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How can I ensure that food cooks thoroughly?
• Make sure water reaches the desired temperature before adding
sealed food.
• Place just one bag of food in each slot of the rack. Make sure bags
are submerged in the water and that the food in each bag does not
touch each other. It is acceptable if the ends of the bags overlap.
• Follow recommended cooking times to ensure that the food reaches
the desired temperature.
How long can food be left cooking in the sous vide cooker?
• Recommended cooking times for sous vide ensure that the food
reaches the desired temperature. The benefit of sous vide cooking
is that the water bath will hold the food at the desired temperature
for a long period of time. This allows more flexibility in serving times.
The Weston sous vide cooker can be programmed for up to 72 hours.
Keep in mind that although the food is held at that temperature, the
food will continue to cook and will change texture.
• Usually you will see a range of optimal cooking times. This indicates
the minimum cooking time required and the maximum time that the
food is at the ideal texture.
• When cooking eggs or seafood, do not hold in water bath for more
than 1 hour after cooking.
Should meats be seared before cooking sous vide or after?
• Searing food cooked sous vide is optional. Some foods benefit from
searing and others do not. Meats, poultry, and fish can be more
appealing in appearance and flavor with searing. Searing can be done
before or after cooking. Searing after cooking is more common. It
ensures that the food reaches the desired temperature.
• Searing can be done both before AND after cooking sous vide. Steaks
seared before and after cooking have a more evenly browned surface.
Sous Vide Frequently Asked Questions
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