Geryon E2900-MS Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product Geryon E2900-MS | |||||
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Awards | Best Overall Vacuum Sealer | Best for Delicate Foods | |||
Price | $70 List $35.70 at Amazon | $50 List | $70 List | $70 List $59.00 at Amazon | $90 List $76.26 at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | While not a leader in any of our evaluations, this model is nonetheless functional and quite inexpensive | This affordable and convenient unit can seal up to 30 bags in a row while remaining gentle on tender food | This relatively inexpensive unit is packed with convenience features, is easy to operate, and has a soft touch for delicate foods | This sealer offers above-average performance particularly in delicate foods assessment | Finishing with a very low score, it's hard for us to get excited about this sealer |
Rating Categories | Geryon E2900-MS | Amazon Basics Vacuu... | Mueller Vacuum Sealer | NutriChef PKVS18BK | Nesco VS-02 |
Sealing Performance (40%) | |||||
Convenience (30%) | |||||
Delicate Foods (20%) | |||||
Suction Power (10%) | |||||
Specs | Geryon E2900-MS | Amazon Basics Vacuu... | Mueller Vacuum Sealer | NutriChef PKVS18BK | Nesco VS-02 |
Measured Vacuum Strength @ 6200' | 16.5 -inHg | 14.5 -inHg | 19 -inHg | 18 -inHg | 18.8 -inHg |
Measured Weight | 2.2 lbs | 3.1 lbs | 2.7 lbs | 2.9 lbs | 4.8 lbs |
Air Suction Hose Included? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Removable Tray? | No | No | No | No | No |
Built-in Roll Storage? | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Built-in Bag Cutter? | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Measured Seal Thickness | 2 mm | 3 mm | 2 mm | 2.5 mm | 1.5 mm |
Measured Average Seal Time | 6 seconds | 9 seconds | 6 seconds | 7 seconds | 6 seconds |
Our Analysis and Test Results
In our quest to find out which of these products is really the best vacuum sealer, we bought all the most promising and well-reviewed models. We then tested them side-by-side until we had a clear winner, scoring each product on four different attributes. The Geryon was not a competitor for a podium position. However, it's not a terrible machine. Read on for the details of its high and low points in our testing metrics.
Performance Comparison
Sealing Performance
We ranked and graded each vacuum sealer on how fast it could seal several different types of foods, the number of bags it could seal in a row, how thick the seal is, and if the pump could maintain the pressure inside the bag when manually sealing. All of these factors come into play when you are storing large batches of food and can help keep your process streamlined and organized.
The Geryon came in a bit below average with the number of bags it could seal in a row. Where the class average was ~13, the Geryon could manage 12. Moreover, this product lets a ton of air into the bag when you attempt to seal a bag already under pressure manually.
At 2mm, the bag seal's heating element is also slightly thinner than average by about 0.5mm. This measurement is narrower than we like to see, and we prefer a thicker seal like the one found on the Weston Pro 2300. However, you can remedy this with a double seal if you want to ensure that the bag is airtight, though this will lengthen the unit's already middling working time. Case in point, the Geryon took an average amount to seal four slices of bread, same with the cup of dried rice. Yet it took a little longer with the four sausages in our sealing time tests. It put up an average time for sealing a pound of ground beef as well, though it left a little more air in the bag than is preferable.
Convenience
Next, we ranked each of these kitchen appliances on how much of a hassle it is to use correctly. If it is too much work to pull out the machine and attempt to use it, it is unlikely to see any use at all. We compared the difficulty in cleaning each sealer, whether or not there is an easy way to store a roll of bags and cut them to size if the buttons and overall interface are easy to operate, and if the lid locks down while sealing. Additionally, we took stock of any attachments for sealing other types of containers like mason jars or wine bottles.
While the Geryon doesn't have built-in storage or a bag cutter, it earns a few points by being exceptionally light and not taking up a ton of counter space. The lid also locks down while in use, and there is an included pump attachment that lets you seal certain types of containers, including bottles of wine, if you are so inclined. It also has push buttons that prevent accidentally activating an unwanted function.
Unfortunately, this product lacks a removable drip tray, so cleanup can be a bit of a pain if you accidentally spill or suck liquid into the machine. We also found the touchscreen buttons overly sensitive and easy to actuate accidentally.
Delicate Foods
Next, we tested out how finely you can control the amount of vacuum applied to a bag as a means to preserve fragile foods. The primary method for controlling the amount of air removed from the bag is to pulse the pump by cycling the “Vac/Seal” and “Cancel” buttons. You want to see an instant response when depressing the cancel button while still maintaining the pressure in the bag. This process allows the trapped air time to work toward the bag opening without constricting the bag's contents. Unfortunately, the Geryon lets in a little bit of air with each pulse, so it isn't the easiest to use with delicate foods. However, with a little bit of fiddling, it can achieve a reasonably satisfactory outcome. In our tests, we used airy white bread as our delicate food, and we could usually seal it up without too much damage.
Suction Power
We measured the maximum vacuum that each of these machines could pull using a vacuum gauge for our final test. The Geryon finished out with a solid performance, pulling a vacuum that measured 16.5 inches of mercury — right about the average for our group.
Should You Buy the Geryon E2900-MS?
Overall, the Geryon E2900-MS isn't an amazing vacuum sealer, though it isn't a terrible one either. It's nice that it has a vacuum wine cork attachment and can be considered a multifunctional kitchen tool. It also has one of the lowest prices of the group, so it's an alright choice if you are looking for an inexpensive option that still performs the functions of a sealer to a respectable degree.
What Other Vacuum Sealers Should You Consider?
While there are better options out there, the Geryon is one of the least expensive models we tested, so it offers a decent value, especially if you're shopping on the tightest of budgets. That said, there are better options available for even less money. The Amazon Basics Vacuum Sealer is one of the top scorers and performed above average in most metrics. It also happens to be the most affordable option on our list.