Checklist · 12 picks · 5 categories

sous vide checklist

Edited by Zach · updated Nov 1, 2026 · How I pick

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Budget sous vide Yedi Houseware Infinity Sous Vide Best for trying sous vide without buying extras$100-150Shop on Amazon
ATK's winner Breville Joule Turbo Sous Vide Best for small kitchens and anyone who already lives in apps$200-300Shop on Amazon
Bags that stay dry LK Gallon Heavy Weight Seal Top Freezer Bags (4 mil) Best for long cooks where a leak would ruin dinner$25-50Shop on Amazon

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Sous vide sounds fancy, but it's basically a hot tub for your dinner. A stick heats a pot of water to an exact temperature, your food cooks in a sealed bag, and nothing overcooks.

You need three things to start: the machine, good bags and a pan for a hard sear at the end. America's Test Kitchen picked the machines and the freezer bags, TechGearLab compared vacuum sealers, and Baby Bargains picked the water bath tubs. A vacuum sealer is a nice upgrade, not a must: ATK says zipper-lock bags work if you push the air out underwater. A dedicated tub frees up your stockpot for long cooks. Each card shows the drawback the outlet called out, like an app-only machine or a bag that's floppy to fill.

Who this is not for. Skip this if you want hands-off dinners without the water bath; the Slow Cooker Starter list has slow cookers and multicookers.

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The must-haves

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01 Cook

the first pick is the one I would start with

Compare these 3

Pick	Tier	Price	Best for	Evidence
Yedi Houseware Infinity Sous Vide	budget	$100-150	trying sous vide without buying extras	1 outlet
Breville Joule Turbo Sous Vide	splurge	$200-300	small kitchens and anyone who already lives in apps	1 outlet
Anova Culinary Precision Cooker Nano 3.0	mid	$100-150	a first sous vide stick you can run from your phone	1 outlet

Best sous vide machine

budget pick · 14.5 in tall

Yedi Houseware Infinity Sous Vide

Best for trying sous vide without buying extras

America's Test Kitchen's Best Buy sous vide machine: praised for its accuracy, build, speed and results, and it comes with reusable bags, a small hand pump and bag clips.

Heads up. The control panel display points straight up, and the device is 14.5 inches tall

1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen best Buy sous vide machine.

$100-150

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splurge pick · 12 in tall

Breville Joule Turbo Sous Vide

Best for small kitchens and anyone who already lives in apps

America's Test Kitchen's winning sous vide machine: it has all the features ATK loved in earlier versions, and TechGearLab calls it compact with a fast-cooking turbo mode.

Heads up. No controls on the unit itself, so you need the app to set time and temperature

1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen winning sous vide machine.

$200-300

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mid pick · Standard

Anova Culinary Precision Cooker Nano 3.0

Best for a first sous vide stick you can run from your phone

TechGearLab's Best Buy sous vide machine: budget-friendly with an app, a simple interface and accurate temperature.

Heads up. A bit noisy, and it takes time to heat up

1 outlet. TechGearLab best Buy sous vide machine.

$100-150

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02 Bag it

Best freezer bags

mid pick · 10 x 12 in

LK Gallon Heavy Weight Seal Top Freezer Bags (4 mil)

Best for long cooks where a leak would ruin dinner

America's Test Kitchen's co-winning single-use storage bag: extra-thick and tough, and the top performer by far at keeping its contents dry after a long time underwater.

Heads up. A pinhole-size leak formed on one side seam in ATK's tomato sauce drop, though nothing spilled out

1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen co-Winner freezer bags.

$25-50

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budget pick · Gallon

Ziploc Freezer Bags, Gallon

Best for everyday sous vide cooks with the water displacement trick

America's Test Kitchen's co-winning single-use storage bag: it worked well in every test and sealed securely without leaking.

Heads up. A bit floppy, so it won't stay open on its own while you fill it

1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen co-Winner freezer bags.

under $15

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03 Sear

Best cast iron skillet

budget pick · Large

Lodge 12 Inch Cast Iron Skillet

Best for your first cast iron pan

America's Test Kitchen's Best Buy: it performed close to the winning skillet for a fraction of the price, with strong heat retention and browning.

Heads up. The rough, pebbly surface was sticky at first, and it's heavy

1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen best Buy cast iron skillet.

$25-50

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mid pick · Large

Lodge Chef Collection 12" Cast Iron Skillet

Best for searing, roasting and a pan you'll keep for life

Sears steaks, bakes cornbread and lasts forever. CNN Underscored's pick after trying 12 skillets.

Heads up. Heavy

2 outlets agree. CNN Underscored best cast iron skillet. Reviewed best overall cast iron skillet.

$50-100

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04 Seal it

Best vacuum sealer

budget pick · 15 x 6 x 2.4 in

Mueller Vacuum Sealer Machine

Best for prepping and freezing steaks to cook sous vide later

TechGearLab's best bang for the buck vacuum sealer: reliable suction in a manageable size and weight, with a soft setting for delicate food.

Heads up. The sealing band can overheat: TechGearLab's needed a couple of minutes to cool after about 15 bags

1 outlet. TechGearLab best Bang for the Buck vacuum sealer.

$50-100

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splurge pick · 15.6 x 7.8 x 4.5 in

Nesco Deluxe VS-12 Vacuum Sealer

Best for sealing a whole grocery haul in one go

TechGearLab's best overall vacuum sealer: reliable suction and seals, a lever closure and built-in bag storage.

Heads up. Large footprint and no removable drip tray

1 outlet. TechGearLab best overall vacuum sealer.

$150-200

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05 Water bath

Compare these 3

Pick	Tier	Price	Best for	Evidence
Rubbermaid Commercial Products Space Saving Square Food Storage Container	budget	$15-25	a cheap water bath that frees up your big pot	1 outlet
EVERIE Sous Vide Container with Lid	mid	$25-50	long cooks with an Anova Nano	1 outlet
Freeze-Tite Clear High Cling Freezer Wrap	mid	$25-50	covering the pot on long cooks so the water doesn't evaporate	1 outlet

Top pick

budget pick · Square tub

Rubbermaid Commercial Products Space Saving Square Food Storage Container

Best for a cheap water bath that frees up your big pot

Baby Bargains' best sous vide container (no lid): a simple, affordable plastic container that gets the job done.

Heads up. No lid, it contains BPA, and Baby Bargains says it may not be a good idea on some laminate, wood or marble countertops

1 outlet. Baby Bargains best Sous Vide Container (No Lid).

$15-25

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mid pick · Large

EVERIE Sous Vide Container with Lid

Best for long cooks with an Anova Nano

Baby Bargains' best sous vide container with lid: very well made yet easy on the wallet, and it holds heat well.

Heads up. Works only with Anova Nano or Instant Pot sous vide models, has no measurement markings and contains BPA

1 outlet. Baby Bargains best Sous Vide Container With Lid.

$25-50

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mid pick · 15 in wide

Freeze-Tite Clear High Cling Freezer Wrap

Best for covering the pot on long cooks so the water doesn't evaporate

America's Test Kitchen's winning plastic wrap: the thickest, clingiest wrap in its lineup, and ATK's sous vide review says the same sheet can be reused many times to cover the water bath.

1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen winning plastic wrap.

$25-50

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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me

Questions people ask

Is a vacuum sealer a must for sous vide?

No. America's Test Kitchen says zipper-lock bags work: fill the bag, zip it partly closed, then lower most of it into the water to push the air out before sealing. Double-bag foods with sharp edges. A sealer helps because air pockets block contact between the water and the food, and ATK's favorite is the Nesco Deluxe.

What pot works for sous vide?

America's Test Kitchen used an 8- or 12-quart plastic container, a 7.25-quart Dutch oven or a large saucepan, and says to keep the water between the minimum and maximum lines on the machine. For very long cooks, cover the pot with plastic wrap and cut a 3- to 4-inch slit for the machine so less water evaporates.

What happens if the power goes out mid-cook?

America's Test Kitchen found most of the machines it tried forgot their programming when they lost power, so you'll need to restart it yourself. The app-run Breville was the exception: it could be restarted from the app without losing its time and temperature.

sous vide checklist

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The must-haves