FoodSaver 5460 vs 5480 (2021): Comparing FoodSaver Vacuum Sealers

Vacuum sealers have become a staple in most home cooks’ kitchen arsenals for a simple but good reason: they extend the shelf life of various kinds of food. FoodSaver is one of the big names in the food-sealing game, making reliable and easy-to-use machines for years now.

Here, we take a look at the FoodSaver FM5460 and FM5480. The two are more or less the same machine, and the differences between them boil down to their included items and measurements.

FoodSaver 5460 vs 5480 Comparison Chart

Model	FoodSaver FM5460	FoodSaver FM5480
		Amazon product
Price	Check Price at FoodSaver.com	Amazon product
Operation	Automatic	Automatic
Cord Length	30 inches	30 inches
Power	126 watts	126 watts
PulseVac	Yes	Yes
Removable Drip Tray	Yes	Yes
Rapid Marinate Mode	Yes	Yes
Express Bag Maker	Yes	Yes
Retractable Handheld Sealer	Yes	Yes
Open Roll Storage	Yes	Yes
Included Parts	1 Vacuum seal roll (11″ x 10″) 1 Expandable vacuum seal roll (11″ x 8″) 3 Quart vacuum seal bags 2 Gallon vacuum seal bags 3 Quart vacuum zipper bags 2 Gallon vacuum zipper bags 4 Gallon liquid block vacuum seal bags 1 Jar sealer 1 Bottle stopper	1 Vacuum seal roll (11″ x 10″) 5 Quart vacuum seal bags 6 Quart vacuum zipper bags 5 Gallon vacuum zipper bags 1 Bottle stopper 1 L&L container
Dimensions (W x H x D)	16.31″ x 7.24″ x 7.64″	16.25″ x 7.4″ x 8″
Weight	10.41 lbs	9.93 lbs

Differences

The FoodSaver FM5460 has more accessories than the FM5480.

It goes without saying that vacuum sealers need zipper and seal bags and rolls to do their magic. Right off the bat, the FoodSaver FM5460 has the upper hand there since it comes with more items out of the box.

Compared to the FM5480, the FM5460 is more complete in the sense that it’s bundled with just about every accessory FoodSaver has to offer. Notably, it includes a jar sealer and liquid block seal bags, both of which the FM5480 doesn’t have. The FM5480 does have a lunch-and-leftover or L&L container (think Tupperware) thrown in with it, so there’s that.

Expanding more on the FM5480, it came to life as a Costco exclusive, but it’s now available from other retailers. Last but not least, the FM5460 weighs slightly more and is a tad wider, while the FM5480 has a bit more height to it. That said, the differences here are way too minuscule to tell with the naked eye.

Design

Both look modern and sleek with their black and silver colors.

As noted, the two are pretty much the same vacuum sealer, and that applies to their design as well. Both have the same 30-inch cord and power wattage, and they also sport the same black-and-silver paint job. At any rate, neither one will look out of place in any kitchen, and their size is just right to find a perfect spot on your countertop.

It’s also worth mentioning that both have open roll storage. Thanks to that, you’ll always know how much roll is still remaining and, for the same reason, when you have to replace it.

Usage

Both perform about the same as you’d expect.

The FoodSaver FM5460 and FM5480 are 2-in-1 machines, both featuring an upright vacuum sealer and a retractable handheld sealer to vacuum the air out of zipper bags. In terms of performance, they’re the same, and on top of that, they’re both automatic, making them a breeze to use. In a word, all you have to do is put the food in its proper container and line it up with the unit or place the handheld sealer on the zipper bags’ indicated circle. From there, all it takes is the press of a button.

Both can preserve all sorts of food too, from fruits and vegetables to meat and cheese. They can even extend the shelf life of bread, and with the right equipment, they can do the same with liquids, as well as whatever is in jars and bottles. Besides increasing food products’ life expectancy by up to five times, they prevent freezer burn to boot.

This, of course, reduces food waste a lot, and by the same token, they save a lot of cash in the long run. All in all, that makes them a worthwhile investment.

Features

Both have the same nifty features that make them flexible and easy to use.

The two also share the same set of features, which make FoodSaver vacuum sealers stand out from the pack. First off, there’s the express bag maker that promises to cut the bag-making steps in half. Then there’s PulseVac that let you start and stop sealing manually, which is perfect for delicate food.

Each one also has a removable drip tray that’s safe for dishwashers. Moreover, they have what FoodSaver calls Rapid Marinate Mode. That can save you a lot of time since you won’t have to wait for hours for spices and the like to add flavor to meats and such.

Verdict

Essentially, these two are the same, but the FoodSaver FM5460 offers more accessories.

There isn’t exactly a winner here, and you can’t really go wrong with either one. After all, they’re the same when it comes to performance and features. At that, choosing between them is really a matter of what accessories you want.

However, if we had to choose, we’d go with the FoodSaver FM5460 simply because it has a jar sealer and more bags to use. The FM5480 does have an L&L container, but it’s just not enough to be as convincing as the FM5460’s included items.

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