Sous vide cooking is becoming more and more popular, and for good reason! This style of cooking offers a number of advantages over other methods. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the key benefits of sous vide cooking. If you are looking for a way to improve your culinary skills, then sous vide may be the right choice for you!
Sous Vide Basics
Sous vide cooking is a style of cooking that involves sealing food in a bag and then cooking it in a water bath at a precise temperature. This is done with a few different items.
You need an immersion circulator, a container that can withstand heated water, and bags that are airtight to get started. Put your desired food in the bag, seal it, and set your temperature.
All Of The Advantages
These are some of the main benefits of using sous vide to cook. While you may discover it has even more benefits when you start, these are the main advantages of cooking with sous vide.
Retain Natural Flavor, Aroma & Nutrients
Traditional methods of cooking such as in a pan or grill, can overcook the food and allows it to lose some of its natural flavors and smells. It can also affect the nutritional value of the food.
By using sous vide, all the of the food is cooked cleanly in the bag and contained meaning. It keeps the flavor, aroma, and nutrients that would be lost in other cooking methods.
Exact Control Over Temperature
One of the biggest reasons to use sous vide is the precise temperature control. Whatever you are cooking, you set an exact temperature and get those results every time. If you have everything set up correctly it will allow you to produce consistent and repeatable results.
Other methods of cooking do not allow for the same repeatable results that a sous vide setup will give you.
If you’re looking to level up your sous vide cooking, it is very well paired with a grill. You use the sous vide to get the perfect internal temperature and finish it off with a grill. Be sure to check out a guide to sous vide and grilling, and why they pair so well.
Better Results From Tough Cuts of Meat
Tougher cuts of meat are generally cheaper because they are harder to get good results from. Using tough or unconventional cuts of meat means you will cook them perfectly, and retain most of the moisture that makes tougher cuts not as tasty.
You can gently cook them for long periods of time and get a tasty result that your grill or oven couldn't give you.
Minimal Loss of Humidity
As we mentioned earlier in the list, it retains the moisture and water content of the food. No one likes dry steak, seafood, or chicken - and most cooking methods result in a large loss of moisture content.
Sous vide keeps all of the juices and moisture of what you’re cooking, in with the food. Because the bag is sealed and being cooked in hot water not much is lost.
Cook Any Type of Food
Sous vide can be used to cook just about any type of food in your kitchen.
- Beef, Pork, and Poultry
- Seafood
- Eggs
- Fruits
- Vegetables
Whatever you are looking to cook, chances are sous vide can handle it and make it great. Get creative and try recipes you would normally not make.
Simple to Use
While sous vide may seem complicated, it’s quite easy once you get the hang of it. You only need an immersion circulator, any old pot to cook the food in, and bags that are meant to withstand the heat. (Multiple different brands make bags for these, Ziploc Freezer Bags can be used for lower temperatures)
You fill your pot with water, attach the immersion circulator to the pot, and seal your food. We will be adding a complete sous vide guide in the future, so stay tuned.
Reduced Cleaning Times
No cleaning a grill, no cleaning pans or oven sheets - sous vide machines are incredibly convenient. Depending on what bags you buy, you can just rinse those and reuse them.
Because your food is completely sealed in a bag, the container you use won't need any cleaning either.
Lower Power Consumption
While this isn’t a priority for everyone, if you are interested in reducing gas and electric costs in your home then sous vide is for you. It is much more energy-efficient than traditional ovens. So if you’re looking to cut down on energy waste, then look into sous vide.
Is sous vide cooking worth it?
If you value any of the things listed above, then sous vide is for you. It’s a way to level up your cooking skills and create even better dishes for yourself and others. It opens up a new world of possibilities both in a creative sense and taste.
If this article convinced you to start cooking with sous vide, be sure to read our complete time and temperature guide for sous vide.