How to Use Anova Nano Sous Vide

Thanks to the internet (and access to specialized appliances), many of us can now finally access cooking techniques that were once the exclusive purview of professional cooks.

Sous vide cooking is one of the best examples of this: thanks to a water bath at the desired temperature, you can repeatedly cook your meats to perfection with little room for error.

But how do you keep the water at the right temperature? You can use an immersion circulator such as the Nano Precision Cooker, created by Anova Culinary.

What is the Anova Precision Cooker Nano Good For?

The Anova Nano is a Wi Fi enabled sous vide machine. It is designed to gently cool a bucket of warm water and keep it at the desired temperature for as long as it’s necessary.

Its precise temperature sensors will ensure the water doesn’t overheat (and therefore overcook the meat) but only expend energy when necessary.

In this way, it can control a large amount of water – and by extension, several T-bone steaks at once – with just 750 watts.

The key feature of the Anova Precision Nano is that it goes inside an external water bath. A button panel on top will allow you to set the temperature and time you want. 

Because of this, it may be hard to figure out how to use it properly or where the meat goes at first glance.

How to Use the Anova Nano Sous Vide

Despite its odd appearance, the Anova Precision Cooker Nano is straightforward to use. Just follow the steps below!

Set up

The Anova Nano Sous Vide can heat up to 5 gallons of water, but it doesn’t include a container. Therefore, the first thing you will need is to find a plastic or metal container of the correct size.

It should fit all the meat you want to cook without bending it. The beef cuts and their wrapping should be completely submerged.

Fill up the container and attach the Anova Nano to one side of the container. You can use the adjustable clamp to secure it.

Set the time and temperature

After the Anova Nano has been appropriately secured, turn the Nano on and set the temperature and time you want to cook. You can do this by:

• Using the button panel on top of the device
• Pairing the device with your smartphone and using the Anova app to tweak the settings

It will take a few minutes for the water to reach the right temperature. In the meantime, you can prepare the meat.

Prepare the meat

Sous vide cooking requires you to protect the meat from direct contact with water. We usually do this by vacuum sealing it in plastic.

First, you will need to season the meat. In addition to salt and pepper, you can add a peeled close of garlic or some rosemary or thyme leaves.

If you are looking for stronger flavors, you can also add a non-acidic marinade. Then, vacuum-seal the seasoned meat.

Once it is completely secured, insert it in the water.

Leave it to cook

Sous vide usually deals with a cooking time between 3 and 5 hours. Leave the meat in the heated water for as long as it needs.

If you want to monitor the water temperature, you can use the Anova app.

After a couple of hours, you can also check the meat by removing the sealed packet and inspecting it from outside. However, do not open or pierce it.

If you do that, you will need to reseal it before placing it back into the water.

Remove the meat

After approximately 3 hours, you can remove the meat from the water bath. Open the vacuum-sealed packet and place each piece on a tray or plate. Let them rest and cool off for at least 10 minutes.

Sear the meat

For the meat to feel and smell as if it was cooked the traditional way, you will need to sear it for a few minutes. Searing will release the charred aroma that we associate with steak and barbecued meats.

After the meat has cooled down, heat an iron skillet as much as possible. Spray a thin layer of cooking oil on top of the skillet.

Then, place each piece of meat on top of the skillet. Wait 20 seconds before turning them. Allow them to sear for just 20 more seconds.

Remember – the meat is already cooked! We just want it to smell better.

Tips To Make Your Anova Nano Last

The Anova Precision Cooker Nano is a relatively budget-friendly appliance. However, you still want to protect it. If you’re going to enjoy at-home sous dive cooking for years, there are two things you need to do:

Embrace the app

The Anova Nano can connect to your home’s Wi Fi. This allows you to operate it and monitor it using the Anova App, even when you are not around.

This is a smartphone app that works similarly to the Chefsteps Joule app. It allows you to monitor the water bath’s temperature from a different room. It also lets you set up a timer for reminders to check the meat.

However, it also monitors the Nano’s energy consumption. The app can alert you of overheating or of a possible problem with the sensors.

If you set the target temperature to 65 F, for example, and you see it raise to 75, you’ll know that it’s time to call for maintenance.

Use a surge protector

An immersion circulator is meant to operate for hours on end. Because of this, it can be pretty sensitive to any accidental power outages or changes in the electrical supply.

The best way to do this is always to plug your Anova Nano into a surge protector.

Conclusion

The Anova Nano Sous Vide Precision Cooker was created to allow regular food enthusiasts to cook restaurant-level meals.

It can be an excellent investment for dinner parties, as it will help you accurately predict how your final meal will look like – and even to cook it ahead of time, leaving you free to enjoy your guests.

What’s even more, it is a very easy appliance to use. Just follow the steps above, experiment with a few marinades, and let your imagination fly!