Sous vide cookers

Cooking in a water bath at a precisely maintained low temperature is a gentle way to prepare meat, fish and vegetables. Sous vide cookers heat the water to the set temperature and keep it stable throughout. They include immersion cookers that clip onto the edge of a pot, as well as special containers with a lid and rack.

Sous vide cookers

With the sous vide method, food is sealed in a vacuum bag and cooked in water whose temperature, depending on the dish, is usually between about 50 and 85 °C. Meat stays juicy, is cooked evenly from the edge to the centre and there is no risk of overcooking it. For poultry, minced meat and fish, follow the temperature and cooking time recommended in the instructions or recipe.

Most sous vide cookers are stick-shaped immersion models. They attach to the edge of the pot with a clip and heat and circulate the water at the same time, so it is the same temperature everywhere. They typically hold the temperature to within a tenth of a degree, and many models are waterproof.

When choosing, it is worth looking at the power, which determines how quickly the water heats up, and at the maximum volume of water the cooker can handle. A timer, a clear display and, on some models, app control, which lets you follow the cooking remotely, are practical.

Special containers with a lid and rack are also made for immersion models, reducing water evaporation and holding the bags in place. Once out of the bag, the meat is best seared briefly in a very hot pan to give it a crispy crust.