OT - Sous Vide Cooler Container Hack Question

WeberWho

I'm looking to move away from using my sous vide with a stockpot. I picked up a couple Coleman stackable coolers to use as my new container. Here is my issue, my sous vide controller clip isn't removable. So it forces me to clip my sous vide to the side of the cooler. Ideally I'd keep it an inch or two away from the wall of the cooler but I don't have any other option with a fixed clip. Do I need to worry about about the sous vide being pressed up against the plastic wall of the cooler? I don't think it's any different than clipping the sous vide to a real plastic sous vide container but I've always clipped it to a metal stockpot prior. 

Here is what I have. The sous vide is pressed up against the inside plastic cooler wall. Not ideal but I can't get any further away with the clip. 

lkapigian

I'm sure it will be fine, great hack, I use a cooler as well works like a champ 

JohnInCarolina

I think you are probably fine.   The melting point of polyethylene is 110C.  

stlcharcoal

I use my joule the same way......don't worry about it.  The heating element is inside, it's not gonna touch the wall.  And it's not like the water is going to get near or ever above 212F anyway.

Photo Egg

Pop the pins out and take the clip off.

WeberWho

Photo Egg said:

Pop the pins out and take the clip off.

I think I'd have an issue trying to get the clip back together if I were need to use it for a bigger cut of meat on the stockpot. 

WeberWho

Thanks everyone. I'm currently testing it out to see how the water circulates when the sous vide is stuck in a corner of the cooler. It appears to circulate the water throughout the cooler. This would be the best scenario as it's out of the way. I haven't seen too much of a difference in circulating water when I place the sous vide in the middle portion of the cooler wall. 

HeavyG

My first sous vide unit was the original Nomiku which I used in a 20qt Rubbermaid cooler. It was clipped and hung in one corner and it ran fine. Never seemed to have a problem with circulation.

Ozzie_Isaac

Cut a hole for the sous vide further in and cut a clearance hole for the clip.  Then set the sous vide in and clip it on the bridge between the main body hole, and the clip hole.

Although, I would use it as is.  My Joule and Anova work fine clipped on the side.

WeberWho

I ended up going with the rear left corner. I figure this way will give me the most room for food placement. I tossed in a couple beef round eye roasts. They'll go 18+ hours. That should give me sometime to find out if something goes wrong...

Ozzie_Isaac

Cook twice as fast.

SciAggie

I use the same cooler. My sous vide doesn't have a clip, but you'll be fine. Tally ho!

HeavyG

WeberWho said:

I ended up going with the rear left corner. I figure this way will give me the most room for food placement. I tossed in a couple beef round eye roasts. They'll go 18+ hours. That should give me sometime to find out if something goes wrong...

Oh look at Mr. Fancy with that nice round hole.

I didn't have a hole saw of an appropriate size so I just took a hacksaw and cut off a couple inches of a corner of the lid.

JohnInCarolina

Ozzie_Isaac said:

Cook twice as fast.

Genius!

Ozzie_Isaac

JohnInCarolina said:

Ozzie_Isaac said:

Cook twice as fast.

Genius!

Smarter than the average bear!

Canugghead

Ozzie_Isaac said:

Cook twice as fast.

I heard a team of nine women can produce a baby in one month🤣