Best Sous Vide Machines

Buying guide for Best sous vide machines

A sous vide is a sure way to impress guests and increase the culinary prowess of home cooks. You set the time and cooking temperature to the device, which is then attached to your cooking pot. Meanwhile, the item to be cooked remains in a sealed bag or glass that’s submerged in the water. For recipes that require a specific degree of doneness, a sous vide machine is quite the asset.

Before purchasing a sous vide machine, be sure to consider its cooking consistency, control panel features — especially important since some sous vides are operated with smartphones — the ability to cook varying foods like meat and vegetables, and ease of cleaning. 

There are hundreds of sous vide machines available on the consumer market, so how do you tell which is the right one? With so many kinds of options, it can be tough to sort the wheat from the chaff. 

Hands on: cooking salmon with a sous vide

Buying guide for How sous vide machines work

The most popular sous vide process involves an immersion unit, which heats water in a containment vessel (generally a large stockpot) to a specified temperature and maintains the water at a precise temperature for cooking.

More advanced immersion units — which generally clamp onto the side of the vessel —  swirl the water to further ensure uniform cooking. In the case of a standalone immersion unit, any pot or vessel that can hold two to four quarts of water is suitable.

The food to be cooked — meat, fish, or whatever’s on the menu — is placed in a vacuum-sealed bag, which prevents the water from directly contacting the food. Any required oil, butter, and/or spices are added to the bag before sealing. These additions will distribute evenly during the cooking process.

A sous vide cooker allows the user to set the desired temperature for the water bath (bain-marie) and program a time to ensure thorough doneness. Sous vide recipes that accompany the appliance will indicate the proper cooking temperature.

One of the best features of sous vide food prep is the ability to target the cooking temperature to the exact degree of doneness required for your meat, fish, or poultry. Target temperatures in the sous vide hover above the 120°F mark, where bacteria cannot survive. Users appreciate this additional safety net in the cooking process.

Potential buyers should bear in mind that sous vide cooking, by itself, does not allow food to have that finished grilled or seared taste. Many recipes recommend grilling or searing food over high heat after the sous vide process is finished.

The sous vide machines we recommend are powerful enough to accommodate large containers of water without any temperature drop, so you get perfectly cooked food every time.

When researching sous vide machines, we look into which are good for occasional use and which are ideal for high-volume home cooks.

We look for relatively compact sous vide machines because they’re perfect for casual cooks who need to prepare only a serving or two at a time.

We pay close attention to the real-world reliability of each model; too much variance from the set temperature can affect the final product.

The sous vide machines we recommend make it easy to prepare healthy, nutritious food while retaining flavor and tenderness and not requiring much attention during the process.

We note advanced features such as Bluetooth connectivity. Such extras make using an immersion circulator convenient and productive.

We pay close attention to durability, so you can be comfortable making a reasonable investment on a quality piece of equipment.

Our top picks have bright, bold displays that minimize the possibility of mistakes and help you prepare delicious meals.

We consider the size and bracket style of each sous vide machine and recommend those that are compatible with the largest variety of containers, some of which you might already have.

Setting temperatures and monitoring progress should be easy and frustration-free, so we look for straightforward controls.

Is a sous vide machine right for you?

If you are a foodie ready to tackle the next food trend — or someone who likes to impress friends and family with your kitchen skills — a sous vide machine should be in your future. If you’re particular about the doneness of your protein (fish, meat, poultry) or the loss of nutrients in your vegetables, you may also wish to consider this technology.

While the sous vide process is fairly simple and foolproof, there are a few costs and other considerations you should keep in mind before buying one.

Vacuum sealing costs

In addition to the price of the immersion heater and water vessel, there are costs associated with vacuum sealing your bags. Vacuum sealers can run from $35 to $260 depending on the model and its specifications.

If you intend to cook large pieces of meat, make sure your sealer can handle bigger bags.

A 34-count package of one-quart vacuum sealer bags can cost about $15. Of course, prices vary depending on size and quality.

Accessory costs

If you plan to buy a blowtorch to put the finishing touches on your meat, plan to spend at least $40.

Adding a Searzall to a blowtorch adds another $75 or so to the bill. And no self-respecting sous vide master wants to be without a supply of specially designed water balls.

Sous vide water balls are used to speed up the heating process and maintain the target water temperature for cooking. Sous vide water balls prevent evaporation of the water and can act like a “lid” on the vessel. They’re reusable, but a drying bag to store them (about $20) is yet another expense.

Water tanks

To look like a pro, you’ll want a vessel large enough to hold the necessary quantity of water. (This varies by food and recipe.) A traditional stockpot will work, but alternatives include plastic coolers and polycarbonate food storage containers.

Again, make sure the container is large enough to handle what you intend to cook.

Is it worth it: Sous vides

What can you prepare in a sous vide machine?

A sous vide machine is a tool that can spark the creativity of both beginning cooks and professional chefs. Here are some of the items you can prepare in your sous vide:

Meat

The ability to cook meat to a precise level of doneness makes the sous vide ideal for those who are fussy about their steaks. To prepare a medium-rare steak, for example, you must cook the meat for two hours in a 130°F bath.

Fish

Sous vide preparation of fish will leave it flaky and tender. For perfect salmon, set your timer to 118°F and cook a one-inch slab for 30 minutes. (Put one TB of olive oil and whatever spices you like in the bag before sealing.)

Vegetables

For honey-glazed carrots, add butter and honey to the cooking bag along with the carrots. Because vegetables need to cook at a higher temperature than meat or fish, set the temperature between 176° and 190°F and cook for 45 minutes.

Eggs

Eggs are easy to prepare in the sous vide, given that they come with their own “cooking bag” (the shell). For medium poached eggs, set the temperature to 154.4°F and cook for 45 minutes. Run the eggs under cool water before serving.

Price

The price of a sous vide machine varies depending on power (wattage), the way in which it circulates water, the size of the water vessel it can accurately heat, and added features as Bluetooth or WiFi capability (for smartphone control).

Under $100

Thanks to some stiff market competition, a number of fine machines can be purchased in the $80 range. These machines are generally well-received with only minor complaints about accuracy of water temperature, accuracy of wattage, and the fact that they often have no on/off switch. The only way to turn off a unit without a switch is to unplug it from the wall.

Under $200

The vast majority of machines fall into this range, with $175 being the “sweet spot” for machines with smartphone control via WiFi or Bluetooth. Some machines in the $120 range include WiFi capability, but a significant percentage of customers complain that the WiFi is either difficult to set up or just doesn’t work.

Under $650

A large gap exists between sous vide machines for home cooks and those built for professional kitchens. For close to $650, a state-of-the-art sous vide (called a water oven) will hold up to three gallons of water and simultaneously cook up to 24 portions of six-ounce food. The all-in-one design comes with a lid to keep steam in for precise temperature control.

Tips

Follow these tips to get the most out of your sous vide machine:

• Read the instruction manual that comes with your appliance. This booklet will provide information on how to store, clean, and handle your machine.
• Contact with water that is 120°F or hotter can lead to serious burns. Never put your hand in sous vide water once it’s heated up, and keep the appliance out of reach of children.
• Keep a pair of tongs within easy reach to remove your cooking bag from the hot water.
• Although machines vary, the majority have a minimum temperature of around 80°F. Some get as hot as 210°F. Machines also vary in the length of time it takes to reach a target water temperature.
• Ensure you have sufficient space for the large water tank to which the immersion unit will attach. All-in-one units like the Sous Vide Supreme Demi Water Oven are generally the size of a large slow cooker and weigh between seven and twelve pounds.

How to: Making Eggs Benedict in a sous vide

Sous vide machine alternatives (hacks)

Cooking hacks are the rage. With a quick search through YouTube, you can find some ingenious ways to replicate sous vide cooking without purchasing the tried-and-true equipment. Here are some of the most popular hacks —

• Bare bones: Pre-heated water is placed in a large container and regulated using a food thermometer. The meat, fish or other food is placed in a Ziploc-style bag. By squeezing and folding the bag, most of the air is removed. The food is then placed in the water with a tight lid or plastic wrap used to cover. The cooking water is checked periodically to ensure it maintains its target temperature and more hot water is added as need. A tight lid will keep the target temperature fairly consistent. Finishing touches such as searing or grilling can be done using a cast iron or grill pan on the stovetop.
• Slow cooker: Use a thermostatic controller and thermocouple,  along with an extension cord and slow cooker that has an on/off switch. The controller allows you to regulate the temperature on the slow cooker to a precise target by raising and lowering the heat as needed. For directions on this hack, here’s a video with the details.
• Accessories: For hackers or those who get tired of shelling out money for vacuum sealers and bags, you can use everyday clips to seal the bags once the air is pushed out. If you have regular cooking racks around, they can also be used to hold the cooking bags in place as — depending on the material — some cooking bags tend to float. A vegetable steamer or heavy cooking utensil can also be used as a weight. It is important to keep the bag submerged to keep the food at a consistent temperature.