Add to your order
- Coverage for accidental damage including drops, spills, and broken parts, as well as breakdowns (plans vary)
- 24/7 support when you need it.
- Quick, easy, and frustration-free claims.
- No Additional Cost: You pay nothing for repairs – parts, labor, and shipping included.
- Coverage: Plan starts on the date of purchase. Drops, spills and cracked screens due to normal use covered for portable products and power surges covered from day one. Malfunctions covered after the manufacturer's warranty.
- Easy Claims Process: File a claim anytime online or by phone. Most claims approved within minutes. We will send you an e-gift card for the purchase price of your covered product. In some instances, we will replace or repair it.
- Product Eligibility: Plan must be purchased with a product or within 30 days of the product purchase. Pre-existing conditions are not covered.
- Terms & Details: More information about this protection plan is available within the “Product guides and documents” section. Simply click “User Guide” for more info. Terms & Conditions will be available in Your Orders on Amazon. Asurion will also email your plan confirmation with Terms & Conditions to the address associated with your Amazon account within 24 hours of purchase.
- No Additional Cost: You pay nothing for repairs – parts, labor, and shipping included.
- Coverage: Plan starts on the date of purchase. Drops, spills and cracked screens due to normal use covered for portable products and power surges covered from day one. Malfunctions covered after the manufacturer's warranty.
- Easy Claims Process: File a claim anytime online or by phone. Most claims approved within minutes. We will send you an e-gift card for the purchase price of your covered product. In some instances, we will replace or repair it.
- Product Eligibility: Plan must be purchased with a product or within 30 days of the product purchase. Pre-existing conditions are not covered.
- Terms & Details: More information about this protection plan is available within the “Product guides and documents” section. Simply click “User Guide” for more info. Terms & Conditions will be available in Your Orders on Amazon. Asurion will also email your plan confirmation with Terms & Conditions to the address associated with your Amazon account within 24 hours of purchase.
- Buy a lot of stuff on Amazon? Tons of items eligible for coverage, from the latest tech like laptops, game consoles, and TVs, to major appliances, sporting goods, tools, toys, mattresses, personal care, furniture, and more.
- Accidents happen. That’s why for your portable products we cover accidental damage from handling such as drops, spills and cracked screens. We also cover electrical and mechanical malfunctions, power surges, and wear and tear.
- Past and future purchases covered. 30 days after you are enrolled, all eligible past purchases (up to 1 year prior to enrollment) and future eligible purchases made on Amazon will be covered by your plan as long as you are enrolled.
- Fast, easy claims. Frustration-free claims, with most filed in minutes. We will fix it, replace it, or reimburse you with an Amazon e-gift card for the purchase price of your product (excluding tax). File at Asurion.com/amazon.
- No hidden fees. For just $16.99 a month + tax you’re covered for up to $5,000 in claims per 12-month period. *THIS PROGRAM IS MONTH-TO-MONTH AND WILL CONTINUE UNTIL CANCELED* Coverage for all products ends 30 days after the plan is canceled. Cancel any time.
Add to your order
- Coverage for accidental damage including drops, spills, and broken parts, as well as breakdowns (plans vary)
- 24/7 support when you need it.
- Quick, easy, and frustration-free claims.
Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime
and start saving today with fast, free delivery
Amazon Prime includes:
Fast, FREE Delivery is available to Prime members. To join, select "Try Amazon Prime and start saving today with Fast, FREE Delivery" below the Add to Cart button.
Amazon Prime members enjoy:- Cardmembers earn 5% Back at Amazon.com with a Prime Credit Card.
- Unlimited Free Two-Day Delivery
- Streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows with limited ads on Prime Video.
- A Kindle book to borrow for free each month - with no due dates
- Listen to over 2 million songs and hundreds of playlists
- Unlimited photo storage with anywhere access
Important: Your credit card will NOT be charged when you start your free trial or if you cancel during the trial period. If you're happy with Amazon Prime, do nothing. At the end of the free trial, your membership will automatically upgrade to a monthly membership.
Image Unavailable
Color:
-
-
-
- To view this video download Flash Player
- 6 VIDEOS
Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker 2.0 (WiFi), 1000 Watts
Learn more
Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
- Select the return method
- Ship it!
Purchase options and add-ons
Product Dimensions | 3.07"D x 3.07"W x 12.8"H |
Wattage | 1000 watts |
Voltage | 110 Volts |
Brand | Anova Culinary |
Material | Stainless Steel, Plastic |
About this item
- Perfect results every time: Never over or under cook your food again. The Anova Precision Cooker circulates water at the exact temperature required for perfectly cooked meals, no matter what's on your menu. Use the Anova app to access thousands of free recipes and monitor your cook from anywhere via your smartphone.Power 1100 Watts.Power 1100 Watts
- What to cook: Sous vide (pronounced “sue-veed”) cooking offers the perfect level of doneness for nearly any food. Chicken, fish, vegetables, eggs, beef, lamb, pork and more are all ideal foods for sous vide. The ability to lock in flavor and moisture during the cooking process results in texture and taste that is second to none.
- Easy to use: Whether cooking a simple meal or an extravagant feast, the Precision Cooker heats water faster and holds temperature precisely so you can get cooking quicker than ever. It easily attaches to any stock pot or container with an adjustable clamp, and is water resistant for when accidents happen in the kitchen. Flow Rate - 8 Liters/min
- Customer experience: Designed in San Francisco, CA. Anova delivers thousands of sous vide recipes for free in the Anova app, created for cooks of every skill level by award-winning chefs and home cooks alike.
Customer ratings by feature
There is a newer model of this item:
Frequently bought together
Similar items that may deliver to you quickly
Videos
Videos for this product
1:11
Click to play video
Honest Review and Demo of Sous Vide Cooker
Jo Nusser
Videos for this product
2:09
Click to play video
Honest Review of Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker
Trendy Shopz
Videos for this product
6:30
Click to play video
Should You Buy? Anova Sous Vide Precision Cooker
Should You Buy?
Videos for this product
2:14
Click to play video
Perfectly cooked meat every time!
Busy Life, Great Finds: Mom Edition
Product information
Product Dimensions | 3.07"D x 3.07"W x 12.8"H |
---|---|
Wattage | 1000 watts |
Voltage | 110 Volts |
Brand | Anova Culinary |
Material | Stainless Steel, Plastic |
Color | Black and Silver |
Control Method | App |
Lower Temperature Rating | 32 Degrees Fahrenheit |
Upper Temperature Rating | 197 Degrees Fahrenheit |
Item Weight | 2.81 pounds |
Manufacturer | Anova |
ASIN | B07WQ4M5TS |
Item model number | AN500-US00 |
Customer Reviews |
4.6 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #699 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining) #1 in Sous Vide Machines |
Date First Available | September 29, 2019 |
Warranty & Support
Feedback
From the manufacturer
Anova Precision Cooker
Next level reimagined
The all-new Anova Precision Cooker — improved connectivity, more power, and faster heat up times, all in a smaller design.
A secret in professional kitchens for decades, sous vide works by circulating heated water in a pot at a very precise temperature according to the desired doneness of your food, holding it there for the duration of your cook for exceptional results. With just 3º making the difference between a rare and medium-rare steak, precision is key in the kitchen. This simple and approachable technique eliminates overcooked, dried out food and ensures edge-to-edge perfection every time you cook!
What's in the box:
- Anova Precision Cooker
- Quick Start Guide
Perfect Results, Every Time
|
|
|
---|---|---|
Ready to UseNo stove, thermometer, flame or additional equipment needed. |
Connected CookingSet the time and temperature with the Anova App or the Precision Cooker controls. |
Perfect ResultsCirculates water at a precise temperature to cook your food exactly how you like it. |
Cooking the Perfect Meal is Easier Than Ever
|
|
|
|
---|---|---|---|
RecipesAnova delivers thousands of sous vide recipes for free in the Anova App, created for cooks of every skill level by award-winning chefs and home cooks alike. |
Limitless OptionsSous vide cooking has nearly limitless options – chicken, fish, vegetables, eggs, beef, lamb, pork and more are all ideal candidates for cooking with Anova. |
Cooking CapacityNow with more power, faster heat up times, and improved WiFi connection all in a smaller and more durable body, the Anova Precision Cooker is the perfect option for any home chef. It easily attaches to any stock pot or container with a fully adjustable clamp, cooks for up to about 8 people, and is water resistant for when accidents happen in the kitchen. |
AccessoriesAll Heroes Need Great Sidekicks. That's why we've expanded our line of sous vide accessories to include everything you need to bring your sous vide experience to the next level. With everything from containers to vacuum sealers and bags, we've got you covered. |
Precision Cooker Nano | Precision Cooker | Precision Cooker Pro | |
---|---|---|---|
Customer Reviews |
4.7 out of 5 stars
14,940
|
4.6 out of 5 stars
11,540
|
4.6 out of 5 stars
2,081
|
Price | $78.21$78.21 | $109.25$109.25 | $198.96$198.96 |
Power | 750 Watts | 1000 Watts | 1200 Watts |
Height | 12.8" | 12.8" | 13.5" |
Connectivity | Bluetooth | WiFi | WiFi |
# of Hours it Can Cook Continuously | Up to 3,000 hours | Up to 5,000 hours | Up to 10,000 hours |
Clamps | Fixed | Adjustable and Removable | Adjustable and Removable |
Flow Rate | 5 Liters/min | 8 Liters/min | 12 Liters/min |
Voltage | 110-120 | 110-120 | 110-120 |
Looking for specific info?
Product Description
Anova has passion for precision in the kitchen, and we want to help everyone of all skill levels cook like a Pro in their own home. Now with more power, faster heat up times, and improved Wi-Fi connection All in a smaller and more Durable body, the Anova precision cooker is the perfect option for any home chef. It easily attaches to any stock pot or container with a fully adjustable clamp, is highly water resistant, and s evenly cooked edge to edge perfection for a wide variety of foods.
Compare with similar items
This Item Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker 2.0 (WiFi), 1000 Watts | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | |
Price | -50% $109.25$109.25 List: $219.00 | -33% $99.99$99.99 List: $149.00 | -17% $49.77$49.77 List: $59.77 | $109.99$109.99 | -11% $159.99$159.99 List: $179.99 |
Delivery | Get it as soon as Friday, May 17 | — | Get it as soon as Friday, May 17 | Get it as soon as Friday, May 17 | Get it as soon as Friday, May 17 |
Customer Ratings | |||||
Easy to use | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.3 |
Temperature Control | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.1 | — | 4.5 |
Accuracy | 4.4 | — | 4.1 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
Sold By | JEXAC | Amazon.com | ZHANGLINCHENGNIU | KitchenBoss | KitchenBoss |
material | Plastic, Stainless Steel | Plastic | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
capacity | — | 12 liters | 15 liters | 16 liters | 20 liters |
control method | application | touch | touch | application | touch, application |
lower temperature rate | 32 degrees fahrenheit | — | — | 104 degrees fahrenheit | 104 degrees fahrenheit |
upper temperature rate | 197 degrees fahrenheit | — | — | 194 degrees fahrenheit | 194 degrees fahrenheit |
voltage | 110 volts | — | 120 volts | 120 volts | 120 volts |
wattage | 1000 watts | 800 watts | 1000 watts | 1100 watts | — |
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the performance, ease of use, and quality of the sous vide machine. For example, they mention it works well, produces perfect results, and is easy to use with the app. That said, some complain about the connectivity and temperature control.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers are happy with the performance of the sous vide machine. They say it works well, produces perfect results, and is easy to use. Some customers mention that the device itself is exceptional, while others say it requires more work. They also say that it works perfectly with the app or without it.
"...I've used it for steak, fish & lamb, so far.. All have turned out fantastic. Just a quick sear after cooking sous vide, and the food is perfect." Read more
"Works very well and keeps the temperature within a 0.7°F range from the set point towards the positive side, ensuring complete cooking...." Read more
"Works great. this is my third anova because i keep giving them to friends. so far all 3 still perform great." Read more
"...It is so easy to use and produces such PERFECT results, it almost feels like cheating...." Read more
Customers like the quality of the sous vide machine. They say it's the best way to cook pork and beef, ensuring complete cooking. The app has great recipes and the ability to add and save your own recipes is nice. It's great for cooking multiple proteins at once and is great for reverse searing steaks.
"...You get foods that are perfectly cooked from edge to edge and crackling with flavor every time, because they are slow cooked at a constant..." Read more
"...The appliance is easy to use. Based on reviews, I chose not to hook it up to wi-fI. I found it’s very simple to use without it...." Read more
"...Temp probe came loose and unit failed at 3.5 years. Treated with kid gloves with wiping down to clean. Never could get wi-fi to work...." Read more
"...a 0.7°F range from the set point towards the positive side, ensuring complete cooking. Connecting with the app is simple and works well...." Read more
Customers find the sous vide machine easy to use. They say the phone app is super easy to install and understand, and comes with many handy ideas and recipes. They also say the process was easy, and the machine hooks up easily to their phone. Customers also mention that it's a great time saver, and easy to clean up.
"...Ease of use: six simple buttons and a large display that my older eyes appreciate are neatly organized unto a control panel on top of the unit..." Read more
"...The process was easy. Tonight we did a NY strip steak. My husband said it was the best NY strip steak he has ever eaten...." Read more
"Sous vide anything is great, lobster is fantastic! Super easy to use and clean. Purchased 2 as gifts...." Read more
"...Connecting with the app is simple and works well. A good set of recipes within the app is available to start cooking any food category...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the temperature control of the sous vide machine. Some mention that the temperature is spot on, easy to use, and maintains the set temperature. However, others say that the device takes way too long to get up to temperature, the temperature randomly increases without touching buttons, and the temp keeps dropping.
"...and crackling with flavor every time, because they are slow cooked at a constant temperature inside a vacuum-packed bag that seals in all of the..." Read more
"...You can miss the faint beep. There is no setting on the app to adjust the alert on your tablet or phone to make it sound off either...." Read more
"...CONNECTIVITY – The app can set the temp and start the cooker, but it can’t turn it off. At least in my case, I always have to turn it off manually...." Read more
"...I have made corrections to my first attempt and like the product. Slow and cooked to perfect temperature !" Read more
Customers are dissatisfied with the connectivity of the sous vide machine. They mention that it loses its WiFi connection after a few hours, the app showed progress but kept failing to connect, and the manual setup process would not complete. The Bluetooth connectivity was not erratic, but it cannot communicate with their phone.
"...No bluetooth, only WiFi.* You can only run one unit at a time through the app (at this time).* No ‘delay’ timer...." Read more
"...After repeated failures to connect, I did the following to get the AN500 to connect:On the router-..." Read more
"...Treated with kid gloves with wiping down to clean. Never could get wi-fi to work. Would prefer same unit without actually...." Read more
"...It still works like a champ. I do not use the wi-fi though. It kept disconnecting and honestly, I do not need to start and stop it with my phone...." Read more
Reviews with images
-
Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
So far so good. It does make noise the entire time it is on. I guess I thought they were all supposed to be quiet. The noise is not super loud. I took a video, but decided not to post it due to the video making the noise seem louder than it is truly is in person. It is a low humming sound. I guess it’s a good reminder that you have something cooking. You probably will not notice it from another room in the house. 4 stars only, because I thought it would be silent. Maybe it truly deserves 5 stars.
I love that it is wifi! At first, I ordered a cheaper one that was not wifi as I initially thought, “who really needs that feature?” I sent it back thankfully. I LOVE THE WIFI!! I have lots of wifi products in my home already...I admit it, I am hooked on controlling things via my phone from any location! LOL
Buy it. You will not regret it. Yes, it is a little more expensive, but your food will be amazing and it is fun! This one did not take very long to heat up either. I am impressed. This will cook your meat to the perfect temperature. You never have to worry again about overcooking. Click the helpful button below if you found this review helpful at all. Thx.
Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2020
So far so good. It does make noise the entire time it is on. I guess I thought they were all supposed to be quiet. The noise is not super loud. I took a video, but decided not to post it due to the video making the noise seem louder than it is truly is in person. It is a low humming sound. I guess it’s a good reminder that you have something cooking. You probably will not notice it from another room in the house. 4 stars only, because I thought it would be silent. Maybe it truly deserves 5 stars.
I love that it is wifi! At first, I ordered a cheaper one that was not wifi as I initially thought, “who really needs that feature?” I sent it back thankfully. I LOVE THE WIFI!! I have lots of wifi products in my home already...I admit it, I am hooked on controlling things via my phone from any location! LOL
Buy it. You will not regret it. Yes, it is a little more expensive, but your food will be amazing and it is fun! This one did not take very long to heat up either. I am impressed. This will cook your meat to the perfect temperature. You never have to worry again about overcooking. Click the helpful button below if you found this review helpful at all. Thx.
I recommend investing in a vacuum sealer. It isn’t entirely necessary, but works best.
This unit was always in the top five of any review site I found; it was often in the top two. My reasons for selecting the Anova from the list of well-reviewed devices were:
1) Ease of use: six simple buttons and a large display that my older eyes appreciate are neatly organized unto a control panel on top of the unit that is slanted for easy access.
2) Power: I felt that 1000 watts was a nice compromise. It’s important that the unit be capable of preheating in a reasonable time and maintain a constant temperature in a larger vessel (if I want to use one). I didn’t believe that my needs (8 or less people) justified the additional expense of a more powerful unit.
3) Comments from somebody who purchased the competing, well-reviewed unit and emphatically lamented the lack of any controls at all on the device itself (i.e. that device relies on a mobile phone app for control and monitoring). As this reviewer pointed out: these units are simple water heaters; that’s all they do. There is absolutely no reason to overcomplicate, glorify or cutsey-fy that simple fact. You will do well to consider that during your evaluation. The Anova also provides an app but one has the option to use it or not. I have not yet attempted to do so, so I cannot speak for ease of connecting this unit to wifi.
4) Price: attractive considering the features, relative to the competition.
Anybody who is considering sous vide needs to carefully consider what it is and what it is not.
• First off, if you like your meat rare, well-done or charred, don’t waste your money. Lovers of medium-well should also consider carefully. Rare is much easier to accomplish on a grill or skillet (i.e. flash sear on each side and done). Likewise well-done or charred. Medium-well that is truly medium-well can be a bit tricky to achieve consistently and may therefore warrant this device but, in my opinion, it negates most of the benefits (e.g. tender and juicy).
• It works best on small to medium-sized meats or fish. You get foods that are perfectly cooked from edge to edge and crackling with flavor every time, because they are slow cooked at a constant temperature inside a vacuum-packed bag that seals in all of the goodness. Assuming that you start off with good cuts of meat, you will end up with flavor, tenderness and juiciness that will blow you away.
• You can get a really nice but relatively thin crust on steaks and crispy skin on fish/poultry by finishing with a pan sear. Tips will be shared below.
• You cannot get the intense BBQ flavor or thick crusting of grilling but you can get a thinner crusting and some of that BBQ flavor by searing with a grill or blowtorch. Sous vide is probably not for you if you like your steak infused with the smokiness of a grill; you may find this method to be too bland for your liking.
• You’re likely to never use this device if you are always in a hurry at mealtime. Sous vide takes time, which is the secret of its tender and flavorful results. The included app and wifi capabilities of this device may be useful to those who lack the necessary time. Set everything up before you leave home and, later in the day, use the app to activate the unit (i.e. such that the food is cooked when you get home).
• Sous vide is not suitable for most vegetables. You can make it work for some, notably carrots and corn on the cob, but not for most. It's also not for large chunks of meat (e.g. roasts, hams or whole birds), which I believe do far better in an oven. There are some who claim that they have successfully cooked a roast sous vide but I prefer an oven at 250 to 275 with a good meat thermometer. Tri-tip is an exception to this rule; it does quite well with sous vide.
• Everybody at the meal must like their meat cooked to the same level of doneness. I suppose that you could accommodate a guest who wants rare (i.e. briefly seared on each side) or well done (i.e. cooked to death) but anything in between would be better handled with sous vide and, unless you have more than one machine, everybody must like their meat the same way.
My experiences:
• I am a foodie who enjoys cooking. I want to enjoy the results of my cooking and I am willing to pay for good quality food. I like my meat medium rare to medium. I like a good crust on a steak and crispy skin on poultry or fish fillets. I got tired of the mediocre meats that I was able to purchase at the supermarket. I now patronize butchers and fishmongers, who sell high quality goods at a much higher price.
• At these price points, I want to do everything in my power to maximize flavor and minimize the risk (i.e. of me screwing something up). Grilling is fun, sauté and/or baking is fine but the results are all-too-often inconsistent, especially for thick steaks and some poultry (e.g. duck): it's far too easy to get perfectly-cooked flesh and wimpy skin or crispy skin and dead flesh.
• Hence my interest in sous vide. Cheap was not an objective. If I’m going to do it at all, I’m going to do it right. So, I also purchased the Anova 12L cooking container and vacuum sealer. The vacuum sealer is unnecessary if you are adept at using Ziploc bags and the displacement method of creating a vacuum; I am not, so vacuum sealer for me. The cooking container is not cheap but there are several reasons that I am happy I bought it: 1) its large but not enormous size fits perfectly inside my sink; 2) the included rack enables me to hang eight bags without impeding water circulation; 3) the cover minimizes evaporation; 4) I can see through the transparent walls from any angle and ensure that none of the bags have sunk, or have sprung a leak (especially important when cooking at higher temperatures).
• Everything came well packaged and nothing was damaged. Unpacking was easy (i.e. no chainsaw required) and setup was a breeze. I am very pleased by the high quality of everything. The instructions for the sous vide unit are adequate. I did have to play around a bit with the clip, until I got the hang of it, but everything else was clear enough, even for a klutz like me. I found the controls to be very easy to use and the display is very easy to read. Temperature wavered by 0.1 or 0.2 degrees until preheating was complete but thereafter it was rock solid, possibly because I am using a covered container inside the sink, which provides some degree of insulation. It makes a noticeable hum while operating, which did not annoy me but it probably could annoy some. When the timer expires, it makes a couple of noticeable beeps. The vacuum sealer was more challenging; I had to watch some tutorials – I did mention that I’m a klutz – but this is not a review for that unit.
• Most importantly, I got highly-satisfying results from the onset. I am delighted with this purchase. As long as your expectations are in alignment with the capabilities and limitations of sous vide, I am confident that you will also be delighted with this unit.
Tips:
1) Do some research! I especially appreciate tips and recipes provided by Food Lab’s J. Kenji Lopez-Alt at the SeriousEats site and Helen Rennie’s tutorials at YouTube.
2) Read the instructions and follow them. The two individuals I named above will tell you everything you need to know about temperatures and timings for myriad types of food and doneness.
3) Temperature is critical; always cook at the temperature advised to achieve the level of doneness that you prefer, no matter how big your pot is or what it's made of or how many bags are inside it. Don’t worry too much about letting things cook longer than the recipe calls for. Most meats are very forgiving; up to an hour longer than recommended won’t make a noticeable difference. Fish and seafood are much less forgiving; up to about 15 minutes longer than recommended is maximum. Eggs are even less forgiving of overtime (i.e. if you want your yolks less than hard).
4) I have two sinks, so I put the container into a sink and fill it with hot water right out of the tap. Cooking occurs in the sink, covered. I believe that the cover and confined space of the sink enhance heat retention. After I’m done, water is simply dumped into the sink.
5) Don’t forget to add your favorite aromatics to into your bags. Do NOT add fat of any kind to meats except fish or seafood (see below).
6) I prepare steak with a generous sprinkling of sea or Himalayan salt on both sides and letting it sit for about 30 minutes before adding the aromatics and sealing the bag.
7) To cook more than one piece of fish in the same bag, it’s advisable to add some oil to the bag to prevent sticking. Vacuum sealers and liquids do not get along, so: a) use a Ziploc bag and water displacement; b) brush the fish with a light film of oil; c) place thin pats of butter inside the bag.
8) A pound of raw, peeled and deveined shrimp should be tossed in 1/3 tsp baking soda (NOT powder) for about 30 minutes before cooking to enhance texture. I like to cook it together with butter, tarragon and several cloves of crushed garlic for about 30 minutes at 132 degrees.
9) The biggest trick to sous vide is the searing process after the cooking is done. There are a million different opinions about how to best sear. You will find some great advice at the websites mentioned above, so I’m going to focus on what I like. I do not much care for the bitterness added to the flavor by placing non-clarified butter in the pan and/or using a blowtorch. I do, however, like a dark brown crust on my steaks and crispy skin on my duck / salmon. Searing immediately after removal from the bag did not achieve optimal results, no matter how much paper towel I applied. There is too much moisture bleeding and too little time to achieve the crust I sought without adversely affecting the perfect doneness. So, here’s what I do.
9a. Meat is removed from the bag and triple wrapped in paper towel. Steak is placed in refrigerator for 10 minutes, rewrapped in new paper towel and put back in the refrigerator for 5 minutes longer. Duck is also wrapped but left in the refrigerator longer, until it has completely cooled, which enables a longer sear.
9b. After removing the meat from the refrigerator and unwrapping it, I preheat my aluminum pan to medium high heat. I prefer aluminum because it preheats more evenly and reacts more quickly to heat changes than cast iron does (e.g. when my stovetop is too hot and I need to turn down the heat pronto). I use ghee in my pan because I like the rich flavor that it adds but any oil with a high smoke point will work too. Since ghee has moisture and milk fats removed, it doesn’t burn as butter does.
9c. The pan is ready when ghee just starts to smoke (at about 450 degrees). Oils with higher smoke points will be shimmering but not smoking. Immediately add the meat (i.e. don’t permit the fat to smoke more than seconds). For duck: place it skin side down for about 7 minutes, jiggling and pressing it with a spatula every once in a while. Start peeking for doneness after about 3 minutes and every 30 seconds thereafter, permitting the skin to get as brown as you like (up to 10 minutes). Finally, flip the piece and cook it for 30 seconds more. For other meats: sear on one side for a minute, flip, and cook for a minute more. If the upside is not crusty enough, flip again and continue to flip every 30 seconds until both sides are satisfyingly crusty. It’s a myth that you ruin the crust by flipping. For all meats, you may want to pour the cooking juices over the meat (not the skin) to add flavor and warmth.