Important News about Sansaire
KEY INFORMATION ABOUT the Sansaire Sous Vide Immersion Circulator
Sansaire entered the sous vide product market fairly uniquely. Their immersion circulator is one of the most successful cooking-related Kickstarter campaigns ever. The Sansaire circulator exceeded its funding goal in a mere 13 hours. Today they carry three sous vide products and these include the sous vide immersion circulator, a searing kit and a steak aging sauce. They also sell refurbished units at a reduced price to their new immersion circulator.
Key Features
Material: Stainless steel and polycarbonate
Volume: Max. 6 gallons
Dimensions: 15½” x 5″
Weight: 5.9 lb
Watts: 1100
The Sansaire has a minimum fill line of 2.75 inches and a maximum fill of 6.5 inches. (3.75 inches total)
Designed in Seattle and made in China
AWARDS
Sous Vide Hub has been unable to source any awards for this product.
QUICK REVIEW
At Sous Vide Hub, we know that many of you are time poor. That’s why we provide a short product overview just below. Don’t get us wrong, we would love you to read our extended review. But if long reviews are not your thing, then feel free to just read the next paragraph and the summary of pros and cons after it.
PRODUCT OVERVIEW COMMENTS
When the Sansaire Sous Vide immersion circulator works, reviewers rave! It’s quiet, easy to use, heats up quickly and holds its temperature well. It has made many a home chef a hero in their own kitchen. Unless you find this immersion circulator on sale it does sit at the top end of the market in terms of cost. From a pricing perspective it sits with the likes of the Joule by ChefSteps, Anova Culinary immersion circulator and the VacMaster SV1 immersion circulator. However many reviewers comment that it feels a little cheap (made with plastic) and its a larger unit which means there is less room in your pot for the food you are cooking. You could consider using a much larger polycarbonate water container to cook a larger amount of food.
The Sansaire does not require any WiFi or Bluetooth technology to work, which is good news those of you who prefer a more traditional immersion circulator. Of course fans of technology are likely to prefer the Joule by ChefSteps or the Anova which has two options; one with Bluetooth only (800 watts) and one with WiFi and Bluetooth (900 watts) given they are WiFi and Bluetooth enabled.
The biggest reviewer community concern with the Sansaire Immersion Circulator is that there seems to be a few quality control issues with this model. Some units are arriving broken, break often (some after between 2 and 10 uses) or have an issue with the plastic sleeve cracking. Unfortunately customer service is also a little hit and miss which causes further frustration when purchasers seek replacement units. This feedback will be enough for those who have no tolerance for immersion circulator quality issues to give the Sansaire a miss. For others, the majority of positive feedback from the reviewer community might be enough for them to roll the dice.
Product Images
Here’s a few images of the Sansaire Sous Vide Immersion Circulator:
In a nut shell here are the key pros and cons of the Sansaire Sous Vide Immersion Circulator:
PROS
- Super quiet
- The clamp/clip is a big hair-clip-esque attachment that can be hooked up in a second very easily. It holds pretty well but it’s not needed that frequently because the unit can also stand up on its own in your pot
- The water heats up quickly, stays where it needs to be, and is very accurate
- Has an easy to use interface
- It is extremely easy to set temperatures
CONS
- It’s a fairly large unit in comparison to other sous vide immersion circulators
- The LED display can be difficult to read in a bright room
- It does not alert you when the water has reached the target temperature
- The silver knob near the top which sets the temperature is a bit of a letdown from some reviewers who don’t feel as though it is a quality part
- Customer service and quality control are a little hit and miss
- This might be a little expensive for some – click here to see current price on Amazon
More info
DETAILED SOUS VIDE HUB REVIEW – Sansaire Sous Vide Immersion Circulator
PERFORMANCE
Those who receive the Sansaire sous vide immersion circulator as a perfectly working unit are, on the whole, delighted with this product. Raving reviewers talk about their steak successes, their egg escapades and other meat and vegetable master pieces with nothing but praise for the Sansaire. It assists so many people cook meals they never thought they could.
The ease of use, quick heating record (this product is an 1100 watt powerhouse) and temperature stability are positive aspects for reviewers. Some reviewers go as far as to test the temperature throughout their initial cooks to double check its reliability. We have sourced reviews where people have checked the temperature against 2 ThermoPro thermometers and a laboratory mercury thermometer, and noted that the factory settings are spot on.
In saying that, there are a couple of less positive things to note. The Sansaire sous vide immersion circulator is made with plastic. Lots of plastic. And as we all know, plastic can be problematic in immersion circulators because they are designed to both heat and cool. Some reviewers note that over time their unit has developed cracks in the plastic. The quality of materials used is certainly not to the standard of some other immersion circulators in the marketplace. Using materials such as stainless steel for sleeves are seen to be more durable.
Some reviewers don’t even get to the point of providing any feedback on the performance of the Sansaire Immersion Circulator. This is because they are delivered faulty units. For many there is no excuse for this and they take a refund and invest their money in other sous vide immersion circulator brands.
EASE OF USE
As mentioned above, those who are delivered Sansaire immersion circulators in perfect working order find this sous vide product to be super easy to use. When you look at the pros section above you can see that it’s quiet, the screen is easy to read and it is a breeze to set the temperature for your sous vide cook. It is an easy product to clean – simply wipe it after each use.
Some reviewers have complained that the metal grate on the bottom of the unit constantly falls off. Some reviewers have difficulty snapping the back cover on after cleaning the inside coils. From what Sous Vide Hub understands there has been a change to the product in recent times and it now includes a fixed plastic covering. This replaces the grate entirely and the back panel is now similar to a battery compartment cover (which is very easy to take off and put back on).
Some find that the plastic covering feels a little delicate and flimsy when they use it. Reviewers note that the clip works well, but believe there could be some minor design improvements in the adjustment mechanism. The only time Sansaire’s clamp could be an issue is if you’re using a really tall container and the unit cannot rest standing up.
CONVENIENCE
If you’re going to buy this immersion circulator remember that it needs to plug into a power outlet. So you need to be able to put the water container you clip it onto somewhere near the outlet as the cord is only about 3 inches long. Also note that the sound of the fan can be a little loud if you use this with stainless steel pots (it reverberates against the metal). We recommend using a large plastic food safe container instead of a normal household pot. This will allow room for the Sansaire sous vide immersion circulator to fit alongside a decent amount of food in food pouches.
DESIGN
The Sansaire immersion circulator has a great digital read out on it. Design is of course a very personal thing but in our opinion is it not the most elegant or stylish sous vide immersion circulator on the market. It comes in black only. It is a fairly large unit and given that it takes up quite a bit of room in your pot depending on the size you currently use. You may need to use a larger water vessel if you are planning to cook a fair amount of food.
The clip on the immersion circulator is fairly versatile but some reviewers feel it could be a little longer to allow you to clip the unit on a higher edge of your pot. This would mean you could lower it deeper into the pot or water bath container you are going to use.
Some reviewers feel as though the manufacturer has used sub-par materials to make this product. As we mentioned in the Performance section of this review, the cover/shroud that covers the circulator propeller is prone to splitting, leaving the propeller exposed.
WARRANTY AND SUPPORT
Based on our reviewer research it seems that customer service is letting Sansaire down. Whilst some reviewers report a satisfactory response when they have sought a replacement, the majority of reviewers are not satisfied with issue resolution. The key themes for dissatisfaction include units arriving broken, units breaking after just a few uses and cracks in the plastic sleeve of the Sansaire immersion circulator. Whilst there will invariably be quality control issues with products, reviewers are reporting significantly more instances of quality control issues in comparison to other immersion circulator brands.
Some reviewers experience no response from Sansaire. Others report a positive response off replacement but then with no follow through of that replacement. Others report being are offered a 20% discount offer for a replacement where your immersion circulator is out of warranty. Some report their non working unit being replaced with a refurbished unit NOT a new unit.
The Sansaire sous vide immersion circulator has a 1 year warranty (at the time of writing this review).
ACCESSORIES INCLUDED
There are no accessories included with the Sansaire sous vide immersion circulator.
Refurbished Sansaire Immersion Circulators
It is interesting to note that Sansaire tests, refurbishes, and certifies the Sansaire Sous Vide Machine Version 1.0 to work and “look almost new” according to their website. These certified refurbished units carry a warranty for 90 days from delivery date with a valid proof of purchase. Supplies are limited and not guaranteed until customers pay for the unit. Click here to see the refurbished option.
Helpful links:
Here are some additional items you might like to consider using with the Sansaire Sous Vide Immersion Circulator:
SousVide Supreme Zip Cooking Pouches (can be sealed without a vacuum sealer)
PROS (RECAP FROM EARLIER IN THIS ARTICLE)
- Super quiet
- The clamp/clip is a big hair-clip-esque attachment that can be hooked up in a second very easily. It holds pretty well but it’s not even needed that much because the unit can also stand up on its own in your pot
- The water heats up quickly, stays where it needs to be, and is very accurate
- Ease of interface
- Extremely easy to set temperatures
CONS (RECAP FROM EARLIER IN THIS ARTICLE)
- You just turn the silver knob near the top to set the temperature, and the always-on LED display shows you where you stand. The knob itself is a bit of a letdown from some reviewers who don’t feel as though it is a quality part
- Does not alert you when the water has reached the target temperature
- LED display can be difficult to read in a bright room
- No beep tone to emit when the water reaches the set temperature
- It’s a fairly large unit in comparison to other immersion circulators
- Customer service and quality control
- A little expensive for some – click here to see current price on Amazon
HINTS AND TIPS FROM REAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE USED THE Sansaire Sous Vide Immersion Circulator:
Here are some first hand hints and tips from people who have used the Sansaire Immersion Circulator:
Tip #1
You can experiment easily to find just the right “doneness” for you with a sous vide immersion circulator. Cut 8 small pieces of chicken breast, season each one of them differently, pop them into separate bags and put them in your sous vide machine. Come back an hour later to compare the results. And voila, a week of painstaking trial-and-error done in one afternoon!
Tip #2
Search via your favorite search engine for “sous vide recipes” for a great online sous vide recipe resource.
Tip #3
Consider getting an Ikea dish rack to hold the bags in one place. Don’t fall for pricey “sous vide kits” that cost several times more.
Tip #4
If you are looking for a vacuum sealer for a cheaper options have a look for FoodSaver V2244. For a premium option, consider the Weston PRO-1100.
Tip #5
This unit can be used with a 12-quart Rubbermaid food storage container and lid. Cut an opening for the Sansaire so the lid can remain on during cooking. Use foam insulation strips to fill the gaps between the lid and the unit (the same ones sold for window air conditioners).
Tip #6
When the target temperature is reached with this device, it seems to bounce around 1-2 degrees for about a minute or so. After that it levels out and stays precise; so have a little patience.
Tip #7
Vinegar marinated meats don’t fare well. It seems the vinegar’s acidity is enhanced with heat. For example chicken with balsamic vinegar, paprika, rosemary etc. comes out well in a toaster-oven. But cooking it with the sous-vide immersion cooker turns it into MUSH. Tasty mush but still mush!
Tip #8
Acquire a copy of Modernist Cooking Made Easy: Sous Vide: The Authoritative Guide to Low Temperature Precision Cooking
Tip #9
“I’ve used various vacuum sealers, but Foodsaver ” GameSaver” is the one I’ve found works best for sous vide”.
Tip #10
Consider buying the LIPAVI Model C10 (3 gallon) container and the Model L10 stainless steel rack as both work well with this unit.
Tip #11
Don’t use the sous vide machine on a quartz counter top. Even gentle warmth from your sous vide cook may crack your quartz. If you cook between 129 and 149 degrees you will be able to put your hand in the water to pull out the food pouches. But that sustained heat over a couple of hours can crack an inch of granite. Many people cook with a stainless steel pot which sits directly on the counter. A solution would be to set the pot on a wooden cutting board or another insulating surface.
Click here to view the current price of the Sansaire Sous Vide immersion circulator on Amazon
Keen to compare the Sansaire sous vide immersion circulator with other sous vide immersion circulators on the market? Here are our other top sous vide immersion circulator picks:
ChefSteps Joule Sous Vide Immersion Circulator
Feel free to check out our product review of the Joule immersion circulator by clicking here.
Anova Sous Vide Immersion Circulator
Kitchen Gizmo Immersion Circulator
Feel free to check out our product review of the Kitchen Gizmo immersion circulator by clicking here
Feel free to check out our product review of the Wancle immersion circulator by clicking here.
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