Some of them look like curling irons, while others resemble crock pots and slow cookers. Available in various types and sizes, sous vide devices are becoming increasingly popular.  To cook your food, you simply place it in a vacuum-sealed pouch (or Ziploc bag), submerge it in a water bath, heat the water to a specific temperature, and let your food sit until cooked. However, maintaining the temperature of your water bath is key. Therefore, sous vide machines are designed to heat the water and maintain the same temperature throughout the cooking process. Some sous vide machines will even connect to an app on your smartphone, allowing you to place your food in the water bath and “set it and forget it.”

Like most kitchen gadgets, however, not all sous vide machines are created equal. You have self-contained sous vide ovens that heat the water quietly using insulated walls and a PID-controlled heating element, as well as immersion circulators that use a heat source and pump to heat and circulate the water. You also have smart machines, basic machines, and various sizes to choose from. So, which is the best? Read on for all the details — after all, not every machine allows you to infuse your own spirits.

This sous vide machine from Anova allows you to cook restaurant-quality food right at home with its precise temperature control and convenient application. You only need to set the temperature, wait for the food to cook, and voilà! You get food that’s as delicious as it is effortless to cook. Setting the temperature for your food is easy with the simple and easy to read control panel. The tool is also small enough to fit in your drawers, letting you keep your kitchen countertop clean and organised. You can have an easier time with food prep by downloading the app. It allows you to control the device and keep an eye on your food through the comfort of your smartphone.

Why we love it:

— Intuitive controls — Precision cooking — Compact design

Wancle’s sous vide machine brings a cooking technique practised in high-calibre restaurants into your own home without the high-calibre price. The device isn’t picky when it comes to container size, so you’re free to choose any pot or container that best fits the food portions of your recipe. Cooking a wide variety of meals is no problem as the machine allows you to set the temperature anywhere between 25 and 99.9 degrees Celsius. You can even set the time to 99:59 minutes to make sure that every dish is covered. The easy-to-operate LCD lets you set these variables without any fuss. The food-grade stainless-steel cover, water level protection system, and stable clamps keep you, your food, and the device itself safe.

Why we love it:

— Precise controls — Durable materials — Quiet operation

If you’re a budding home cook who’s looking to expand your culinary repertoire, consider adding Inkbird’s sous vide machine to your arsenal. The intelligent display keeps you updated on time and temperature, while the LED indicator lets you know when it has finished cooking the food, and, best of all, you can easily control this sous vide machine with the accompanying app, even when you’re not in the room. The secure clamps keep it locked on your container of choice to keep it from dislodging. Its stainless-steel ergonomic design makes it a breeze to handle, even when things get a bit rough in the kitchen.

Why we love it:

— Temperature and water level alarms — Simple user-interface — Fast heating

KitchenBoss’ sous vide machine won’t disturb anyone with its low 15.5-decibel noise output. The quiet operation hides the powerful, 1100 watt power of the device that quickly heats up even big batches of water. The brushless motor runs at a consistent 2,900 revolutions per minute and moves 16 litres of water per minute to ensure proper heat distribution. The precise controls let you adjust the temperature between 40 and 90 degrees Celsius at increments of 0.1 degrees, allowing you to get that perfect temperature for your food. As the machine is always near water, the IPX7 waterproofing keeps it safe and easy to clean.

Why we love it:

— Durable stainless-steel construction — Secure clamping mechanism — Consistent heat distribution