Vacuum Sealer

A vacuum sealer is a specialized device to extract the air from sealed plastic bags. This is useful for storing food, as oxygen is the enemy of flavor, and is also useful for marination, as vacuum conditions open up cell walls, allowing for better penetration of the marinade. The most common use of a vacuum sealer is to prepare food for cooking in an immersion circulator.

If a vacuum sealer is not in the cards, a similar effect can be created by placing food in a zip-top bag and extracting as much air as possible with a straw.