Common Sous Vide Problem - Sous Vide Steam | Shorting out Precision Cooker

Sous Vide Problem in the Spotlight – A Steamy Problem

I have an Anova Culinary Precision Cooker which is my trusted side kick in the kitchen. But sometimes I can see steam rising from my water bath. I am worried the sous vide steam is going to “short out” my Anova. How can I stop this steamy problem?

Solution Options

There is no doubt that sous viders have this problem frequently. Unfortunately if you don’t have a lid of some type on your water bath, steam can sometimes get into the cooling vent at the back of your Anova precision cooker. In some cases, the water can then short out and KILL the unit. There are three options to consider to prevent this from happening:

Solution 1

Image credit: Etsy Anova Sous Vide Steam Guard

A steam guard can help. It sits between your sous vide device and its mounting bracket . The guard helps to prevent evaporation loss by directing the water vapor back into your pot. This is because it condenses on the underside of the guard. Clever right? At the moment there are not too many products on the market but you might want to check out a guard available on Etsy by clicking here. This sous vide steam guard protector works with both the Bluetooth and the WiFi versions of the Anova Culinary Precision Cooker

Solution 2

Consider sous vide water balls. Water balls look a lot like ping pong balls. They sit over the top of your water bath and form a barrier between your water bath and your sous vide machine. Having the water balls will solve your Anova steam issues as well as keep your water bath insulated. This keeps the water bath temperature even which is one of the important factors in a successful sous vide cook.

Solution 3

Cover your water bath with a lid. There are many options that might work for you including custom made lids for the Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker. Not only will it create a protective barrier between your water bath and your Anova precision cooker but the cut out is the perfect size for holding it in place.

Which option above is the best. I don’t want my Anova to short out (or worse still…die!)?

Each of the solutions above are pretty ingenious ideas to solve this steamy Anova Sous Vide Precision Cooker problem. The best solution for you depends on your set up and the amount of money you want to spend to solve this common problem. Solution 3 (a sous vide water bath lid) is unlikely to appeal to you unless you tend to conduct your sous vide cooks in larger polycarbonate containers. Solution 1 (a steam guard) and Solution 2 (using sous vide water balls) are solutions that you can use in a water bath of any size.

Got another hack to solve this common sous vide cooking option? Let us know in the comments below.

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Common Sous Vide Problem – Sous Vide Steam | Shorting out Precision Cooker