Sous Vide Containers

byrne092

What types of containers is everyone using for SV? I know you can pretty much use any vessel, which leads me to the real question...are the rubbermaid/cambro containers that contain BPA really a cause for concern? I usually don't think about things like this, but I have also never cooked SV before. Curious to see what the consensus was around here. Regardless I am pumped to try out the new gadget when it arrives today!

JohnInCarolina

The food is normally vacuum sealed or behind another form of plastic barrier.  I don't think the container material for the water bath itself  is of much concern.

fishlessman

like mentioned, its vacuum packed. use whatever you have. i have not used anything bigger than 7 quarts, im guessing 3 or 4 times bigger then you might need an insulated container. float bubble wrap on top so that the water does not evaporate too quickly

byrne092

@JohnInCarolina that was my thought too, the only thing someone mentioned was eggs, but that was the only thing I could think of that wouldn't be in a bag. 

@fishlessman I hear ya, I was just thinking of grabbing 12qt and 4qt off amazon because of how cheap they were anyway. I like the bubble wrap idea

HeavyG

If you're concerned about BPA get one of the Cambro containers made from polypropylene instead of their hard clear containers which are made from polycarbonate - https://smile.amazon.com/Cambro-RFS12PP190-Polypropylene-Storage-Container/dp/B00125NA0Y/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1480521891&sr=8-5&keywords=cambro+12+qt

Big_Green_Craig

HeavyG said:

If you're concerned about BPA get one of the Cambro containers made from polypropylene instead of their hard clear containers which are made from polycarbonate - https://smile.amazon.com/Cambro-RFS12PP190-Polypropylene-Storage-Container/dp/B00125NA0Y/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1480521891&sr=8-5&keywords=cambro+12+qt

This one is only rated for 160F. 

This one is rated up to 210F
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002NQB63E/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

HofstraJet

FWIW, Restaurant Depot has a fairly extensive selection of Cambro products, most significantly cheaper than Amazon from the comparisons I have done.

HeavyG

Big_Green_Craig said:

HeavyG said:

If you're concerned about BPA get one of the Cambro containers made from polypropylene instead of their hard clear containers which are made from polycarbonate - https://smile.amazon.com/Cambro-RFS12PP190-Polypropylene-Storage-Container/dp/B00125NA0Y/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1480521891&sr=8-5&keywords=cambro+12+qt

This one is only rated for 160F. 

This one is rated up to 210F
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002NQB63E/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

However, as I mentioned, if one is seeking to avoid BPA then one should not use polycarbonate containers like the one you linked to. Polycarbonate contains BPA.

byrne092

@Big_Green_Craig I think that one is not BPA free either. Think ill take my chances, with the thousands of people that use the polycarbonate containers i am sure i will survive. I probably have alot of other habits that will kill me quicker than my SV container

@HofstraJet Good idea, i'll have to drop in there this week.

TrailRunner

Does anyone use a small Yeti Roadie 20 as a Sous Vide container? I received my SV yesterday and hoping to have time to use it this weekend on some steaks. 

HoustonEgger

@TrailRunner I just recently used a Yeti bucket as a sous vide container - worked like a charm, just had to rig the hinge a little to fit. 

HofstraJet

Saw this and loved the idea:

SaintJohnsEgger

My question: can the vacuum bags be just any old Food Saver roll? Or does it require a special roll/bag to use it for coking?

Are the Food Saver bags BPA free?

JohnInCarolina

byrne092 said:

@JohnInCarolina that was my thought too, the only thing someone mentioned was eggs, but that was the only thing I could think of that wouldn't be in a bag. 

Fair enough, but you don't need a large container for eggs.  I just do them in a regular pot.

Unless maybe you wanted to cook 50 eggs at once for some kind of bet or something.

JohnInCarolina

SaintJohnsEgger said:

My question: can the vacuum bags be just any old Food Saver roll? Or does it require a special roll/bag to use it for coking?

Are the Food Saver bags BPA free?

Food Saver bags are 100% polyethylene touching the food, plus an outer layer of nylon.

blind99

BPA is safe in my book. All that hysteria 5-10 years ago was a bunch of garbage. 

I use Cambros in a few different sizes.  Or a big metal pot if I need more room. Guess I should check but so far the Cambros haven't melted. For vegetables I run it up to 190F and so far it's held up fine. 

Ziplock bags or vacuum sealer bags hold the food. I don't know what my bags are made of, probably carcinogens

HeavyG

TrailRunner said:

Does anyone use a small Yeti Roadie 20 as a Sous Vide container? I received my SV yesterday and hoping to have time to use it this weekend on some steaks. 

I use a $15 Coleman cooler that I cut off a corner of the lid. I don't think I would pay Yeti prices and want to cut a corner off that lid.

JohnInCarolina

blind99 said:

Ziplock bags or vacuum sealer bags hold the food. I don't know what my bags are made of, probably carcinogens

You gotta die from something!

Little Steven

Polycarbonate resin containers. Get them at a restaurant supply store.

SGH

Little Steven said:

Polycarbonate

That's a mighty long word there brother Little. 

Little Steven

Maybe I should have hyphenated it

SGH

Little Steven said:

hyphenated 

There you go with those long words again

DMW

Little Steven

Hyphenated has less syllables than polycarbonate bud.

SGH

Little Steven said:

Hyphenated has less syllables than polycarbonate bud.

It's still mighty long brother Little. Y'all are killing me. 

blind99

JohnInCarolina said:

blind99 said:

Ziplock bags or vacuum sealer bags hold the food. I don't know what my bags are made of, probably carcinogens

You gotta die from something!

@JohnInCarolina seems to be the case! I will be pissed if I get some weird cancer linked to plastic bags. But at least I will have eaten good steak. 

JohnInCarolina

blind99 said:

JohnInCarolina said:

blind99 said:

Ziplock bags or vacuum sealer bags hold the food. I don't know what my bags are made of, probably carcinogens

You gotta die from something!

@JohnInCarolina seems to be the case! I will be pissed if I get some weird cancer linked to plastic bags. But at least I will have eaten good steak. 

Give me a good old-fashioned heart attack to die from, I always say.

bgebrent

JohnInCarolina said:

blind99 said:

JohnInCarolina said:

blind99 said:

Ziplock bags or vacuum sealer bags hold the food. I don't know what my bags are made of, probably carcinogens

You gotta die from something!

@JohnInCarolina seems to be the case! I will be pissed if I get some weird cancer linked to plastic bags. But at least I will have eaten good steak. 

Give me a good old-fashioned heart attack to die from, I always say.

Good luck!

blind99

If I'm lucky I'll be in a stream at age 97 flyfishing. I'll finally catch a trout and will be so surprised I'll have The Big One.  

more likely I'll get the first case of midline necrotizing plasticbaginoma. 

bgebrent

blind99 said:

If I'm lucky I'll be in a stream at age 97 flyfishing. I'll finally catch a trout and will be so surprised I'll have The Big One.  

more likely I'll get the first case of midline necrotizing plasticbaginoma. 

Such the optimist.  I know how to excise and close beautifully any plasticbaginoma you ever get my friend.

theyolksonyou

bgebrent said:

blind99 said:

If I'm lucky I'll be in a stream at age 97 flyfishing. I'll finally catch a trout and will be so surprised I'll have The Big One.  

more likely I'll get the first case of midline necrotizing plasticbaginoma. 

Such the optimist.  I know how to excise and close beautifully any plasticbaginoma you ever get my friend.

I had one of those Saturday when I went for groceries. I just threw the bag away.