OT-Sous vide unit recommendations

FreeNHim

What Sous vide cookers are folks using and what are the best that you would recommend. Pro’s and con’s would be appreciated. 

Langner91

I bought the cheapest 1000W unit I could find on Amazon, because I really didn't know how often I would use it.  It is this one.  I see it is unavailable.  I think I paid $59 or $69 for it in December, 2020.  

It works very well and is still going very strong.  I didn't really need to be able to control it from my phone since my kitchen isn't that big.  I figure once you set it, you leave it, right?

I just used it tonight on some scallops.  It is amazing.  But, if I use it 10 times a year, that is it.  I can't imagine spending big money on a name brand one when this one works.

Ozzie_Isaac

I have an Anova and a Joule.  I like the size of the Joule, but the display on the Anova.  They both work well, but I think the Joule is built better.  If they just made it with a display and adjustments on the unit, it would be easy to recommend.  The Anova with the display and ability to adjust it without an app, probably gives it the nod.

ColtsFan

Have both a Joule and Anova. 

I agree with @Ozzie_Isaac

RRP

I’d  say I use my simple Anova on average 2 times a month and have for years. I love it and see no reason to go nutso on pricey units with Bluetooth. 

lkapigian

Like my Anova’s … probably all good and I would look at how much and how hard you plan on using it… Poly Sci # 1

caliking

I have an Anova and a Joule, as well. The Joule gets used most of the time, because it is more compact, and easily fits in a kitchen drawer. It is also easier to travel with. 

One option you have with a WiFi SV unit, is that you could pack ice around the protein when you leave for work in the morning, and then fire it up remotely later in the day. Which I’ve done a grand total of ONE time

MasterC

I just started sous vide cooking. I have an Anova setup and have good results so far.
Pro
1200 watts recover water temperature quickly even when adding frozen products.
The tub silicone edge keeps the water from evaporation. Did a 24hr cook with  o noticeable loss.
Con
It has a little hum when running but then its a circulater.

rekameohs

Costco currently has the Anova combination on sale for $40 off ($160)

https://www.costco.com/anova-sous-vide-precision-cooker-kit.product.100671168.html

I bought the Anova unit, then a nice Rubbermaid container with lid for less than the kit, but I do think it is a bit smaller than the what is in the kit.

FreeNHim

MasterC your chuck roast impressed me so much that I decided I wanted to pull the trigger and get one. Thanks to all for your input. To all, Any top favorites to try as a newbie? 

danhoo

RRP said:

I’d  say I use my simple Anova on average 2 times a month and have for years. I love it and see no reason to go nutso on pricey units with Bluetooth. 

Same here. 

lkapigian

FreeNHim said:

MasterC your chuck roast impressed me so much that I decided I wanted to pull the trigger and get one. Thanks to all for your input. To all, Any top favorites to try as a newbie? 

Soft boiled eggs!....can’t miss with a chuck roast, does amazing with veggies as well

Money_Hillbilly

@FreeNHim If you are getting in the SV business I have two recommendations read Douglas Baldwin’s book on food safety and purchase Americas Test Kitchen SV cookbook.  Both are musts, operating a SV without knowing some basic food safety rules is very dangerous since you are operating a big Petrie dish.  No need to be afraid just educate yourself first.  Baldwin’s book is free online but an important first step.

WeberWho

I want to say my Inkbird was under $50 with a promotion a few years back. I see they've gone up to $80 but I wouldn't think twice about buying another one under $100. I'm currently warming up pulled pork for sliders for a group of guys for breakfast. 

jdMyers

I use a kitchen boss and a $6 bin from Walmart.  Not Bluetooth but works great.  Easy to use.  Low cost.  

Traviswright

I'm using Sous Vide Supreme and it is a good entry level sous vide machine. It does a good job of cooking meat. Its temperature control is precise, and it comes with a vacuum sealer for the cooking bags. The only downside is that the bag does not have a zipper, so you have to seal it manually. Since the bags are vacuum sealed for cooking, you don't need to worry about them getting punctured.

ColbyLang

Anova Here for the last 6-8 years. Can’t remember. Use it once/twice a month. Want the container, keep forgetting to order

Canugghead

Welcome aboard @Traviswright

1voyager

Instead of going with a dedicated sous vide unit, I went with the 8 Quart Instant Pot Duo Plus.

Pro: Not only does it have a sous vide function, it is a multi-use pressure cooker. 

Con: Size-limited. For example, it's fine for a large trip-tip or 2 ribeyes in the same bag, but wouldn't work well to sous vide a large roast.

jtcBoynton

Money_Hillbilly said:

@FreeNHim If you are getting in the SV business I have two recommendations read Douglas Baldwin’s book on food safety and purchase Americas Test Kitchen SV cookbook.  Both are musts, operating a SV without knowing some basic food safety rules is very dangerous since you are operating a big Petrie dish.  No need to be afraid just educate yourself first.  Baldwin’s book is free online but an important first step.

I agree that Baldwin’s website is a reliable source and worth checking out. Just want to point out that his website and his book are different. Much of the information is the same but they do cover things in different detail. 

https://douglasbaldwin.com/sous-vide.html

wps456

I got a Joule as a gift, had no idea what it was but really like it now. Chicken is perfect every time.

fishlessman

an early anova, a spaghetti pot, and some bubble wrap here to float on top. i dont use the bubble wrap any more, people were over thinking these things back then

RRP

This tread is a memory bumper! I forgot all about this Rubbermaid container I bought early on to use and merely cut a hole in the lid. I use another container with no lid now which stores easier as it takes up less space in my pantry.

Thatgrimguy

Joule is good for beginners because you don't have to know time and temp. You can just select your food with the app and doneness with a visual aid on screen and it will set it. After you learn the steps you will probably like the Anova better because having to use a phone app is annoying AF.

RRP

caliking said:

I have an Anova and a Joule, as well. The Joule gets used most of the time, because it is more compact, and easily fits in a kitchen drawer. It is also easier to travel with. 

You mentioned travel - here's my Anova with it's own luggage!

caliking

RRP said:

caliking said:

I have an Anova and a Joule, as well. The Joule gets used most of the time, because it is more compact, and easily fits in a kitchen drawer. It is also easier to travel with. 

You mentioned travel - here's my Anova with it's own luggage!

Yep, I have a case like that for my Anova and Joule. The Joule,  with its case, is noticeably more compact than the Anova.

@Thatgrimguy - I initially thought the Joule app control would bug the crap out of me, but it didn't. The Joule's slimmer form factor, and not having to  deal with the sliding bracket/screw thing, won. 

caliking

FreeNHim

That’s a substantial difference in size..

caliking

FreeNHim said:

That’s a substantial difference in size..

TWSS

RRP

caliking said:

I understand my case must have more protection, but the length of your Joule baffles me! That Joule must be a pretty short little unit! Does it still circulate the water like an outboard motor?

caliking

RRP said:

caliking said:

I understand my case must have more protection, but the length of your Joule baffles me! That Joule must be a pretty short little unit! Does it still circulate the water like an outboard motor?

Nope. Neither does the Anova, although the Anova does beat the Joule re: volume circulated per minute. 

Here's my post from a similar thread, ca. 4 yrs ago:

"I have an Anova BT and Joule. Bought the Joule in my  Christmahannukwanzakah shopping frenzy, because it was on sale. 

Here's what I know:
Anova
Power 800W (BT), 900W (wifi)
Circulates 8 liters/min
Needs more water to operate
More metal parts
Fits my cooler better

Joule
Power 1100W (heats the water up noticeably faster than the Anova)
Circulates up to 6 L/min
Needs less water to operate (the min water level needed is less than the Anova)
Doesn't fit my cooler well (but easy to use with  smaller pots. 

-The Anova wifi has a neat Ice Bath feature where it will monitor the temp of the ice bath, and send you a notification when it hits 40F. Then you program it to run your cook remotely. You can do something similar with the Joule, but its not as streamlined. 

- I was able to rig a clip bracket to use the Joule  in a cooler, but prefer the Anova for the cooler.

- The magnetic base of the Joule is neat, and lets you position the unit in the middle. Maybe this circulates the water more evenly?

- The Joule feels more plasticky. The impeller is plastic. The Anova's is steel.

I have been using the Joule more recently, because its compact and fits into a kitchen drawer very easily. Also easier to travel with. The Anova used to be my travel unit, but its bulky compared to the Joule.

- I sometimes miss the controls being on the unit (Anova) vs. control via phone (Joule). I'm getting over this though, since it is convenient to have the Joule nearby in the kitchen drawer.   

So currently, I use the Joule more than the Anova (a couple of times weekly), and will likely get rid of the SVS Demi sitting in the corner. If you SV large quantities in a 35qt cooler, then maybe the Anova is for you. If the sleek form factor of the Joule flicks your Bic, then get that one. I think the Anova is on sale more often though, and is cheaper than the Joule to begin with. "