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Mason jars are the best pantry containers most people already own: glass, stackable, see-through and cheap. Pull the air out and they keep coffee, nuts, dehydrated fruit and freeze-dried meals fresher for longer, with no plastic bag to toss. The best mason jar vacuum sealer for you depends on how many jars you seal and whether you already own a bag sealer.
There are three ways to do it: a cordless electric jar sealer that sits on the lid, a jar attachment that plugs into a countertop sealer's accessory port, or a chamber sealer deep enough to hold the jars. We compare all three below. One rule first: vacuum sealing a jar is not canning, and we explain why in the safety section.
Quick picks
- Best Overall: Nesco VS-MJ-2N1. Best for most people who want a cordless jar sealer for regular and wide-mouth jars.
- Best for Big Batches: Avid Armor JARMAX. Best for freeze-dried food and bulk dry goods, six pints per cycle.
- Best for FoodSaver Owners: FoodSaver Regular and Wide-Mouth Jar Sealer Kit. Best if you already own a FoodSaver with an accessory port.
- Best Universal Attachment: Avid Armor Jar Attachment Hood. Best for owners of other brands with an accessory port.
- Best Bag Sealer for Jars: Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro. Best for buyers who want one machine for bags and jars.
- Best Cordless Combo: FoodSaver Handheld+ 2-in-1. Best for people who want a detachable cordless unit plus a heat-seal base.
Mason jar vacuum sealer comparison
| Product | Type | Best for | Jar sizes | Power | Needs another machine? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nesco VS-MJ-2N1 | Cordless electric jar sealer | Most pantries | Regular and wide mouth | Rechargeable | No |
| Avid Armor JARMAX | Chamber sealer | Big batches | Regular and wide mouth; 6 pints or 4 quarts per cycle | Plug-in | No |
| FoodSaver Jar Sealer Kit | Attachment | FoodSaver owners | Regular and wide mouth | Uses your sealer | Yes, a FoodSaver with accessory port |
| Avid Armor Jar Attachment Hood | Attachment | Other brands | Regular (2.75 in.) and wide (3.38 in.) | Uses your sealer | Yes, any sealer with an accessory port |
| Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro | Bag sealer with port | Bags plus jars | With a jar attachment | Plug-in | Needs a jar attachment |
| FoodSaver Handheld+ 2-in-1 | Cordless handheld plus base | Jars, zipper bags, bags | With FoodSaver jar sealers | Rechargeable handheld | Needs a jar sealer |
Specs come from manufacturer product pages, a manufacturer announcement and official retail listings.
The best mason jar vacuum sealers, reviewed
1. Nesco VS-MJ-2N1 Electric Mason Jar Vacuum Sealer: Best Overall
Who it's for: anyone who wants to vacuum seal jars of dry goods without buying or pulling out a countertop sealer.
This is the simplest route to sealed jars. Nesco describes the VS-MJ-2N1 as portable, cordless and rechargeable, with one-button operation, automatic power-off, and an LED display that shows battery power and seal time. It works with both regular and wide-mouth mason jars and comes with 5 wide-mouth lids, 5 regular-mouth lids, a jar opener and a charging cable. You set the lid on the jar, place the sealer on top and press the button.
Nesco lists the kinds of foods it is for, and they are all dry: dehydrated foods, nuts, rice, flour, bulk spices, oats, powdered milk, pasta, beans, coffee and cereal. It also states plainly that jar vacuum sealing is not equivalent to heat or pressure canning. Nesco does not publish battery capacity or a seals-per-charge figure.
Pros
- Cordless, no countertop sealer needed
- Regular and wide-mouth jars
- Lids and a jar opener included
- Budget price tier
Cons
- One jar at a time
- No published battery runtime
- Warranty terms not listed on the product page
Nesco VS-MJ-2N1 Electric Mason Jar Vacuum Sealer
by Nesco
2. Avid Armor JARMAX: Best for Big Batches
Who it's for: freeze-dryer owners, bulk buyers and pantry builders who seal dozens of jars at a time.
The JARMAX is a chamber vacuum sealer designed around jars. Avid Armor lists an 8.5 in. deep chamber that holds six pint jars or four quart jars standing upright per cycle, in regular or wide mouth, using the jars' own two-piece lids with the rings loose. Half pints stack on an included stainless wire shelf. For jars, Avid Armor's instructions are to set the vacuum time to 25 seconds and press Vac and Seal. Vacuum time adjusts from 25 to 99 seconds and seal time from 3 to 9.
It is also a full chamber sealer. The 10.5 in. twin-wire seal bar closes pouches up to 10 x 13 in. and Mylar up to 7 mil, there is a marinate mode, and a removable silicone liner with a pour spout handles spills. An accessory hose covers half-gallon jars that are too tall for the chamber. It weighs about 26 lb and carries a 1-year warranty. Avid Armor's own FAQ is clear that the JARMAX is not a canner. See our Avid Armor chamber sealer review for the rest of the lineup.
Pros
- Six pints or four quarts per cycle
- No jar attachment needed
- Also seals chamber pouches and Mylar
- Dry pump, no oil
Cons
- Premium price tier
- About 26 lb and a large footprint
- 1-year warranty
Avid Armor JARMAX Chamber Vacuum Sealer
by Avid Armor
3. FoodSaver Regular and Wide-Mouth Jar Sealer Kit: Best for FoodSaver Owners
Who it's for: people who already own a FoodSaver with an accessory port or a FoodSaver handheld.
If you have a FoodSaver, this is the low-cost way into jar sealing. The kit pairs a regular-mouth jar sealer and a wide-mouth jar sealer with an accessory hose. Each sealer fits only its own jar size: you put a flat lid on the jar, press the jar sealer over the top, connect the hose to your sealer's accessory port and run the canister or accessory cycle. Retail listings describe the jar sealers as working with FoodSaver vacuum sealing systems and fitting Mason-type jars.
The hose is designed for FoodSaver machines, so check fit before using it with another brand. The listings also state the jar sealer is not for canning.
Pros
- Budget price tier
- Covers both jar sizes
- Uses a machine you already own
Cons
- Requires a compatible FoodSaver
- One jar at a time
- Hose fit on other brands is not guaranteed
FoodSaver Regular and Wide-Mouth Jar Sealer Kit with Accessory Hose
by FoodSaver
4. Avid Armor Jar Attachment Hood: Best Universal Attachment
Who it's for: owners of Nesco, Anova, Avid Armor and other sealers with a canister or accessory port.
Avid Armor's hood is a single attachment for both jar sizes. Avid Armor lists a fit for regular (2.75 in.) and wide-mouth (3.38 in.) Mason and Ball jars, thanks to a built-in silicone gasket that conforms to the jar. It comes with an accessory hose with a universal connector, and Avid Armor says it works with most major-brand vacuum sealers that have a canister or accessory port. The material is BPA-free and stain-resistant.
You still seal one jar at a time, and you need a sealer with a port. The Nesco VS-12 Deluxe, the Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro and Avid Armor's chamber machines all have one.
Pros
- One hood for both jar sizes
- Works across brands
- Hose included
Cons
- Needs a sealer with an accessory port
- One jar at a time
Avid Armor Vacuum Sealer Jar Attachment Hood
by Avid Armor
5. Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro: Best Bag Sealer for Jars
Who it's for: buyers shopping for one countertop sealer that handles freezer bags, sous vide and pantry jars.
If you do not own a sealer yet, the Anova Pro is a strong all-rounder with jars in mind. Anova lists an accessory port with an included vacuum hose for jar lids, containers and wine bottles, alongside a double seal, moist and dry settings, and built-in roll storage with a cutter. It measures 14.75 x 7 x 4.3 in., draws 110 W and carries a 2-year warranty.
Pair it with a jar attachment, such as the Avid Armor hood above. For more bag-sealer options, see our handheld vacuum sealer and countertop guides.
Pros
- One machine for bags and jars
- Hose included
- 2-year warranty
Cons
- Jar attachment sold separately
- One jar at a time
Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro
by Anova Culinary
6. FoodSaver Handheld+ 2-in-1: Best Cordless Combo
Who it's for: people who want a cordless handheld for jars and zipper bags, plus a heat-seal base for freezer bags.
The Handheld+ is a countertop heat sealer with a detachable cordless handheld. In Newell Brands' launch announcement, FoodSaver says the handheld removes air from containers, jars, reusable bags and wine bottles, runs a 12-minute marinate cycle, and seals up to 35 quart zipper bags per charge. The base has a removable, dishwasher-safe drip tray, and the system works with FoodSaver jar sealers, Preserve & Marinate containers and bottle stoppers.
You still need the FoodSaver jar sealer for each jar size. If jars are your main job, the Nesco VS-MJ-2N1 is simpler; if you also want freezer bags, this is the more versatile kit.
Pros
- Cordless handheld for jars and zipper bags
- Heat-seal base for freezer bags
- Works with FoodSaver accessories
Cons
- Jar sealers sold separately
- Ties you to FoodSaver accessories
FoodSaver Handheld+ 2-in-1 Vacuum Sealing System
by FoodSaver
Buying guide: how to choose a jar vacuum sealer
How many jars do you seal at once?
A handful a month: a cordless sealer or an attachment is enough. Dozens after every freeze-dryer batch: a chamber machine like the JARMAX saves hours, because it evacuates every jar in the chamber on one cycle instead of one jar at a time.
Regular mouth, wide mouth, or both?
Regular-mouth jars have a 2.75 in. opening and wide-mouth jars 3.38 in., per Avid Armor's hood specs. Single-size attachments (like FoodSaver's) mean buying two; universal designs (the Nesco and the Avid Armor hood) cover both.
Do you already own a sealer?
Check for an accessory or canister port. If you have one, an attachment is the cheapest option. If you do not, decide whether you want bags too: a bag sealer with a port covers both, while a cordless jar sealer does jars only.
Electric or manual?
Cordless electric jar sealers are the fastest single-jar option. Attachments rely on your sealer's pump, so their vacuum is only as good as that machine.
Lids
You need the flat lid in good condition: no dents, and the sealing compound intact. For dry storage, many people reuse flat lids that still hold vacuum. For canning, use new lids as USDA guidance directs.
What to store in vacuum-sealed mason jars
Good candidates (pantry): coffee beans, nuts, seeds, rice, dried beans, pasta, oats, flour, powdered milk, crackers, dehydrated fruit and vegetables, freeze-dried meals, herbs and spices. These are the foods Nesco and Avid Armor list for their jar sealers.
Refrigerator or freezer only: soups, broths, sauces, cooked leftovers, cut fruit, salad greens, cheese and meat. Vacuum sealing slows quality loss, but these are still perishable.
Not for vacuum jars: anything you want to keep at room temperature that is moist or low-acid, such as vegetables, tomato sauce, soup or meat. That requires tested canning methods.
Food safety: jar sealing is not canning
- University of Minnesota Extension cautions that a vacuum-sealed jar may not be truly airtight, because the plastisol sealing compound on the lid is never heated, and that no heat treatment takes place. It also warns against vacuum sealing jars of hot food.
- Nesco states on its jar sealer page that jar vacuum sealing is not equivalent to heat or pressure canning.
- Avid Armor says the JARMAX does not heat, cook or sterilize food and does not replace a pressure or water-bath canner; dry goods can go on the pantry shelf, but anything perishable belongs in the refrigerator or freezer.
- Clemson Cooperative Extension (HGIC 3865) notes that vacuum packaging is not a substitute for safely processing perishable foods meant for room-temperature storage, because Clostridium botulinum can grow in moist, low-acid foods in a low-oxygen environment.
For shelf-stable vegetables, sauces and meats, follow the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning. Our step-by-step guide to vacuum sealing mason jars covers each method and its pitfalls.
How we chose
We did not test these products. We researched current jar sealers and attachments using manufacturer product pages, a manufacturer launch announcement and official retail listings, and compared jar compatibility, batch capacity, power source and whether another machine is required. We favored established brands that state clearly what their products can and cannot do. Specs we could not confirm, such as battery runtimes not published by the maker, are left out.
FAQ
Do mason jar vacuum sealers work?
Yes, for removing air from jars of dry goods, which slows staling, oxidation and pantry pests. They do not can food. University of Minnesota Extension notes the lid's sealing compound is not heated, so the seal may not be truly airtight, and nothing is heat-treated.
What is the best mason jar vacuum sealer?
For most people, a cordless electric jar sealer such as the Nesco VS-MJ-2N1, which handles regular and wide-mouth jars without a countertop machine. If you seal dozens of jars of freeze-dried food, the Avid Armor JARMAX chamber sealer does six pints or four quarts per cycle.
Can you vacuum seal mason jars with a FoodSaver?
Yes, if your FoodSaver has an accessory port or a handheld sealer. You need FoodSaver's regular-mouth or wide-mouth jar sealer and the accessory hose. Put the flat lid on the jar, fit the jar sealer over it, and run the accessory or canister cycle.
Is vacuum sealing jars the same as canning?
No. Canning heats food to destroy microorganisms and form a hermetic seal. Vacuum sealing only removes air. Nesco and Avid Armor both state their jar sealers are not a substitute for canning, so perishable food in vacuum-sealed jars must still be refrigerated or frozen.
Can I reuse canning lids for vacuum sealing?
For dry storage, many people reuse flat lids as long as they are not bent and the sealing compound is intact. For actual canning, USDA guidance calls for new flat lids. If a reused lid will not hold vacuum, replace it.
Verdict
The Nesco VS-MJ-2N1 is the best mason jar vacuum sealer for most pantries: cordless, both jar sizes, and nothing else to buy. If you seal jars by the dozen, the Avid Armor JARMAX is in a class of its own. Already own a sealer? Add the FoodSaver jar sealer kit or the universal Avid Armor Jar Attachment Hood and skip buying another machine. For long-term dry storage in bags instead of jars, see our guide to Mylar vacuum seal bags.