If you do not know what Sous Vide is, it is about cooking at a relatively low temperature for a long time. This slow cooking makes the food taste incredible. Alongside that, it is healthier than most of the cooking process.
And you would not want to ruin the taste of the food by using low-quality bags for the procedure, would you? Well, that is why you should get the ones that are explicitly for Sous Vide.
Now, with all the options that are out there, choosing the best sous vide bags can sound a bit challenging for you. Well, as you have stumbled upon this article, you will not have to worry about that anymore. We are going to make the overall choosing process a breeze for you.
Best Bags for Sous Vide
Not all the bags that you are going to stumble in the market are going to be appropriate for Sous Vide. To make it easier for you to get one, we went through the most popular options and picked only the ones that are adequate for this type of cooking process. And here are the ones that we picked for you:
1. Sea-Maid Vacuum Sealer Bags Rolls 4 Pack
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The best reusable sous vide bags are not only eco-friendly but also will be free from all sorts of chemicals that will ensure that the food you are going to cook in it remains toxin-free. A perfect example of those would be this one that is from Sea-Maid.
As the label implies, it comes in four rolls. Each of them is 8×16.4 feet. That means you are getting quite a reasonable amount with this pack. It also works with most of the food sealing machines.
The sheets are also quite thicker than most of the other ones that are out in the market. Because of this, it will be able to keep the food fresher than most of the available units.
On the exterior, it features an embossed dotted pattern. This design will ensure maximum air extraction. Alongside that, it will also make sure that the vacuum sealer machine can make a proper seal of the food.
It also comes with a bonding layer on the exterior. This layer has a microporous coating that will allow heat to pass through efficiently. You will be able to cook food to perfection because of that.
Pros
- Reusable and eco-friendly
- About thirty percent thicker than most of the other units
- Compatible with most of the vacuum sealers
- Features an embossed dotted pattern on the outside
- Lets the heat pass through efficiently
Cons
- Can be a bit hard to suck the air out with some vacuum sealers
- Might not fit some smaller vacuum sealers
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2. TAILI Sous Vide Bags Kit
You might not have a vacuum suction machine in our home. In that case, getting rolls would be quite useless. What you should shoot for in that case is something like what TAILI is offering here.
To begin with, you are going to receive thirty ready to be sealed bags in this kit. They are of different sizes. There are ten large, ten medium, and ten small ones in this package. The large one is 11.8×11 inches in size, which means you will easily be able to cook large chunks inside it.
As we said, you are not going to need any sort of extra machine if you get this kit. It comes with one hand pump that will act as a vacuum machine. You will be able to create the right amount of vacuum inside with it.
To make the vacuuming process a bit easier for you, it comes with four sealing clips and bag clips. With them, you will be able to have a redefined Sous Vide cooking experience that will be entirely free from hassles.
Lastly, as they are BPA free and reusable, you will be able to get the most out of the money that you are going to spend on this kit.
Pros
- Comes with thirty different sized bags
- Large bags can accommodate large chunks easily
- Comes with a hand pump
- Includes sealing clips and bag clips
- Reuseable and BPA free
Cons
- Hand pump feels a bit flimsy
- Seal clips are not that strong
3. FoodVacBags 11X50 Rolls
Even though handling around ready-made bags is a bit easier, the real value proposition that rolls can offer is quite substantial. And this one that FoodVacBags is offering is one of the decent ones in the market.
Unlike some of the plastic bags, this one comes with a seven-layer construction. The layers are of high-quality and are entirely free from toxins, Phthalates, BPA, or any other sort of chemicals. You will not have to worry about your food getting induced with harmful toxins while you cook them.
As we mentioned, the value proposition of these is quite something. And, you will be able to enhance that even further by choosing one of the three combos that they are offering. You can choose between 2 rolls, 4 rolls, or 6 rolls. If you plan to get the six rolls pack, you might not require to purchase any other vac bags for a long time.
Apart from that, the high-quality layers will make it easier for you to make proper seals. It will also efficiently transfer the heat inside, which will make sure that the food inside gets cooked adequately. The rolls are also compatible with most of the vacuum sealing machines that are out there.
Pros
- Features a high-quality seven-layer construction
- Can transfer the heat inside efficiently
- Easy to make a seal inside
- Works with most of the vacuum sealers
- Excellent value proposition
Cons
- Bit hard to store the rolls away after use
- Plastic is relatively thinner than most of the other units
4. Houseables Vacuum Sealer Rolls
Among all the vacuum bags that are out there, the reusable ones are the ones that will allow you to get long-term use out of one roll. And this one that we are looking at here that is from Houseables is one of them.
To begin with, it comes with durable plastic construction. Because of that, you will not have to worry about any punctures or tears in the seals. This heavy-duty plastic will make sure that the food cooks optimally.
Talking about the plastic, it is entirely free from BPA and other sorts of chemicals. You will not have to worry about it releasing toxins when you turn the temperature up. It is also USDA and FDA approved.
On the exterior, it comes with embossed cross venting. Because of that, you are not going to have to worry about air seeping inside while you are cooking. It will also eliminate the risks of oxidation occurring. You are also going to get two different sized rolls in the package. One of them is 8×50 inches, and the other one is 11×50 inches. They should be compatible with most of the vacuum sealer machines that are out there.
Pros
- Features a heavy-duty plastic construction
- Has USDA and FDA approval
- Comes with embossed cross venting on the exterior
- Ensures efficient heat transfer
- Free from BPA and other chemicals
Cons
- Getting a proper seal for these is a bit tedious
- Tends to get wrinkled in some vacuum sealing machines
5. GERYON Vacuum Sealer Bags, Pre-Cut Food Sealer Bags
Pre-cut bags are generally stated as the best bags for sous vide because they are not only easy to maneuver around, but they also do not require any cutting machines. And GERYON here is delivering exactly those.
Firstly, the bags are quite large in size. They are 12 inches in length and 8 inches in width. You will easily be able to fit large chunks of food and meats in it. And as they are pre-cut and ready to be used bags, you will not have to go through the hassles that you generally have to go through for rolls.
You are going to get fifty bags in one package. Each of the bags is of four Mil multi-layer material that is quite sturdy. After vacuum sealing food inside it, you will not have to worry about any tears or punctures. Because of that, you can expect your food to cook to its perfection.
The bags come with a channel blocking exterior that will lock both the moisture and oxygen inside. With that, the heat will get transferred inside efficiently, and you can expect to get a well-cooked meal out of it.
Pros
- Comes pre-cut
- Each package contains fifty large-sized bags
- Sturdy four Mil multi-layer exterior
- Locks in the oxygen and moisture inside
- Transfers heat inside efficiently
Cons
- Not that much reusable
- Some of the bags arrive wrinkled
6. Wevac Vacuum Sealer Bags 100 Quart
We hope that you did not get tired of seeing the best bags for sous vide that are in the market yet because we got more coming. This one that Wevac is offering comes with an innovative design that will ensure the proper flavoring of your foods.
To start with, these come in a pre-cut manner. That means you will not require any sort of cutting machine to get the food inside the bag. The bags are 8×12 inches in size and will be able to accommodate reasonably large chunks of food without any issues.
Apart from that, these come with exterior embossed channels that will make sealing them an easy task. You will not have to worry about any tears, punctures, or piercing because it comes with bone guards that will add extra strength to the packages.
Other than that, the bags are also compatible with all of the vacuum sealers that are out there. That means you will not have to worry about the sealing procedure that much with these. The plastic that is used for the construction of these bags is BPA free. It will not induce any toxins or any other sort of chemicals to your food, which will ensure proper flavor.
Pros
- Comes pre-cut
- Each of the bags is 8×12 inches in size
- Free from BPA and other toxins
- Compatible with all the vacuum sealers
- Features bone guard to prevent punctures
Cons
- Not reusable
- Can be a little trouble to make them work with some vacuum sealers
7. Waring Commercial Vacuum seal bag with Valve
Sealing regular bags with a commercial vacuum sealer can be a bit of a hassle sometimes. Waring kept that in mind, and that is why they implemented a valve design in this set of vac bags.
The one thing that makes these bags stand out the most is the valves that they include on the exterior. Each of the bags will have a small valve on top that will allow you to remove air from the inside without requiring any vacuum sealers. You can simply use a pistol Vic that you might already have around for that.
Apart from that, it comes in three different sizes. You will be able to choose from 1 gallon, 2 gallon, or 1-quart bags. Each of them comes in 25 count or 50 count packages. If you get the fifty count one, you might not have to purchase other bags any time soon. They are reusable too.
The bags are of a plastic that is free from BPA. That means you will not have to worry about it releasing any harmful toxins or chemicals in your food. The taste of the cooked food should be as it should be.
Pros
- Comes with a valve for creating a proper seal
- Three different size options
- One package comes with 50 reusable bags
- BPA free and free from other toxins
- Does not require any vacuum sealer
Cons
- Bags are relatively thin
- Some of the bags in the packages have tears and punctures in them
8. Anova Culinary Anova Pre-Cut Sous Vide Vacuum Sealer bags
Even though most of the pre-cut bags are easy to use, not all of them come with a sturdy exterior. As a result, you will have a tough time getting a proper seal in them. However, you will not have to worry about that with this one.
Compared to most of the other pre-cut options that are out there, these bags employs seven layers on each side. These layers are double-ribbed that will make these extremely sturdy. Because of the sturdy exterior, you will not have any trouble at all in the case of getting an adequate seal.
Just because it is sturdier than most of the units, do not think that it utilizes harmful chemicals for the construction. The plastic that it implements for the durability is entirely free from BPA and other toxins. You can turn the heat up without having to worry about a thing.
Each of the bags is 8.6×11.8 inches in size. They have an easy-tear top that will make it easier for you to get food out of them. As the package comes with fifty bags, you will have plenty of them for cooking purposes.
Pros
- Pre-cut 50 bags in each package
- The bags are 8.6×11.8 inches in size
- Significantly tougher than most of the other units
- BPA and toxin-free
- Features double ribbed layer design
Cons
- Bags are not that large in size
- Some bags might ship with holes in them
9. HUISPARK Store Vacuum Sealer Bags
Are you tired of having to stick one size of bags? Looking for a manufacturer that makes different sized vacuum bags? Well, we might just have the right one for you!
To begin with, you are going to have five different options in the case of sizes. You will be able to select one among 11×16 inches, 4×6 inches, 6×10 inches, 6×8 inches, and 8×12 inches. With that many options, getting the one that can house the foods that you are planning to cook will not be an issue.
All of them will ship in a package that will have a hundred of them. You are going to have more than enough vac bags for long-term Sous Vide cooking. The bags are also are reusable. And as they are food-grade, you will not have to worry about them releasing any toxin to your food.
Apart from that, all the sizes are directly compatible with the vacuum sealers that are out there. You will not have to do any fiddling to make them fit inside the sealing machines. And as they are pre-cut, you will not have to go through any hassle of cutting them too.
Pros
- Five different size options
- Comes in a pack of hundred
- Food-grade and free from toxins
- Bags are reusable
- This comes pre-cut
Cons
- Does not have an easy tear-off top
- Not that easy to get a proper seal with some vacuum sealers
10. Stasher 100% Silicone Reusable Food Bag
We are going to end our review section with this unit that Stasher is offering. If you were in the lookout for silicone bags, then these are the ones that you should go for.
As we mentioned, the bags are not of any plastic. Instead, they are of silicon. This material is what makes these stand out from the rest of the units that are out there. Because of implementing silicone, they are highly reusable.
The silicone that it features is 100% non-toxic. That means you will not have to worry about it degrading the taste of your food. It does not contain any sort of BPA, PVC, or latex.
Washing these after use will not be a hassle too because they are dishwasher safe. You can just simply put the bags inside a dishwasher to clean them. The overall capacity of the bags is half a galloon.
Apart from that, there are four other size options available too. You will be able to select the one that goes along with the food that you usually cook.
Each of the bags come with a pinch-lock mechanism. This lock will make the inside airtight and will ensure that no moisture can escape from the inside.
Pros
- Features flexible silicone construction
- Food-grade and free from PVC, latex, and BPA
- Comes with an innovative pinch-lock seal
- Keeps the inside airtight
- Five different size options
Cons
- Some units ship with damaged locking mechanism
- Bit hard to clean with hands
Are Ziploc Bags Safe for Sous Vide?
Putting foods in a plastic bag for slow cooking can really seem a bit intimidating. But if you can get the right bags for that, you will not have to worry about a thing.
Among all the types of bags that you can use for Sous Vide, the Ziploc style ones are the most popular ones. They are easy to get access to, and they are quite easy to maneuver as well.
However, not all the Ziplock bags that you are going to stumble in the market are going to safe for Sous Vide. Most of them are adequate for freezing but not for high temperatures.
So if you can not get access to one of the bags that we included in our review section, you can use the Ziplock bags that are free from BPA and PVC. Those are the ones that are safe for this type of cooking process.
Do You Have to Vacuum Seal for Sous Vide?
Even though the name of the cooking process, which is Sous Vide stands for “under vacuum.”, you will not have to get yourself a vacuum sealer. Yes, the meaning of the cooking process is a bit confusing, but it does not mean that you will have to vacuum seal the bag for getting an appropriate cooking result.
Instead of worrying about vacuuming, what you have to consider is if you can get a proper seal on the package. As in, if it is airtight or not. If you can ensure that, you will be all good for the Sous Vide.
Things to Check Before Getting One
As you know by now that not all the bags that you are going to stumble upon are adequate for Sous Vide. And not all the adequate ones are going to be worth the money that you are going to spend on them. For getting the worthy ones, you will have to keep some factors in mind. They are:
Rolls and Pre-Cut
The first thing that you have to consider is whether you have a cutting machine at home or not. If you do have one, you will be able to choose the rolls, which has an excellent overall value proposition.
However, if you do not have one, you will have to stick with the pre-cut ones. They will not require any sort of cutting, and you will be able to use them right after opening the packet.
Material
The material of the pre-cut bags and rolls is an important factor. If you do not factor this in, you will be at risk because not all the bags are going to be free from BPA, PVC, and other toxins.
So, if you get one that is not free from those, not only the taste of your food will be a little awkward, you will be putting harmful chemicals inside your body. For that reason, you should check the material.
Sturdiness
After you have made sure that the bags that you are shooting for is entirely free from toxins, you will have to consider the strength of the layers. As with most of the rolls, you will find that the thickness of the sheets varies at lot.
If you get yourself a thinner one, you will not be able to put hefty chunks of meats inside it. Keeping that in mind, we would recommend you to opt for the multi-layer ones.
Size
If you are opting for the pre-cut ones, then you will have to consider the size of the bags. Not all of the packages will come with large-sized bags. So if you plan to work with big chunks of meat and other foods, you will have to get the big ones.
Other than that, some manufacturers include different sizes in one pack. If you want varying sizes in one package, then you should opt for those.
Heat Transfer
Even though these bags can be used for preserving food, we are mainly going to focus on the cooking part. And as you are going to cook inside it, you will have to ensure that the exterior does not block the heat.
You will find some that can resist heat, but those are good for freezing, not for Sous Vide. If you get those, no matter how long you cook, the food inside will be undercooked.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What temperature is safe for cooking using a Ziplock bag?
Ziplock bags are often used for Sous Vide because they are easily accessible and less expensive. If you got yourself one, then you should cook then at a temperature below 158 Fahrenheit.
2. Can I use Sous Vide bags to preserve food?
Yes, you will be able to use these bags for preserving food. But you will have to use a vacuum machine for that.
3. Are silicone bags better than plastic bags?
In some cases, yes. The silicone bags are highly reusable, and for the flexible properties that they have, you will be able to maneuver food around them easily.
4. How many types of Sous Vide bags are out in the market?
Depending on the material, you will be able to find two types of Sous Vide bags in the market. One of them are the ones that are of plastic, and the other one is the ones that are of silicone.
5. Are silicone bags easier to clean compared to plastic ones?
Yes, most of them will be dishwasher safe. That means you will be able to get those cleaned without any hassles.
Final Words
We hope that we were able to narrow down the overall options to the extent that it is now easier for you to choose one of the best sous vide bags. With that, we would like to conclude here by wishing you good luck and hoping that the meals that you are going to cook tastes fabulous.