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.
8.0 Performance
The VS-0160's 7.6 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 (8.4 performance score), the FoodSaver trades slightly lower suction (64 vs. 68 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.
7.6 Max Suction Strength
The VS-0160 reached 64 kPA in 31 seconds – while high, the sealer is hampered by its relatively slow cycle time. The Inkbird INK-VS01 matches this 64 kPA figure, showing that mid-range power is increasingly accessible. The VS-0160 is about as far as Anova Precision Pro, which took 35 seconds to complete a cycle. The high suction 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
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
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 VS-0160's design score is the highest of any sealer in this price range we've tested. The metal top lid, the effortless lid mechanism, and the perfectly laid-out three-button panel all set it apart. The extra features score reflects the removable drip tray -- the one extra the VS-0160 includes -- and nothing else.
In the Box
- Rolls and sheets of pre-cut plastic bags
- Instruction manual
Dimensions
The VS-0160 is heavier than most sealers in its footprint class -- at 5.8 lbs it's nearly double the weight of a typical budget model. The weight comes from the metal lid component and motor. The footprint is average and it won't crowd a counter, but it's not a sealer you'll pick up with one hand and tuck into a drawer.
9.5 Build Quality
The top lid is the standout. It's genuine metal -- not plastic with a metallic coating, but the real material -- and it gives the VS-0160 a feel that no other sealer in this price range matches. Everything inside is well-made: the foam seal, the heating bar, and the green removable drip tray, which slots neatly into the vacuum channel and doubles as a dust shield when the sealer isn't in use.
The one build quality note is fit and finish. When the lid is closed, small gaps are visible between the lid and the body of the sealer. It doesn't affect performance, but it's noticeable up close and slightly undercuts an otherwise premium impression.
Non-slip feet on the underside kept the VS-0160 firmly in place throughout testing.
10 Control Panel
Three buttons: "Vacuum," "Seal," and "Mode." That's the entire control interface. "Mode" toggles between Dry and Moist. "Vacuum" starts the vacuuming cycle. "Seal" runs the heating bar only. Press "Vacuum" and the sealer moves through the full vacuuming phase, then seals automatically when it's done.
The indicator lights above "Vacuum" and "Seal" pulse during each phase of the cycle, switching off when the sealer finishes. It's a feedback system that works without requiring you to count buttons or remember mode combinations. Perfect score, and earned.
10 Lid
The lid of the VS-0160 requires noticeably less force to close than any other latch-lock sealer in this review group. Press down and both latches engage with minimal effort -- close to one-handed operation, which is rare for a latch design.
The storage lock is the feature that sets it apart from every other sealer we've tested. A slider on the side of the unit switches to "Store" mode, which locks the lid and prevents it from opening even when the release latches are pressed. It keeps the vacuum channel clean and dust-free between uses, and prevents the lid from springing open if the sealer is knocked or stored on its side.
1.0 Extra Features
The removable drip tray is the VS-0160's only extra, but it's a practical one. It catches liquid drawn toward the motor during moist food sealing, extending the sealer's life and keeping the channel clean. The absence of a bag cutter, bag holder, and bag hooks is a limitation at this price.
8.2 Usability
The VS-0160 is one of the easier sealers in this group to use day to day. The three-button panel, the low-force lid, and the storage lock all contribute to a smooth experience. The safety score reflects the absence of any internal warning stickers -- all safety information is in the manual, which not everyone reads.
8.5 Ease of Use
Three buttons, a lid that closes with minimal force, and pulsing indicator lights that track each phase of the cycle without requiring you to watch constantly. The only friction is the two-handed lid requirement -- the latch locks are easier to engage than most competitors, but "easier" still means both hands. And with no bag hooks, aligning the bag in the vacuum channel takes a bit of care.
Neither issue is serious. The VS-0160 is one of the more pleasant sealers to use repeatedly.
8.0 Safety & Noise
No warning stickers inside the sealer. The heating bar and vacuum channel have no markings to alert new users to the hot surface -- all safety information is contained in the printed manual. For experienced users this is fine; for someone new to vacuum sealing, the omission is worth noting.
At 77.9 dBA, the VS-0160 is one of the quieter sealers at this performance level. The sound is present but not intrusive.
7.0 Indicator Lights and Chime
Two indicator lights above the main function buttons pulse to show the current phase -- vacuuming or sealing, along with a status light each to show you what food mode the sealer’s tuned to. It's a simple system that works. No progress bar, no chime. You know the cycle is done when the lights stop pulsing, which requires being close enough to the sealer to see them.