FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer VS-0160 In-depth Review
Overall Verdict
The FoodSaver VS-0160 is the most fully realised mid-range sealer we've tested. The suction score is strong, the design is exceptional for the price -- a genuine metal top lid, a perfect score on the lid mechanism, and a removable drip tray that none of the budget models include. It passed the sous vide test on the first attempt.
The crunchy food result is the one notable weakness. With only one suction mode and a powerful motor, 40% of the crunchy food test load was broken -- a result that puts a ceiling on how versatile the VS-0160 can be. It's a capable, well-built sealer for dry and moist food storage, and among the best vacuum sealers in its price range, but not the right tool for fragile items.
Things We Like
- Strong suction score with fast, consistent cycle times
- Passed the sous vide test on the first attempt
- Genuine metal top lid -- looks and feels premium
- Lid mechanism is excellent, requires minimal force to close
- Removable drip tray for moist food sealing
- Relatively quiet at 77.9 dBA
Things We Don’t Like
- High crunchy food breakage -- 40% in Normal mode with no Gentle alternative
- No bag cutter, bag hooks, or bag holder
- No safety stickers inside the sealer -- all warnings are in the manual only
- No audible chime
FoodSaver is one of the most recognised names in food storage, and the VS-0160 is their compact entry in a competitive segment. We bought and tested a unit in our lab. Here's what it can and can't do.
8.3 Performance
The VS-0160's 8.4 performance score is the product of a strong suction result and a clean sous vide pass pulling up a poor crunchy food score. The motor is fast and consistent. Compared to the Anova Precision Pro (8.7 performance score), the FoodSaver trades slightly lower suction (63 vs. 67 kPA) for a lower price point. The flip side is that the same power crushes fragile items. Whether that trade-off works for you depends almost entirely on what you seal most.
8.3 Max Suction Strength Test
The VS-0160 reached 64 kPA in 11 seconds -- one of the fastest and most consistent results in our database. The Inkbird INK-VS01 matches this 64 kPA figure, showing that mid-range power is increasingly accessible. Both sealers are significantly faster than the Anova Precision Pro (14 seconds) despite similar suction levels. The combination of high suction and short cycle time puts the VS-0160 at the top of its class for dry food sealing. Rice, coffee, nuts, and other dense dry goods are packed tight with no residual air pockets.
6.0 Crunchy Food Breakage Test
The VS-0160 broke 1.8 oz of the 4.5 oz input -- 40% of the test load. The motor that makes the suction test impressive is the same one that crushes crackers and chips before the seal completes. With no "Gentle" mode available, there's no way to dial back the suction for fragile items. Direct comparison to the Anova Precision Pro, which also scores 6.0 in crunchy breakage at 40%, shows both high-suction sealers have this same limitation.
10 Beef for Sous Vide Test
The VS-0160 passed the sous vide test on the first attempt. The seal held through the full water bath without any leakage. The drip tray helps here -- it collects any liquid drawn toward the motor during the vacuuming phase, which likely contributes to consistent results in moist food sealing.
8.8 Design
The FoodSaver VS-0160 stands out with its metallic top piece. Its sleek and elegant design earned top marks for build quality from our reviewers. Components such as the control panel and the lid also received perfect scores in our evaluation. However, the VS-0160 lacks extra features, like a bag cutter, which is disappointing.
In the Box
In the shipping box of the FoodSaver VS-0160, other than the product itself, you’ll find the following:
- Rolls and sheets of pre-cut plastic bags
- Instruction manual
Dimensions
The FoodSaver VS-0160 is quite average in this department. It won't hog much of your countertop space. The sealer is also lightweight, making it easy for most people to move around, which is handy if you need to store it away after use.
9.5 Build Quality
The FoodSaver VS-0160 is mostly made of plastic, which keeps it both affordable and lightweight. However, the top piece has a metallic sheen, which gives it a premium appearance and feel despite the price tag.
Inside the sealer, you’ll find a green removable drip tray made from bright green plastic. Slotted right into the vacuum channel, it’ll help catch excess moisture when you’re vacuum-packing particularly moist or juicy food. When the sealer’s not in use, the bar also doubles as a dust shield for the vacuum channel.
At the bottom, the vacuum sealer has grippy feet to prevent it from sliding, even on wet countertops
All components, including the heat bar and the foam seal around the vacuum channel, are well-made.
However, the sealer's fit and finish leave room for improvement. When the lid is closed, noticeable gaps appear between it and the body of the sealer. Fortunately, this doesn't affect the sealing performance, but it does detract from the overall aesthetics and gives the impression of a less well-crafted device upon closer inspection.
10 Control Panel
The control panel is simple, with just three buttons. You've got the "Vacuum" button to start the vacuum process, and right next to it, the "Seal" button for sealing bags.
Over on the far right, there's a smaller "Mode" button, which lets you easily switch between dry and moist food settings.
Above the “Vacuum” and “Seal” buttons are indicator lights. These lights pulse gently during each stage of the working cycle (vacuuming, then sealing.) When they stop flashing, that’s your cue that the cycle’s completed.
10 Lid
The lid of the VS-0160 is very well-constructed. The hinges remained rock-solid even when we shook it during our test, showing no signs of wobbling. When we applied pressure to close the lid, the locks engaged effortlessly without requiring much force.
A unique feature of the FoodSaver VS-0160 that sets it apart is its storage lock. When you’re storing the sealer, you can switch the slider on the side to "Store" mode. This locks up the lid and won't release even when you push the release latches. This design prevents the sealer from accidentally opening during storage, effectively keeping dirt and dust out.
1.0 Extra Features
The Foodsaver VS-0160 comes with a removable drip tray to make vacuum-packing moist food more convenient.
8.2 Usability
The FoodSaver VS-0160 is highly user-friendly. We didn't encounter any difficulties when closing the lid or inserting the bag into the vacuum channel. While there's room for improvement in safety and an audible chime to track the working progress could be a useful addition, there aren't many issues to nitpick in this department.
8.5 Ease of Use
The handling experience of the FoodSaver VS-0160 can be best described as "seamless," according to our reviewers. The control panel is user-friendly. However, the lid can be quite hard to close, and you'll need to use both hands to make sure it shuts properly. This makes it tricky to operate the sealer with just one hand.
8.0 Safety & Noise
Safety could be enhanced with the addition of a warning sticker to caution new users that it can get hot after use. Currently, there are no warnings inside the sealer, and all safety information is in the user manual, which some users may not read.
The VS-0160 is relatively quiet compared to other models we've tested. In our dry food test, we measured a peak loudness of 77.9 dBA.
7.0 Indicator Lights and Chime
The indicator lights are bright, and, by looking at the way they pulse, you can track the working progress of the vacuum sealer throughout a working cycle. The FoodSaver VS-0160 doesn’t come with an audible chime.