Whether you’re looking to eat healthier, expand your recipe repertoire, or make dinner prep easier during slower times, a sous vide appliance can help. Sous vide cooking involves cooking food under vacuum in a constant temperature water bath. The best sous vide appliance allows you to never overcook or undercook meats or fish and get perfect results every time. Best of all, sous vide can help you retain the flavor that makes your dinner delicious.

To help you find the best sous vide appliance for your kitchen, we’ve looked at several features of these appliances. First, we looked at immersion sous vide appliances, which can fit almost any pan you already own, as well as water baths that serve as stand-alone heaters. We also looked at the wattage of the different sous vide units, as it affects the maximum amount of water you can heat and the temperature range at which you can cook.

We spent dozens of hours researching sous vide cookers, combing through technical specifications and customer reviews. The result is our list of the top 10 sous vide cookers on the market today, shown in the table below. Read on for detailed reviews of each appliance, including its pros and cons. Our buying guide covers everything you need to know about choosing the right sous vide appliance for your cooking style. Finally, we summarize our three favorite sous vide appliances to revolutionize your dinners.

ChefSteps Joule

This immersion sous vide appliance from ChefSteps was designed to be the best home appliance on the market – and most users agree that it has succeeded. The Joule is capable of heating over 10 gallons of water, making it the obvious choice if you’re cooking for a large family, a party, or even two people for a week’s worth of dinners. Plus, this immersion cooker boasts one of the highest maximum temperatures of any sous vide cooker we’ve reviewed – up to 208°F. This gives you a lot of flexibility to cook meals faster when you’re in a hurry or to cook meats to medium rare.

What really sets this sous vide immersion cooker apart from the pack is the inclusion of Bluetooth and WiFi connection options. You can remotely connect this sous vide device to your Apple or Android phone via the ChefSteps app. From there, you can adjust the temperature, set a timer, and even get a visual overview of how different temperatures will affect the cooking of your food. Using the phone app to control the machine also means you can control your cooking from anywhere in the world, as long as you have WiFi.

Keep in mind that while this machine is small, it doesn’t have an LCD screen like most other immersion sous vide cookers. You can still control the machine from the kitchen using the built-in voice commands for Amazon Alexa. But if you don’t have Alexa, this can be annoying when you’re working in the kitchen and need to use your phone to control the machine right next to you. A magnetic base is a handy feature when it’s time to store the machine, since you can stick it on the counter or refrigerator.

Monoprice Strata

This sub-$100 immersion sous vide cooker from Monoprice is arguably the best sous vide cooker for the price, for anyone who doesn’t need bells and whistles. You won’t find Bluetooth connectivity on this sous vide device, but most chefs won’t miss it. Instead, you get 1,100 watts of power and the ability to cook up to four gallons of water at temperatures above 200°F. The high power and relatively moderate volume allow this unit to heat water incredibly quickly, meaning your water is usually ready before you’re done bagging your food. Temperature accuracy is +/-1%, which is roughly equivalent to the +/-0.2°F accuracy found in most comparable sous vide machines.

This machine offers an LED display on top of the unit with touch controls. In addition to controlling the temperature, you have the option of setting a timer to control the cooking time. Otherwise, the controls are simple, and there’s no need to fumble with your phone to operate your sous vide machine.

Monoprice designed this sous vide machine to be incredibly durable. The body is IPX7 rated for waterproofing – one of the highest levels that can be designed – and the circulation motor is designed to last for years of cooking. On top of that, users loved how easy it is to adjust the tongs to the pan you’re using. They also noted that Monoprice offered excellent customer service for defective units during the one-year warranty period.

Overall, users who were looking for a good value and didn’t see the value in Bluetooth controls loved this simple, inexpensive sous vide device.

Supreme SVS10LS Vacuum Water Oven

This Sous Vide Supreme water bath sous vide unit is small but powerful, offering temperatures up to 210°F, which is impressive. The water bath is a bit slow to heat up since it only has 850 watts, but that, combined with the energy efficient design and insulated lid, helps reduce energy consumption. This is a significant advantage if you plan to use the sous vide appliance consistently for long cooks of one to two days, as it won’t drive up your electricity bill as much as most immersion sous vide appliances.

This sous vide appliance is simple to use, with manual controls for temperature and a built-in timer. Users were generally pleased with the design of the water bath, the only complaint being that some condensation can leak from the seal between the water bath and the body of the unit. However, these leaks are minimal and don’t seem to bother most people.

More importantly, users appreciate the durability of this vacuum unit. Many customers report that they have used it frequently for over five years without any problems. In addition, the unit has overheating protection in case you accidentally turn it on without water in the tank. Users have also noted that Sous Vide Supreme’s customer service is excellent and they are willing to help you with any minor issues that arise with your unit.

The size of this unit is the main sticking point for many potential buyers – it takes up a lot of counter space and only holds three gallons of water. However, users have noted that while counter space was initially a fear, most have ended up using the machine more than other appliances of the same size and don’t mind the space it takes up.

Wancle SVC001 Sous Vide Cooker

Users love this simple vacuum immersion device from Wancle, which forgoes unnecessary features to focus on the things that matter to chefs. The odd shape of this immersion device is immediately noticeable – that’s because it’s designed to operate entirely with one hand so you can be more versatile in the kitchen. The tongs open by squeezing the trigger-like top handle, and you can start the device with the push of a button. While users have noted that the tongs don’t open very far, limiting you to thin-walled pots and bowls, this is a minor drawback for most chefs.

The heating element on this vacuum immersion device only offers 850 watts, which means it heats rather slowly compared to more powerful competitors. However, it can still handle up to five gallons of water at a time and heats up to an impressive 211°F for when you want to cook meats well done inside.

The LCD controls are as easy to use as the rest of the machine. Just set your temperature and built-in time and walk away. Everything can be controlled with just one finger, and there is no need for a phone app to control the device that is right in front of you.

The other thing users loved about this immersion machine is the circulation system. Wancle’s unique 3D circulation system is very durable and virtually silent, making it one of the quietest immersion vacuum machines on the market. In addition, users have found that the circulation system is easy to detach from the rest of the unit and clean, so there are no maintenance issues as with similar units.

KitchenBoss Sous Vide Immersion Circulator

This modern and simple vacuum immersion machine from KitchenBoss was designed for chefs running small families. The machine is capable of heating up to four gallons of water extremely quickly thanks to the 1,100-watt heating element. This speed is an essential feature for working parents who need to make dinner quickly.

In addition, the built-in 100-hour timer allows cooks to walk away after the immersion unit starts and return when dinner is ready. A nice and unique feature of this sous vide immersion cooker is the light bar on the side of the unit, which serves as a visual indicator of the time remaining for cooking. This can come in handy if you’re multitasking in the kitchen and can’t easily check the LED timer on top of the unit.

Users also liked the durability of this vacuum immersion device. It is IPX7 rated for waterproofing and the 3D circulation unit is extremely durable and easy to clean. The exterior of the unit is made of sleek-looking stainless steel that won’t scratch or dent easily. Plus, KitchenBoss offers a two-year warranty on this sous vide appliance.

The four-gallon cooking volume is enough for a small family or to prepare a week’s worth of meals in one sitting. However, keep in mind that this sous vide immersion cooker is limited to a maximum temperature of 194°F, which means you won’t be able to cook your meats to medium. However, since most chefs who use sous vide cooking are more interested in preventing meats from overcooking than greying them, this has not been an issue for most users.

Kitchen tips Sous Vide Immersion Circulator

For chefs who are new to sous-vide or don’t have a lot of money to spend on kitchen appliances, this immersion cooker from Kitchen Gizmo is the best budget-friendly sous-vide appliance we’ve found. With a price tag of only $65, it’s hard to find a cheaper sous vide appliance that can do the job as well as this unit.

The immersion sous vide device has a small 800 watt heating element – the slow heating is the main price to pay for the relatively low cost of this sous vide cooker. However, once you turn it on, the unit can heat up to four gallons of water to 194°F. That’s a lot of volume and heat to cook meat to medium for a family of four or more.

The LED touchscreen on top of the unit is simple to use, with two side buttons for added control. You’ll find a scroll wheel that allows you to quickly and accurately set the cooking time and temperature. Plus, a built-in safety alarm alerts you when something goes wrong with the unit – it’s one of the few sous vide cookers that is ETL certified for safety.

Users particularly liked the clamping mechanism of this immersion cooker. It can be operated with one hand, and pressing the lever opens the clamp wide enough to work with almost any pot or bowl.

When it’s time to clean the immersion cooker, a removable inner sleeve can be easily removed from the unit and washed in the sink. This reduces overall wear and tear on the unit, allowing it to last for years of use.

Anova Nano Precision Cooker

The Anova Immersion Sous Vide is a user favorite, although the company has recently come under fire for some changes to the cooker’s control application. The unit is relatively low-powered, at just 800 watts, but don’t let that fool you-it can heat up to five gallons of water to 197°F. Best of all, it’s accurate to +/- 0.2°F, so you can be sure your meat is perfectly cooked to the top of the fork.

The LCD screen lets you control the temperature settings and the built-in 99-hour timer right from the stove. You can also pair the machine with your Android or Apple phone via Bluetooth and control the temperature via the app. In addition, the app will offer notifications about your cooking so you can always stay on top of your food no matter where you are in the house. Of course, since it’s Bluetooth only, it’s not a major help if you have to be more than 30 feet away from the kitchen.

Users have recently been largely upset that Anova has changed its software to require a connection – to Anova’s app or to Facebook – to control the vacuum device. It’s unclear whether Anova will remove this requirement in response to customer pressure.

The sous vide cooker comes with a two-year warranty, which is relatively generous considering its modest price. In addition, this sous vide appliance has one of the easiest cleaning mechanisms we’ve seen – it’s dishwasher safe, and the parts that need to be cleaned frequently simply detach from the rest of the immersion unit.

Dash DSV300XXSS01 Chef Series

Users have loved this extremely small and compact sous vide water bath from Dash when cooking for one or two people. The unit features a front LED display controlled by touch buttons for easy operation. The built-in timer lets you control exactly how long your food cooks, and you can heat water up to 194°F with +/- 0.2°F accuracy. Water can be slow to heat up because the water bath only has a 700-watt heating element, but users liked the fact that it saves a lot of electricity. In addition, the magnetic circulation motor is quieter than a standard circulation motor and consumes very little power – although users noted that this prevents the machine from being completely silent.

The water bath is designed to hold only two gallons of water, and users noted that it comes with a series of built-in grates that further limit the size of food portions you can place in the bath. While this isn’t a problem for the small kitchen, it’s worth noting that this machine isn’t flexible enough to cook a week’s worth of food in one sitting or to expand to cook for a party. Users have also noted that purchasing a third-party stand for the inside of the machine can help increase the available space, though the volume remains relatively small.

Since this water bath sous vide unit costs less than most immersion units, users were pleasantly surprised by its durability. The water bath comes with a sturdy insulating lid, and the magnetic circulation holds up well to extended use. Users also noted that the unit doesn’t leak over time, and the simple cleaning reduces unnecessary wear and tear.

Users have loved this extremely small and compact sous vide water bath from Dash when cooking for one or two people. The unit features a front LED display controlled by touch buttons for easy operation. The built-in timer lets you control exactly how long your food cooks, and you can heat water up to 194°F with +/- 0.2°F accuracy. Water can be slow to heat up because the water bath only has a 700-watt heating element, but users liked the fact that it saves a lot of electricity. In addition, the magnetic circulation motor is quieter than a standard circulation motor and consumes very little power – although users noted that this prevents the machine from being completely silent.

The water bath is designed to hold only two gallons of water, and users noted that it comes with a series of built-in grates that further limit the size of food portions you can place in the bath. While this isn’t a problem for the small kitchen, it’s worth noting that this machine isn’t flexible enough to cook a week’s worth of food in one sitting or to expand to cook for a party. Users have also noted that purchasing a third-party stand for the inside of the machine can help increase the available space, though the volume remains relatively small.

Since this water bath sous vide unit costs less than most immersion units, users were pleasantly surprised by its durability. The water bath comes with a sturdy insulating lid, and the magnetic circulation holds up well to extended use. Users also noted that the unit doesn’t leak over time, and the simple cleaning reduces unnecessary wear and tear.

Tribest Sousvant SV-101 Complete Vacuum Circulator

This all-in-one water bath sous vide appliance from Tribest features a unique clear carafe that allows you to monitor the cooking of your food and make sure it is circulating properly in the water. The unit is simple to use, with a digital LED display that shows the temperature and remaining cooking time. The controls are limited to four buttons, so it’s easy to operate the unit with one hand while cooking. Plus, a built-in safety indicator lets you know at any time if the unit is overheating or if any other problem has occurred.

Technically, this water bath sous vide cooker is up to the task. It has a 1,000-watt heating element that allows it to heat three gallons of water very quickly. Although it is limited to a maximum temperature of 194°F, this is not a problem for the vast majority of chefs. The circulation system ensures a constant temperature throughout the water bath, while being virtually silent while cooking food.

The bowl has a three-gallon capacity, which is smaller than most immersion sous vide appliances can handle, but large enough to cook for a small family or to prepare a week’s worth of food. Users appreciated the handles on both sides of the carafe for emptying the water after cooking. In addition, they feel the unit is very durable overall.

It should be noted that although Tribest provides a two-year warranty on this sous vide appliance, customers who have had defective units have reported a few problems resolving the warranty with Tribest’s customer service department. Fortunately, problems with this sous vide cooker seem to be relatively rare, but the unit has been criticized for its lack of customer service compared to its competitors.

Gourmia GSV-130

Gourmia’s immersion vacuum device looks simple and elegant, but its sleek exterior hides a number of useful features. The most noticeable, upon first use, is the unique design of the clamp, which works like a chip clip. This allows you to set up the vacuum device with one hand and attach it to pans of any thickness.

Once you turn on the sous vide device, you’ll notice its impressive 1,200-watt heating element – the most powerful of all the sous vide devices we reviewed. Although it takes a while to heat five gallons of water with this immersion cooker, this unit is definitely faster to heat than its less powerful competitors. That said, it also uses a lot of electricity, which frequent users have noticed on their electric bills.

The sous vide unit is capable of heating to temperatures of 203°F and is extremely accurate – to within a tenth of a degree. Oddly, although the unit has a built-in timer, it only runs for 59 hours. That’s much shorter than the 72 or 99 hours found on most other sous vide cookers, and can be problematic if you like to cook meat for three days in a row.

Users also had a problem with the controls on this sous vide appliance. While the one-touch buttons and temperature control dial were supposed to be sleek and intuitive, they caused headaches instead. Users had trouble turning the unit on or off, and it was difficult to tell if button presses were being registered by the unit. Although no problems were reported, some users were concerned about the safety of the buttons.

Sous vide: How is it better than your usual cooking?

Not so long ago, sous vide was mainly used by restaurant chefs in high-end establishments. But today, sous vide is appreciated by home cooks around the world for its simplicity.

Sous-vide involves enclosing food – usually proteins such as meat or fish, although the same process can be used for vegetables – in a vacuum bag, then cooking it in a water bath at a constant temperature. The vacuum apparatus is responsible for heating this water bath to the desired temperature and maintaining it without fluctuation.

Constant temperature cooking has a number of advantages. The most important is that you can never overcook proteins because the inside and outside of a piece of meat, for example, will never exceed the temperature of your water bath. This means you won’t have to guess when the inside of your meat or fish has reached the desired temperature, nor will you have to cut your meat to look inside and ruin its presentation.

At the same time, sous vide cooking allows you to avoid burning or charring the outside of your food in your efforts to get the inside fully cooked. For meat and fish, it also offers the option to grill or blacken the outside of the protein after cooking is complete for presentation and texture.

Finally, many chefs like to cook meats, fish and vegetables sous vide because it allows the food to infuse its flavors. You can fill the sous vide bag with marinades and herbs, which then soak into the food during cooking instead of escaping as with traditional grilling.

Features to consider when choosing a sous-vide machine

Many home chefs are excited to try sous vide cooking, but don’t know where to start when it comes to choosing a sous vide cooking device. Here we’ll look at the features you should consider when choosing a sous vide cooking appliance and explain how they can impact your kitchen.

Type: immersion or all-in-one water bath?

The main choice you’ll need to make when buying a sous vide appliance is whether you want an imVacuum immersion devices, such as those from Kitchen Gizmo, KitchenBoss, Monoprice and ChefSteps, are designed to be attached to any heat-resistant container you have in your home, such as a large soup pot. These immersion units sit in water and have heating and circulating elements that together create a bubbling bath effect-the cooker heats the water to a constant temperature and circulates it around your pot.

All-in-one water bath cookers, such as those from TriBest, Dash and Sous Vide Supreme, combine the heating elements with the water pot. This type of cooker is like a complete hot tub, including the pot, heating elements and jets.

There are a number of important differences between these two styles of sous vide cookers when it comes to cooking dinner. First of all, you need to consider the amount of food you will be cooking at one time. While water bath sous vide cookers can be large – restaurant models can reach over 50 gallons – most home all-in-one units only offer a three-gallon capacity, like the Sous Vide Supreme. Immersion cookers are generally capable of working with larger pans, up to more than 10 gallons in the case of the ChefSteps Joule machine. Of course, this assumes you have a pot that size at home.

Water bath machines also have a few side benefits. Because they are covered with an insulating lid, there is no evaporation during long cooking periods as there is with an immersion cooker. In addition, the heating elements of water baths are completely covered, so there is no chance of getting burned. Vacuum immersion cookers also make a whirring noise when circulating water, while all-in-one water baths are completely silent.

However, vacuum immersion units are still the most popular because they don’t take up counter space when not in use and are significantly less expensive than water bath cookers.

Heating power

The heating power of a sous vide machine is important because it affects the maximum capacity and temperature range of your cooking. Immersion sous vide machines typically range from 800 watts to 1,200 watts – available in the powerful Gourmia immersion machine – while water baths don’t require as much power and typically offer 1,000 watts or less for a home machine.

mersion sous vide appliance or an all-in-one bain-marie.

Vacuum immersion devices, such as those from Kitchen Gizmo, KitchenBoss, Monoprice and ChefSteps, are designed to be attached to any heat-resistant container you have in your home, such as a large soup pot. These immersion units sit in water and have heating and circulating elements that together create a bubbling bath effect-the cooker heats the water to a constant temperature and circulates it around your pot.

All-in-one water bath cookers, such as those from TriBest, Dash and Sous Vide Supreme, combine the heating elements with the water pot. This type of cooker is like a complete hot tub, including the pot, heating elements and jets.

There are a number of important differences between these two styles of sous vide cookers when it comes to cooking dinner. First of all, you need to consider the amount of food you will be cooking at one time. While water bath sous vide cookers can be large – restaurant models can reach over 50 gallons – most home all-in-one units only offer a three-gallon capacity, like the Sous Vide Supreme. Immersion cookers are generally capable of working with larger pans, up to more than 10 gallons in the case of the ChefSteps Joule machine. Of course, this assumes you have a pot that size at home.

Water bath machines also have a few side benefits. Because they are covered with an insulating lid, there is no evaporation during long cooking periods as there is with an immersion cooker. In addition, the heating elements of water baths are completely covered, so there is no chance of getting burned. Vacuum immersion cookers also make a whirring noise when circulating water, while all-in-one water baths are completely silent.

However, vacuum immersion units are still the most popular because they don’t take up counter space when not in use and are significantly less expensive than water bath cookers.

Heating power

The heating power of a sous vide machine is important because it affects the maximum capacity and temperature range of your cooking. Immersion sous vide machines typically range from 800 watts to 1,200 watts – available in the powerful Gourmia immersion machine – while water baths don’t require as much power and typically offer 1,000 watts or less for a home machine.

Maximum cooking size

Maximum cooking size is extremely important to consider if you are cooking more than one or two servings of food at a time. If you are feeding an entire family or prefer to prepare a week’s worth of food at one time, you will need a sous vide cooker that can handle a larger volume of water. Also keep in mind when determining the cooking space you need, that you need to leave some space between your vacuum food bags so they can be in full contact with the hot water.

The maximum cooking size for water bath sous vide appliances for home use is relatively limited – both the TriBest and Sous Vide Supreme water bath appliances are limited to three gallon volumes. However, immersion sous vide appliances can often cook volumes of four to five gallons, and the Joule ChefSteps is designed for volumes greater than 10 gallons. Keep in mind that when cooking large volumes with an immersion sous vide appliance, you need to allow more time for the water to reach the proper temperature.

Temperature range

The principle of sous vide cooking is that the temperature of the food will never exceed that of the water. The maximum temperature of your sous vide appliance is therefore the main factor determining the maximum internal temperature at which you can cook meat and fish. Most home vacuum appliances cook to a maximum temperature of 194°F, which is sufficient to cook most meats to medium rare. However, for cooking at even higher temperatures, both the Wancle and Sous Vide Supreme appliances exceed 210°F.

Temperature accuracy and stability

Water temperature accuracy and stability are critical to your sous vide appliance. Your appliance must be able to reach the temperature you set and hold the water at that temperature accurately to ensure even cooking without overcooking or undercooking. That said, most sous vide appliances offer 1°F accuracy to the set temperature, and many of the ones we reviewed – including TriBest, Gourmia, and KitchenBoss – can hold the temperature within 0.1°F of the desired setting. That’s enough accuracy for any type of cooking, even if you’re trying to get the perfect level of pink in a piece of meat.

Time required for the machine to heat up the water

Sous vide cooking is slow by nature. But if you’re trying to prepare a cook in a hurry, the time it takes the machine to heat your water can be significant. This is usually where a higher wattage can help – a sous vide appliance with more watts should be able to reach the programmed temperature faster, as it can provide more heat when first turned on. However, it is advisable to consult customer reviews and comments to determine how long it takes a specific sous vide appliance to heat water to its maximum or intermediate temperature.

Maximum cooking size

Maximum cooking size is extremely important to consider if you are cooking more than one or two servings of food at a time. If you are feeding an entire family or prefer to prepare a week’s worth of food at one time, you will need a sous vide cooker that can handle a larger volume of water. Also keep in mind when determining the cooking space you need, that you need to leave some space between your vacuum food bags so they can be in full contact with the hot water.

The maximum cooking size for water bath sous vide appliances for home use is relatively limited – both the TriBest and Sous Vide Supreme water bath appliances are limited to three gallon volumes. However, immersion sous vide appliances can often cook volumes of four to five gallons, and the Joule ChefSteps is designed for volumes greater than 10 gallons. Keep in mind that when cooking large volumes with an immersion sous vide appliance, you need to allow more time for the water to reach the proper temperature.

Temperature range

The principle of sous vide cooking is that the temperature of the food will never exceed that of the water. The maximum temperature of your sous vide appliance is therefore the main factor determining the maximum internal temperature at which you can cook meat and fish. Most home vacuum appliances cook to a maximum temperature of 194°F, which is sufficient to cook most meats to medium rare. However, for cooking at even higher temperatures, both the Wancle and Sous Vide Supreme appliances exceed 210°F.

Temperature accuracy and stability

Water temperature accuracy and stability are critical to your sous vide appliance. Your appliance must be able to reach the temperature you set and hold the water at that temperature accurately to ensure even cooking without overcooking or undercooking. That said, most sous vide appliances offer 1°F accuracy to the set temperature, and many of the ones we reviewed – including TriBest, Gourmia, and KitchenBoss – can hold the temperature within 0.1°F of the desired setting. That’s enough accuracy for any type of cooking, even if you’re trying to get the perfect level of pink in a piece of meat.

Time required for the machine to heat up the water

Sous vide cooking is slow by nature. But if you’re trying to prepare a cook in a hurry, the time it takes the machine to heat your water can be significant. This is usually where a higher wattage can help – a sous vide appliance with more watts should be able to reach the programmed temperature faster, as it can provide more heat when first turned on. However, it is advisable to consult customer reviews and comments to determine how long it takes a specific sous vide appliance to heat water to its maximum or intermediate temperature.

Ease of use

Sous vide appliances are designed to be chef-friendly, but features specifically designed to make them easy to use can make them downright fun and simple. Most sous vide appliances have simple temperature controls that allow you to set the desired cooking temperature. Additionally, LCD screens with buttons to set a timer and other options are very common and allow you to walk away from your sous vide appliance completely after setting it up. Some immersion cookers, like the Monoprice unit, offer touchscreen controls, while the ChefSteps unit uses Bluetooth and WiFi to allow remote control from a phone app.

Warranty

A sous vide appliance is a major investment in your kitchen, so you want to be sure it will last. Most sous vide appliances come with a one to two year warranty to cover manufacturing defects, such as broken heating elements or faulty waterproofing.

Tips for using a sous-vide machine

When using your sous vide machine, cover the lid of your container to prevent evaporation and heat loss. Most water bath appliances come with insulated lids, but you may need to make a makeshift lid out of plastic wrap or aluminum foil if you are using an immersion appliance.

When cooking, your food should remain fully immersed in the water. The circulation of water when using an immersion cooker can cause food to move up and down, which is usually a sign of air bubbles in your bag. If you are cooking particularly light foods, such as fish, consider adding a food weight to your bag.

Think carefully about how long you plan to keep your food in the sous vide. The total cooking time should always be less than three days to avoid bacteria growth, and more time is not necessarily better once your food has reached the desired internal temperature.

Consider cooking your food in two temperature stages, first a lower temperature, then a higher temperature. This breaks down the connective tissue of meats more efficiently and results in more tender protein.

What else do I need for sous vide cooking?

Sous vide cooking requires a few things beyond a simple cooking device. You’ll need bags and rolls to seal your food, and a vacuum sealer if you plan to use vacuum bags and rolls for your sous vide cooking. If you’re using a vacuum immersion device, you’ll also need a container that can hold both the device and the food.

Our verdict

Our three favorite sous vide appliances on the market today are the ChefSteps Joule, the Monoprice Strata, and the Sous Vide Supreme SVS10LS water oven. All three of these sous vide cookers are capable of heating to temperatures above 200°F. The Sous Vide Supreme is our favorite all-in-one water bath machine because of its three-gallon cooking capacity and durable, energy-efficient design. The Monoprice Strata is an attractively priced sous vide immersion machine designed for chefs who don’t need accessories like Bluetooth or WiFi to prepare their meals. But for chefs who want it all, the Joule ChefSteps is definitely the best sous vide machine. This sous vide machine has Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity so you can control your cooking from anywhere outside the house, as well as answers to Amazon Alexa for those times when you’re multitasking in the kitchen. Plus, it offers an impressive 10-gallon cooking capacity, which is more than double what most other home immersion sous vide machines on the market today are capable of.