Is a sous vide machine worth the $?

[JMJones]

I'm a home cook and I love my machine but it is really cheap to try: you can get into it for about $100 by buying a dorkfood thingy - if you have a cheap slow or rice cooker around - has to be an older analog not digital model, see there web site ...

Thanks for the info! Since reading about the technique on this site I have been interested but not willing to shell out the big bucks. This looks like it will be a fun unit to play with for my home cooking.

[Zwiefel]

This. Total cost: ~$130.

I'm a home cook and I love my machine but it is really cheap to try: you can get into it for about $100 by buying a dorkfood thingy - if you have a cheap slow or rice cooker around - has to be an older analog not digital model, see there web site ...

Also, as I've played with it (only a little so far) and tried to wrap my head around it I think what you get with Sous Vide is:

1) very consistent doneness throughout the thickness of the item.
2) very precise, repeatable process/product.
3) ability to time-shift the majority of the cooking, in a very effective way. (particularly for proteins)

[Crothcipt]

Have been wanting to try this, but not sure about how I was wanting to achieve it. How accurate is this?

http://www.dorkfood.com/

[Zwiefel]

Have been wanting to try this, but not sure about how I was wanting to achieve it. How accurate is this?

http://www.dorkfood.com/

In my limited experience, it depends on duration. It seems to take about 6 hours to truly stabilize...after that, it maintained within 1 degree F.

[Crothcipt]

I guess that would be the controlling of the crock pot/cooking. Which makes sense.

[AFKitchenknivesguy]

I think it is, but I have the means. There are cheaper options. It's fun and fascinating to try science food projects.

[sean.fritchle]

Yes, deft to with the poly science creative series. Does five gallons is 399. Perfect for home and light professional use