As SeaRay said, the vacuum is best for long term storage. It sounds like you are using your hamburger quickly enough that a vacuum bag is not needed. I use a sealer quite a bit. If I already have a few bags of fish frozen in ziplocks, I will vacuum seal any new fish I want to save. Deer and beef will keep for years if done well. Bags are re-usable if you care to clean them out...they just get a bit shorter each time you cut them open.