Sous vide is an increasingly popular form of cooking. In this case, your food will be sealed in a bag. It will then be placed into a temperature-controlled water bath. This will cook the food slowly, at a lower temperature. To do this properly, you’ll need to make sure that you’re using the right bags. But how can you find the right sous vide bags? Here’s what you need to know.

Why Sous Vide Food?

Let’s start by looking at why you might want to cook sous vide to begin with. There are dozens of reasons why this style is becoming so popular. First, it’s one of the healthiest ways of cooking food. The food is cooked in its juices. This means that it will retain more flavor. As a result, you won’t need to put in as much salt and pepper.

People also love this style of cooking because of how tender the meat will be. When you sous vide meat, it breaks down the protein. The longer cooking times mean that you’ll have a similar result to tenderizing the meat. People also find that when they use sous vide it’s easier to get the right level of doneness. If you have several different dietary requirements in your family, everyone can get their own bag.

Finally, sous vide is one of the most convenient cooking options. You’ll be able to put the ingredients into the bag, add a marinade, and leave it.  You can return in a few hours and have a perfectly cooked meal. You can set the sous vide cooker in the morning and have a delicious dinner waiting when you come back home. You can cook the food in advance, placing the bag into the freezer. The clean-up process is much easier. The sous vide machine doesn’t need to be cleaned; all it contains is hot water. After you clean the bag, you’ll be able to get cooking again. Now that we know why this method is so popular, let’s look at some of the ways to find the perfect sous vide bag.

Use Food-Grade Bags

One of the biggest concerns that people have when they are making sous vide food is whether it’s safe to cook with plastic. The good news is that, in most cases, the plastic will be perfectly safe to use with food. They won’t release harmful chemicals. However, you’ll still need to be careful about the type of plastic you are using.

Thinner plastics, like the type you would use to wrap food, should be avoided in sous vide cooking. In high temperatures, these might release BPA chemicals. It’s also possible that they can melt onto the food. Because of this, you’ll need to make sure that you’re choosing plastic bags that are food-grade vacuum bags. These will often have been designed for the pressures associated with sous vide cooking. Though they might be a little more expensive, you will get the peace of mind that your food will be safe. If you ever need to wrap food during the sous vide process, use saran rather than plastic wrap.

Strong Seal Sous Vide Bags

When you’re looking for sous vide bags, you want to find ones that have a strong seal. The last thing you want is for the bag to bust open when you are cooking. This will ruin the food. Some bags will have a double seal.

Vacuum Sealable

When your cooking with a sous vide machine, you’ll want to try to remove as much air as possible. This will ensure that the food will be cooked properly. This is especially important when you are cooking vegetables, sealing in all the flavor. Often, vacuum-sealed bags will be able to be stored for longer in the freezer.

Not all bags will have a vacuum sealing system. In this case, you’ll need to try and force the air out yourself. This is a perfectly acceptable solution. But, if you have the choice, it’s best to get a bag that you will be able to vacuum seal. Many bag kits will come with the vacuum sealing equipment that you will require.

Reusable vs Disposable

One of the biggest choices that you will need to make is whether you want to use a reusable or disposable bag. Both of these will have pros and cons. They will both do a good job. The type of bag that you select will depend on what you are looking for.

A reusable bag will give you the best value for money. You’ll just need to purchase the bag once. It’s the more environmentally sustainable solution. However, it will be more work. After each cook, you’ll need to wash the bag clean. Then, you’ll need to wait for it to dry before you use it again.

On the other hand, a disposable bag is a more convenient. When you’re finished cooking, you won’t need to worry about cleaning it. You just throw it away. However, this will be more expensive in the long-term.

Sous Vide Bags Price

Finally, it’s a good idea to think about how much these bags will cost. The good news is that you often won’t need to spend a fortune to get a high-quality sous vide bag. You should be able to find one for under $50. When considering the price, remember to factor in any inclusions. For example, a pack with the vacuum sealer will cost more than one that only has bags. In this case, the equipment will justify the higher purchase price.

Conclusion

Sous vide cooking can be a great choice. You’ll be able to get better flavor and texture, while you’re staying healthy. The key is getting the right bags. Hopefully, you now know some of the things you should be looking for. If you want more tips, and to see what’s out there, check out this bags for sous vide compilation. So, purchase a great sous vide bag and try this cooking style for yourself today.