Joule sous vide by chefsteps

Sous vider in learning how to cook amazing food, it can't be beat.In addition to the quality of the ChefSteps app, they have had the foresight to make it possible to download additional capability into the Joule unit itself. This will allow them to add new features and services to both the immersion circulator and the app, making the cooking system more "intelligent" and user-friendly. I believe the capability for a manufacturer to be able to upgrade both their app and immersion circulator "in the field" should be an important factor in any future WiFi sous vide machine purchasing decision.The biggest difference between the ChefSteps Joule and all other immersion circulators is the fact it requires the user to control it with a smartphone. If you don't have, or intend to obtain, a smartphone in the near future - the Joule is not for you. For those of you who do have a smartphone supported by ChefSteps, you need to decide if this "hands-off" type of monitoring and control is for you.Clearly this important design decision is what allowed ChefSteps to make the Joule so small and "nimble". This reduced size may be an important factor for those who have limited space in their kitchen or would like to take their immersion circulator with them when they travel. Despite its small size the ChefSteps Joule is one of the more powerful immersion circulators available. It is also very efficient and quiet when running.If you are in the market for an immersion circulator with WiFi connectivity, we would recommend the ChefSteps Joule. The immersion circulator, and its impressive associated app, are great tools for getting even the most novice cook into the enjoyment of sous vide cooking.I hope this review of the ChefSteps Joule has provided you with the information you need to make a well-informed purchasing decision regarding a sous vide immersion circulator. I encourage you to explore the site for reviews of other sous vide machines. If you do purchase an immersion circulator you may be interested in looking at our reviews of Sous Vide Water Bath Containers.If you

With the Joule Immersion CirculatorJoule Immersion Circulator SummaryAbout Sous Vide CookingIf you are reading this article you may very well be aware of the awesome advantages of cooking sous vide. In that case I would suggest moving on to the next section and begin the review itself. However, we know for those unfamiliar with sous vide that it can initially be an intimidating type of cooking and conceptually its differences with traditional cooking can appear daunting. The various types of sous vide equipment, questions about vacuum sealing, and the science of the safety of sous vide can all play a part in confusing new cooks. If you are new to sous vide, we highly recommend you first read through the Beginners' Guide to Sous Vide which will give you a good introduction to this unique cooking method.When you decide you'd like to discover even more about cooking sous vide we would encourage you to sign up for our FREE in-depth email course, Exploring Sous Vide. And since this is a review of the ChefSteps immersion circulator we can also point you to some additional cooking sous vide introductory content on their website. Want Great Sous Vide Recipes? My best selling sous vide cookbook will help you master sous vide and can be used as a reference for more than 80 cuts of meat and vegetables. It is also filled with inspiring recipes to get you on your way to sous vide success! Now let's get started with the Joule review!Basic Joule Immersion Circulator SpecificationsThe table below lists the basic specifications for the Joule provided by ChefSteps. Please refer to this as necessary as I highlight some of the specifications. Basic Specifications Parameters ChefSteps Joule Tube Diameter 1.85" (4.7 cm) Height 11.0" (28.0 cm) Width 1.85" (4.7 cm) Weight 1.28 lbs (0.58 kg) Min Immersion Depth 1.5" (3.8 cm) Max Immersion Depth 8" (20.3 cm) Min/Max Spacing 6.5" (16.5 cm) Min Pot Depth ~2 or 6.0" (5 or 10.3 cm) Has Timer Yes Voltage 120 VAC Type of Clamp Universal clip Max Clamp Opening ~0.75" (1.9 cm) Wetted Part Material Polycarbonate

Disclaimer:ChefSteps provided us a free Joule to test for this review. That said, we pride ourselves on providing objective, nonbiased, reviews on everything that we evaluate. Gaining and maintaining your trust is our most important goal. This is a detailed equipment review of the Joule, an immersion circulator manufactured by ChefSteps. They just recently released this WiFi enabled immersion circulator which, when attached to a suitable container, will provide an excellent water bath for sous vide cooking. If you are interested in getting involved with sous vide cooking, especially if you are interested in a circulator with WiFi, this review will give you all of the information you need to determine if the Joule is the right immersion circulator for your needs.The WiFi feature on the Joule can provide several benefits - the most noteworthy are the capabilities to delay the start time of your cook and to provide remote communication with your sous vide circulator. Depending on your lifestyle you may decide that WiFi on your sous vide machine would be a "nice to have" but you don't envision that you would use it often. Or you may determine that WiFi is a "must have" to simplify your life as a sous vide cook. In a related post, we can help you answer the question, "Do I need a sous vide machine with WiFi?"The folks at ChefSteps answer the question "What is Joule?" as follows; "Built for people who love to cook, Joule is the smallest, most powerful sous vide tool on the market. It's controlled by a groundbreaking smartphone app that includes recipes, tips, and custom features that allow you to visualize and choose your results before you start cooking. Joule will tell you when your food will be done and safely hold it at the right temperature until you're ready to eat." - ChefStepsIf you're not into details you can go directly to my Joule Immersion Circulator Summary and catch the summary of my analysis.Table of ContentsAbout Sous Vide CookingBasic Joule Immersion Circulator SpecificationsJoule Immersion Circulator PerformanceChefSteps Joule Benchmark ResultsUser Interface of the Joule Immersion CirculatorSubjective Factors

More they will enjoy it. The ChefSteps website is a valuable resource comprised of a plethora of recipes and classes covering a wide variety of cooking types.They have leveraged their expertise in training cooks into an immersion circulator app which takes the novice by the hand and leads them confidently into sous vide cooking. With the Joule they have taken a somewhat natural step to continue to assist the cook by providing the physical tool to assist them in cooking sous vide. The design of the Joule reflects the same passion to help people cook smarter and easier. It couples closely with the app to make an extremely attractive solution for those looking to cook sous vide.ChefSteps Joule Immersion Circulator SummaryIf you are trying to decide if the ChefSteps Joule is the right immersion circulator for you, the first step you might take is to determine if you need WiFi on your sous vide machine. Because if you don't, there are less expensive immersion circulators that may meet your needs just fine.After reading some of the initial information on the ChefSteps Joule, I have to admit I was really eager to get my hands on one - and I wasn't disappointed! The bottom line is it simply feels, looks, and operates differently than any other immersion circulator I've tested. The fact that the Joule has a WiFi connection to a smartphone currently sets it apart from all other immersion circulators commonly available, except for the Anova Precision Cooker WiFi. But I suspect in another six months WiFi capability will be a common feature on many immersion circulators. When it occurs, purchasers will be making their decisions on the capability of the software provided on either end of that WiFi connection. This is where I believe ChefSteps has an important advantage with the Joule. ChefSteps has been able to leverage their years of experience and expertise in teaching cooking to make their app quite impressive. As mentioned in the review, it still has important monitoring and control features which I believe are missing but when it comes to assisting the novice

L/minute. The location of the pump's output, however, is much different in that it's located about 3.5" (8.9 cm) above the foot of the unit. View the pump in action. I am not sure why this design decision was made but I suspect they felt they would get better circulation by separating the pump input and output by a greater distance.Heater OutputThe ChefSteps Joule, rated at 1100 Watts, is one of the most powerful immersion circulators. It also uses a somewhat unique method for heating the water. The Joule uses a cylindrical thick-film heater which is extemely efficient. it is also one of the reasons that the Joule is smaller and lighter than other immersion circulators.What Do Others Think of the Joule?Perhaps the greatest downside of the Joule not being sold on Amazon is the lack of real user reviews. The Joule has certainly been reviewed by numerous websites similar to this one and received many accolades. However, that's not quite the same as using the device for several weeks for a variety of different types of sous vide cooks. I believe the unique design of the Joule was mentioned by nearly all reviewers that I've read. The small size and simplicity of the design, the lack of a "manual" interface, and the magnetic foot has garnered the attention of nearly all reviewers.The quality of the Joule app has also opened the eyes of many reviewers. It is clear that this remarkable app has benefited greatly from the ChefSteps' rich history of teaching cooking. The use of short, high quality, videos makes the app a pleasure to explore and use. The app definitely makes this immersion circulator an ideal one for sous vide beginners.ChefSteps Joule Benchmark ResultsThe prior two sections presented the specifications for the ChefSteps Joule. This section will demonstrate what actually happens when the "rubber meets the road". We have created the "Sous Vide Machine Benchmark" that runs the immersion circulator through a series of lifelike scenarios to see how it operates "in the real world". Benchmark Results Parameters ChefSteps Joule Room Temp Start Time 20:20 Hot Tap

Start Time 05:10 Low Temperature 139.5°F Low Temperature Maximum 139.6°F Low Temperature Minimum 139.5°F Low Temp Variation 0.1°F Temp Rise Time 16:10 High Temperature 182.8°F High Temperature Maximum 183.0°F High Temperature Minimum 182.8°F High Temp Variation 0.2°F First Hour Power Use 0.42 kWh Total Power Use 0.91 kWh Sound Adjacent 54-59 dB Sound 12" Away 50-55 dB The results of the benchmark are shown in the table above for the ChefSteps Joule. You can learn more about the Sous Vide Machine Benchmark and see how the Joule compares with other sous vide machines we have benchmarked.Even though the Joule is smaller than all the other immersion circulators it is one of the more powerful ones. The Room Temperature Start Time and the Hot Tap Start Time are both quite respectable and in the top 3 times of all inexpensive circulators. For example, it took about 5 minutes to bring the water bath up to 140°F (60°C) if the water was hot from the tap.The temperature variation during the cook was also quite good at about 0.1-0.2°F. The power consumption during the benchmark was one of the lowest tested. This is probably due to the high efficiency of the thick-film heater used in the Joule.The ChefSteps Joule was also one of the quieter immersion circulators as long as the water level was above the pump outlet. When the water level is below the outlet additional noise is created by the pumped water stream splashing into water below. That's why there are two sets of numbers listed, the higher ones are with the water level below the pump outlet.User Interface of the Joule Immersion CirculatorThe ChefSteps Joule is the first immersion circulator that has taken the bold step to require a smartphone in order to operate it. One can only conclude from this design decision that ChefSteps felt that the majority of people interested in sous vide cooking would have a smartphone. This could very well be the case.The Joule still essentially has two user interfaces: one on the device itself, albeit a simple one, and the Joule app via WiFi. I