DIY Sous Vide
ever wonder how the really expensive steak house places do it? they use a really expensive scientific temperature controlled water bath (sous vide) to slowly bring the steaks up to temp, but not over. then finish them on the grill. a friend of ours has one of these machines, I saw it in action and decided I'd try to build one for cheap.
the STC-1000 temperature controller ($25). uses a temp probe to act as an on/off power switch. these are commonly used by aquarium or homebrew folks.
wired it into an electrical box and plug ($12)
DONE! time for a test.
room temp reads 21C (69.8F). the power to the plug is on, heat cycle. I used Christmas lights to indicate plug power.
dropped the temp sensor into hot water (60C/140F) and the power to the plug cut off. I have the temp set for 54.5C (130F).
everything appeared to work. so I went to the store and bought some steaks.
just a bit of seasoning and herbs from the garden.
vacuum applied; sous vide means, "in vacuum"
then we took them down to wimberley. we have a small crockpot down there that we found in the old house we bought.
plugged the crockpot into my controller. dropped its temp probe in with the steaks. it took the crock pot a good two hours to get up to the correct temp. I’ll preheat the water next time and put a towel over the top so it can keep the heat better. we let the steaks cook at temp for over two hours (four hours total include time it took to get up to temp). the controller held the temp between 129-132F the whole time. this ensures the steaks are cooked to a perfect med rare all the way through.
kat likes to start fires.
we got some nice caramelization from the HOT-HOT grill.
grilled some onions and mushrooms as well.
they were cooked perfectly. so tender they could be cut with a fork.
I made the new light fixture over the dining table. it's made from reclaimed walnut and ipe, powered by 12V (solar) and uses 4 "warm white" LED spot lights.
eating area is plenty bright now.
vanilla cream soda and grapefruit juice pour fail pic above.
we also hauled in a yard of sand/decomposed granite. used an old vinyl pool liner for weedblocker. I put a hole in it so it will drain water if it ever rains around here again.
and when it was done, it was awesome! will cut the blue liner back so it won't be seen.
#1 son saw I had an extra bag of playsand. he made a sand box complete with lid and bottom.
