Jump to content
  • Welcome to the eG Forums, a service of the eGullet Society for Culinary Arts & Letters. The Society is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of the culinary arts. These advertising-free forums are provided free of charge through donations from Society members. Anyone may read the forums, but to post you must create a free account.

What Are You Cooking Sous Vide Today? (Part 1)


paulraphael

Recommended Posts

Preparation with ziploc bags is pretty easy, and in many cases preferable to vacuum sealing. And there's no reason they can't be used for cook/chill. I do it all the time. They're a bit pricey, but some people wash them in the dishwasher and reuse.

Notes from the underbelly

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Preparation with ziploc bags is pretty easy, and in many cases preferable to vacuum sealing. And there's no reason they can't be used for cook/chill. I do it all the time. They're a bit pricey, but some people wash them in the dishwasher and reuse.

 

I am not convinced.  It was only after I tried using Ziploc bags that I invested in a chamber vacuum sealer.  However I do use Ziploc bags (or the generic equivalent thereof) for pasteurizing eggs.

Cooking is cool.  And kitchen gear is even cooler.  -- Chad Ward

Whatever you crave, there's a dumpling for you. -- Hsiao-Ching Chou

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Erk.  No, I have not yet cooked anything sous vide since I first posted.  Still standing at the precipice.

Sounds like we need to come around and stage an intervention.

 

Unfortunately, I'm in Sydney, Australia; any volunteers? 

  • Like 2

Nick Reynolds, aka "nickrey"

"The Internet is full of false information." Plato
My eG Foodblog

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dave Arnold and Nils Sorensen on Ziplocs for sous-vide:

 

The advantages of the Ziploc are:

  • you don’t need to buy a vacuum
  • food can be bagged hot
  • food can be removed from the bag and re-bagged easily
  • the process is very gentle on foods and doesn’t change food textures the way vacuum bagging can
  • it’s just as effective for cooking as vacuum bagging for most items

The disadvantages of the Ziploc are:

  • not as convenient for bagging a lot of items as the vacuum machine
  • Ziplocs cost more than vacuum bags
  • doesn’t provide some vacuum benefits –fast marination, extended storage, oxygen removal.

Dave's summary, which mirrors my experience:

 

"While I love a commercial vacuum machine, about 90% of what a cook wants to accomplish with low temperature cooking can be achieved without a vacuum machine. When Nils was at restaurant Aquavit he did a lot of low-temperature work with a circulator, but didn’t have a vacuum machine. Back then restaurants weren’t required to have a HACCP plan; he didn’t have a commerical vacuum because they cost too much. Today many home cooks use the Food Saver vacuum for low temp. I don’t use my Food Saver any more. I use Ziploc bags, without a vacuum. I find Ziplocs easier than the Food Saver – I don’t have to hunt down the special bags, I can easily bag sauces (a pain with the Food Saver), I can bag hot foods (foods to be vacuumed need to be cold – more on that in the next primer installment). My Food Saver has been relegated to potato-chip-bag-resealed."

 

 

At cookingissues.com

  • Like 1

Notes from the underbelly

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dave Arnold and Nils Sorensen on Ziplocs for sous-vide:

 

The advantages of the Ziploc are:

  • you don’t need to buy a vacuum
  • food can be bagged hot
  • food can be removed from the bag and re-bagged easily
  • the process is very gentle on foods and doesn’t change food textures the way vacuum bagging can
  • it’s just as effective for cooking as vacuum bagging for most items

The disadvantages of the Ziploc are:

  • not as convenient for bagging a lot of items as the vacuum machine
  • Ziplocs cost more than vacuum bags
  • doesn’t provide some vacuum benefits –fast marination, extended storage, oxygen removal.

Dave's summary, which mirrors my experience:

 

"While I love a commercial vacuum machine, about 90% of what a cook wants to accomplish with low temperature cooking can be achieved without a vacuum machine. When Nils was at restaurant Aquavit he did a lot of low-temperature work with a circulator, but didn’t have a vacuum machine. Back then restaurants weren’t required to have a HACCP plan; he didn’t have a commerical vacuum because they cost too much. Today many home cooks use the Food Saver vacuum for low temp. I don’t use my Food Saver any more. I use Ziploc bags, without a vacuum. I find Ziplocs easier than the Food Saver – I don’t have to hunt down the special bags, I can easily bag sauces (a pain with the Food Saver), I can bag hot foods (foods to be vacuumed need to be cold – more on that in the next primer installment). My Food Saver has been relegated to potato-chip-bag-resealed."

 

 

At cookingissues.com

 

I concede bagging liquids and/or hot foods is an advantage.  Though when I want to bag a liquid I usually make sure it's solid first.

Cooking is cool.  And kitchen gear is even cooler.  -- Chad Ward

Whatever you crave, there's a dumpling for you. -- Hsiao-Ching Chou

Link to comment
Share on other sites

image.jpg

Six lamb chops at 56°C for two hours. I will then chill them down and store them. And when they come out of their bath, these will go in:

image.jpg

Are they not amazing? I could set up another Anova but I'm rather lazy today so will simply take out the lamb chops and put in the steaks in an hour or two. Then I'm thinking of pre-cooking some potatoes to be roasted for tomorrow. Like the lamb chops the steaks will be chilled down and stored.

The meat was a gift from someone who knows me much too well!

  • Like 2

Anna Nielsen aka "Anna N"

...I just let people know about something I made for supper that they might enjoy, too. That's all it is. (Nigel Slater)

"Cooking is about doing the best with what you have . . . and succeeding." John Thorne

Our 2012 (Kerry Beal and me) Blog

My 2004 eG Blog

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ill have the steak on the R please.

 

do you coat your meat w some 'fat' while SV'ing ?  oil or butter ?

 

it seems there might be some w the Lamb.

 

Yum.

Yes. There is a hunk of cold butter in with both the lamb and the beef.

  • Like 1

Anna Nielsen aka "Anna N"

...I just let people know about something I made for supper that they might enjoy, too. That's all it is. (Nigel Slater)

"Cooking is about doing the best with what you have . . . and succeeding." John Thorne

Our 2012 (Kerry Beal and me) Blog

My 2004 eG Blog

Link to comment
Share on other sites

thank you.

 

you've noticed a difference Im guessing.

 

I'll add that to my SV Routine once I have a few empty shelves in the SV Freezer.

 

in the basement.

I was persuaded by this.

Anna Nielsen aka "Anna N"

...I just let people know about something I made for supper that they might enjoy, too. That's all it is. (Nigel Slater)

"Cooking is about doing the best with what you have . . . and succeeding." John Thorne

Our 2012 (Kerry Beal and me) Blog

My 2004 eG Blog

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes. There is a hunk of cold butter in with both the lamb and the beef.

 

Not necessary with those heartstopping (literally?) lamb chops or ribeyes, but have you found that adding butter helps lean cuts come out juicier, albeit artificially so? I'm still trying to find a way to make round steak excellent... 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not necessary with those heartstopping (literally?) lamb chops or ribeyes, but have you found that adding butter helps lean cuts come out juicier, albeit artificially so? I'm still trying to find a way to make round steak excellent...

I don't think I can be much help. I think the last time I bought round steak I was so young and naïve that I thought it would be better than ribeye because it had so much less fat! Anyone who can make round steak excellent in either taste or texture stands to make a lot of money!

  • Like 1

Anna Nielsen aka "Anna N"

...I just let people know about something I made for supper that they might enjoy, too. That's all it is. (Nigel Slater)

"Cooking is about doing the best with what you have . . . and succeeding." John Thorne

Our 2012 (Kerry Beal and me) Blog

My 2004 eG Blog

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IF you have not seen it, I also recommend a look at this:

 

http://www.cookingissues.com/index.html%3Fp=3908.html

 

 

I wonder, in a restaurant setting, especially, they thoroughly clean a circulator after it's sitting in a tub of butter or oil

 

The cooking issues guys say they circulate detergent water.

Notes from the underbelly

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't think I can be much help. I think the last time I bought round steak I was so young and naïve that I thought it would be better than ribeye because it had so much less fat! Anyone who can make round steak excellent in either taste or texture stands to make a lot of money!

 

We came into a few 3# round roasts when splitting a cow with some family members. I'm almost sick of beef dips (did NOT expect that to happen) so I've been cutting them into 1" steaks to see if I can get rid of them that way

 

 

IF you have not seen it, I also recommend a look at this:

 

http://www.cookingissues.com/index.html%3Fp=3908.html

 

 

I wonder, in a restaurant setting, especially, they thoroughly clean a circulator after it's sitting in a tub of butter or oil

 

Interesting! I love how they just throw literally anything into the vat to displace oil. 

I almost stopped reading at "paying five bucks to drink a cup of cooking water from a New York City hot dog vendor"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

in the last week I've done duck breasts, chicken, lobster (poached in butter), potatoes (cubed, which I later finished into patatas bravas), and hamburgers all in the circulator.

 

It's like asking "do you use your stove" or oven or microwave or blender...

you can use it as much or as little as your imagination and cooking style determines

Link to comment
Share on other sites

To answer the op, yes, I use mine. For me, rack of lamb is the killer ap, its already cryo'd, just toss in for 1.5-2 hrs. Steaks too, along with the aforementioned bogus confit.

 

Haven't really found a sweetspot for vegies.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Tj's has some nice Racks.  Ill have to give them a try.  already cry's and seasoned and the seasoning is spot on.  which is unusual

 

TF from Canada.  although the price just keeps going up and up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
×
×
  • Create New...