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Did you know that approximately 1.3 BILLION tons of food are wasted annually accounting for about a third of all food generated for humans? Moreover, half of the fruits and vegetables harvested had the same fate due to fungal spoilage. I bet you are inadvertently contributing to these statistics because I know I do too.
One of the main factors why this happens is the air. In particular, the oxygen in the air accelerates bacterial growth that makes foods go bad. If you want to avoid this from happening, you can keep your food from spoiling by using either the FoodSaver V4840 or FM5860. Aside from keeping your food fresher for 5 times longer, you can save money up to $2700 annually, according to FoodSaver. If you got excited about that, we are going to compare these two vacuum sealers and choose which of them is better. Let’s get into it!
FoodSaver V4840 vs FoodSaver FM5860
Name |
FoodSaver V4840 |
FoodSaver FM5860 |
---|---|---|
Image | ||
Vacuum Sealer Type | External | External |
Automation | Automatic | Automatic |
Mode | Dry/Moist & Quick Marinade | Dry/Moist & Quick Marinade |
Patented Removable Drip Tray | Yes | Yes |
Roll-Storage and Cutter Bar | Yes | Yes |
Handheld Sealer | Yes | Yes |
UL or ETL Safety Standard | Yes | Yes |
Dimensions (H x L x W) | 11 x 20 x 12 inches | 8 x 19 x 6.25 inches |
Weight | 8.4 lbs | 15.2 lbs |
Wattage | 128 Watts | 128 Watts |
What’s Included | 11″ x 10′ vacuum seal roll, 3 x 1-quart vacuum seal bags, 2 x 1-gallon vacuum seal bags, 3 x 1-quart vacuum zipper bags, 2 x 1-gallon vacuum zipper bags | 11″ x 10′ Vacuum Seal Roll, 8″ x 10′ Vacuum Seal Roll, 3 x Quart-Size Vacuum Seal Bags, 2 x Gallon-Size Vacuum Seal Bags, 3 x Quart-Size Vacuum Zipper Bags, 2 x Gallon-Size Vacuum Zipper Bags, 2.25 Wt. Square Marinator |
Price | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon |
Automatic Bag Detection
The FoodSaver V4840 and FM5860 are automatic vacuum sealers. Both have automatic bag detection and vacuum sealing, thus sealing food is as easy as ever. This fully automatic operation uses FoodSaver’s own technology to automatically sense the bag and the food type to create a perfectly airtight vacuum seal.
Retractable Handheld Sealer
The V4840 and FM5860 have a retractable handheld sealer that is designed to be used with other FoodSaver food containers aside from the seal bags. With the handheld sealer, you can prep ahead and seal meals or fruits using the already included vacuum zipper bags in the box. You can quickly marinate meat inside the square marinator that comes with the FM5860. Lastly, you can airtight seal a jar with an entirely separate accessory. Note that you can buy more accessories from FoodSaver.
Roll Storage and Cut Bar
Having integrated storage for your seal roll is a convenient feature. There is a possibility that you may misplace these rolls if there is no storage for it. Additionally, cut bars are also essential to cut the seal bags into different sizes. Therefore, you don’t need to bust out a pair of scissors just to trim it to size. Luckily, FoodSaver V4840 and FM5860 have both roll storage and a cut bar.
Differences between FoodSaver V4840 and FM5860
Dimension, Weight, and Design
The first three striking differences you will notice between the V4840 and FM 5860 are their dimension, weight, and design.
FoodSaver V4840
The FoodSaver V4840 has a larger footprint than the FM5860 of 11 x 20 x 12 inches. Surprisingly, it weighs less at 8.4 pounds. In terms of design, both the V4840 and FM5860 have similar looks. Both have metallic look with a black body. Suffice to say, both look premium and luxurious to the touch.
FoodSaver FM5860
Interestingly, the FM5860 has a more robust weight of 15.2 pounds in a more compact body. Although these sealers are roughly built identically, the FM5860 looks like it is standing upright. Their retractable handheld sealer sits on the left-hand side for easy access. However, the location of the control panel is different from the V4840. It is placed on the right-hand side of the FM5860, while it is on the top of the V4840.
The Winner Is- It’s A Tie
Hi-tech Features
Additional features also add to the value of the vacuum sealers.
FoodSaver V4840
The FoodSaver V4840 is a straightforward machine, it was designed to do just one thing: to seal food. As a utilitarian machine, it does the job pretty well. It has automatic moisture detection, so it can seal the bag accordingly. If you filled the bag too much, that is fine because it has a drip tray that can catch the spills. It is removable also so you can easily throw the liquids away.
FoodSaver FM5860
On the other hand, FM5860 can seal bags just as impressive. However, it comes with additional features that the V4840 does not. Its easy-to-use control panel lets you dispense and rewind bag material. There is also an indicator when the removable drip tray is already full. Another indicator also tells you the sealing progress. With these additional and convenient features, the FM5860 is better than the V4840.
The Winner Is- FoodSaver FM5860
Accessories Included
While beginners could care less about the additional hi-tech features, they are more attracted to the accessories included out of the box. Let’s jump inside the box.
FoodSaver V4840
FoodSaver is kind enough to include a starter kit in both the V4840 and FM5860. The accessories included in these sealers differ, however. The V4840 includes enough accessories to get your vacuum sealing experience started. It comes with a vacuum seal roll, a variety of seal bags, and many vacuum zipper bags.
FoodSaver FM5860
You can seal more foods with the FM5860 since it comes with more containers. It has two seal rolls in different sizes, two sets of vacuum seal bags, and also two sets of vacuum zipper bags. One huge advantage that the FM5860 has over the V4840 is the inclusion of a square marinator. This square marinator is best used with its quick marinade feature. This is otherwise a separate purchase but the FM5860 includes it out of the box.
The Winner Is- FoodSaver FM5860
Pros and Cons
The pros and cons of the vacuum sealers FoodSaver V4840 and FoodSaver FM5860 will help us to determine which is the better option.
FoodSaver V4840
Pros:
- While having the same functionality as the FM5860, the V4840 has a lower price tag.
- Carrying it around is easier due to its more lightweight body.
- It comes with a starter kit that includes plenty of sealing bags to get you started.
Cons:
- Its control panel is inferior compared with the FM5860.
FoodSaver FM5860
Pros:
- Although the FM5860 has a more compact body, it weighs almost double, testifying to its robust construction.
- The control panel gives you more control over the sealing.
- It comes with more accessories such as additional seal bags and the square marinator.
Cons:
- All the additional premium features also come with a premium price.
The Final Verdict
It is unfortunate to see food go to waste knowing that there are starving people on the other side of the world. Let us not contribute to annual food waste and start preserving more food by using vacuum sealers like the FoodSaver V4840 and FM5860. These machines can also be helpful to busy people who don’t have the time to go and buy groceries frequently. By buying food in bulk, you are going to save money in the long run. If you want the most value for your money, I recommend you buy the V4840 since it does the job done for less money. But if you want to get the better sealer of the two, get the FM5860.
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