FoodSaver FS2160 Handheld Food Vacuum Sealer review

The FoodSaver FS2160 is a handheld valve-bag pump, not a countertop machine with a small seal bar. FoodSaver’s current US support index names “FS2160 Handheld Food Vacuum Sealer” and directly links an owner manual and quick-start guide. Both linked documents carry the FS2100 family name on their covers. I use the instructions as the manufacturer’s documents linked from the FS2160 row, but do not silently rename them; if the label on an actual unit or offer differs, confirm the right instructions before use.

Start with the valve-bag routine

The best-supported everyday job is removing air from a compatible FoodSaver zipper bag. Close the zipper all the way, keep crumbs or food clear of the valve, put the gray valve circle facing up on a flat surface, and place the handheld directly over it. The linked guide says to press and release Vacuum. The pump stops automatically when that cycle finishes, so this is an attended setup without a manual hold-to-stop Pulse control.

This is useful for dry pantry portions or refrigerated leftovers in the specified bags. FoodSaver warns that liquid, crumbs, or debris drawn toward the valve can interfere with sealing and says not to use the zipper bags for liquids. It also labels this bag format for pantry and refrigerator use only. Do not treat it as an open-end pouch, a freezer-rated reusable bag, or a substitute for following the food and storage instructions on the actual bag.

The Marinate button is a separate job

The distinctive extra is a programmed Marinate mode. The linked owner manual says it runs for about 12 minutes and repeats vacuum and release three times. For this operation, the food and marinade go into a compatible Preserve & Marinate container; set that vessel’s valve to Marinate, remove the handheld’s clear reservoir, seat the accessory port on the valve, and start the cycle. This is not manual Pulse for controlling suction on a bag, and it does not turn the handheld into a heat sealer.

That separation changes the buying decision. A user who already owns the right vessel may value the button for a documented preparation routine. Someone interested only in sealing everyday zipper bags can ignore it. Exact FS2160 retail SKU and box contents were not established, so do not infer that a Marinate container, zipper bags, charging dock or adapter comes with a particular offer. The manual also describes jar sealers and bottle stoppers as separate accessory-port attachments; its jar instructions specify Ball and Kerr Mason jars. A port and a compatible procedure are not the same as an included accessory kit.

Charging and cleaning belong in the plan

The linked family manual depicts a rechargeable pump with charging dock and contacts, which is convenient when the device is carried to a bag rather than a countertop seal bar. It does not establish a numerical battery runtime, number of bags per charge, or an exact FS2160 retail-box inventory. Check the actual offer for the charging pieces rather than assuming a pictured or manual-shown dock is included.

After use, the manual says to unplug before cleaning, never immerse the handheld, empty the clear reservoir each time, wash that reservoir in warm soapy water, and let it air-dry before replacing it. It needs the reservoir for zipper bags and Preserve & Marinate containers; the accessory-port procedures for jar sealers and bottle stoppers instead call for removing it. Keeping that small removable part clean matters because food or liquid reaching the pump path can affect operation.

Where it falls short

There is no documented roll compartment, built-in cutter, open-end heat-sealing bar, or double-seal routine. If your regular task is portioning meat into custom-length pouches, the FS2160 cannot create and close those bags. A roll-equipped countertop model is the more appropriate category. If you need both kinds of work in one system, compare the FoodSaver Handheld+ MS2010/MS2030, whose linked family manual documents a mains-powered countertop base and a detachable rechargeable valve pump. For a smaller currently listed handheld alternative, the FoodSaver Mini FS3100’s exact 2217128 package has a documented dock and two quart zipper bags; do not assume those package contents transfer to the FS2160.

Who should keep it on the list?

Consider an FS2160 when the unit’s own label matches, valve bags are already central to your routine, and the separate Marinate container route would genuinely be used. It is a poor only-sealer choice for a household that needs ordinary heat-sealed rolls, a supplied jar kit, or verified current stock. This assessment makes no claim of hands-on use, measured performance, retail price, or present inventory. Search for the exact words “FoodSaver FS2160 Handheld Food Vacuum Sealer,” inspect the actual model and included pieces, and compare the manufacturer’s instructions for that unit. Because FoodSaver’s linked documents identify the FS2100 family, I keep this configuration in the earlier-model opt-in rather than presenting it as a confirmed current retail package.