Best Sous Vide Cooker: Anova vs. Breville Joule vs. Inkbird
Heat-up speed, ice-bath thawing, water depth, cleaning and apps: how Anova, Breville Joule, Inkbird and other sous vide cookers compare.
A sous vide cooker is a stick that heats a pot of water to an exact temperature and holds it there. Food sealed in a bag sits in that water until it reaches the same temperature all the way through, so a steak comes out the same pink from edge to edge, chicken stays juicy and eggs set exactly how you want them. A quick sear afterward adds the crust.
Most sous vide machines hold temperature well, so that isn't what separates them. The real differences are how fast they heat the water, how low they go (which matters for thawing in ice water), how much water they need, how they attach to a pot, how easy they are to clean, and whether you need an app to use them at all. This guide covers those differences and which machine fits which cook.
Quick verdict
- Best all-rounder: the Anova Precision Cooker 3.0. Fast, accurate, works from its own touch controls or the app, goes down to 32°F for ice baths, and its sleeve comes off for cleaning.
- Best for app-guided cooking: the Breville Joule Turbo. The fastest heater, the smallest body, a magnetic base, very quiet, and the best app of the group. There's no display, and it won't run below 68°F.
- Best for big batches: the Anova Precision Cooker Pro, the most powerful Anova, for large water baths and long cooks.
- Best for trying it out: the Wancle 1100W Sous Vide, a simple stick that still does the job.
The sous vide cookers side by side
| Cooker | Shop | Power | Lowest temp | Controls | Attaches with | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anova Precision Cooker 3.0 |  View on Amazon
| 1,100 W | 32°F | Touch display + app | Adjustable clamp | Most home cooks |
| Anova Precision Cooker Pro |  View on Amazon
| 1,200 W | 32°F | Touch display + app | Adjustable clamp | Large baths, long cooks |
| Breville Joule Turbo |  View on Amazon
| 1,100 W | 68°F | App only (one button) | Magnetic base or clip | App lovers, small kitchens |
| Inkbird ISV-200W Wi-Fi Sous Vide |  View on Amazon
| 1,000 W | 32°F | Display + app | Clamp | A connected cooker with a display |
| Greater Goods Sous Vide Cooker |  View on Amazon
| 1,100 W | 68°F | Display only, no app | Clamp | Cooks who don't want an app |
| Wancle 1100W Sous Vide |  View on Amazon
| 1,100 W | 77°F | Display only | Clamp | Trying sous vide out |
Best all-rounder
Anova Precision Cooker 3.0
Heats quickly, holds temperature accurately and runs from 32°F to 197°F, with touch controls or the app, an adjustable clamp and a removable sleeve.
- 1,100 W
- 32°F to 197°F
- Touch display + app
Good for
- Most home cooks
- Ice-bath thawing
Skip it if
- Drawer storage (taller and heavier than the Joule)
What actually matters in a sous vide machine
Heating speed
The only real waiting in sous vide cooking is for the water to heat up. For a long cook like a pork shoulder that barely matters, and steaks can go in while the water is still warming. For quick, delicate foods like eggs, fish and vegetables, the water should be at temperature first, so a faster heater shortens the whole job.
Speed tracks wattage closely. Heating 10 liters of cold tap water to 135°F, the Breville Joule Turbo got there first in about 22 and a half minutes, with the 1,200-watt Anova Precision Pro only seconds behind. Lower-wattage models took noticeably longer. In a smaller 5-liter bath heated to about 149°F (65°C), an original 1,100-watt Joule finished in about 13 minutes against 15 for a 1,000-watt Anova. A lid or cover on the container helps every machine heat faster and hold temperature.
Accuracy and circulation
Accuracy is the whole point of sous vide. A degree or two doesn't matter on a 20-hour pulled pork, but it decides whether a soft-cooked egg is runny or jammy. Checked against a reference thermometer, the Greater Goods, Anova Precision Pro and most of the others landed within a few hundredths of a degree of their set point. Not every cooker is that close: one high-end model ran almost 2°F low. It's worth checking any new machine once with an instant-read thermometer. If it always reads a little off, just adjust the setting to match.
Circulation keeps the bath the same temperature everywhere. With probes at the shallow front corner and the deep back of the container, every machine kept the two spots within about half a degree to just under a degree of each other. The Inkbird held the steadiest bath. Circulation won't be the deciding factor between these.
How low it goes: thawing and ice baths
This is the spec most people overlook. A cooker that can run at 32°F can circulate ice water, which thaws frozen meat faster than still cold water and chills cooked food quickly for storage. Food that sits between 40°F and 140°F is in the USDA's "danger zone", where bacteria grow fastest, so a machine that heats the water whenever it's on works against you there.
The Anova Precision Cooker 3.0, Anova Pro and Inkbird all go down to 32°F. The Breville Joule Turbo and Greater Goods start at 68°F, and the Wancle at 77°F. They can all cook, but none of those three can run an ice bath. If you thaw meat often, that rules them out.
Water depth and container fit
Each cooker has a minimum water line, and they vary a lot. The Joule can run in as little as about 2 inches of water, while a compact Anova Nano 2.0 needed over 5 inches. There's a catch with the Joule: its outlet sits high on the body, so in less than about 4 inches of water it gets splashy and loud. In practice that means filling it deeper than the minimum.
How a machine attaches matters too. The Joule's magnetic base lets it stand on its own in a steel pot, which is handy, but its fixed clip doesn't reach down into a shallow plastic container. The Anovas use a screw clamp that adjusts up and down, which fits more containers but takes a moment longer to set. Clip-style clamps are the fastest to put on. If you buy a dedicated sous vide tub with a lid, check that the lid's cutout fits your cooker; most are round, and an odd-shaped cooker may need its maker's own tub. Covering the water stops evaporation on long cooks, and plastic wrap works on a pot.
Cleaning
Mineral scale builds up on the heater and pump over time, so being able to get inside matters. The Anova 3.0, Anova Pro, Inkbird, Greater Goods and Wancle all let the outer sleeve come off to clean the internals, though a couple need a screwdriver. The Joule only lets the magnetic base come off. The Anova Nano 2.0 doesn't come apart at all, a real drawback for a machine that sits in water for hours.
App or no app
An app is more useful than it sounds. Long cooks are easy to forget, and a phone alert when the water is ready or the timer ends helps. The Joule has no screen at all; everything is set in its app, which walks you through it: pick the food, pick how done you want it from photos, pick thickness and fresh or frozen, and it sets the time and temperature. It also works with Alexa. That app is the best of the group by a wide margin, and with no screen there's nothing to break if it falls into the water. The trade-off is that if your phone or Wi-Fi isn't cooperating, you can't cook.
The Anova app is useful but less guided. Its recipe library is mostly user-submitted, and many cooks end up looking up times online instead. The Anovas also have touch controls, so the app is optional, and basic control works without Anova's paid subscription. Setting up an older Anova on Wi-Fi was a frustrating process that needed a 2.4 GHz network and several tries, so plan to set it up before the first cook. The Greater Goods skips the app entirely, which some cooks prefer.
Noise
None of these is loud, but the Greater Goods, Breville Joule Turbo and Wancle were so quiet it was hard to tell they were running. That matters for a machine that may run overnight in an open kitchen.
The picks in detail
Anova Precision Cooker 3.0: best all-rounder
The Anova 3.0 does everything well and has no major weak spot. Its 1,100 watts heat a bath quickly, it holds temperature accurately, and it runs from 32°F up to 197°F, so the same machine thaws, chills and cooks. The touch display means you can cook without the app, but the app is there for alerts and remote control. The adjustable clamp fits pots and tubs of different heights, and the sleeve comes off for cleaning. Anova also backs it with a longer warranty than Inkbird. For most kitchens this is the machine to buy.
The trade-offs: it's taller and heavier than the Joule, the clamp takes a little more fiddling, and the app is less helpful than Breville's.
Best all-rounder
Anova Precision Cooker 3.0
Heats quickly, holds temperature accurately and runs from 32°F to 197°F, with touch controls or the app, an adjustable clamp and a removable sleeve.
- 1,100 W
- 32°F to 197°F
- Touch display + app
Good for
- Most home cooks
- Ice-bath thawing
Skip it if
- Drawer storage (taller and heavier than the Joule)
Breville Joule Turbo: best for app-guided cooking
The Joule Turbo is the fastest heater here and the most compact, about the size of a large wand, so it stores in a drawer. It's nearly silent, the magnetic base holds it upright in a steel pot without a clamp, and its app makes sous vide almost foolproof for a beginner. Breville says its Turbo mode can cut cook times roughly in half for some foods. It's the machine for anyone who wants to be told exactly what to do and get a perfect result.
The trade-offs: it can't be used without a phone, it won't run below 68°F for ice-bath thawing, only the base comes off for cleaning, and it gets splashy in shallow water.
Best app-guided cooking
Breville Joule Turbo
The fastest heater and the most compact body, nearly silent, with a magnetic base and an app that makes sous vide almost foolproof.
- Magnetic base
- Turbo mode
- App only
Good for
- Beginners
- Drawer storage
Skip it if
- Cooking without a phone
- Ice baths (won't run below 68°F)
Anova Precision Cooker Pro: best for big batches
The Pro is Anova's heavy-duty model. At 1,200 watts it matched the Joule Turbo's heat-up time within seconds, and it was one of the most accurate in the group. It's built for larger water baths and very long cooks like brisket or short ribs for a crowd, and it shares the 3.0's 32°F low end, touch controls and app. For a typical family dinner, the 3.0 is plenty; the Pro earns its place when you regularly fill a big container.
Best for big batches
Anova Precision Cooker Pro
Anova's heavy-duty model matched the Joule Turbo's heat-up and was one of the most accurate, built for big baths and very long cooks.
- 1,200 W
- 32°F low
- Touch + app
Good for
- Cooking for a crowd
- Brisket and short ribs
Skip it if
- A typical family dinner (the 3.0 is plenty)
Inkbird ISV-200W Wi-Fi Sous Vide: a quieter connected cooker
The Inkbird gets the important things right: a 32°F low for ice baths, an app with alerts, and the most even water bath of the group. It's also a little quieter than the Anovas. It has less power at 1,000 watts, so it heats a bath more slowly, and its warranty is shorter than Anova's. If you want ice-bath thawing and an app without the Anova name, this is the one.
Connected and quiet
Inkbird ISV-200W Wi-Fi Sous Vide
A 32°F low for ice baths, an app with alerts and the most even water bath of the group, a little quieter than the Anovas.
- 1,000 W
- 32°F low
- Wi-Fi app
Good for
- App alerts and ice baths
Skip it if
- Fast heat-up (1,000 W)
Greater Goods Sous Vide Cooker: best without an app
The Greater Goods is for cooks who want a simple dial-it-in machine with no account, no Wi-Fi and no phone. It was the most accurate cooker against the reference thermometer, one of the quietest, and its 1,100 watts heat quickly. The limits: the lowest setting is 68°F, so no ice baths, and with no app there are no alerts, so set a kitchen timer.
Best without an app
Greater Goods Sous Vide Cooker
A simple dial-it-in machine with no account, Wi-Fi or phone, and the most accurate cooker against the reference thermometer.
- 1,100 W
- 68°F low
- No app
Good for
- Cooks who don't want an app
- Quiet kitchens
Skip it if
- Ice baths (68°F low)
- Alerts (set a kitchen timer)
Wancle 1100W Sous Vide: best for trying it out
The Wancle cooks food just as well for everyday use. It's quiet, easy to clip on, and a good way to find out whether sous vide fits your cooking before stepping up. The trade-offs are a 77°F floor, so no ice baths, no app, and a lesser-known brand, so long-term durability is more of a question mark than with Anova or Breville.
For trying sous vide
Wancle 1100W Sous Vide
Cooks food just as well for everyday use, quiet and easy to clip on, a good way to find out whether sous vide fits your cooking.
- 1,100 W
- 77°F low
- Clip-on
Good for
- Trying sous vide out
Skip it if
- Ice baths (77°F floor)
- An app
What else you need
- A container: a large stockpot works. A clear plastic sous vide tub with a lid fits more food, holds heat better and lets you see the bags.
- Bags: a vacuum sealer gives the tightest seal and the best contact with the water; see the vacuum sealer guide. Heavy zipper freezer bags work too: lower the open bag into the water slowly and the water pushes the air out before you seal it.
- Clips: plain metal binder clips hold a bag to the side of the container so it doesn't float.
- A cover for long cooks: if the water drops below the minimum line, these machines shut off as a safety measure. Cover the water, but not the cooker itself.
- A hot pan: sous vide meat comes out gray on the outside. A minute per side in a very hot cast iron skillet or a torch adds the crust. Pat the meat dry first.
Best app-guided cooking
Breville Joule Turbo
The fastest heater and the most compact body, nearly silent, with a magnetic base and an app that makes sous vide almost foolproof.
- Magnetic base
- Turbo mode
- App only
Good for
- Beginners
- Drawer storage
Skip it if
- Cooking without a phone
- Ice baths (won't run below 68°F)
How to choose
- Want one machine that does everything, including thawing in ice water? The Anova Precision Cooker 3.0.
- New to sous vide and want the app to guide you? The Breville Joule Turbo.
- Cooking for a crowd in big containers? The Anova Precision Cooker Pro.
- Want an app and ice baths without the Anova? The Inkbird ISV-200W.
- Don't want an app at all? The Greater Goods.
- Just trying it out? The Wancle.
Sous vide pairs well with batch cooking: cook several portions, chill them in an ice bath and freeze them in their bags. The glass food storage guide covers the containers for everything else.
Posted by Kristopher Larson
Frequently asked questions
Is a sous vide cooker worth it?
If you cook steak, chicken breasts, pork chops or fish often, yes. Sous vide takes the guesswork out of doneness: the food can't go past the water temperature, so it comes out evenly cooked from edge to edge every time. It's also mostly hands-off, and it turns tough cuts tender over long cooks. You still need a hot pan or torch for the crust.
Do you need a vacuum sealer for sous vide?
No. Heavy zipper freezer bags work for most cooks: lower the open bag slowly into the water so the pressure pushes the air out, then seal it just above the waterline. A vacuum sealer gives a tighter seal with better contact, which helps on long cooks and for freezing portions ahead.
Which sous vide cooker heats water the fastest?
Speed follows wattage. The Breville Joule Turbo and the 1,200-watt Anova Precision Cooker Pro were the fastest, heating 10 liters of cold water to 135°F in about 22 and a half minutes. Covering the container and starting with hot tap water both shorten the wait.
Can you thaw frozen meat with a sous vide cooker?
Yes, if the cooker can run at 32°F. Circulating ice water thaws meat faster than still water while keeping it below 40°F. The Anova Precision Cooker 3.0, Anova Pro and Inkbird can do this; the Breville Joule Turbo and Greater Goods start at 68°F and the Wancle at 77°F, so they heat the water whenever they're running.
Do you need the app to use a sous vide cooker?
It depends on the model. The Breville Joule Turbo has no screen and works only through its app. The Anova models have touch controls, so the app is optional, and basic control doesn't need Anova's subscription. The Greater Goods and Wancle have no app at all.
How much water does a sous vide cooker need?
Each has a minimum and maximum line on the body. The Breville Joule can run in about 2 inches of water but gets splashy below about 4 inches; some compact models need more than 5 inches. Fill enough to cover the food completely, cover the container on long cooks, and keep an eye on the level, since these cookers shut off if the water drops too low.
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