The benefits of sous vide cooking are well known. It allows you to eat much healthier food than with other cooking methods. This method of cooking is the only one that allows you to preserve the nutritional value of the food while preserving the flavours.
And the best way to cook under vacuum is still to have a vacuum cooker, which is also sometimes called an immersion heater. The main function of a low temperature sous vide cooker is to cook your dishes and food in a bain marie to perfection as the greatest chefs do. In addition, these appliances allow you to keep all your dishes warm. Many families also use it as a bottle warmer, perfect for baby’s safety.
As a home chef, I had the chance to test a lot of these vacuum cookers. And therefore to make an opinion on the various models on the market.
What are the best vacuum cookers in 2022?
Here is a selection of the best sous vide cookers you will find on the market today:
If you’re looking for a powerful sous vide cooker that doesn’t cost a fortune, you’ll love this model from KitchenBoss. This immersion cooker has a power of 1100 watts, which is more than enough for a container of 6 to 15 liters without you having to worry! With this model, you can set the temperature from 40 to 90°C, with an accuracy of + or – 0.1°C. There’s also a timer and, most importantly, an IPX7 waterproof rating. This means that the device has a longer life than a conventional immersion heater, as it should not be affected by steam emissions.
I’ve had this model for almost a year and a half and I’m very happy with it so far.
This Inkbird immersion heater is also an excellent choice, especially for its good value for money! It has a total power of 1000 watts which should be sufficient for most users. The temperature range is quite wide as the device can be set from 25°C to 99°C. The precision of the device is + or – 0,1°C but a little less reliable than on the KitchenBoss for my taste.
Here too, the immersion heater is equipped with a timer and a safety cut-out in case of lack of water.
Beyond that it is an immersion heater connected via WiFi which allows you to control it remotely.
How to choose the best vacuum cooker?
Because before you make your next purchase, it is important to find out about the following criteria:
- The type of device
There are two types of models on the market for cooking vacuum foods.
Immersion heaters: These are devices that are placed on the edge of a pan of water and allow you to cook your food under vacuum at the desired temperature. Immersion heaters are very mobile and can be placed on many types of containers. They are fairly inexpensive and easy to use.
Autonomous vacuum cookers: These models are dedicated to cooking food under vacuum and work autonomously thanks to a heating element. You fill the tank with water, you place your food under vacuum and then you launch the programming. Here what is sought is the simplicity of use because you do not need to fix an element on an adequate pan.
- The power
As with many household appliances, the power is a decisive factor. This is specified in watts. In general, I recommend buying an immersion heater with a power between 800 and 2000 watts and a self-contained cooker with a power between 500 and 1000 watts.
If you are a private person and use small capacities (less than 10 litres), you do not necessarily need a high power. Nevertheless, buying a powerful appliance will significantly improve the stability of your water bath heated to a “high” temperature (90-95°C for vegetables for example), even in a medium-sized container. Disadvantage: a powerful immersion heater, in a small container, will tend to exceed the target temperature for a few minutes. If the temperature controller is good, this overshoot should disappear quickly. For a domestic immersion heater, 1000 to 1500 watts is ideal.
If you are a professional or if you use large containers (from 25L), having power will be very useful to quickly reach the target temperature and stabilize a water bath heated above 70°C. And for the largest containers available on the market (58L), it will be essential to choose a very powerful immersion heater, close to 2000 watts.If you are a private person and use small capacities (less than 10 litres), you do not necessarily need a high power. Nevertheless, buying a powerful appliance will significantly improve the stability of your water bath heated to a “high” temperature (90-95°C for vegetables for example), even in a medium-sized container. Disadvantage: a powerful immersion heater, in a small container, will tend to exceed the target temperature for a few minutes. If the temperature controller is good, this overshoot should disappear quickly. For a domestic immersion heater, 1000 to 1500 watts is ideal.
- The temperature range
It is also important to buy a vacuum cooker with a sufficient temperature range. Indeed, each food needs to be cooked at a different temperature. Therefore, choose models with a temperature range of 40°C to 90°C. This way, you can be sure that your food will always be cooked to the right temperature.
- Temperature accuracy and stability
Temperature accuracy is a key factor in low temperature vacuum cooking. An inaccuracy of 1°C can have a significant impact on some expected results. Therefore, make sure that your future vacuum cooker has an accuracy of ± 0.05°C (or better if possible). This temperature must remain stable and homogeneous during the whole cooking process. The best way is to test and control with a thermometer. This is what I did for all the models presented at the end of this article.
- Waterproofing
If you have decided to buy an immersion heater, you should choose a perfectly waterproof model. And preferably one that meets the IPX7 waterproofing standard. This means that your appliance will not be affected by the penetration of steam inside the cooker.
- The materials
I advise you to take a device made of stainless steel, especially on the part that is immersed in water. Stainless steel is robust, durable, easy to clean and will not be affected by being immersed in water for several hours.
- Functionality and ergonomics
Your future vacuum cooker must be simple and intuitive to use. This type of appliance is designed to make your life easier and save you time. So make sure it is equipped with a timer and an LCD screen. That way, you’ll know at a glance how far along you are in the cooking process.
The most modern devices are even equipped with functionalities connected with WIFI or Bluetooth.
- La sécurité
As with many appliances, safety is an important consideration. Make sure that the appliance is equipped with a safety device that cuts off the operation of the appliance in case of lack of water. On some models, the cooker will stop working if the minimum water level is reached.
- The price
A vacuum immersion heater costs between $70 and $200, excluding promotions. Stand-alone vacuum cookers cost between $80 and $150. In general, buying an appliance on the Internet is much cheaper than in a shop. This is particularly the case on websites such as Amazon where prices are often unbeatable.
