Vacuum sealers like the FoodSaver 5800 and 5860 are great for extending the shelf life of foods and reducing freezer burn. But with two similar models to choose from, it can be tough to decide which FoodSaver vacuum sealer best fits your needs.
This comprehensive comparison examines the key differences between the FoodSaver 5800 and 5860 to help you determine the best vacuum sealer for your kitchen.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Category | FoodSaver 5800 | FoodSaver 5860 |
| Price | More affordable | More expensive |
| Suction Power | 10-11 inches Hg | 12 inches Hg |
| Seal Bar Length | 12 inches | 14 inches |
| Manual Seal Button | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic Bag Detection | Yes | Yes |
| Retractable Accessory Hose | Yes | Yes |
| CrushFree Instant Seal | No | Yes |
| Removable Drip Tray | Yes | Yes |
| Handheld Sealer | Included | Included |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years |
Overview of the FoodSaver 5800
The FoodSaver 5800 is a mid-range vacuum sealer model with plenty of useful features. Here are some of the key details about the FoodSaver 5800:
- Price – More affordable than the 5860. Typically retails for $150-$180. Good value model.
- Suction Power – Offers 10-11 inches Hg of suction power. Strong enough for standard vacuum sealing jobs.
- Seal Bar – 12 inch seal bar can vacuum seal bags up to 11.5 inches wide. Good for most bags.
- Manual Seal Button – Allows you to manually control the vacuum sealing process. Useful for delicate items.
- Automatic Bag Detection – Automatically detects and seals FoodSaver pre-cut bags. Takes guesswork out of sealing.
- Accessory Hose – Retractable accessory hose lets you vacuum seal jars, canisters, and more.
- Warranty – Backed by a 5 year limited warranty. Good for peace of mind.
Overall, the FoodSaver 5800 is a great choice for anyone looking for an affordable but capable countertop vacuum sealer. It lacks some of the advanced features of the 5860, but gets the job done for most users.
Overview of the FoodSaver 5860
The FoodSaver 5860 is the higher-end model, with a few extra features over the 5800. Here are the notable details about the 5860:
- Price – More expensive than the 5800. Retails for $200-$250. One of FoodSaver’s higher-end consumer models.
- Suction Power – 12 inch Hg of suction. Slightly stronger than the 5800.
- Seal Bar – 14 inch extra-wide seal bar can vacuum seal very large bags up to 13 inches wide.
- CrushFree Instant Seal – Special sealing feature helps prevent delicate items like breads and pastries from getting crushed.
- Automatic Bag Detection – Automatically detects and seals FoodSaver brand bags.
- Accessory Hose – Retractable hose for jars, canisters, and more.
- Warranty – Same 5 year limited warranty as the 5800.
The 5860 adds some nice upgrades like a wider seal bar, stronger suction power, and the CrushFree instant seal feature. It’s better for larger sealing jobs or fragile foods.
Also Read: Comparison Between the Nesco VS-12 and FoodSaver
Key Differences Between the FoodSaver 5800 and 5860
Now, let’s take a deeper look at how the FoodSaver 5800 and 5860 models stack up against each other across some key categories:
Suction Power
- The FoodSaver 5860 offers 12 inches of mercury (Hg) of suction power from its vacuum pump. This allows it to achieve a higher level of vacuum than the 5800 model.
- The FoodSaver 5800 provides 10-11 inches Hg of suction. While not as powerful as the 5860, it still delivers sufficient vacuum pressure for most sealing jobs.
- The extra suction power of the 5860 (just 1 more inch Hg) allows it to achieve a tighter, longer-lasting seal. This can further extend food shelf life.
- Both models have enough suction power for basic vacuum sealing needs. But the 5860 has slightly stronger vacuum capabilities for optimal preservation.
Seal Bar Size
- The FoodSaver 5860 has an extra wide 14 inch seal bar inside the vacuum chamber.
- This allows the 5860 model to seal larger bags and containers up to 13 inches wide. Great for large cuts of meat, fish, big casserole dishes, and other oversized items.
- The 5800 model has a 12 inch seal bar inside. It can seal bags and containers up to 11.5 inches wide.
- The 5800 can handle most everyday sealing tasks, but the wider seal bar on the 5860 provides more flexibility for larger items. This removes the need to cut bags down to size.
Manual Seal Button
- Both the FoodSaver 5800 and 5860 have a manual seal button located on the top of the units.
- This button allows you to manually control when the vacuum sealing process starts. It’s useful for delicate foods.
- You can hit the manual seal button mid-cycle to immediately stop suction and start sealing when vacuum packing lightly structured items like breads and pastries. This helps prevent crushing.
- The manual seal also allows you to pulse the suction as needed to gently vacuum pack items.
- Both models have this important feature, so there’s no difference between the 5800 and 5860 when it comes to manual control.
Automatic Bag Detection
- The FoodSaver 5800 and 5860 both include automatic bag detection sensors.
- These sensors automatically detect when you insert a FoodSaver brand pre-cut vacuum sealing bag into the appliance.
- After auto-detecting the bag, both models will instantly begin the vacuum sealing process without needing to hit any buttons.
- This takes out the guesswork involved with vacuum sealing bags. You don’t have to fiddle with any settings.
- It’s a handy set-it-and-forget-it feature that makes bag sealing quick and easy.
Accessory Hose
- Both the 5800 and 5860 FoodSaver models come with a retractable accessory hose.
- This flexible hose attaches to the accessory port on the units. It allows you to vacuum seal mason jars, canisters, marinating containers, wine stoppers, and other non-bag items.
- To use the hose, you simply insert one end into the accessory port, attach the other end to the accessory you want to seal, and activate the vacuum process.
- The accessory hose provides added functionality and flexibility with sealing containers beyond just bags.
- Since the hose is included with both the 5800 and 5860 models, there’s no difference in accessory sealing abilities.
CrushFree Instant Seal
- The FoodSaver 5860 has a specialized CrushFree Instant Seal feature. The 5800 does not include this feature.
- CrushFree uses a two-step sealing process and calibrated heat levels to instantly seal bag edges before full vacuum pressure starts.
- This helps prevent delicate food items like breads, cookies, and pastries from getting crushed under the suction pressure.
- The FoodSaver 5800 relies on the manual seal button to stop suction for delicate foods. CrushFree on the 5860 activates this instantly.
- CrushFree is beneficial when regularly vacuum packing soft or lightly structured foods prone to crushing damage during sealing.
Removable Drip Tray
- Both the FoodSaver 5800 and 5860 include a removable drip tray beneath the sealing chambers.
- Liquids or oils from the sealing process accumulate in the pull-out drip tray for easy cleanup.
- Having a removable, dishwasher-safe drip tray makes cleaning up spills and messes simpler on both units.
- There’s no difference between the 5800 and 5860 when it comes to the drip tray feature and design.
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Warranty
- FoodSaver protects both the 5800 and 5860 models with identical limited warranties.
- These vacuums sealers come with a 5 year limited warranty from the date of purchase.
- The warranty covers defects in materials or workmanship under normal household use.
- So you get the same peace of mind for parts and repair coverage on either FoodSaver model you choose.
- In terms of warranty protection, the 5800 and 5860 are on equal ground.
Handheld Sealer
- The FoodSaver 5800 and 5860 both come with a handheld sealer attachment included in the box.
- This handheld heating element allows you to manually vacuum seal zipper bags, canisters, containers, and more outside the main units.
- To use it, simply insert a small vacuum bag into the handheld, zip it closed, and press the sealing strip down.
- Having this handheld provides additional sealing options beyond the main vacuum chambers.
- Since the handheld sealer is included with both models, it’s a tie when it comes to handy accessories.
Also Read: Comparison Between FoodSaver 4840 and 5860
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
For most people, the FoodSaver 5800 is the best choice. It delivers excellent vacuum sealing performance at a more affordable price point. The 5800 is sufficient for general home vacuum sealing needs. But for larger sealing jobs or often working with delicate foods, it’s worth upgrading to the 5860.
No, FoodSaver offers several different bag styles and sizes. However, all of their pre-cut vacuum seal rolls and bags are compatible with the complete line of FoodSaver appliances, including the 5800 and 5860.
FoodSaver is one popular brand of countertop vacuum sealing appliances. So while FoodSaver technically only refers to models made by that company, the terms “FoodSaver” and “vacuum sealer” are often used interchangeably when talking about home vacuum sealers.
Yes, FoodSavers are extremely useful appliances that can save home cooks a lot of money by reducing food waste through proper storage and preservation. Extending shelf life of foods means less spoiled produce, bakery goods, meats, meals and more. For anyone who meal preps, cooks in batches, buys in bulk, or wants to minimize freezer burn, a FoodSaver is well worth the investment.
Final Thoughts
When comparing the FoodSaver 5800 vs 5860, the 5860 has more power and wider sealing capabilities. But the 5800 can still handle most average-sized sealing jobs for the home kitchen.
For an affordable mid-range model with helpful features like the manual seal and retractable hose, the FoodSaver 5800 is a great vacuum sealer for most households.
The 5860 upgrades to CrushFree technology and a wider seal bar provide benefits for larger sealing needs, but come at a higher price.
Evaluate your personal sealing requirements, foods you’ll be storing, and budget to decide which of these two solid FoodSaver models best fits your kitchen.