A sous vide machine is a fantastic addition for your kitchen, whether you are a culinary expert, or someone who is more on the novice side of cooking. If you are interested in using a new and easy technique for preparing food, a sous vide is an ideal choice. The sous vide machine (also known as an “immersion circulator”) is placed into water and regulates the temperature to stay exactly the same throughout the cooking process. Food placed in vacuum sealed bags are immersed in the water for a longer cooking time, and at a lower temperature than conventional methods. The end result is food uniformly cooked to perfection.
After extensive research was conducted using Amazon reviews, Amazon popularity, and Google searches, we found that the Anova Culinary Precision Cooker model was the best sous vide cooker for the money.
Our Number One Pick:
Anova Culinary (Sous Vide) Precision Cooker
A fantastic feature of our Anova Culinary Precision Cooker is its ease of use. Merely attach the machine to a pot, add water and the food (in a water-tight bag or glass jar), set the timer and that’s it! There isn’t anything else you need to do while your food is cooking. The accurate temperature control keeps the food regulated until the cooking time is finished.
Another superb feature is its ability to cook food perfectly every time. The juices stay with the food, keeping the flavor altogether, not boiled, grilled, or fried away as is the case with many conventional methods of cooking.
The Anova Precision Cooker has another outstanding feature that makes it our chosen winner; its WiFi and Bluetooth capability let you control the machine remotely from virtually anywhere, allowing you to regulate it without having to manually adjust it. Some sous vide machines suggest that you use vacuum sealed bags to cook your food in; however, the Anova will work perfectly fine with Ziploc-type bags.
The MSRP of the Anova Precision Cooker is $200.00, which is in and of itself a reasonable price for one of the best sous vide machines for the money however it can be found on Amazon for much less.
Runner Up:
ChefSteps Joule Sous Vide
Coming in as our runner up choice is the Joule Sous Vide machine by ChefSteps. Here are some pros and cons about this particular machine:
- Heats up extremely fast, but the timer can’t be set until the desired temperature is obtained;
- The machine is half the size of other sous vide machines, but it is quite loud.
- Its temperature settings are WiFi and Bluetooth controlled, but there is no provision for alternative options (must use an app); and
- Straight-forward to operate, but difficult to clean the unit.
Worth Considering:
Kitchen Gizmo Sous Vide Immersion Circulator
Our third place pick is the Kitchen Gizmo Sous Vide Immersion Circulator. Here are some pros and cons to this sous vide machine:
- It is a lower price-point than the winner and runner up choices, but doesn’t have WiFi or Bluetooth capability ;
- It comes with manual controls, but the flat touchscreen buttons are difficult to press;
- It has a very accurate temperature gage, but shuts off when timer is finished (no ‘hold’ controls to keep food warm); and
- There is a clip to hold the machine to the side of the pot, but it is not easy to remove.
Additional Information:
Things To Keep In Mind
How much longer does it take to cook food using a Sous Vide?
It depends on what you are cooking; however, for all foods cooked in this manner, it does take quite a bit longer. For example, cooking a steak traditionally using a frying pan might take 20 minutes. Using a Sous Vide, the cooking time can be at least one hour (longer depending on the preference of how well done you like it).
Are meats and poultry safe to eat using a sous vide machine?
Yes, when it is cooked at the proper temperature and time, meats and poultry are slowly pasteurized, which makes them completely safe to consume.
What about cooking frozen meat or poultry?
Yes, you can simply add additional time to the cooking (approximately 30 minutes on average) to allow for thawing.
I don’t want to purchase fancy bags just for this type of cooking; can I use Ziploc bags instead?
You definitely can use Ziploc bags; just make sure there are no rips or holes in them. The substance, “polyethylene” is used in the manufacturing of not only Ziploc-type bags, but also all bags sold as sous vide cooking bags. Extensive studies have been done regarding polyethylene and food storage/cooking, etc. It is completely safe to use in this manner.
Other Resources:
Helpful Links
Wrapping Up:
Best Sous Vide Cooker For The Money
Cooking food with a sous vide machine is a fantastic method to prepare foods that would normally be prepared with more traditional techniques. The Anova Culinary (Sous Vide) Precision Cooker was chosen as the best sous vide cooker for the money because it comes with a WiFi/Bluetooth feature. This makes the cooking process a snap, as you can use an app to control all of the features without having to stand in the kitchen. As Amazon is currently selling this sous vide machine for an amazing bargain, it deserves the #1 position for providing a lot of bells and whistles at an affordable price.
As our runner up sous vide machine, the ChefSteps Joule is an excellent choice. Smaller than most machines, the Joule is easy to store, and usage is straight-forward. However, it can be a rather loud unit, but its rapid heating makes this a great choice for the runner up position.
Taking our third place position is the Kitchen Gizmo Sous Vide Immersion Circulator. Although there is no WiFi/Bluetooth capability, it comes with a very accurate temperature gaugeand lower price point, thus making it a fine choice for easy and straight-forward sous vide cooking.
