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Ditch the Tupperware! These best vacuum food storage containers can keep your food fresh for over a week
Food waste saviours or gimmicks? Our experts investigated
Tested by Blossom BoothroydHomes Testing Manager
We’ve all been there. You pop your leftovers in the fridge, push it to the back, and promptly forget about it. A few days go by until you remember, but by then it looks a little funky.
Don’t get us wrong, we love a good Tupperware container – they’re lifesavers for storing and transporting food. But they aren’t always airtight, leaving your leftovers at the mercy of mould. That’s where the best vacuum food storage containers come in. These clever solutions are designed to keep your food fresher for longer.
Here at the Good Housekeeping Institute, we’re always looking for ways to make your life easier, so we couldn’t wait to get some of the leading brands into our test kitchen to see if they lived up to their claims.
What is the best vacuum food storage container?
Best vacuum food storage set for versatility
Bosch ErgoMixx MS6CB61V5G Hand Blender with Vacuum Attachment
Read review
Vacuum food storage containers help keep your leftovers fresher for longer. They contain a mini handheld vacuum pump that removes the oxygen, so your food doesn’t degrade as quickly.
To put these containers to the test, we prepared a menu of foods that typically go off quickly (e.g. fruit, veg and crisps). We left them for seven days and used a regular food storage container as a control so we could compare the results. We then examined our food closely, from texture to appearance. We also used the containers to marinate meat and assessed the flavour and juiciness after cooking. You’ll find a full breakdown of how we test below our reviews.
Pros
- Containers are easily stackable
- Controls for the vacuum pump are responsive
- Containers are safe to use in the microwave
Cons
- Quite tricky to release the seal
- No difference in marinating meat when compared to the control sample
- Manual lacked advice on how long to keep different foods
Score: 83/100
Bipod’s vacuum pump is compact and intuitive to use. It easily slotted onto the top of the containers, effectively sealing each one. And it did a great job preserving crisps and popcorn – the snacks were slightly softer after seven days, but still had some crunch. By comparison, our control container left us with stale popcorn that was chewy and no longer enjoyable to eat.
Avocado and strawberries stayed fresh too with firm textures and vibrant colours – a vast improvement on our control container. However, some of the spinach came out wilted with only half still okay to eat and the regular container actually performed better here – but spinach is known to be tricky and shelf life can depend on whether any leaves are damp when storing.
Our tester didn’t find the vacuum container boosted the flavour of our marinated chicken, either. Instead, it turned out slightly drier once cooked, although this didn’t have an impact on the flavour overall.
You also can’t ignore that this is a very pricey set, and Bipod doesn’t sell any vacuum bags, which are easier to store and more versatile. Its containers are available in three sizes and six colours though, plus they washed well, with every lid easily fitting back on with no gaps or resistance.
Key specifications
| Included in set | Vacuum pump, small, medium and large containers |
|---|---|
| Freezer safe | Yes |
| Microwave safe | Yes |
| Price of extra containers | £29 for medium vacuum container |
Bosch ErgoMixx MS6CB61V5G Hand Blender with Vacuum Attachment
Pros
- Containers come with clips to help keep them sealed
- Vacuum seal was easy to release
- There’s a range of containers, bags and bottles available to buy separately
Cons
- Vacuum pump isn't available separately, making it costly to replace
- Containers are quite expensive to buy
- No glass containers available
Score: 81/100
The vacuum pump in this set also works as a hand blender, offering more versatility than other models. Swapping between the modes was easy – just remove the blending attachment and pop on the vacuum add-on. Two storage bags are included in the set, as well as a container that has a handy drip tray to draw away any moisture created from the food. There’s also a dial on the lid that you can set to track your food’s shelf life – another clever feature to help reduce your food waste.
But how did they fare when it came to keeping our testers’ food fresh? Well, popcorn was a real win – the snack looked fresh, felt firm and tasted crunchy and delicious, so much so that our tester said it was like “eating it fresh out of the packet”. The parsley lasted well too, but our cucumber had an unpleasant taste and some spinach leaves were slightly limp.
While our vacuum-sealed meat was juicy and succulent, there wasn’t a notable difference in the taste when compared to our control sample. Clean-up was a breeze though – the container washed well in the dishwasher, with no discolouration or warping of the lid.
Key specifications
| Included in set | Lid, measuring beaker, stainless steel mixing wand, beating whisk, universal shredder, 3 x large vacuum zipper bags, 3 x small vacuum zipper bag, 1.2L vacuum storage box, vacuum pump |
|---|---|
| Freezer safe | Yes, up to – 18C |
| Microwave safe | Yes, but no longer than 90 seconds at a max of 900W |
| Price of extra containers | £44.94 for 2 x 1.2L vacuum storage boxes |
Pros
- Versatile with lots of accessories available to buy including a seal topper for wine bottles
- Cordless design is compact and easier to store
- Connects to an app that provides information on how long to keep different foods
Cons
- No secondary clasps in case the clasp fails
- Vacuum bags are difficult to clean and dry
Score: 81/100
With a huge range of storage containers available in all shapes and sizes, you can easily keep everything well sealed and safely stored with this set – from fresh dips and sauces to dry goods like cereal and crisps.
Just like the other containers we tested, crisps and popcorn fared the best; the texture was still crunchy even after seven days out of the packet. The same wasn’t true for spinach, which was no longer okay to eat, and cucumber had an unpleasant aftertaste. Avocado was still good though, with only a slight change in texture and a more muted flavour.
Meat lovers will be pleased to hear that Zwilling’s vacuum set coped well in our marinating test. While there wasn’t a huge difference in flavour, the chicken was certainly juicier and more succulent after cooking.
Key specifications
| Included in set | Vacuum pump, 2L vacuum container, 0.9L vacuum container, 2 x small vacuum bags, 2 x medium vacuum bags |
|---|---|
| Freezer safe | Yes |
| Microwave safe | Yes |
| Price of extra containers | £17.95 for 1 x medium vacuum container |
Above: Avocado after seven days of storage in the fridge. Control/normal container (left) versus Bipod (right).
How we test vacuum food storage containers
To find out whether these clever containers lived up to their claims, our experts began by carrying out a leak test. They did this by testing whether each one was water-tight (which is an indication that it’s also air-tight). Each pot was filled with water and sealed using the vacuum pump, before being left upside down for five minutes to see if any water seeped through.
Then, they tested how well each container preserved food, preparing and sealing various ingredients and checking them across a period of seven days, comparing it to a control sample using a standard store-bought food storage container. On the menu was a range of foods that typically degrade in quality within a week, including crisps, popcorn, avocado, strawberries, cucumber, spinach, and parsley.
Our experts analysed the appearance of each ingredient every day without opening the container; on the final day, they removed the food and assessed the overall quality, checking if it still smelled pleasant, whether it was still fresh and whether the ingredients had kept their flavour (if safe to taste test).
As vacuum storage is also designed to speed up the marinating process, testers used a wet marinade on raw chicken, leaving half in vacuum storage and half in normal containers overnight. The next day, they cooked the chicken and analysed the difference in flavour and moistness between the two.
Finally, they checked the containers’ durability, ease of cleaning and use, overall design and clarity of instructions.
Why trust the Good Housekeeping Institute
We’ve been testing kitchen products and appliances at the Good Housekeeping Institute for 100 years and have used all this experience and expertise to design a set of protocols that analyse the functionality and effectiveness of these innovative products, using them exactly as you would at home, from marinating chicken to storing those avocado halves.
Our senior homes and lifestyle writer, Megan Geall, has researched vacuum storage in depth, meeting with leading brands to understand the benefits of the tech. After receiving the detailed results from our testing team, she translated the findings into easy-to-read reviews, putting herself in the shopper’s shoes to pull out the key data and feedback.
What are vacuum storage containers?
In a nutshell, vacuum food storage containers are designed to keep your food fresher for longer. They do this thanks to a mini handheld vacuum pump that sucks all the air from the container, eliminating oxygen and, in theory, preventing the food from going off as quickly.
Because, while chucking away the odd batch of leftovers doesn’t seem like a big issue, according to the UK Government, in just one year, we waste around 10.7 million tonnes of food, equating to about 25% of all produce purchased. But it’s not just our wallets that are hurt by all this wasted food; all the products we bin go to landfill where they generate greenhouse gases. So, anything we can do to reduce our food waste is good news.
How do vacuum food storage containers work?
Most vacuum food storage sets include a vacuum pump and a couple of plastic or glass containers.
All you need to do is pop your food inside, attach the vacuum (it looks like a mini hand blender), and push the button on the device to remove the air inside. The vacuum-sealed container should then have the correct pressure and conditions to keep your food fresher for longer.
But how much longer are we talking? Well, our winning vacuum food storage set from Bipod claims to keep ingredients fresh up to five times longer than standard food containers, preserving the nutrients and flavour and giving you more time to enjoy those leftovers.
These handy pots can also speed up the marinating process; the higher pressure helps to separate the meat fibres and create space for spices and herbs to penetrate.
If you just want somewhere to stash your leftovers or organise your batch cooking, we've also rounded up the best food storage containers, minus the vacuum pumps.
Things to consider when buying vacuum food storage containers
Type of vacuum pump: Some vacuums are sold as individual pumps, whereas others, like the Bosch model, can turn a hand blender into a vacuum. This is handy if you’re already tight on storage space and don’t want an extra appliance, but they’re typically more expensive.
Type of container: Generally, you’ll have the choice between glass and plastic containers, and plastic sandwich bags. Bags are great for marinades, whereas containers are better for stacking. Glass is typically more expensive too, but it offers better durability and heat resistance.
Size range: In our opinion, opting for a range of sizes is always helpful. From storing portions of berries to dividing up your meal prep for the week, having a selection makes them more flexible.
Our verdict on the best vacuum food storage containers
If we’re honest, these weren’t quite the miracle workers we’d hoped for. But while the results weren’t always perfect – there was too much spinach for that – vacuum food storage containers definitely did prolong the life of some of the items in our kitchen.
We noticed condensation appearing much quicker in the standard storage containers than in the vacuum containers, and all the food in the control containers had to be thrown out at the end of the seven-day test.
Below left: Popcorn and crisps inside a Zwilling container
Below right: Bosch's vacuum sealed bag, containing spinach
In contrast, the food inside our winning Bipod set was almost all edible (minus a few leafy greens that we picked out), making it the standout pick from our tests.
Bosch’s Ergomixx Vacuum Set produced a mixed bag of results. Crisps, strawberries and parsley were fine to eat, while cucumber and spinach had to be thrown out. The avocado would be fine for mashing, blending or making into a dip, but it was too soft for adding into a salad. Its versatility as a hand blender and affordable price tag means it still ticks lots of boxes though.
Finally, Zwilling’s Fresh & Save Set kept crisps, avocado and parsley fresh. Strawberries and cucumber were still okay to eat too but had started to lose their flavour and texture. Only the spinach had to be thrown away completely. This set also produced the best results when marinating chicken and is the best budget option we’ve tried.
Megan is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s senior homes and lifestyle writer. She loves diving into the latest product releases to find the very best buys on the market and has written hundreds of product reviews on everything from the best vacuum cleaners and coffee machines to the best ice cream makers and robot window cleaners.
When she’s not writing about the newest gadgets and gizmos for your home and garden, you’ll find her running every distance from 5km to 100km or relaxing at home with her cat – there really is no in between.
Megan has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously written for Stylist, Glamour, Women's Health, TimeOut, SquareMeal, and YOU magazine. You can find Megan on Instagram @meganlouisegeall.
Blossom is passionate about finding the best home products and appliances for GH readers. As head of the homes testing team, she has led reviews across multiple categories, from pizza ovens, and smart plugs to portable fans and hobs. She enjoys delving into the intricacies of products and refining testing protocols to ensure we’re testing them against their claims. Her aim is to find the top-performing products on the market, to help take the hard work out of housework. Blossom’s most notable accomplishment in the lab has been toasting 528 slices of bread in her quest to find the best toasters money can buy. In her free time, she openly admits to being a music geek and indulges her creative side through crocheting, baking, singing and writing.
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