. (Image below is FoodSaver’s promotional material.)

CON:

• Premium Price Point: The FoodSaver FM5000 is an investment. FoodSaver directly sells the system (machine, starter bags, rolls) for around $199. While Amazon often has it for a slightly reduced price of $175, it’s always worth checking your local Sam’s Club or Costco. These retailers occasionally offer fantastic package deals that include extra rolls and accessories, making the initial outlay more palatable.

Despite the initial cost, consider the long-term savings. By extending the life of your food, you dramatically reduce waste, which quickly offsets the machine’s price. It’s an investment in freshness, flavor, and your wallet.

Final Verdict: Is the FoodSaver FM5000 Right for You?

The FoodSaver FM5000 2-in-1 Food Preservation System truly stands out as a top-tier vacuum sealer. Its robust design, intelligent bag-making system, precision sealing capabilities (like PulseVac and MOIST/DRY settings), and versatile handheld sealer make it an indispensable tool for modern kitchens. Whether you’re a bulk shopper, an avid meal prepper, a gardener preserving your harvest, or simply someone looking to drastically cut down on food waste, the FM5000 offers unparalleled performance and convenience.

While its size and initial learning curve are minor considerations, the long-term benefits of extended food freshness, preservation of nutrients, and significant cost savings from reduced spoilage far outweigh these points. It’s an investment that pays dividends in quality and economy.

Thanks for supporting Steamy Kitchen!

While we don’t receive compensation for our honest reviews, we do earn a small commission when you purchase through our affiliate links. Rest assured, your purchase price remains exactly the same, but we receive a nice little tip from retailers like Amazon that helps keep this site running and allows us to continue bringing you valuable content. We appreciate your support!

Additionally, for those looking for more budget-friendly bag options, we’ve been using compatible, non-FoodSaver brand bags for years with excellent results. They are significantly cheaper and work perfectly with the FM5000: