Sous vide cooking is a modern cooking technique that produces amazing flavors and consistent results for a variety of ingredients and dishes. In French, sous vide translates to “under vacuum,” which refers to the technique of vacuum-sealing food in a bag for preparation and preservation. After food or beverages are sealed in an air-tight bag, they are submerged in a temperature-regulated water bath for cooking or chilling purposes.
In this article, we will break down everything you need to know about sous vide cooking, its benefits, and how to get started with this delectable cooking technique.
What is Sous Vide Cooking?
Known for delivering restaurant-quality results, sous vide cooking has been in professional kitchens for decades. Over the years the tools and methods have popularized, allowing people to use sous vide cooking to prepare their own home-cooked meals. The process is fairly simple and foolproof.
The first step of sous vide cooking is to attach a sous vide precision cooker or immersion circulator to a pot or heat-proof container filled with water. The precision cooker or immersion circulator includes a heating element. Depending on the ingredients and desired doneness, you can set the exact cooking time and temperature. The ingredients are then placed into an air-tight, heat-safe bag and submerged in the temperature-controlled water bath. The water bath will slowly cook the food with minimal supervision needed. Once the timer goes off, your food is ready to enjoy or in some cases, it can be sautéed, seared, grilled, or broiled.
The Benefits of Sous Vide Cooking
There are plenty of benefits to sous vide cooking that can’t be achieved with traditional cooking methods. For this reason, restaurants have utilized this cooking method to guarantee consistency and time-efficient results, especially when serving large crowds. Here is an overview of the many benefits of sous vide cooking.
Consistent Results
Using sous vide removes the guessing game from traditional cooking, especially when preparing meats and seafood dishes. When sous viding proteins, the water bath is set to the exact internal doneness that you prefer. For example, in order to prepare a medium rare Ribeye, the water bath is set to 130° Fahrenheit which is the exact internal temperature of a medium rare steak. The Ribeye slowly cooks until it reaches the target temperature throughout the entire steak. Once the Ribeye is removed from the water bath it can be quickly seared over high heat and immediately enjoyed. The end result is a delicious steak that is edge-to-edge medium rare.
Get the sous vide steak temperature and time guide
It is sous vides precision temperature control that makes it ideal for preparing vegetables like carrots and potatoes that deliver a uniform and delicious texture throughout the entire vegetable. Did we mention that it is also the perfect tool for preparing tough cuts of meat like pork belly, brisket, and beef short ribs? Imagine cooking beef short ribs that are fork tender but have the appearance and moisture of a medium rare steak. With sous vide cooking you can accomplish exactly this.
Exceptional Flavor
Chefs and home cooks can add spices, sauces, and marinades right into the air-tight bag with their ingredients. All of these delicious flavors will be locked within the bag and infuse seamlessly into your food. The sous vide cooking process creates exceptional flavors and textures, unlike any other cooking style.
Minimal Supervision
Sous vide cooking is similar to the conventional “slow cooker” since it requires minimal supervision and manpower. Once the bag is submerged in the water bath at the right temperature and time, cooks can safely leave it unattended. This is a big-time saver at busy restaurants, or for working professionals that want ready-to-eat meals when they get home.
Batch Cooking and Meal Prep
It’s easy to cook in bulk with sous vide cooking, especially since you can prep all of your ingredients ahead of time in air-tight bags. Once you prepare your individual portions, just place them in a water bath with your precision cooker attached. This is a great meal prep method for busy adults that want delicious meals without spending hours in the kitchen.
Healthier Cooking
If you want to cook healthier dishes, sous vide cooking is a great method that minimizes excess oil and salt without compromising flavor. Although you can still lightly sear meats to give a golden-brown exterior, you won’t have to worry about pan frying or oiling up your dishes to manage dryness. Additionally, the use of lower temperatures will help preserve the nutrients in your food.
Everything You Can Prepare With Sous Vide Cooking
There is nearly nothing you can’t make with sous vide cooking, however, there are some popular entrees and dishes that suit sous vide cooking methods perfectly. Here is a comprehensive list of everything you can prepare and do with sous vide cooking.
- Perfect proteins
- Eggs
- Hearty Vegetables
- Cheesecake and other Decadent Desserts
- Cold Brew Coffee
- Infused Liquors and Spirits
- “One Pot Meals”
What Tools Do You Need for Sous Vide Cooking?
While sous vide cooking provides amazing culinary benefits, it’s a simple process that requires only a few extra tools. Getting an all-in-one sous vide station will streamline your cooking process and make it easy to prepare dishes of all kinds. As sous vide has popularized over the years, it’s easier than ever to acquire the appliances necessary to get started.
Sous Vide Cooker or Immersion Circulator
Sous vide cookers, sometimes called immersion circulators, are the main tool you’ll need to get started. There is a wide variety of cookers available today specifically marketed for sous vide that vary in both price and quality.
Large Temperature-Resistant Container For Water and Food
The size of your pot will depend on your unique cooking needs. It’s advantageous to have a variety of options or invest in a larger pot that will fit foods of various sizes. This pot will serve as your water bath and be used to slow cook your ingredients. Keep in mind with sous vide cooking, you only need enough water to cover your bagged food ingredients.
Vacuum Sealer and Bags
Vacuum sealers make it easy to suck all of the air out of your bag in a matter of seconds. However, some people opt for small handheld pumps. There are a lot of sous vide-approved bags available today that are custom created for safety and security during high-temperature water cooking. Some people use silicone reusable bags to save money and minimize plastic waste.
If you are serious about streamlining your everyday meals with sous vide cooking, we recommend you check out the Typhur Sous Vide Station to get started cooking like a professional.
Revolutionize Your Sous-Vide Cooking With Typhur
Here at Typhur, we bring you restaurant-grade appliances that make sous-vide cooking easier than ever. The Typhur Sous Vide station has all of your essentials in one place, making it easy to cook like a professional in the comfort of your home.
Every station comes with a handheld vacuum sealer, vacuum bags, a double-layered water tank, 1750 watts of power, and a built-in 12.3-inch touch panel with free recipes that update on a regular basis. We make it simple to experiment with new cooking techniques and ace chef-created recipes with precision every time.
If you are interested in learning more about Typhur kitchen appliances and the Sous Vide station, check out more information right here today!
