Reviews You Can Rely On

FoodSaver V4400 Review

If you plan to seal many bags at a go, this machine is resistant to overheating while having convenience features that speed up the process
gearlab tested logo
FoodSaver V4400 Review (With all of its well thought out features, the FoodSaver V4400 leads the class in convenience.)
With all of its well thought out features, the FoodSaver V4400 leads the class in convenience.
Credit: Laura Casner
Price:  $210 List
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Manufacturer:   FoodSaver
By David Wise and Austin Palmer  ⋅  Feb 15, 2022
68
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#3 of 11
  • Sealing Performance - 40% 7.0
  • Convenience - 30% 8.0
  • Delicate Foods - 20% 5.0
  • Suction Power - 10% 6.0

Our Verdict

If you are someone who likes to meal prep in bulk, you'll be happy to know that the FoodSaver V4400 is a premium vacuum sealer that will work through bag after bag without a sag in performance. The unit is a bit bulky compared to its peers, but it has several ease-of-use and convenience features that will help speed up the work. Unfortunately, this unit's price tag does not reflect the money savings inherent in bulk grocery shopping. Yet, if you're willing to invest, this handy kitchen appliance isn't likely to let you down. To see how it ranks next to other top products we tested, see our full best vacuum sealer review.
REASONS TO BUY
Designed for heavy use
Easy clean-up
Decent ease of use features
REASONS TO AVOID
Bulky
A little rough on food
Narrow seal
Editor's Note: The FoodSaver V4400 review was updated on February 15th, 2022, with additional comparisons between models and tips on what we would buy for ourselves.

Compare to Similar Products

 
foodsaver v4400
This Product
FoodSaver V4400
Awards Top Pick Award
Best for Bulk Sealing
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Vacuum Sealer
Top Pick Award
Best for Delicate Foods
  
Price $210 List
$199.49 at Amazon
$50 List$70 List$70 List
$59.00 at Amazon
$120 List
Overall Score Sort Icon
68
72
69
64
64
Star Rating
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Bottom Line If a machine capable of sealing in bulk is what you're after, this convenient, though a bit bulky, machine has staying power while remaining easy to useThis affordable and convenient unit can seal up to 30 bags in a row while remaining gentle on tender foodThis relatively inexpensive unit is packed with convenience features, is easy to operate, and has a soft touch for delicate foodsThis sealer offers above-average performance particularly in delicate foods assessmentThis mid-size model is convenient and generally performs well across the board
Rating Categories FoodSaver V4400 Amazon Basics Vacuu... Mueller Vacuum Sealer NutriChef PKVS18BK FoodSaver FM2000
Sealing Performance (40%)
7.0
7.0
6.0
6.0
7.0
Convenience (30%)
8.0
7.0
6.0
6.0
7.0
Delicate Foods (20%)
5.0
9.0
10.0
8.0
5.0
Suction Power (10%)
6.0
5.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
Specs FoodSaver V4400 Amazon Basics Vacuu... Mueller Vacuum Sealer NutriChef PKVS18BK FoodSaver FM2000
Measured Vacuum Strength @ 6200' 16 -inHg 14.5 -inHg 19 -inHg 18 -inHg 15 -inHg
Measured Weight 7.8 lbs 3.1 lbs 2.7 lbs 2.9 lbs 3.7 Ibs
Air Suction Hose Included? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Removable Tray? Yes No No No Yes
Built-in Roll Storage? Yes Yes No No No
Built-in Bag Cutter? Yes Yes No No No
Measured Seal Thickness 2 mm 3 mm 2 mm 2.5 mm 3mm
Measured Average Seal Time 13 seconds 9 seconds 6 seconds 7 seconds 13 seconds

Our Analysis and Test Results

In a class of highly competitive products, the FoodSaver V4400 earned a leading position as a vacuum bag sealing workhorse. Where others require downtime after just a handful of bags, this Clydesdale keeps up the pace. Moreover, this sealer has several features like bag storage and an auxiliary pump that make it a pleasure to work with instead of a chore. All told, this machine left us with little to criticize, save the considerable price.

Performance Comparison


foodsaver v4400 - this unit is a leader in convenience and bag sealing longevity.
This unit is a leader in convenience and bag sealing longevity.
Credit: Laura Casner

Sealing Performance


Sealing performance looks at the aspects that collectively add up to a quality vacuum-sealed package. Our tests for this metric included the time to seal, the number of bags that the machine can seal consecutively, and the thickness of the seal itself. Suction strength, an essential aspect of vacuum sealing, is evaluated separately. This score is at the top of the group and only shared by the Amazon Basics Vacuum Sealer and the Weston Pro 2300.


We begin our sealing analysis by timing the start-to-finish time it took for the machines to seal up to four different foods: dry rice, ground beef, sausage links, and sliced bread. While the V4400 did well with the bread, all other foods required above-average times to package them. However, the V4400 made up lost ground by sealing 30 bags in a row without requiring a cool-down — an impressive feat to be sure and way above what the rest of the competition could do. This outcome is partly made possible by the narrow and, perhaps less durable, seal produced by the heating element. At just 2mm in width, the seal created by the V4400 is below the class average. While it would impede productivity speed, it's worth noting that you could seal each bag twice if one 2mm seal doesn't seem sufficient and still work through an impressive number of bags.

foodsaver v4400 - this hardy machine resists overheating issues as is evidenced by the...
This hardy machine resists overheating issues as is evidenced by the 30+ bags it can seal consecutively.
Credit: Laura Casner

Convenience


As the name suggests, the convenience metric evaluates both the benefit and ease of use of a vacuum sealer. Specifically, we looked at features that make a product easy to use, such as the control interface, accessories, and tools. We also made observations about cleaning and handling. The FoodSaver V4400 is undoubtedly a titan in this aspect. It earned one of the highest scores in the group.


While titan is often an overused term, the performance of the V4400 relevant to its peers warrants this preeminent designation. Before we get into what makes this unit so great, let's get our one critique out of the way. Simply put, the V4400 is big and heavy. 7.8 pounds, to be exact, this is a significant increase compared to the 2.7 lbs of the Mueller. This relatively minor physical anomaly aside, the unit has all the little ease of use designs that one could ask for in a sealer. Of primary interest are the onboard bag roll storage and cutting tool. Also, we enjoyed the auxiliary pump hose that allows you to remove air from a variety of containers. Considering that this sealer is designed for production, it's nice that most of the sealing process is automated. However, as we will see, this feature poses some problems when packaging delicate foods such as berries for a smoothie.

foodsaver v4400 - this auxiliary pump is just one of the features that put the...
This auxiliary pump is just one of the features that put the FoodSaver V4400 at the front of the pack for convenience.
Credit: Laura Casner

Delicate Foods


Packaging delicate foods is a bit more demanding than the uninitiated may think at first. Having experience with such matters, we devised a test to assess each machine for this subtle capability. As was mentioned above, the V4400 struggles with treating fragile foods with care.


The delicate food test is simple but revealing. We take two slices of bread and go through the sealing process as usual. However, as the vacuum bag starts taking the shape of the contents, we begin to pulse the motor on and off. This process allows the air time to work towards the bag opening sans constriction. On many units, this is a very effective technique. However, the V4400's automated action prevents such an operation. The airy open crumb of the white bread we used resembled pita bread after sealing.

foodsaver v4400 - the automatic sealing action of the v4400 is great for bulk sealing...
The automatic sealing action of the V4400 is great for bulk sealing but it makes no distinction between tough foods (like dry rice) and delicate foods (like white bread).
Credit: Laura Casner

Suction Power


The suction power analysis is purely objective as it is simply a measure of pressure expressed in inches of mercury (in. Hg). The FoodSaver V4400 delivered a middling performance in this analysis pulling just 16 in Hg. While this is not a huge deal — and certainly not a deal-breaker for us — it does mean that the unit does not even approach a true vacuum.


Should You Buy the FoodSaver V4400?


Collectively, our tested categories flip over every practical stone in the hunt for a top-tier machine, and the FoodSaver V4400 proved itself to be one of the best vacuum sealers. If you need to seal many bags in the shortest amount of time and aren't worried about crushing delicate foods, this is undoubtedly one of the best options to consider.

What Other Vacuum Sealers Should You Consider?


The V4400 cost a pretty penny, to be sure. On top of that, its overall performance was good but not top of the class. However, the fact that it excelled in sealing performance and convenience goes a long way. That said, we still think that the unit is more than a bit overpriced. If you are willing to sacrifice some convenience, the top two models that we tested both cost significantly less and delivered better performance in most metrics. The Mueller Vacuum Sealer is your best bet for delicate foods. The Amazon Basics Vacuum Sealer is a high-performing yet affordable option that also does well with soft foods and offers a bit more in terms of sealing performance and convenience than the machine mentioned above.

David Wise and Austin Palmer