FoodSaver V3835 Vacuum Sealing System

When I first started searching for Vacuum Sealer systems, I was very unsure of which model to choose and which features to get. I was also put off by the fact that the reviews for most models on FoodSaver's website didn't match the respective reviews on Amazon...and I have often found other Amazon consumers to be very helpful when considering purchasing various products. Although this shook my confidence in the FoodSaver system, I did some more research and settled on the V3835. The V3835 has roll storage, a manual bag cutter, automatic vacuum sealing, dry and moist modes, normal and gentle modes, a built in accessory hose, a marinate feature, dishwasher safe drip trays, and this is all attractively packaged in a stainless steel front with a black plastic case/body. This system will seal bags up to 11" in width and it has performed excellently while I've had it. There are a decent amount of unsatisfactory and even terrible reviews of this product and I'm quite surprised they exist because my experience has been so good. I do not mean to be rude, but I do think that a poor experience may partially be the result of a general lack of understanding of what this product does and how it does it. The FoodSaver Vacuum Sealers are products which remove the air from containers to slow or prevent oxygen from reacting with the food and spoiling it. These systems do so by using a pump to remove the air, thusly reducing the pressure inside the pouch/bag. The normal pressure outside of the pouch/bag (which is significantly higher than inside the bag) pushes on the plastic, forming it around the product, and constricting it; thusly air is removed...BUT the story's not done yet! The liquid, which moves almost as easily as the air does is ALSO subject to the same forces which remove the air, thusly, liquids are drawn out of the pouch/bag, too. Foods that are very moist or have internal moisture that can be drawn out by squeezing them may release enough liquid to interfere with the vacuum and heat sealing system of the FoodSaver units. Depending on the type and quantity liquid, the unit may not be able to seal at all. Very oily liquids may stand up to the heat, making a barrier between the bag material and prevent the heat sealer from sealing properly. Conveniently, the V3835 has a dishwasher safe drip tray, which catches those liquids. If you pat dry the item being sealed and use the "Gentle" vacuum setting in combination with the "Moist" food setting, you can avoid most moisture-related problems with these units. If you want a system to vacuum seal liquids, you'll probably need to spend at least double if not triple to get a vacuum chamber. A lot of the unsatisfactory reviews focused on the amount of bag wasted. The manual recommends that you have an extra 4" past the product being sealed. Depending on the depth of the object being sealed, you will need more or less bag material to cover it and still have the bag meet up at the ends for sealing. Flat food items require less bag material. I don't think I have used 4" (on purpose) yet; I have overestimated how much bag I needed a few times. The V3835 does require about 1.25" to 1.5" of material to be inserted into the unit before it will seal it, so many might consider that a lot of waste. Despite that, I have been very judicious with my bag usage and each roll has given me a lot of mileage. Often times, I will reuse a bag that has been sealed already. I open the bag on the end that comes pre-sealed/seamless. Then I remove however much product I want, and insert that end into the unit to reseal it. Depending on how much you have in a bag, you can do that multiple times to seal the same item...which saves a lot of bag material. A few of the unsatisfactory reviews focused on the noise and the unit not being gentle enough on various foods. If foods are puffy and soft, they will more easily compress. This goes for breads, cakes, layered items, etc. Luckily, on the V3835, you can stop the vacuum and go straight to sealing at any time by simply pressing the "Stop/Seal". I often use this on delicate foods to prevent the very effective vacuum from squishing them too much. As far as the noise goes: it's not whisper quiet, but it's not too loud. Considering this is the first FoodSaver I've had, I can't compare its noise to other models, but I don't think it's too loud. Overall, I think the V3835 is a great unit. It does exactly what I wanted and it does it well. I have already noticed a significant increase in the life of products I am using it for. I am pleased with the build quality of the unit and find it to be a worthwhile investment. I suggest you order your FoodSaver bag material from Sam's Club, since they have the best price by far that I have seen for the 8" and 11" roll combo pack.