Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Hacks & How-to's

21OAK may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Good, better, best: Our recommendations for sous vide machines

Julie Scagell
By

If you’ve not had the pleasure of sous vide cooking, please run, don’t walk, to your computer and get ready to online shop. Sous vide is a method of cooking known as “slow temperature, long time,” where food is placed in a plastic pouch or a glass jar and cooked in water longer than you’d typically cook an item, but it comes out at precisely “the right” temperature (which is whatever you want it to be).

In general, all sous vide machines are amazing in that they result in food that is evenly cooked edge to edge, so no more gray bands of overcooked steak. They also fix the timing problem as the food doesn’t overcook if you leave it in for an extra 10 minutes or even an hour, so no more cutting into what you’d hoped was a medium rare steak and finding it well done. Plus, it gives you time to concentrate on getting the side dishes ready or entertaining guests. Then, when you’re ready, pull the protein from the machine, sear it off, and enjoy.

Related Videos
sous vide bag in water
bigacis/Shutterstock

We’ve looked far and wide to come up with good, better, and best rankings to take the guesswork out of finding the right one for you.

Related

Good:

Sous Vide Cooker Immersion Circulator

This is the perfect machine for people just getting into sous vide cooking. This is an all-in-one sous vide machine and starter kit that comes with 15 vacuum bags, a pump, clips, and a free cookbook. This product delivers tasty, juicy, and nutrient-packed dishes at precisely controlled low temperatures, so you get restaurant-quality meals at home. If you’re a Prime member, it ships for free.

Better:

Inkbird WIFI Sous Vide Cookers

This Wi-Fi immersion circulator will allow you to cook from anywhere. Simply set a timer, and while the cooker does its thing, you can stay up-to-date on its status without being tied to the kitchen. The timer can go to almost 100 hours and has delayed start time functionality, so you can start it anytime, from anywhere. This cooker should fit into most budgets and is quiet and compact — a winning combination.

Best:

Joule Sous Vide

Joule is the figurative crown jewel of sous vide cooking. I like that the Joule has a magnet built into its base, so you can simply drop it in a metal pot and it stands up straight without needing a clamp. The size is nice and compact as well. It is also backed by ChefSteps — a group of chefs, writers, and home cooks who know everything that has to do with cooking well. The Joule works with both iPhone or Android via a dedicated app, which can connect via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi when you link Joule to your home network. It’s luxury convenience in the comfort of your own kitchen, or away from home.

Sous vide emerged in water
Alexey Onegin/Shutterstock

A sous vide machine may seem like a “want” not a “need,” but given the current global health crisis and risk of spending time indoors in restaurants, it’s an ideal gift for the home cook in your life or to treat yourself for making it through this crazy year.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
6 delicious Thanksgiving appetizers that still leave room for a big meal
Sweet and savory Thanksgiving appetizers that won't spoil your appetite
Cracker spread

There's no denying that hosting Thanksgiving dinner is a big feat to accomplish. From buying all the food to preparing the meal and setting the table, some people begin planning weeks in advance.

If you're spending all that time making a delicious meal, you don't want your guests to fill up on appetizers, leaving no room for the turkey (and everything that comes with it). These six delicious Thanksgiving appetizers are both tasty and light, so no one spoils their holiday dinner filling up beforehand.

Read more
4 kitchen gadgets that make cooking Thanksgiving dinner a breeze
Kitchen appliances that'll save you cooking time on Thanksgiving
Cheese in food processor

For those hosting Thanksgiving this year, you're likely well into the planning phase. Timing is everything when it comes to the big meal, so finding kitchen appliances that can help things run smoothly makes the prep less of a hassle. Multi-use, easy-to-clean gadgets can alleviate the stress of getting all of those sides, breads, and of course, the turkey, ready to be served at the same time. You can have the most amazing recipes for the big day, but if they don't cook the right way, everyone will feel disappointed.

There are so many gadgets on the market that it can seem impossible to decide which ones you should spend your time and money buying. Here are four tried-and-true kitchen gadgets that will help you win on Thanksgiving day.

Read more
10 delicious, healthy chicken recipes you can make in 30 minutes or less
Sick of the same old chicken dishes? Check out these healthy and exciting alternatives
Raw chicken and other ingredients on a cutting board

Chicken is a dinnertime staple for a reason — it's healthy, it's delicious, and there are so many ways you can prepare it. It can also be used in so many dishes and can take on a wide range of flavors, from Indian and Chinese to Italian and more. While we love having a whole roasted chicken fresh from the oven, paired with a side of veggies and warm, crusty dinner rolls, some weeknights we don’t have time to devote to that kind of meal.

Luckily, there are plenty of healthy chicken recipes that have a super quick turnaround time. In less than half an hour, you can have these 10 healthy chicken recipes on the table and ready to serve. Who doesn't want something delicious in under 30 minutes that the whole family can enjoy any night of the week? If you're stuck in a chicken recipe rut and need some inspiration for meals, check out these ideas and see what you think!

Read more