FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer Machine Automatic Bag Detection Sous Vide Friendly with sealer bags roll handheld vacuum black

Easy to use.

This was a gift for my wife. It works well but a little on the noisy side.

We have had our FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer Machine for several months. My wife made remarks about my need to buy gadgets that I end up not using. I got her involved using it right away. We really like it.Our first concerns were sealing items with fluid. My wife solved that issue by freezing prior to sealing. The mold she used was plastic meat trays that sliced meat is packaged in. She sealed vegetable soup, Chicken Spaghetti, and Lasagna. That took care of the fluid problem and I enjoyed the servings much later without the frost burn.We learned also the zip lock sandwich bags can be used. I found a you tube article that shows you how to create a method to permit vacuum sealing. The sandwich size bag allows for smaller packaging without the waste of larger bags. I thought that was pretty cool.We like camping a lot. The FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer Machine is great for space saving. Smaller quantities make packing and repackaging fun and challenging.I also like to hunt. The cost of commercial deer processing is not cost effective. The FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer machine allows me to finish my product, for long term storage, like the big boys do. I have used the paper packaging before and chose to never do it again. I don't like freezer burn.

Love storing and resealing!

Am now able to buy food in bulk. Item is easy to use and fits in my kitchen drawer.

I tried one of those compact machines because I liked their size. But I could not deal with the ridiculous closing mechanism that requires an elephant to sit on the lid to get the latches on the sides to click shut. You better hope that the bag didn't move cockeyed while you struggled with that lid. Then push button to vacuum seal, and then press those latches in as hard as you can to get the lid to open and release the bag. Who on earth invented such torture devices? My fingers hurt after two attempts, so I ordered this automatic FoodSaver which I should have done in the first place. The other one went back.This machine is bigger, no question about it. It measures about 14" wide and about 9 1/2" deep and is about 5" high. Compact machines are about half the depth. I am just putting this out there for comparison.Comparing compacts to this automatic Foods\Saver:Compacts have no roll compartment. This FoodSaver does.Compacts all have those awful latches that won't close unless you almost kneel on the machine. This FoodSaver has a level on the side that has three markings: open, operate, and store.Compacts have a narrow seal which can have a higher failure rate. This FoodSaver has a wide seal that will not leak.Suction power: like night and day. The FoodSaver is the clear winner here as well.The only con is its larger size. I will have to clean out my tray area to keep it in there for easy access.I saw that a lot of people were upset that it did not cvome with the accesory hose. Mine DID come with it!Noise level is a low hum, nothing to be bothered by.For newbies to vacuum sealer machines, here is a tip: Cut the bag a lot longer than you really need and suck all the air out and seal it. Then, cut just below the seal and either reseal or wash it out and air dry. This way you can re-use the bag until it gets too short to be used again. I have done it for years this way and never had a bag fail.

Works perfectly.

For over a decade, my trusty Food Saver was a kitchen workhorse, preserving leftovers, portioning meats, and keeping freshness locked in. So, when it finally gave up the ghost, I embarked on a mission to find its worthy successor. After much research, I settled with this vacuum sealer that promised advanced features and enhanced convenience. Unfortunately, my experience was far from perfect, and ultimately led to its return.It included an assortment of bag sizes, and I liked the integrated bag storage and cutter bar. These convenient features definitely felt like an upgrade. However, unlike my previous sealer, which operated with a simple button press, this model required a latch to be locked. And to me, that latch was surprisingly difficult to engage. The pressure required felt excessive and raised concerns about long-term usability, especially for those like me who have less hand strength.But the real disappointment came with the machine's primary function: creating a vacuum-tight seal. Eager to put it to the test, I vacuum-sealed several steaks. Initially, the process seemed successful. The machine whirred, the air was extracted, and the bag appeared securely sealed around the meat.Then, the very next day, I discovered the sealed bags had failed. The bags were no longer sealed around the steaks, but were loose. Not only was the bag no longer vacuum-sealed, but the seal itself was opened in some places along the seal line. The promise of long-lasting freshness was irrevocably broken.I had invested significant time and effort in researching and selecting this vacuum sealer, and I thought I was getting a good valuable product for the price point. This experience highlights the importance of functionality over flashy features. While the built-in storage and cutter bar were undeniably convenient, they were ultimately overshadowed by the machine's core flaw: its inability to create and maintain a reliable vacuum seal.Ultimately, the difficulty in locking the latch and the failure to properly seal bags rendered this vacuum sealer unusable for my needs.