BonsenKitchen VS2100 Vacuum Sealer Review
Overall Verdict
The BonsenKitchen VS2100 is one of the cheapest vacuum sealers you can buy right now, and the performance results reflect that. It struggled in all three of our performance tests, particularly in the max suction strength test, where it turned in the weakest numbers of any sealer we've tested to date. The build has a cheap-looking faux-metal lid and a lid mechanism that takes real effort to close.
Performance-wise, the VS2100 turned in decent results for crunchy food breakage and passed the sous vide beef test on the first attempt despite its low suction.
The detachable top makes it easier to clean than most budget sealers, the control panel is simple and well-laid-out, and it runs quieter than almost anything else in this price range. If those two things matter to you more than sealing power, the VS2100 has an argument. For most people, though, they won't be enough.
Things We Like
- Very affordable
- Detachable lid makes cleaning easier
- Simple, easy-to-use control panel
- Quiet operation at 76.1 dBA
- Bright indicator lights
Things We Don’t Like
- Weak performance across both food tests
- Cheap-looking and flimsy build
- Lid requires significant force to close and feels loose
As one of the lowest-priced sealers on the market, the VS2100 has ended up in a lot of shopping carts. We tested it for a week in the lab to find out what the low price actually costs you, and whether the VS2100 can find itself a spot among the highest-rated vacuum sealers in ShouldIt’s database.
6.2 Performance
The VS2100’s performance score of 6.2 is carried almost entirely by the food handling tests. Suction is the clear weak point -- the sealer finishes fast, but doesn’t pull enough vacuum to properly evacuate dense, dry foods.
The crunchy food and sous vide results, on the other hand, are among the best in this review group, and they lift the overall score well above what the suction number alone would suggest.
2.6 Max Suction Strength
With a cycle time of 39 seconds, the Bonsenkitchen VS-2100 takes a very long time to finish its work. That, in addition to a peak suction measured at just 34 kPA, this model scored very poorly in this test.
Bags sealed in this mode will have residual air that more powerful motors would have removed. For light-use storage of items that aren’t sensitive to air exposure, it’s adequate. But for long-term freezer storage or anything you want genuinely airtight, it probably won’t do -- you’ll want something heavier-duty like the Nesco VS-12, instead.
9.7 Crunchy Food Breakage
At just 3% breakage, the BonsenKitchen VS2100 handled the crunchy food test with a result that beats several more expensive sealers. Only 0.14 oz of the 4.5 oz input load was broken during the sealing cycle – close to the best outcome we’ve recorded for this test. For anyone who regularly seals crackers, chips, or other fragile food items, this is a reassuring result.
10 Beef for Sous Vide
The BonsenKitchen VS2100 sealed the sous vide beef bag on the first attempt, earning a perfect score.
The seal held under water bath conditions without any leakage. If sous vide is part of what you expect your sealer to be able to do, the VS2100 is fully capable of doing it.
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.