The Sous Vide Cookbook. Williams Sonoma Test Kitchen

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      UNDERSTANDING SOUS VIDE

      The French term

      sous vide

      , literally “under vacuum,” is used to describe

      food that is vacuum sealed in plastic for cooking in a temperature-controlled

      water bath. Originally used in scientific laboratories because of its precision,

      sous vide has since become the secret weapon of Michelin-starred chefs

      who appreciate the unprecedented control it affords in the kitchen. Nowadays,

      cooking sous vide boasts a growing and enthusiastic following among chefs

      and home cooks alike.

      The machine that makes this precision possible is an immersion circulator,

      a device that both heats and then holds water at an exact temperature

      and continuously circulates it. It allows foods sealed in airtight bags to

      cook for longer times at lower temperatures than by conventional methods,

      resulting in perfectly cooked, intensely flavorful meats, fish, vegetables,

      eggs, and more. Steaks are especially tender and have a richer, meatier

      flavor; custards emerge flawlessly silken; and mashed potatoes, because

      they are not cooked in water, turn out creamier and more luscious. Sous vide

      also makes conventionally long-cooked dishes like short ribs an overnight

      proposition: put them in to cook on Tuesday evening and Wednesday’s

      dinner will be done when it’s time to set the table.

      We love that sous vide frees you from standing at the stove and from

      tinkering with the temperature. It’s a boon to busy families, too: dinner can

      be put on to cook just before the kids are dropped off at school and be ready

      to eat at the end of the day. Easy to use, an immersion circulator makes

      a wonderful gift for newlyweds or just-launched college grads, inspiring

      confidence in novice cooks and encouraging experimentation in more

      seasoned hands. The steady, low temperatures of sous vide cooking make

      it easy to put together easy, no-stress meals without fear of overcooking.

      And tech-savvy cooks will appreciate that some models are WiFi enabled,

      allowing for remote cooking: just tap the app on your phone to start cooking

      your meal while you’re sitting at your desk or walking the dog.