The GadgetUniverse Automatic Vacuum Fresh Box (model TF-229L) is a clever kitchen device that extends the shelf life of many perishable foods through vacuum sealing. We tested the small version of the Vacuum Fresh Box, and a large version is also available. The small unit is approximately a 9x11-inch oval container with a hinged dome lid and front locking clip.

The Vacuum Fresh Box is designed to keep your food fresh, although it won't work for certain kinds of food. It proves especially useful for many fruits that can over-ripen quickly, such as bananas and avocados. It is great for tomatoes, which keep their flavor much better if stored at room temperature. However, the Vacuum Fresh Box can't be used to store foods that need refrigeration or a high moisture content, since moisture is conducive to mold. The Vacuum Fresh Box truly shines with bread, cakes, cereal and other dry goods. In the air-free environment, these foods last for weeks instead of days or hours. This gadget also lets you buy or make foods without unnecessary preservatives, helping you eat healthier. The small Vacuum Fresh Box holds up to five medium bananas, three medium avocados or about eight cups of popcorn, chips or crackers.

For our initial test, we inserted several under-ripe bananas and vacuum-sealed the chamber. After several days, the bananas showed no signs of spoiling, even though a similar batch of bananas on the counter ripened noticeably. It was a simple task to open the chamber to remove a banana, and then reclose and re-vacuum the chamber to maintain a constant oxygen-free environment inside.

The vacuuming process is a bit tricky at first. When the box is brand new, it may be necessary to press down firmly on the lid to allow the Vacuum Fresh Box to attain an adequate seal. Otherwise, the automatic vacuuming can go on indefinitely. The vacuuming process, which takes about 2 minutes, is also quite noisy. A tiny gauge on the lid caves down to indicate that all of the air has been removed from the container.

In addition to an AC adapter, the Vacuum Fresh Box comes with a manual pump for vacuuming the air out of the chamber after it is closed. The clear lid lets you keep an eye on the contents, and a handy date indicator dial on the lid lets you set the date foods were stored. The box itself is compact and lightweight, making it ideal for transporting to a picnic or campground. Using the Vacuum Fresh Box while camping is a great idea, not only to keep foods fresh, but also to keep unwanted pests away from the food.

The Vacuum Fresh Box must occasionally re-vacuum to maintain an air-free environment, and it can start the process at any time. This is necessary, but it also proves to be annoying and often startling. In our opinion, the amount of air leaking back into the container was negligible, so we opted to leave the unit unplugged after the initial vacuum-sealing.

Both versions can be purchased at www.gadgetuniverse.com. If you have a problem with quickly spoiling or ripening foods, the GadgetUniverse Automatic Vacuum Fresh Box TF-229L may be for you.


Pros: Preserves flavor and freshness in a variety of foods, electric pump maintains air-free environment automatically
Cons: Must re-vacuum periodically, electric pump is noisy, takes time to develop a tight seal