NESCO VS-15S Deluxe Vacuum Sealer

Care/Use Guide

Image of the NESCO VS-15S Deluxe Vacuum Sealer, a silver appliance with a black handle and control panel.

Welcome & Support

Thank you for purchasing a NESCO Vacuum Sealer. There is nothing better than knowing you are preserving delicious foods for you and your family. We have been creating kitchen products and accessories for many years and are excited to share our knowledge and welcome more enthusiasts to the world of home preservation.

Questions?

NESCO Customer Service is available 8 am to 4 pm CST.

Email: nescocs@nesco.com
Phone: 1-800-288-4545
Live Chat: www.nesco.com

Warranty/Registration

Please see warranty information included on the package and in this guide. This guide is available at Nesco.com.

Returns

Please do not return this item to the place of purchase. If you are missing any parts or need assistance, contact NESCO Customer Service.

Technical Specifications:

Model: VS-15S / NESCO Deluxe Vacuum Sealer
Input: 120 Volts / 120 Watts

"NESCO" is a registered trademark of The Metal Ware Corp.

Visit us at nesco.com

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Important Safeguards

This product is designed for household use only. When using electrical appliances, basic safety precautions should always be followed, including the following:

READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING THIS APPLIANCE.
Do not touch hot surfaces. Use handles or knobs.
To protect against electrical shock, do not immerse cord or plugs in water or other liquid.
Close supervision is necessary when any appliance is used by or near children. This appliance is not recommended for use by children.
Unplug from outlet when not in use and before cleaning. Allow to cool before putting on or taking off parts.
Do not operate any appliance with a damaged cord or plug or after the appliance malfunctions or has been damaged in any manner. Contact NESCO Customer Service.
The use of accessory attachments not recommended by the appliance manufacturer may cause injuries.
Do not use outdoors. Do not use appliance for other than intended use.
Do not let cord hang over edge of table or counter or touch hot surfaces.
Do not place on or near a hot gas or electric burner, or in a heated oven.
Always attach plug to appliance first, then plug cord into the wall outlet. To disconnect, turn any control to “off”, then remove plug from wall outlet.
Appliance is not intended for commercial use.
Operate appliance only when all parts are fully engaged and tightened.
To reduce risk of injury and damage to appliance, keep hands, hair, clothing and utensils away from parts during operation.
Place appliance on flat and steady support surface when ready for use.
Appliance is not designed for continuous use. Approved for one operating cycle every two minutes.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

Polarized Plug:

This appliance has a polarized plug (one blade is wider than the other). To reduce risk of electric shock, plug is intended to fit into polarized outlet only one way. If the plug does not fit fully into the outlet, reverse the plug. If it still does not fit, contact a qualified electrician. Do not try to modify the plug in any way.

Short Cord Instructions:

A short power supply cord is provided to reduce the risk resulting from becoming entangled in or tripping over a longer cord. Extension cords may be used if care is exercised in their use. If an extension cord is used, the marked electrical rating of the cord should be at least as great as the electrical rating of the appliance. The longer cord should be arranged so that it will not drape over the tabletop where it can be pulled on by children or tripped over unintentionally.

Component List

Diagram showing the top and inside view of the NESCO VS-15S Vacuum Sealer with numbered components.

1. Food: Press the selection to toggle between the settings for DRY or MOIST, this will determine the vacuum pressure being applied during the "vac seal" function.
2. Vac & Seal / Cancel: Button will start the automatic vacuuming and sealing process or press anytime during operation to cancel the process.
3. Manual Seal: This button provides two functions:
- To seal the open end of a bag without vacuum.
- When the “Vac & Seal” function is in operation, press this button to stop the vacuum and immediately start the sealing process.
4. Pulse Vacuum: Press this button to vacuum manually, release button to stop. Repeat this process until desired vacuum pressure is reached. Then press “Manual Seal” to complete vacuum seal.
5. Canister: Select this function for sealing vacuum canisters. Canisters sold separately.
6. Hose Port: Insert the vacuum port hose accessory into this port when vacuum sealing canisters.
7. Handle: Lower handle until it latches to lock cover, this allows vacuum and seal function to engage. Lift handle to unlock and open cover.
8. Sealing Element: Heating element covered by a heat-resistant tape, seals bags and rolls during the seal function. Do NOT remove the protective tape that covers the element.
9. Vacuum Port: The vacuum is created thru this port, make sure that it is not blocked or impeded during operation.
10. Bag / Roll Cutter & Guide: Place roll or bag under guide. Close guide. Press and slide in any direction to cut bags or rolls to desired size.
11. Roll Storage: Made to accommodate up to an 11-inch-wide vacuum seal roll.
12. Vacuum Port Hose and Adapter: Plug into hose port and canister when using the canister function.
13. Rubber Sealing Strip: Heat resistant rubber sealing strip applies pressure to the bag holding them tightly against the sealing element when the seal function is activated.
14. Foam Gaskets: Upper and lower foam gaskets provide a seal to initiate the sealing process. Keep clean and dry or replace when is distorted, deformed or torn. To extend gasket life keep cover in the UNLOCKED position when not in use.

Operating Instructions

Making a Bag with the Roll

Place sealer on a flat and stable surface and insert plug into electrical outlet.
Lift handle and open the lid. Place bag roll into roll storage compartment.
Move cutter blade to end of the guide then lift blade guide and pull the bag material from the roll (Pull enough of the roll to hold items to be vacuum packed plus an additional 3 inches) then close the blade guide. Press lightly on blade guide while sliding blade along guide to cut the bag material.
Place one end of the bag material on the sealing strip and close the top cover. Press down on the handle until it is fully closed.
Press the “Manual Seal” button to start sealing.
When the Light above the “Manual Seal” turns off the sealing operation will be completed.
Lift handle, open the top cover and remove the bag.

Vacuum Packaging Your Filled Bag

Put the items inside the bag.
Open the lid, clean and straighten the open end of the bag make sure there are no wrinkles or ripples.
Place the open end of the bag inside the vacuum chamber area. Make sure the air intake is not covered by the bag.
Put the top cover down and press front handle to lock the top cover.
Check the LED lights of "Food" setting, select the “Dry” or “Moist” setting.
Press the “Vac & Seal” button. The unit will automatically vacuum and seal the bag. NOTE: This product has high pressure during vacuum packaging, in order to avoid crushing delicate items, observe the status of the items inside the bag and press the “MANUAL SEAL” button immediately when the desired vacuum pressure is reached. The pump will stop and change to heat-seal the bag.
Lift handle and top cover to remove the sealed bag.

NOTE: The “Manual Seal” button will not work if pressed within 15 seconds of the last activation. For best sealing effect, it is better to let the appliance cool down for 2 minutes between uses. Wipe out any excess liquid or food residue from the vacuum chamber after each use.

Vacuum Package Using a Canister (Sold Separately)

Clean and dry canister cover and base.
Put the items into the canister. Ensure cover valve is turned to seal.
Insert one end of the vacuum port hose into the hose port of vacuum sealer and other end into the center hole of the canister cover. Push firmly to seat hose connections.
Check the LED lights of “Food” and make sure it is at “Dry” setting.
Press the “Canister” button to start vacuuming. To ensure a good seal between the cover and the canister, use your hand to push down on the canister cover at the beginning of the cycle. The machine will stop automatically when desired vacuum pressure is reached.
Remove the vacuum port hose from the canister cover and the hose port immediately after sealing. NOTE: When moist foods are under vacuum, moisture will form in the hose. Remember to clean and dry the hose after vacuuming.

Care & Cleaning

Vacuum Sealer

Unplug the unit before cleaning.
Clean the vacuum sealer with a damp sponge. Do not immerse in water.
Do not use abrasive cleaners as they will scratch the surface.
Dry thoroughly before storing. When storing do not lock cover to prevent deformation of the gaskets.

Bags

The bag material can be washed in warm water with dishwashing soap. Rinse the bags well and allow to dry thoroughly before reusing.
Bags can be washed on the top rack in your dishwasher by turning the bags inside out. Stand the bag up so the water can get inside the bag. Dry thoroughly before next use.

Note: Bags used to store greasy foods should not be re-used.

Storing Your Vacuum Sealer

Keep the unit in a flat and safe place, out of the reach of children.
When not in use, keep handle in unlocked position to prevent the foam gaskets from compressing or deforming. If the gaskets become deformed it can affect the function and performance of the vacuum sealer.

Vacuum Sealing Tips

Don't overfill the bags; leave about 3 inches at the open end so that the bag can be placed more efficiently in the vacuum chamber.
Clean and straighten the open end of the bag before sealing. Ensure no wrinkles or creases appear on the bag material, creased bags may be difficult to seal.
Do not vacuum package objects with sharp points like fish bones and hard shells. Sharp points can penetrate and pierce or tear the bag.
Freeze fruits and blanch vegetables before vacuum packing for best results.
Hot liquids need to be cooled before vacuum packing. Hot liquids will bubble up and over the top of the bag when vacuum packed.
Partially freeze meats before sealing.
During vacuum sealing, small amounts of liquids, crumbs or food particles can be pulled into vacuum chamber, clean immediately as this will affect performance of the vacuum.
Store perishable foods in the freezer or refrigerator. Vacuum packing extends the shelf life of foods but does not preserve them.
Pantry items such as flour, rice, mixes for cakes and pancakes, all stay fresh longer when vacuum packed.
Keep camping supplies such as matches, first aid kits and valuables, clean and dry.
Keep silver and collectibles untarnished by vacuum sealing.
Fill a bag about 2/3 full with water, seal the end (don't vacuum). Freeze the bag and use for ice in the cooler or ice packs for first aid.

Troubleshooting

Vacuum Sealer Has No Power

Check to see that the unit is plugged in. To test the electrical outlet, plug in another appliance such as a lamp.
The vacuum sealer will shut off automatically if overheated. Allow to cool down for 15 minutes and try again.
Check power cord and plug for damage. If damaged, do not use the vacuum sealer.

Vacuum Sealer Does Not Perform First Seal

Make sure the bag end is properly positioned over sealing element and there are no creases or debris in bag material where the seal would be created.

Vacuum Sealer Does Not Pull a Complete Vacuum

To seal properly the open end of bag must be entirely inside vacuum chamber area.
Check upper sealing strip and gaskets for obstructions. Wipe clean and ensure they are fully seated.
Check the cover down all the way and locked in.
Bag material may have a leak. To test, seal the bag with some air in it, submerge in water, and apply pressure. Bubbles indicate a leak. Reseal or use another bag.

Vacuum Sealer Not Sealing Bag Properly

Should sealing element overheat and melt the bag, it may be necessary to lift the cover and allow the sealing element to cool for several minutes.

Bag Loses Vacuum After Being Sealed

Leaks along the seal can be caused by wrinkles, crumbs, grease or liquids. Wipe the top inside of the bag and smooth it out along the sealing element before sealing.
Check the bag for a puncture or hole which may have released the vacuum.
Cushion sharp edges on contents in bag with paper towels.

One-Year Limited Warranty

The Metal Ware Corporation warrants the original purchaser that your product will be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of one year from date of purchase. Product must be used for personal or sole household usage in accordance with the instructions. Should your product prove defective within one year from date of purchase, contact NESCO customer service team at 1-800-288-4545 or nescocs@nesco.com with an explanation of the claim. If a viable warranty claim is determined, a customer service member will provide you with the necessary details to have your unit replaced. Under this limited time warranty, we undertake to replace any parts found to be defective at our sole discretion. This limited time warranty is void if the unit is connected to an unsuitable electrical supply or dismantled or interfered with in any way or damaged through misuse. This warranty is not transferable.

LIMITATION OF REMEDIES AND DAMAGES: Except for the limited time warranty and remedies expressly stated above, the Metal Ware Corp shall not be liable to you, or to anyone claiming by or through you, for any obligations or liabilities, including, but not limited to, obligations or liabilities arising out of breach of contract, breach of warranty, statutory claims, negligence or other tort or any theory of strict liability, with respect to the product or the Metal Ware Corp's acts or omissions or otherwise. Buyer agrees that in no event shall the Metal Ware Corp be liable for incidental, compensatory, punitive, consequential, indirect, special or other damages. Warranty does not cover consequential or incidental damages such as property damage and does not cover incidental costs and expenses resulting from any breach of this warranty, even if foreseeable. Some states or provinces do not allow the exclusion or limitations of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you depending on the state or province of purchase.

You may register your product on our website but will need to retain a copy of your proof of purchase should a warranty issue arise. We suggest you staple your receipt to this care and use guide.

Thank You

We ensure 100% customer satisfaction and have a full-time, knowledgeable staff ready to assist you. Please email our customer service department at nescocs@nesco.com or call 1-800-288-4545.

For more products or recipes, visit nesco.com.