An appliance for vacuum packaging and sealing a container (C'), the container (C') having at least one unsealed side, comprising: a vacuum motor assembly generating suction; a vacuum trough (180, 185) fluidly connected to the vacuum motor assembly; a first heat sealing element disposed adjacent to the vacuum trough configured to heat seal the unsealed side of the container (C'); a second heat sealing element disposed between the first heat sealing element and the vacuum trough, said second heating element configured to heat seal the unsealed side of the container (C'); and a microprocessor configured to control the vacuum motor assembly and the first and second heating elements (192, 190) in programmable sequences, charaterized in that at least one of the programmable sequences includes: energizing the vacuum motor assembly to provide suction to the vacuum trough (180, 185); energizing the first heat sealing element at a first predetermined temperature for a first predetermined time when a first predetermined vacuum level is reached in the vacuum trough (180, 185); de-energizing the vacuum motor assembly after a third predetermined time has elapsed after the first heat sealing element has been de-energized; delaying a dwell time; and energizing the second heat sealing element at the expiration of the dwell time at a second predetermined temperature for a second predetermined time. a vacuum motor assembly generating suction; a vacuum trough (180, 185) fluidly connected to the vacuum motor assembly; a first heat sealing element disposed adjacent to the vacuum trough configured to heat seal the unsealed side of the container (C'); a second heat sealing element disposed between the first heat sealing element and the vacuum trough, said second heating element configured to heat seal the unsealed side of the container (C'); and a microprocessor configured to control the vacuum motor assembly and the first and second heating elements (192, 190) in programmable sequences, charaterized in that at least one of the programmable sequences includes: energizing the vacuum motor assembly to provide suction to the vacuum trough (180, 185); energizing the first heat sealing element at a first predetermined temperature for a first predetermined time when a first predetermined vacuum level is reached in the vacuum trough (180, 185); de-energizing the vacuum motor assembly after a third predetermined time has elapsed after the first heat sealing element has been de-energized; delaying a dwell time; and energizing the second heat sealing element at the expiration of the dwell time at a second predetermined temperature for a second predetermined time. energizing the vacuum motor assembly to provide suction to the vacuum trough (180, 185); energizing the first heat sealing element at a first predetermined temperature for a first predetermined time when a first predetermined vacuum level is reached in the vacuum trough (180, 185); de-energizing the vacuum motor assembly after a third predetermined time has elapsed after the first heat sealing element has been de-energized; delaying a dwell time; and energizing the second heat sealing element at the expiration of the dwell time at a second predetermined temperature for a second predetermined time.