25 Sous Vide Recipes to Try ASAP (2024)

FAQs

What should I try first with sous vide? ›

Steak is held up as the best example of just what sous vide can do, so it's probably one of the things that you'll want to try first. It's heartbreaking when you leave an expensive piece of steak just a little bit too long and wind up making it tough and dry, but thankfully, sous vide takes away all the guesswork.

For example; in a 10 to 15-liter bath, you should be able to accommodate 15-20, 6-ounce portions. For at 20 to 30-liter bath, you can accommodate 30 to 40 6-ounce portions.

Stay Out of the Danger Zone

The biggest concern, especially with sous vide, is food shouldn't be out of the refrigerator at temperatures below 127°F (52.8°C) for more than 3 or 4 hours.

Produce that no longer looks completely fresh or already smells strange is, of course, no longer suitable for the sous vide procedure. This particularly applies to fish and meat that is cooked at relatively low temperatures.

He doesn't seem to be an especially outspoken proponent of sous vide cooking, possibly due to a long-ago scandal where patrons of his restaurants felt cheated when they found out that their meals had been prepared in advance and heated up via this "boil in a bag" technique, but he does have a pretty dramatic method for ...

Ziplock and Glad brand bags are made from polyethylene plastic, and are free of BPAs and dioxins. A good rule of thumb is that when a bag is rated as microwave safe (which requires FDA approval) you can use it for sous vide. Even Dr. Schaffner agrees.

While many will tell you that it's impossible to overcook with sous vide (and this isn't far from the truth), do bear in mind though that if you leave the food in the water bath for an extended period of time it won't 'overcook', but it could start to take on a mushy texture, so don't forget about it!

The type of steak, the size of the steak and the number of steaks in the bath at one time does not affect the temperatures applied or the duration employed. Always make sure there is room between items for the water to circulate.

For optimal outcomes, we recommend the following rules of thumb: Don't hold foods longer at cooking temperature for double of their minimum cooking time (see Typhur Sous Vide Station guide for time and temperature). Keep the total cooking duration (including the hold time) under 72 hours.

Risks. Sous vide products are exposed to the same risks as other foods during preparation, cooking, cooling and reheating. Risks that could lead to food poisoning include: food held in the temperature danger zone (5°C–60°C) for long periods could allow harmful bacteria to grow.

Should you sear before or after sous vide? ›

Even if you do a pre-sear, the crust itself will go away and can only be established by searing it after the sous vide process is over. Not all food needs a post-sear, such as some fish or chicken and beef that is going into a sauce and you don't want or need the extra flavor for.

Rare sous vide steak (120°F/49°C): Your meat is still nearly raw. Muscle proteins have not started to contract much and will have a slippery, wet texture. Chewier cuts, like hanger or flap meat, will be particularly tough at this stage. Fat has not yet started to render, so fattier cuts will have a waxy texture.

Fill your sous vide water bath with hot tap water.

The main risks associated with sous vide that could lead to food poisoning are: food is held in the temperature danger zone (5°C to 60°C) for long periods of time which could allow harmful bacteria to grow.

A major safety advantage of sous vide is that it was pasteurized in the package, so there is no chance of contamination of the product by vegetative pathogens in storage after cooling. Frozen, cooked foods must thaw under refrigeration (41°F or below) and reheated upon complete thaw, prior to consumption.

When to Sear After Sous Vide. If you want good flavor and crust on your food, you will always want to sear it when it is done cooking. Even if you do a pre-sear, the crust itself will go away and can only be established by searing it after the sous vide process is over.

Starting with warm water will help the sous vide circulator bring the water to the right temperature more quickly. Try a square vessel. Square is a much more space efficient shape than a circle. So with a square container, you'll have an easier time fitting both the circulator and the food.