I have been missing for the past 2 months. It's not that I have done nothing during that period, but work, other responsibilities and a bit of "blue" got me, thus, no update.
My latest work is nothing of spectacular (well, a lot of people has done it before), but it works so well, I have been eating sous vide steak, rib, egg, salmon for the past month.
Without further rambling, here is how to make a sous vide machine by yourself for less than 20$:
My latest work is nothing of spectacular (well, a lot of people has done it before), but it works so well, I have been eating sous vide steak, rib, egg, salmon for the past month.
Without further rambling, here is how to make a sous vide machine by yourself for less than 20$:
Material
- Temperature controller: While making one is pretty simple (a temperature sensor + arduino + relay + LCD + a few push button),
a completed product is still faster, more durable, and above all, cheaper.
My friend bought it for me in Vietnam, but it you can easily find it in local stores or online on aliexpress for 10$: Link
- Heating element: I would like my rig to be scalable, so I picked a immersion heater. Also, from another friend who bought it for less than 10$. Online, Aliexpress again, for 10$ (it should be just 1-2$, but it's hard to find it nowadays): Link
- Any plug cable: I found the cable in the recycle bin under my block. You can get this anywhere, or even reuse the plug from immersion heater
a completed product is still faster, more durable, and above all, cheaper.
My friend bought it for me in Vietnam, but it you can easily find it in local stores or online on aliexpress for 10$: Link
- Heating element: I would like my rig to be scalable, so I picked a immersion heater. Also, from another friend who bought it for less than 10$. Online, Aliexpress again, for 10$ (it should be just 1-2$, but it's hard to find it nowadays): Link
- Any plug cable: I found the cable in the recycle bin under my block. You can get this anywhere, or even reuse the plug from immersion heater
Wiring
- Cut and strip the immersion heater at the plug. The immersion heater need a long cable.
- Cut and strip the plug with cable.
- Cut a portion (3cm) from either of the cable for terminal connection
- Wire it according to this diagram.
Note:
- Load is the immersion heater. 2 wire from immersion heater will be connected to Terminal 1 and 4
- The cable plug will be connected to Terminal 3 and 4.
- Short wire to connect Terminal 2 and 3
That's it.
- Load is the immersion heater. 2 wire from immersion heater will be connected to Terminal 1 and 4
- The cable plug will be connected to Terminal 3 and 4.
- Short wire to connect Terminal 2 and 3
That's it.
Use this set up to cook sous vide
- Don't plug in yet
- Put the immersion heater, temperature sensor to a pot.
- Fill the pot with 3/4 water
- Vacuum seal your desired food in a ziplock bag. You can use a straw to suck out air, or slowly immerse the bag into water.
- Plug the set up in, set the desire temperature
(For first set up, you might have to set the Temperature controller to heating mode first).
- Wait for your product to be slowly and thoroughly cook. Normally, 1-2 hours for meat, 15-20 minute for egg, 30 minute for fish. There are thousands of recipe available on the internet
- Sear your food for final presentation if needed. Steak for example, need Mallard reaction in high temp for nicer taste.
- Put the immersion heater, temperature sensor to a pot.
- Fill the pot with 3/4 water
- Vacuum seal your desired food in a ziplock bag. You can use a straw to suck out air, or slowly immerse the bag into water.
- Plug the set up in, set the desire temperature
(For first set up, you might have to set the Temperature controller to heating mode first).
- Wait for your product to be slowly and thoroughly cook. Normally, 1-2 hours for meat, 15-20 minute for egg, 30 minute for fish. There are thousands of recipe available on the internet
- Sear your food for final presentation if needed. Steak for example, need Mallard reaction in high temp for nicer taste.