What is Sous Vide Cooking?

It is a French term that means "under vacuum" and refers to the process of a vacuum-sealing item in a bag and cooking it in water. 

The cooking temperatures range from 54 °C to 85 °C (129 °F to 185°F) depending on the type of food that is being cooked. Low temperatures are used to preserve the food's flavour and nutrients.

This cooking approach is an excellent alternative to traditional methods such as boiling, baking, frying, and grilling. The gentle heat smoothly cooks the food, ensuring it is not over-or undercooked. It is often used to prepare delicate foods that would otherwise be difficult to execute, such as fish or chicken flawlessly.

What are the advantages?

 Some of the top advantages include:

• Prevents overcooking - One of the most significant advantages of this cooking technique is that it prevents overcooking. The food cooks slowly, so it does not risk becoming dry or overcooked.

• Retaining nutrients and flavour - The low cooking temperature helps keep the food's nutrients and taste, which can be lost when cooked at a higher temperature.

• Uniform cooking - The even heat distribution results in uniformly cooked food, ensuring that everything is evenly cooked.

• No need to monitor - Once the food is sealed in the bag, you do not need to watch it or worry about it becoming overcooked.

• Versatile - This approach can cook various foods, including fish, chicken, beef, pork, and vegetables.

• Saves time - This type of cooking is a slow cook technique, so it takes longer than traditional food preparing processes. However, it does not require your constant attention, so you can do other things while cooking.

• Economical - This is a more economical way to cook, as it uses less energy than traditional ones.

• Convenient - It's easy to cook food using a sous vide kit as all you have to do is vacuum-seal the food in a plastic bag and place it in a water bath.

• Less mess - There is no splattering or spattering of food, so the kitchen stays clean.

• Safe - The sealed bag prevents bacteria or toxins from entering the food.

Steps Involved Sous Vide Cooking

Prepare the food that you want to cook. This means trimming any fat, cutting the food into even pieces, and seasoning it as desired. You will need to vacuum-seal it in a plastic bag when it completes. Ensure that the meal is tightly sealed in the bag so that no air can escape. 

Next, place the food in a water bath and cook it according to the temperature and time recommendations specific to the food. Keep an eye on the food to avoid overcooking. Once the meal is prepared, you can remove it from the water bath and enjoy it.

Get started with this cooking technique by following the steps outlined in this article.