It’s the secret to a perfect medium or medium-rare steak. A reliable way to cook crisp (not mushy) vegetables. And it’s making gorgeous poached eggs a reality for home cooks.
Sous vide equipment is becoming a staple in kitchens everywhere.
What is sous vide cooking
Learning how to cook sous vide style is easy. This cooking method involves seasoning food, putting it in a bag, and submerging it in hot water. Each recipe provides a designated time and temperature to set your sous vide machine.
When the timer goes off, your food is cooked. Some recipes, especially for steak, require searing food in a pan 1-2 minutes before serving.
Sous vide equipment you need
1. Sous vide machine
2. Bags
3. Container to hold water
Below is a list of popular sous vide equipment.
Affiliate links are included.
1. Get a sous vide machine
Many sous vide machines are wifi-capable and come with an app. That means you don’t have to be in the kitchen while your food cooks. Long recipes can be set overnight or while you’re away.
Here are popular sous vide machines…
Souvia Professional Sous Vide with Wi-Fi
Gourmia Sous Vide Precision Cooker
Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker
ChefSteps Joule Sous Vide in white
Magic Mill 9 Qt Sous Vide Machine
This sous vide machine has a build-in container. It looks like a crock pot.
2. Get sous vide bags
Ziploc-type bags work, but a vacuum seal machine does a great job squeezing marinades and flavors into your food.
FoodSaver Bags for sous vide cooking
These don’t require a vacuum seal system
FoodSaver Sharkk Automatic Vacuum Sealer with Starter Bags included
Vacuum Sealer Rolls for Sous Vide Bags
FoodSaver Vacuum Sealing System
FoodSaver Vacuum Sealing System with Starter Kit
Automatic Vacuum Air Sealing System For Food Preservation
Reusable Food Vacuum Sealed Bags with hand pump
Learn more about vacuum sealing
This topic is covered pretty extensively in my Foodsaver 4400 vacuum sealer video.
And you can learn more about sous vide meal prep in this guide on how to vacuum seal meat.
3. Pick a sous vide container
You need a container, like a large soup pot, to hold the sous vide water bath. Once you get the hang of sous vide, you’ll inevitably want a large sous vide container to cook in batches.
A lid will help you cook a large piece of meat, like a 5LB sous vide pork shoulder, overnight without waking up to add water. The lid retains heat so you can sleep.
EVERIE Collapsible Hinged Sous Vide Container Lid for Anova
EVERIE Collapsible Hinge Sous Vide Container Lid for ChefSteps Joule Cookers
EVERIE Sous Vide Container with Collapsible Hinged Lid
Sous Vide Lid for Rubbermaid Containers (12, 18 & 22 Quart)
Popular sous vide recipes
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- Make tender meat that pulls apart for sandwiches and tacos.
- Sous vide root vegetables.
- Caramelize onions in beer.
- Make Starbucks-inspired sous vide egg cups at home.
- Pickle veg.
- Poach pears and apples.
- Poach eggs.
- Make sous vide limoncello.
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Go ahead, play with your food
Shop the links above to start cooking perfect steak and veg any night of the week… If you already have the sous vide equipment above, see the list of essential sous vide accessories.
Learn more about cooking food underwater in this sous vide for beginners.
Find the most extensive collection of my sous vide recipes in The Home Chef’s Sous Vide Cookbook.
Discover why sous vide is so popular and get into these sous vide recipes for entertaining.