By Marilyn Kitzes

THE BUDGET BUY
Fans of Instant Pot’s pressure cooker (there are millions) might be interested in adding the company’s circulator to their kitchen toolbox. Compared to the competition, the Instant Pot Accu Slim Sous Vide Immersion Circulator ditches the fancy frills in exchange for a lower price tag. Featuring a simple display face, this solid performer comes in at just 1.6 pounds and 12.9 inches, and heats water competitively at 800 watts. But there are no Bluetooth, WiFi, or app controls, and the fixed clamp isn’t adjustable.

THE PETITE POWERHOUSE
Small and powerful, the Joule by ChefSteps is for folks who enjoy cooking with an app and smartphone. With no onboard display, the Joule requires a phone or tablet to set water temperatures and times. The app also offers guides and videos, plus a voice assistant, and Bluetooth and WiFi control for remote cooking. At only 1.28 pounds and 11 inches, the sleekly designed Joule boasts a clever magnetic base that clings to the bottom of your pot, plus 1,100 watts of power for fast water heating.

THE TOUGH COOKIE
Joining the Precision Cooker and the Precision Cooker Nano, the newest member of Anova’s family of immersion circulators is designed for professionals. Constructed with Teflon coated aluminum and stainless steel, the Anova Precision Cooker Pro can operate for at least 10,000 hours (over a year!) without being turned off. The Pro can also heat covered water baths up to 100 liters within +/- 0.09°F (0.05°C) of accuracy. And with 1,200 watts, the Pro features higher wattage than the company’s other models.

This article originally appeared in Sous-Vide magazine’s Fall/Winter 2019 issue. Read the complete print archive here.