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Sous vide cooking: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Beef Tenderloin vaccum packed and ready to be cooked sous vide.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Beef Tenderloin vacuum packed and ready to be cooked sous vide.]] | [[Image:Beef Tenderloin vaccum packed and ready to be cooked sous vide.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Beef Tenderloin vacuum packed and ready to be cooked sous vide.]] | ||
[[Image:Sous Vide Rib-eye Steak.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Sous Vide Rib-eye Steak cooked for 4 hours at 120°F / 50°C. (seared separately).]] | [[Image:Sous Vide Rib-eye Steak.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Sous Vide [[Rib-eye Steak]] cooked for 4 hours at 120°F / 50°C. (seared separately).]] | ||
[[Image:SousVide Supreme.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Domestic sous vive cooker: SousVide Supreme]] | [[Image:SousVide Supreme.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Domestic sous vive cooker: SousVide Supreme]] | ||
'''Sous-vide''', French for "under vacuum", is a method of cooking food sealed in airtight plastic bags in a water bath for a long time—72 hours is not unusual—at an accurately determined temperature much lower than normally used for cooking, typically around 60 °C or 140 °F. The intention is to maintain the integrity of ingredients. | '''Sous-vide''', French for "under vacuum", is a method of cooking food sealed in airtight plastic bags in a water bath for a long time—72 hours is not unusual—at an accurately determined temperature much lower than normally used for cooking, typically around 60 °C or 140 °F. The intention is to maintain the integrity of ingredients. | ||
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Cooking time is often not at always critical, within limits, as the temperature is not high enough to change the nature of the food rapidly. For example fish, which becomes dry very quickly if cooked conventionally for a little longer than necessary, will remain in perfect condition for a significant time. | Cooking time is often not at always critical, within limits, as the temperature is not high enough to change the nature of the food rapidly. For example fish, which becomes dry very quickly if cooked conventionally for a little longer than necessary, will remain in perfect condition for a significant time. | ||
===Safety=== | ===Safety=== | ||
Clostridium botulinum bacteria can grow in food in the absence of oxygen and produce the deadly botulinum toxin, so sous-vide cooking must be performed under carefully controlled conditions to avoid botulism poisoning. Generally speaking, food that is heated and served within four hours is considered safe, but meat that is cooked for longer to | Clostridium botulinum bacteria can grow in food in the absence of oxygen and produce the deadly botulinum toxin, so sous-vide cooking must be performed under carefully controlled conditions to avoid botulism poisoning. Generally speaking, food that is heated and served within four hours is considered safe, but meat that is cooked for longer to tenderise it must reach a temperature of at least 131 °F (55 °C) within four hours and then be kept there, in order to pasteurise the meat. Pasteurisation kills the botulism bacteria, but the possibility of hardy botulism spores surviving and reactivating once cool remains a concern as with many preserved foods, however processed. | ||
Extra precautions need to be taken for food to be eaten by people with compromised immunity. Pregnant women may choose to be more careful than usual. | Extra precautions need to be taken for food to be eaten by people with compromised immunity. Pregnant women may choose to be more careful than usual. | ||