Bonsenkitchen VS2100 Vacuum Sealer Review
Overall Verdict
The BonsenKitchen VS2100, a budget vacuum sealer, falls short in performance compared to mid and high-end models. It has a cheap-looking design with a faux metal lid made of plastic. On the upside, it's easy to clean due to its detachable top part. One positive point is its quiet operation, measuring at only 76.1 dBA, making it one of the quietest sealers we've tested.
Things We Like
- Affordable
- The lid is detachable for easier cleaning
- Control panel is simple and easy to use
- Quiet operation (76.1 dBA max)
- Very bright indicator lights
Things We Don’t Like
- Mediocre performance across the board
- Cheap-looking and flimsy build
- The lid is problematic to use and requires a lot of force to shut
As one of the cheapest vacuum sealers you can get today, it’s not surprising that the BonsenKitchen VS2100 has made its way into the shopping cart of lots of users. However, if you're wondering whether there's a catch to its low price, you're right to be curious. We put this sealer to the test, and the results were not very promising.
Here's our full report after a week of testing the BonsenKitchen VS2100 in our lab.
7.3 Performance
The BonsenKitchen VS2100 performed poorly in our tests. It couldn't meet the minimum passing score for both dry and moist food tests, primarily because of its weak suction in both tests and excessively long sealing time when handling moist foods.
4.8 Max Suction Strength Test
Out of the two performance tests, the BonsenKitchen VS2100 did better in the dry food test. However, its score was just average and didn't quite reach the minimum passing score for this category.
To be more specific, in the first test, the BonsenKitchen achieved a maximum suction of 31 kPA. In the second test, it managed to get a slightly higher suction level of 35 kPA. What's noteworthy is that it consistently completed a sealing cycle in just 6 seconds in both tests.
While the quick sealing speed is a positive feature, it couldn't fully make up for the relatively weak suction power of the sealer. Ideally, it should have a suction strength of 45 kPA or more to effectively seal bags with minimal air remaining inside.
9.7 Crunchy Food Breakage Test
10 Beef for Sous Vide Test
6.3 Design
The BonsenKitchen VS2100 has an unremarkable design, despite attempts to make it look premium with a faux-metal top lid. It's clearly a budget-friendly, entry-level vacuum sealer with a somewhat cheap and flimsy feel. One standout feature, though, is its detachable top portion, which greatly simplifies cleaning.
In the Box
The sealer comes in a simplistic cardboard box. Inside, you get the sealer itself along with some accessories:
- Pre-cut sheets of plastic bags
- An air hose and adapter
- A replacement foam seal
- Instruction manual
Weight & Dimensions
The BonsenKitchen VS2100 falls within the average size and weight range compared to most vacuum sealers in our database. It's not as compact as space-saving models like the Megawise VS6621, but it also won't occupy as much space as full-size models like the Anova Precision Pro. The weight is quite manageable, and most people should have no trouble picking it up with just one hand.
7.0 Build Quality
Our reviewers have described the build quality of the BonsenKitchen VS2100 as "acceptable." The designers have made efforts to enhance its visual appeal by giving the top lid a silvery, metal-like surface (though it's still made of plastic, just with a metallic finish). However, upon closer inspection, it’s hard to ignore the somewhat flimsy plastic components that clearly marked it as a budget product.
9.0 Control Panel
The BonsenKitchen vacuum sealer has a user-friendly control panel with five clearly labeled buttons. Unlike some other models we've tried, this one simplifies things by combining the food mode adjustment and cycle start into a single button. To get started, just pick either "Dry" or "Moist" depending on your food type, and the sealer will begin working.
If you only want to seal the bag without vacuuming, there's a "Seal" button for that. And if you need to pulse vacuum, hold down the "Vac" button, and the motor will keep running as long as you press it. Lastly, on the far right, there's an "Accessory" button that's handy when you want to use the sealer with an air hose and adapter.
5.0 Lid
When we initially unboxed the sealer, we noticed that the lid was quite loose. After a while of fiddling, surprisingly, we could pop the top portion of the sealer from the base with ease. There’s no mention of such a feature in the online product description when we first ordered the unit, so this was a rather panicky moment for us.
It was only after consulting the manual that we discovered this is a feature, not a bug. The top portion of the sealer contains all of the essential components, from the vacuuming motor to the heating bar. By popping off the top, you can clean the bottom part, which contains the vacuum channel, more easily without risking damage to the sensitive electronics.
Although it is convenient to clean, the removable design also equates to a more flimsy lid overall. It creaks and doesn’t feel solid when we lift or lower the lid.
0.0 Extra Features
The BonsenKitchen VS2100 doesn’t come with any extra features of note.
8.2 Usability
The BonsenKitchen VS2100 is user-friendly for the most part. The using experience is great, although it has a couple of drawbacks, such as a tricky locking mechanism and the absence of bag hooks, which can make bag alignment a bit challenging. However, it makes up for these drawbacks with its quiet operation, decent safety features, and bright indicator lights.
8.0 Ease of Use
Although the detachable lid of the BonsenKitchen is great for cleaning, it doesn’t contribute a lot to usability. The locks on the lid (which are ordinary latch locks) don't feel solid or evenly-placed. We had to use both hands to press down firmly on the lid to get it to click close. This can be an issue if you ever find yourself having to use the sealer one-handed.
10 Safety & Noise
Although it ruins the aesthetic of the sealer, safety-wise, we appreciate the sticker plastered on the top lid. Besides giving you a briefing on how to use the sealer, it also contains important safety information.
The BonsenKitchen’s noise level is moderate compared to other vacuum sealers we have in our database (most of which exceeds 80 dBA.) As such, if you prefer a quieter kitchen, the VS2100 will make for a fairly compelling choice.
7.0 Indicator Lights and Chime
There are five indicator lights that correspond to each button on the control panel. The lights are decently bright and are clearly visible even under harsh studio lighting, so if you were to leave the sealer next to the window, it shouldn’t be hard to monitor the sealer’s progress under direct sunlight.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with a chime, so until the indicator on top of your chosen vacuuming mode (“Dry” or “Moist”) turn off, which indicates the finishing of a working cycle, you’ll have no other way of knowing when the sealer has finished working.