10 Best Sous Vide Machines for Cooking Enthusiasts – From Immersion Circulators to Water Baths

This immersion sous vide machine from ChefSteps was designed to be the single best home machine on the market – and most users would agree it’s achieved that. The Joule is capable of heating more than 10 gallons of water, making it the obvious choice if you are cooking for a large family, a party, or even for two for a week of dinners. Furthermore, this immersion machine boasts one of the highest maximum temperatures of any sous vide machine we reviewed – up to 208°F. That gives you plenty of flexibility to cook meals faster when you’re in a hurry or to cook meats to well done.

What really sets this immersion sous vide cooking machine apart from the pack is the inclusion of Bluetooth and WiFi connection options. You can remotely connect this sous vide machine to your Apple or Android phone via the ChefSteps app. From there, you can set the temperature, set a timer, and even get a visual preview of how different temperatures will affect how your food cooks. The use of the phone app to control the machine also means that you can control your cooking from anywhere in the world as long as you have WiFi.

Keep in mind that while this machine is small, it doesn’t have an LCD display like most other immersion sous vide cookers. Still, you can control the machine from within the kitchen using the built-in voice commands for Amazon Alexa. But if you don’t have Alexa, it can be annoying when you’re working in the kitchen and have to use your phone to control the machine right next to you. A magnetic base is a handy feature when it comes time to put the machine away, since you can stick it to the counter or fridge.

Why are we impressed?

• Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity allows you to cook from anywhere
• Temperature up to 208°F
• Cooks more than 10 gallons of water
• Works with Amazon Alexa
• Magnetic base

What negatives must you be aware of?

• No LCD screen for in-person control

This sub-$100 immersion sous vide cooking machine from Monoprice is arguably the best sous vide machine for the money for anyone who doesn’t need bells and whistles. You won’t find Bluetooth connectivity on this sous vide machine, but most chefs won’t miss it. Instead, what you get for the value is 1,100 watts of power and the ability to cook up to four gallons of water at temperatures greater than 200°F. The high power rating and comparatively moderate volume allows this machine to heat up water incredibly quickly, which means your water is usually ready by the time you’ve finished bagging your food. The temperature accuracy is rated to +/-1%, which is roughly equivalent to the +/-0.2°F accuracy found in most comparable sous vide machines.

This machine offers an LED screen on the top of the unit with touch controls. In addition to controlling the temperature, you have the option to set a timer for controlling cook time. Otherwise, the controls are simple, and there’s no need to fumble around with your phone to use your sous vide machine.

Monoprice designed this sous vide machine to be incredibly durable. The body is rated IPX7 for waterproofing – one of the highest levels that can be designed – and the circulating motor is intended to last for years of cooking. On top of that, users loved how easy it is to adjust the clamp to whatever pot you’re using. They also noted that Monoprice offered excellent customer service for defective units within the one-year warranty period.

Overall, users who wanted a value and don’t see the appeal of Bluetooth controls loved this simple and inexpensive sous vide machine.

What stands out?

• Relatively inexpensive
• 1,100-watt power rating allows it to heat up quickly
• LED with touch controls
• IPX7 waterproof rating and excellent durability

What cons did we manage to find?

• No Bluetooth (but most users didn’t miss this)

This water bath sous vide machine from Sous Vide Supreme is small but powerful, offering temperatures that range up to an impressive 210°F. The water bath is slightly slow to warm up since it sports just 850 watts, but this along with the energy-efficient design and insulated lid combine to decreases the power draw. That’s a significant advantage if you plan on using the sous vide machine consistently for long one- to two-day cooks since it won’t drive up your electricity bill quite as much as most immersion sous vide machines.

This sous vide machine is simple to operate, with manual controls for the temperature and built-in timer. Users were overall happy with the design of the water bath, with the only complaint being that some condensation can leak out of the seal between the water tub and the body of the machine. However, this leaking was minimal and did not seem to bother most people.

More important, users love the durability of this sous vide machine. Multiple customers report using it frequently for more than five years without any issues. Plus, the machine comes with overheating protection in case you accidentally turn it on without water in the tub. Users also noted that Sous Vide Supreme’s customer service is excellent and that they are willing to help with any minor problems that arise with your unit.

The size of this unit is the main sticking point for many potential buyers – it takes up a lot of counter space and holds only three gallons of water. However, users noted that while counter space was initially a fear, most have come to use the machine more than other appliances of the same size and don’t mind the space it takes up.

What makes it stand out?

• Cooks up to 210°F
• Durable with overheating protection
• Lower wattage reduces electricity bill
• Simple button operation

Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?

• Small leak in inner seal
• Takes up a lot of counter space

Users love this simple immersion sous vide machine from Wancle, which foregoes unnecessary features to focus on the things that matter to chefs. Most notable immediately is the odd shape of this immersion machine – that’s because it’s designed to work entirely by one hand operation so you can better multitask in the kitchen. The clamp opens by squeezing the trigger-shaped top handle, and you can start the heater with the push of a button. While users noted that the clamp doesn’t open very far, limiting you to thin-walled pots and bowls, this was a minor inconvenience for most chefs.

The heating element on this immersion sous vide machine offers only 850 watts, which means that it heats up rather slowly compared to more powerful competitors. However, it can still handle up to five gallons of water at a time and heats up to an impressive 211°F for when you want to cook meats to well done on the inside.

The LCD controls are as simple to use as the rest of the machine. Simply set your temperature and the built-in time and walk away. Everything can be operated with one finger, and there’s no need to turn to a phone app to control the device that’s right in front of you.

The other thing that users loved about this immersion machine is the circulating system. Wancle’s unique 3D circulation system is highly durable and virtually silent, making this one of the quietest immersion sous vide machines available. Plus, users found that the circulation system is easy to detach from the rest of the unit and clean, so there’s none of the maintenance fuss that comes with similar units.

What are our favorite features?

• Single-handed operation for clamp and LCD screen
• Up to five gallons of volume
• 211°F maximum temperature
• Ultra-quiet 3D circulation system

What could be better?

• Limited to thin-walled pots and bowls
• Slow to heat up

This modern and simple immersion sous vide machine from KitchenBoss was designed for chefs at the head of small families. The machine is capable of heating up to four gallons of water extremely quickly thanks to the 1,100-watt heating element. That speed is an essential feature for working parents who need to throw together dinner quickly.

Furthermore, the built-in 100-hour timer allows cooks to walk away after the immersion machine is started and come back when dinner is ready. A nice feature unique to this immersion sous vide machine is the light bar on the side of the unit, which serves as a visual indicator of the time left remaining in your cooking. That can be handy if you’re multitasking in the kitchen and can’t easily check on the LED timer on top of the unit.

Users also appreciated the durability of this immersion sous vide machine. It is rated to IPX7 for waterproofing and the 3D circulation unit is extremely long-lasting and easy to clean out. The exterior of the machine is a sleek-looking stainless steel that doesn’t scratch or dent easily. Plus, KitchenBoss backs up this sous vide machine with a long two-year warranty.

The four-gallon cook size is plenty for a small family or for cooking a week’s worth of meals at once. However, keep in mind that this immersion sous vide cooking machine is limited to a maximum temperature of 194°F, so you won’t be able to cook your meets fully to well done. Still, since most chefs using sous vide are more interested in preventing meats from overcooking rather than turning them gray, this wasn’t a problem for the majority of users.

What makes it special?

• 1,100-watt heating element heats water quickly
• Built-in light bar to indicate cook time
• Durable IPX7 waterproofing
• 3D circulation mechanism
• Four-gallon cook size

What cons did we find?

• Limited to 194°F
• Somewhat expensive compared to competitors

For chefs new to sous vide or who don’t have a ton of money to spend on kitchen appliances, this immersion cooker from Kitchen Gizmo is the best budget sous vide machine we’ve found. Priced at just $65, it’s hard to find a less expensive sous vide machine that can get the job done as well as this unit can.

The immersion sous vide machine is equipped with a small 800-watt heating element – slow heating is the main price you’ll pay for the relatively low cost of this sous vide cooker. Once you get it running, though, the machine can heat up to four gallons of water to up to 194°F. That’s plenty of volume and heat for cooking meat to medium well for a family of four or more.

The LED touchscreen display on the top of the unit is simple to use, with two side buttons for added control. You’ll find a scrolling wheel that allows you to quickly and precisely set the cooking time and temperature. Plus, a built-in safety alarm alerts you when something has gone wrong with the unit – this is one of only a handful of sous vide cooking machines that is ETL certified for safety.

Users especially liked the clamping mechanism on this immersion cooker. It can be operated with a single hand and pressing down on the lever opens the clamp widely enough that it can work with almost any pot or bowl.

When it comes time to clean the immersion cooker, a removable interior sleeve can be easily popped out of the unit and washed in the sink. That reduces overall wear on the machine, allowing it to last for years of use.

What are our favorite features?

• Budget-friendly sous vide machine
• ETL certified
• Simple clamping mechanism
• Removable interior sleeve for cleaning

What could be better?

• Slow to heat up

The Anova immersion sous vide machine is a favorite among users, although the company has recently run into hot water because of some changes to the cooker’s app control. The cooker is relatively low power at just 800 watts, but don’t let that fool you – it can still heat up as much as five gallons of water up to 197°F. Better yet, it has a +/- 0.2°F accuracy, so you can be sure your meat is being perfectly cooked at the higher end of the range.

The LCD screen allows you to control the temperature settings and built-in 99-hour timer directly from the cooker. Alternatively, you can pair the machine with your Android or Apple phone via Bluetooth and control the temperature via the app. In addition, the app will offer notifications about your cooking so you can always stay abreast of your food no matter where you go in the house. Of course, since it’s Bluetooth only, this is not a major help if you need to go more than 30 feet from the kitchen.

Users were recently widely upset by the fact that Anova changed their software to require a login – to Anova’s app or to Facebook – to control the sous vide machine. It’s unclear whether Anova will remove this requirement in response to customer pressure.

The sous vide cooker comes with a two-year warranty, which is relatively generous given the modest price. In addition, this sous vide machine has one of the easiest cleaning mechanisms we’ve seen – it’s dishwasher safe and the parts that need frequent cleaning simply detach from the rest of the immersion machine.

What makes it stand out?

• Cooks up to five gallons
• Manual controls or Bluetooth connection to app
• Easy cleaning in dishwasher
• Two-year warranty

Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?

• Relatively low power
• Anova app now requires login to use

Users loved this extremely small and compact sous vide water bath from Dash when cooking for one or two people. The machine comes with a front LED display that is controlled by sensor-touch buttons for easy use. The built-in timer helps you control exactly how long your food is cooking for, and you can heat water up to 194°F within +/- 0.2°F accuracy. Water can be slow to heat up since the water bath is equipped with only a 700-watt heating element, but users liked that this saves a lot on electricity usage. In addition, the magnetic circulating motor is quieter than a standard circulating motor and uses very little power – although users did note that it prevents the machine from being completely silent.

The water bath is designed to hold just two gallons of water, and users noted that it comes with a series of built-in racks that further limit the size of food portions that you can fit into the bath. While this isn’t a problem for small cooking, it’s worth noting that this machine is not flexible enough to cook a week’s worth of food at once or to expand to cook for a party. Users also noted that purchasing a third-party rack for the inside of the machine can help to increase the available space, although it is still a relatively small volume.

Given that this water bath sous vide machine costs less than most immersion machines, users were pleasantly surprised at its durability. The water bath comes with a sturdy insulating cover, and the magnetic circulation holds up well over long-term use. Users also noted that the machine does not develop any leaks over time, and the simple cleaning reduces unnecessary wear and tear.

What do we love it for?

• Relatively inexpensive
• Durable design with sturdy cover
• Simple LED and sensor-touch controls
• Good for two people

What were we disappointed with?

• Small two-gallon volume made smaller by built-in racks
• Low-wattage heating element takes a while to heat water up

This all-in-one water bath sous vide machine from Tribest comes with a unique transparent carafe so you can actually watch your food cook and ensure that it is circulating properly in the water. The machine is simple to use, with a digital LED display that shows the temperature and remaining cook time. The controls are limited to just four buttons, so it’s easy to operate this machine with a single hand when in the middle of cooking. Plus, there’s a built-in safety indicator display so that you always know if the machine is overheating or something else has gone wrong.

On the technical side, this water bath sous vide cooker holds its own. It sports a 1,000-watt heating element that allows it to heat up three gallons of water very quickly. While it’s limited to a maximum temperature of 194°F, this isn’t an issue for the vast majority of chefs. The circulation system ensures a constant temperature throughout the water bath and yet is virtually silent while your food is cooking.

The bowl is three gallons in size, which is smaller than what most immersion sous vide machines can handle but large enough for cooking for a small family or for preparing a week’s worth of food. Users appreciated having handles on both sides of the carafe for emptying out water after cooking. Plus, they felt that the machine is very durable overall.

It’s worth noting that while Tribest provides a two-year warranty on this sous vide machine, customers who had defective units reported some issues resolving the warranty with Tribest’s customer service. Thankfully, issues with this sous vide cooker appear to be relatively rare, but the machine does get dinged for lack of customer service compared to its competitors.

What makes it special?

• Simple one-handed controls
• Heats up very quickly
• Ultra-quiet circulation system
• Two-year warranty

What cons did we find?

• Limited to 194°F
• Poor customer service

The Gourmia immersion sous vide machine looks sleek and simple, but it’s smooth exterior hides a number of helpful features. Most notable immediately upon first use is the unique clamp design, which works much like a chip clip. This allows the sous vide machine to be setup with just one hand and clamped to virtually any thickness of pots.

Once you start the sous vide machine, you’ll notice its impressive 1,200-watt heating element – the most powerful of any sous vide machine we reviewed. While it does take some time to heat up a full five gallons of water with this immersion cooker, this unit is notably faster at heating than its less powerful competitors. That said, it also takes a lot of electricity, which frequent users noticed on their electricity bills.

The sous vide machine is able to heat to temperatures of 203°F and is extremely accurate – within one-tenth of one degree. Strangely, while the machine has a built-in timer, it only extends to 59 hours. That’s far shorter than the 72 or 99 hours found on most other sous vide cooking machines and can actually create problems if you like to cook meat for a full three days at a time.

Users also had a problem with the controls on this sous vide machine. While the one-touch buttons and temperature control dial were meant to be elegant and intuitive, they instead caused headaches. Users had trouble powering the unit up or down, and it was hard to tell whether button presses were registered by the machine. While no issues were reported, some users were concerned about safety because of these buttons.

What are its best features?

• Excellent clamp design
• 1,200-watt heating element heats up quickly
• Temperatures up to 203°F

What could be improved?

• Timer only works up to 59 hours
• Issues with buttons registering presses on controller