Sous Vide Beginner, Best equipment to buy

[JoeB]

Sous Vide Beginner, Best equipment to buy under $500 ??

[johnsbrewhouse]

JoeB /www.waltonsinc.com/weston-sous-vide-immersion, that is what I have and it’s under $100. It works great.

[JoeB]

johnsbrewhouse Thanks, I’ve read up on the methodology, just would like some testimony on proof of performance, and user interface. Also equipment bang for the buck. Figured $500 would be a good starting point

[Tex_77]

JoeB I have an Anova, and like it. It has Bluetooth and Wifi capabilities which adds some additional functionality to it.

[JoeB]

Tex_77 Thanks, Is the Bluetooth really a useful function? My 40 Masterbilt BT is only good for about 30ft. Will the wifi interface with an ip router? Is it durable enough to poach 20lbs of sausage in 10ea. 2lbs packs without maxing out? Lots of questions only a user could answer. Thanks for your help.

[JoeB]

Sometimes you get what you pay for. Other times you pay for what you don’t get …

[Tex_77]

JoeB The Pro model of Anova will handle up to 26 gallons. The next step down can handle 5 gals of water, so I think you would have plenty of capacity. You are correct on Bluetooth, its pretty worthless, but Wifi is handy. I’m not sure what you mean by IP router, but it will connect to a wireless router.

[JoeB]

Tex_77 Thanks, IP router “same same” wireless router. A router creates IP addresses for “Intranet” use (local network) not the “Internet” web. That i could use.

I’ve been checking out the specs for the vacmaster-5. It has 7 languages that i don’t need, 1300wats, but it moves a lot of water. I’m thinking, a little heaver duty hardware will withstand more use. Price $399. Need to spec out the pro, Anova. Are you happy with yours? Thanks again for your help

[Tex_77]

JoeB I am happy with it, I’ve had no issues.

[JoeB]

Tex_77 It does have a better warranty 2y instead of 1, and amazon has it for $339 less than most places. They sell a 16ltr tube for $79 just for that device. In your estimation will a 12lb pork butt or 20lbs of sausage links fit in that size?. The one thing i don’t like is that high temp limit is 197* . Vacmaster is 210*. I’m thinking 201-204 pulled pork.

[Tex_77]

JoeB your better bet for a cheap container for large volume is a cheap coleman party stacker cooler. Either cut a hole in lid for the machine, or cut a corner out of the lid, google it and you should find lots of different setups. I think Anova may have a video somewhere on how to modify the cooler.

[JoeB]

Tex_77 Good info, It’s not easy being an old dog and learning new tricks. Being house-broke was nerve racking enough You, saying that you’re happy with the unit says a lot. I’ve seen the vid, just thinking about racks, but for big items don’t need them . My last concern is the max 197* and pulled pork butt 201-203*. It’s my understanding that their is no temp increase after you pull the meat. Some say yes some no. What has your experience been in this area. Is there a temp surge, 3-5* when pulled out of the water as with smoking? Thanks again for all the good info, and taking the time to help me with this.

[Tex_77]

JoeB I’d say no temp surge, as you hold at a certain temp, you aren’t applying a high temp to the exterior of the meat that is in the going to cause a rise in internal temp once pulled. You really don’t need the high temperatures you mention to sous vide pulled pork or brisket. The trick is a low temp 165, hold for 24 hours and it will come out fall apart tender.

[JoeB]

Tex_77 Got it… Well the Pro, small, and large party stacker are on the way fm “A”. Found the vid on modification. Now i have a few days to research fermenting sausage w/SV. Never thought you could do that. Also poaching hotdogs / white brats. One last question, If i vac seal hotdogs fresh and poach will I have to revac seal before freezing? Again thanks for you time, and info.

[Tex_77]

JoeB That I am not sure on, you would probably have moisture in the bag from the cooking process, so probably yes.

[JoeB]

I guess we’ll see how it works…

[TexLaw]

I agree that you’ll want to repackage any hot dogs or other sausage that you poach from raw before freezing. You will have moisture in the bag. Also, ideally, you want to let them bloom for an hour after cooking, and that can’t happen when vac sealed.

Honestly, I’ve poached sausage from raw in a sous vide bath, and it’s just not a problem. The water gets dirty, but it’s easy to clean a sous vide wand (much easier than an extra round of packaging).

[TexLaw]

Cleaning Sous Vide Wand

[TexLaw]

Also, don’t get wound up about a Bluetooth or wifi function on a sous vide wand. It’s not something you’ll use much. Since you don’t typically adjust the temperature and you don’t need to monitor the temperature, about the only thing that sort of function might do for you is let you know when the sous vide temperature gets up to your target. Other than that, you just want a timer.

(sorry for all the replies!)

[Tex_77]

TexLaw One use you may not have thought of is using the Wifi function in cordination with the ice bath method. Let me explain the ice bath method, if you have never used it. Lets say you want to sous vide a pork loin, or really any piece of meat, that needs say a cook of 4 hours. What you can do is put your meat in the container you are going to use, pack it in ice water, then remotely turn on the sous vide, when you are ready for it to start cooking. This is particularly handy during the work week if you don’t or can’t go home for lunch to turn it on and want to eat it for supper.