​​FoodSaver V3835 Review

Portability

Compact and taller than it is broader, the FoodSaver V3835 is actually much more portable than many other larger smarter units. Yes, it needs an AC power outlet to operate but considering its size, carrying it along on road trips and in your RV isn’t a bad idea. Moreover, the construction is solid enough to handle a few bumps and bruises.

Functional Versatility

Capable of sealing dry, wet stuff, marinating and sous vide cooking, the ​FoodSaver V3835 carries off where its predecessor V2835 left off. This sealer in order to get maximum freshness provides various settings that operate at a different vacuum strength, heat, and settings. Moist and dry food get two settings for speed letting you increase and decrease vacuum rate based on the fragility of the food. On the other hand, a rapid marinate mode lets you quickly marinate meat or fish in minutes and if you use crush free instant sealing bags then you can control the amount of air to be left inside. This is excellent for delicate food items. 

Finally, it comes with an accessory button and an outlet that lets you vacuum seal canisters, cans, and jars.

Design

A typical FoodSaver all-black design with a massive backend and small front slit give the V3835 a traditional vacuum sealer design. The surface is smudge and grime free, doesn’t really dirty quick and is a breeze to clean too. As for the buttons, they are conveniently located on the top and easy to read.

My only real concern is the moving motor unit inside that has to come down once the bag is detected in order to start the sealing process. In my experience, more the moving parts in an electrical device, greater is its tendency to break down.

The built-in bag storage roll compartment helps keep your bags close at hand while the LED progress indicator is a nice addition to keep you informed. In fact, it lets you know when the device is ready to accept another bag and whether it needs a quick cool down.

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Ease Of Use

The instructions from the manufacturer come in two lines – first place the bag with food into the open end of the appliance and then press the start button to automatically begin the sealing process. I wanted to find out if it really was this simple, after all, every sealer I have tried and tested till date needs some amount of tinkering to get it just right. I found the FoodSaver V3835 to be exactly as simple as the instructions.

A word of caution though, many reviewers have complained that it is hard to fit the bag in so that the machine reads it. In my experience, this is probably because folks try to shove the bag into the opening rather than trying to slide it into the interface from the right to the left. This is specifically mentioned in the instructions and as long as you stick to the instructions, using this vacuum sealer is a breeze. Besides, it doesn’t really waste many bags as only an inch or inch and a half is used up during the sealing process.

Warranty And Replacements

Protected under a limited one year warranty, this vacuum sealer isn’t exactly designed to last long. Thankfully, finding replacement parts for the V3835 isn’t hard since it is a newer model from FoodSaver. The cost of procuring them from the manufacturer or a local wholesale dealer too makes it a lucrative choice compared to many other brands. As for customer support, FoodSaver isn’t the best but they are on par with plenty of other brand names.

Maintenance

Remember that the more intelligent and automated a vacuum sealer, the less maintenance it requires. This SmartSeal vacuum sealer decides the strength, duration and all other settings based on what option you select and the bag used. Moreover, with an extra-wide sealing strip, it helps in reducing bag wastage and maintaining a good air-tight seal. To protect the motor and pump from liquid spills, it comes with a dishwasher-safe removable drip tray that catches overflows. In short, maintaining and operating this vacuum sealer is a breeze.