Inkbird INK-VS04

I have owned several vacuum sealing machines during the last 20 years or more, so I feel I am qualified to give a good review of such a machine. After spending far too much time researching, I selected an Inkbird INK-VS04. It came by Australia Post. The package was the original cartoon covered in shrink black plastic. The internal packing was an expanded plastic foam, not polystyrene. Removing packing was easy and the set-up was logical.

The new model does not have the spare foam gaskets that they still show in the adds, they have been replaced by silicon gaskets that should not need replacing. Also the dual thin heat sealing strips have been replaced by a 5mm wide single heat sealing strip to enable a very good seal of the vacuum bags. It has 5 heat seal settings allowing to seal anything from thin plastic bags to heavier than normal vacuum bags. The normal seal timer setting is 3.

This machine excels where most others don't. It has a magnetic locking mechanism which means there is no small mechanical latches under considerable strain while vacuuming. My two previous machines failed because those latches broke. One of them was a very highly regarded one that I had previously reviewed, I have removed my very positive review of that machine.

The dual thin heat sealing strips in the advertised model have been replaced by a 5mm wide heat sealing strip that does and excellent job. A great feature is a good sized removable fluid tray that collects any fluid rather that it going into and possibly damaging the machine. It can easily be emptied and rinsed.

It has a hose and connector supplied for special bags and jars, I have not used that function, no doubt a lot of people would find it useful.

Of course the VS04 does a very good job of packing meats for Sous Vide, a great way to do most of the cooking of a steak, just finish it off on a hot griddle or BBQ.

As well as hard items it caters for moist and liquid things, the vacuum level is adjustable on the easy to understand control panel. It has a seal only function, ideal for snack bags or other plastic bags that only require sealing.

The INK-VS04 has a roll holder and cutter that will take a 30cm wide roll, I mostly use 22cm wide rolls or the 22cm X 30cm bags from Aldi. I keep 30cm rolls although I don't need them that wide very often.

The only disadvantage I can see is that it is larger and heavier than most other similar machines.

Overall I think the Inkbird INK-VS04 is a great machine and is probably the best value for money vacuum sealing machine currently on the Australian market.