Spent $180 on a chamber vacuum sealer in 2019, and I still argue with myself about it

Jade Hunt · 2026-09-25T03:20:04.103312+00:00

Back when I was running the line at a spot in Columbus, I dropped $180 on a chamber vac because our old suction sealer kept chewing up wet braises and sauces. For two years it was the best money I ever spent, compressing cucumbers, sealing short ribs for 48 hour cooks, and keeping my mise airtight through a brutal Friday push. Then the pump went out mid service on a Saturday and the repair quote came back at $260, more than the machine cost me. I switched back to a cheap $40 suction model for about a year out of spite and honestly it handled 80 percent of what I needed. Now the old chamber unit sits on a shelf in my garage like a lawn ornament, and I cannot bring myself to trash it or fix it. Anyone else got a piece of gear that paid for itself twice and then turned into a paperweight?

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Spent $180 on a chamber vacuum sealer in 2019, and I still argue with myself about it | Chefs - The Community Guide