Vacuum sealing in your camper van: 3 clever kitchen gadgets for the road – now with 10% CamperStyle discount

The fridge in your camper is small, opened packs go bad fast, and the next supermarket can easily be 40 kilometers away. Vacuum sealing helps. The catch: classic bag-based vacuum sealers are bulky, need 230 volts, and churn out a ton of plastic waste. There's another way — using jars. Here's how it works, who it's worth it for, and where the limits are.

Why vacuum sealing makes such a difference in your camper

Without air in the container, oxidation slows down and bacteria and mold have a harder time. Cheese, cold cuts, cut vegetables, or grill leftovers last several days longer in the fridge than in an open pack, depending on the food. Dry goods like coffee, muesli, pasta, or flour stay aromatic and are protected from moisture and pantry moths. These are exactly the things that otherwise end up in the trash in a camper.

Bags or jars? The difference for campers

Bag-based vacuum sealers seal food in plastic film. That works well, but has downsides in a camper: the devices are as big as a bread box, usually need 230 volts, and every cycle uses up film. Want to reseal leftovers later? You need a new bag.

Jar-based vacuum sealers rely on a screw-top jar instead. A small battery-powered attachment sucks the air out past the lid, and the vacuum presses the seal against the rim of the jar. No film needed, you can open and reseal the jar as often as you like, and you've got jars on board anyway. The catch: jars need storage space and are fragile. More on that below.

EcoSeal Pro: Vacuum sealing at the push of a button, no cables needed

The EcoSeal Pro from Austrian start-up Seal it! is exactly this kind of jar-based vacuum sealer. You place it on the jar, press the button, and after about 30 seconds it's airtight. The numbers that matter for camper life:

• Size and weight: 10.5 × 10.5 × 9.7 cm, 348 g. Fits in any cutlery drawer.

• Power: Charges via USB-C, so you can use your 12V onboard supply, a power bank, or a power station. One charge is said to be enough for over 100 jars.

• Power draw: under 5 watts. Your leisure battery won't even notice.

• Jars: Twist-off, Ball Mason jars, and other common types.

• Price: The set normally costs €54.99 and includes an adapter, three lids, and a charging cable (as of October 2026).

© Seal It

AnySeal: Vacuum-seal the jars you already have

No need to buy new jars. The AnySeal lids turn almost any screw-top jar into a vacuum container, from an old jam jar to a pesto jar. They fit openings from 2.5 to 8.5 cm. The accessories:

• AnySeal lids (set of 3), €13.99

• AnySeal adapter, €12.99

• AnySeal glass box, price depends on size, great for meal prep and leftovers

• Expansion set, €25.99, with adapter and lids for anyone who already has the EcoSeal

Where the jar system reaches its limits

Honestly, it's not a fit for everything.

• Storage space: Jars are heavier and bulkier than bags. Five to eight jars in sensible sizes are enough for most trips, more than that gets tight.

• Risk of breakage: Jars rattle on gravel tracks. A non-slip mat in the drawer or a dish towel between the jars solves that.

• Not a fridge replacement: Vacuum sealing slows down spoiling, but doesn't stop it. Fresh food still needs to be kept cool.

• Large items: A whole loaf of bread or a steak for four won't fit in any jar. For that, bags remain the better choice.

Milk it!: Make your own plant-based milk instead of hauling cartons

If you travel vegan, you know the problem: good oat drink is hard to find abroad, and cartons eat up storage space. The Milk it! turns oats, nuts, or sunflower seeds and water into a fresh drink. The ingredients are light, keep for a long time, and barely take up any room.

© Seal It

About 1.3 liters of water yields 5 to 6 servings, and you can also make warm drinks and soups. In the fridge, the plant-based milk keeps for 3 to 4 days; vacuum-sealed in a jar, the manufacturer says it lasts over a week. Important for campers: the device works like a stand blender and needs shore power or a sufficiently strong inverter. It currently costs €99.99 instead of €159.99 (as of October 2026).

5 practical tips for vacuum sealing on the road

1. Vacuum-seal before you set off. Fill jars with coffee, muesli, pasta, and flour at home and seal them. That way everything stays fresh for the whole trip.

2. Grill leftovers straight into the jar. Let them cool, pop them in, vacuum-seal, into the fridge. That's lunch sorted for the next day.

3. Portion out cheese and cold cuts.Small jars, small portions. Once you open one, it won't last long anyway.

4. Secure your jars.Put a non-slip mat in the drawer, and don't store jars loose in the overhead cupboard.

5. Charge via the onboard power system.A free USB port on your onboard power system is enough. With over 100 jars per charge, you'll barely need to recharge it on a normal trip.

Who's the EcoSeal Pro worth it for?

For anyone traveling longer than a weekend, with limited storage space and no interest in plastic wrap waste. If you camp off-grid, you'll benefit from its low power consumption. If you regularly freeze large cuts of meat or whole loaves of bread, you're better off sticking with a bag-based device—or using both.