For home cooks who want to cook for a large group of people, meal prep, or enjoy a more precise cooking option, sous vide cooking is one of the best ways to get it done. Anova is a major player in the sous vide world, and the Precision Cooker Pro proves why they are among the best in the business. It’s an excellent addition for those looking to level up their cooking game.
Anova Precision Cooker Pro
Specifications
- Price: $199.
- Dimensions: Approximately 3.46 inches long x 2.36 inches wide x 13.8 inches high.
- Weight: About 2.85 pounds.
- Color: Black and stainless steel.
- Temperature range: 32 degrees F – 197 degrees F.
- Power: 120V or 1,200W.
- Maximum cook size: 100 L (or 26.4 Gal).
- Warranty: Two years.
Pros
- Ready to use straight out of the box.
- Quick setup and preheating to start cooking immediately.
- Easy LED lights to indicate status.
- Fits on most vessels for large or small batches.
- Simple display to adjust temperature or time.
- Free Anova app lets you control cooking when you’re away from home.
Cons
- Unreliable and inconsistent WiFi functionality.
The Unboxing
I got the Anova Precision Cooker Pro as a sample for this review. It came in its original packaging and was ready to use once I opened the box.
The Setup
The sous vide attaches to any vessel full of water, which is why it’s great for so many different types of meal prep, large or small. For my testing, I used a small pot to cook a salmon for two.
I plugged the precision cooker in out of the box, and it automatically turned on. The height adjusts with a side and rear screw, allowing the cooker to adhere to any size water chamber. The side screw allows it to move up and down, and once I found the right height, I tightened it, then tightened the rear screw so it was firm against the side of the pot. While it’s important to have a tight-fitting cooker, don’t overtighten screws, as this could damage the water chamber or cooker and impact cooking.
While a free Anova app lets me control cooking times and temperatures through my phone, it’s not required to use the cooker. I manually set the temperature, which is the target temperature in the middle of the display. undefined
The Experience
Within minutes, the cooker finished preheating and was ready to use. The LED light under the display lets you know your status. When it’s pulsing or blinking blue, it’s preheating. When it turns solid, it’s ready.
Some critics of the Anova cooker say it’s too noisy, but I found it exceptionally quiet. Everyone’s noise tolerance is different, and I have children, so my threshold might be higher than others.
Once I set the temperature and submerged my vacuum-sealed bag of salmon, I let the cooker do its thing. I handled other household tasks and didn’t have to tend to the salmon as I would if it were on the stove or in the oven.
After the timer completed, the cooker turned off and I was ready to remove the bag of now-cooked salmon. Sous vide cookers already know the looks of the meal aren’t as appetizing to the eyes as some other methods, so I finished off the salmon in a pan with a quick sear.
To test against the sous vide version, I also cooked salmon with the same marinade in a pan. While I preferred the outer texture of the pan-seared version, the overall taste of the sous vide option was much better. The sous vide version was some of the best I’ve ever made: It was moist, juicy, and flaky without being overcooked.
The Maintenance
I unplugged the sous vide cooker, wiped it down, and put it away within a minute. It’s exceptionally easy from start to finish and didn’t require any extra work on my part to take care of it. It’s slim, lightweight, and easy to store.
The Takeaway
The Anova Precision Cooker Pro is impressive, with a simple setup and easy user interface. While having an app is nice, especially for those who want to set up their cooking for long periods or when they’re away, it’s not required for use.
Anova Precision Cooker Pro
This cook took less than an hour, but other sous vide meals can take many hours to complete. This option is ideal for meal prep or cooking for a crowd, especially since you can attach the cooker to a vessel up to 26 gallons (or 100 liters).
It’s a great option for home cooks new to sous vide cooking, or those who have been sous vide cooking for years and are ready to upgrade.
