Joule Cooker
Of course you need one of these! The ChefSteps is the only one I’ve ever owned, so I can’t comment on others. So far, so good though.
Performance
- 1100 watts heating power
- Temperature accuracy 0.2 °F / 0.1 °C
- Maximum water temperature 208 °F (98 °C)
- Maximum bath volume 10+ gallons
Upright Bag Holder
No fighting to keep the bag open while attempting to fill it with food! Absolutely worth it. Especially if you are buying in bulk from somewhere like Costco.
They fold up to be compact too.
Plastic Sous Vide Container
I personally used a metal pot for a while, but finally broke down and bought one of these to make my setup more efficient. Metal simply transfers heat, so the sous vide machine has to do more heating as a result.
Vacuum Sealer
Sous vide was my primary driver for getting one initially. However, it helped in general with the ability to buy in bulk from Costco for any cooking methods. Sous vide, smoking, pressure cooking, etc. Who doesn’t want quality meat at great prices?
I bought one that rotates up for storage (FoodSaver model V2866). Unfortunately, I don’t believe it is made anymore.
Two Necessary Apps For Your Phone
Download and install:
Both apps work without the device, so you can read through their recipes and techniques. I own a Joule, but have used both for various recipes.
Ping Pong Balls?
Went to the Dollar Tree near my house and bought 8 packages of 6 balls, so I spent $8 plus tax ( $8.80 ) for 48. These trap the water from evaporating on long cooks. Using these has been extremely effective.
