While I’m writing this, Christmas and Black Friday are just around the corner, and stores around the world are preparing for the biggest shopping spree of the year, and to be honest… so am I.
Ever since I was blessed with a sous vide (immersion cooker) two years ago, I’ve tried to get the people around me to use one because of how awesome it is, but they still haven’t. So, I took the matter into my own hands and bought a bunch of sous vide cookers and now most of my friends will be getting the exact same present.
However, I tried to be as strategic as possible when buying the machines. Because the size of my friend’s families varies greatly, I needed to make sure that the sous vide machine they got was sufficiently large to make cooking for their families convenient. Otherwise, I think the sous vide-alternative would be less attractive and perhaps end up in their garage.
This required me to do some research on sous vide containers and what size to look for depending on the size of your family, or the household you’re cooking for.
The standard size sous vide containers, which are suitable for a regular size family, can hold a 12-quart water bath, which equals about 11.5 liters. There are larger alternatives, such as the 18-quart container, more suitable when cooking for larger families. For a single person, you shouldn’t need anything over 4-quart, preferably something smaller.
What Size Sous Vide Container Do I Need?
As you may have imagined, sous vide containers come in different sizes and sous vide immersion circulators (the electronic stick you put in the container to keep it heated) have some restrictions. These restrictions vary depending on the model and brand but some things are quite common no matter which brand you talk about.
It’s important that the container and the sous vide cooker match as they’ll be used together. To give you an idea of what these restrictions may be, let’s take a quick look at them.
When placing an immersion circulator on a container, the water should not be too shallow. Anovo, which is a renowned brand in the sous vide-industry, states on their website that their sous vide circulators shouldn’t be used in water that is shallower than 2.5 inches or 6.35cm.
The second boundary that one must keep in mind is the amount of water an immersion circulator is capable of heating up. Anovo, once again, state that their circulator is capable of heating no more than 20 quarts or 18.9 liters of water. That’s the maximum amount of water that one can sous vide in efficiently.
Aside from that, the width of the container must be taken into consideration to make sure that the sous vide machine can be clamped onto it. Most clamps are adjustable but still restricted to certain widths. Prior to purchasing either a container or a cooker, make sure that they match and fit the criteria in order to use them together.
Now that we’ve covered what you’ve got to think about when matching a container with a circulator, let’s talk about the containers themselves.
Custom made sous vide containers come in different sizes but the most common size is the 12-quart container. However, there are both larger and smaller containers that may be more appropriate options depending on your situation.
When you decide on which container to get, keep in mind that you never want your food packed tightly when cooking sous vide. There should be plenty of space between each zip-lock bag, to ensure the food is cooked evenly by allowing proper water circulation.
- For a single person: Any small pot or vessel will suffice. You shouldn’t need anything larger than 4-quart.
- When cooking for 2-3: Something along the lines of an 8-quart container is probably a good option when cooking for a family of 3.
- When cooking for 4-5: If you’re housing 5 people and plan to cook sous vide, you’re going to want a 12-quart container to make sure there’s enough room for all the bags or jars.
- When cooking for crowds or larger gatherings: When cooking large quantities of food, we’re looking at the 18-quart option or larger.
Remember to make sure that your sous vide is capable of heating the amount of water you place in the container. Information regarding your specific model should be available on the manufacturer’s website, along with other information that may be useful when picking the most suitable container.
However, as tempting as it sounds to get a custom-made sous vide container, it isn’t the only option. You probably already have other options at home that could double as fully functioning sous vide containers.
Do I Need a Special Container For Sous Vide?
No, you don’t. You can use a bunch of other stuff instead of buying a custom made sous vide container. It’s important that the vessel you sous vide in is capable of insulating heat, so it can hold the temperature for several hours effectively. Sounds like something you’ve heard of? Yes, a cooler. It’s a cheap alternative and it’s probably something you already have at home.
Other things that work include;
- Pots of any sizes
- Steady-bottom bowls
- Cast-iron skillets
- Dutch ovens
- Plastic storage boxes
Insulated containers specifically designed to hold sous vide water baths can cost quite a bit, which can seem like a waste when there are other, less expensive, options available. However, there’s something very convenient about using containers specifically made to hold immersion circulators.
They’re insulated, some come in sleek designs, they have attachments for the circulators. You want to use a container that’s able to keep as much heat as possible, and that’s why these insulated sous vide containers are a good option. But they’re not a must. You can definitely achieve greatness without them.
Here’s a link to the container I’m using on Amazon. I think it’s great and it has worked perfectly not only for Anovo precision cookers but also for other brands. Can’t tell you how many times it’s been used and it’s still in pristine condition.
The difference between homemade containers and containers like this one is definitely the lid, while most homemade use saran wrap, these come with lids that help retain the heat.
Can You Really Sous Vide in a Cooler?
As I mentioned earlier, some people choose to sous vide in their coolers and yes, you can really sous vide in a cooler. It’s a totally viable option that seems quite popular. Coolers are often quite large and come at a cheap price, making them the perfect budget version of a sous vide container.
Here’s a video showing a sous vide cooler.
It may seem excessive to use a cooler to sous vide in, but when the time comes to sous vide a whole suckling pig or a turkey, you will understand why coolers have become such prominent sous vide containers. They’re often large enough to hold the animal.
Here’s a guide from Anovo’s website on how to build a sous vide cooler, save it for when the time comes.
What’s the Best Container To Sous Vide In?
The best containers to sous vide in are factory-made sous vide containers, such as the Everie container, available on Amazon. It comes with a silicone lid and a stainless steel rack that keeps your food separated and underwater, to ensure it’s cooked evenly.
It also has a cutout corner which holds a perfect slot for the precision cooker. The design will make sure the water is circulating properly at all times while also retaining as much heat as possible.
How Big Are Sous Vide Containers?
Normally, a sous vide container is somewhere between 10 and 18-quarts large, with most of the containers being 12-quart. However, those are specifically made by the brands that manufacture the immersion cookers used for sous vide. If you decide to create your own sous vide cooler or use pots that you have at home, there’s really no limit to how large it can be.
If I recall right, there’s a Youtube video of someone using their bathtub as a water bath for sous vide.
I don’t recommend it and I have my doubts regarding the results, but there’s still something to consider in that video; the fact that there aren’t that many boundaries when looking for a sous vide container as long as the precision cooker is capable of heating the amount of water placed in it, and that the container is deep enough to place the cooker in it.
Other than that, properties such as insulation are a great bonus.