Instant Pot Accu Sous Vide Immersion Circulator Review
Quality - 95%
Features - 92%
Price - 88%
Personal Experience - 94%
Value - 84%
91%
Not Bad!
The Instant Pot Accu Sous Vide Immersion Circulator is a decent quality product for a slightly more expensive price than many other immersion circulators. It would not be my "choice" in most situations, considering there are many other models out there with better features, better designs, and better construction. However, this device is getting some very good reviews on other sites so far, so keep reading this review to see if you should buy this immersion circulator or a different one!
Introduction
As part of my extensive reviews of immersion circulators, I bought the Instant Pot Accu Sous Vide Immersion Circulator to test and review it. After all, how could I decide which one was the best without testing them all? OK, I admit that basically I really like cooking sous vide and just wanted to find the best one for me.
I'm very familiar with the Instant Pot brand, and have reviewed their pressure cookers as well as other kitchen appliances before. I'm a big fan!
The Instant Pot Accu Sous Vide started off by giving me a really good impression. They had beautiful box, and neatly packed appliance, a colorful instruction booklet, and an overall pleasant unboxing experience. I couldn't wait to try it! This particular immersion circulator was priced right in the middle of the inexpensive and premium immersion circulators, plus, it had a bunch of good reviews on Amazon, so I was interested to see how it compared to the other 13 models I had tested.
This device did perform as promised, but unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations for the Instant Pot brand or the price it was selling at. It cooked the food accurately, and there are some definite advantages to this model over other brands, but my main disappointment was that it offered basic features for a premium price.
Keep reading to see what I liked and didn't like about the Instant Pot Accu Sous Vide immersion circulator, how it compared to other brands (cheaper and more expensive), and what I would recommend as an alternative if you decide this is not the one you should get.
Standard Features
Actually, one of the things I really liked about the Instant Pot Immersion circulator was the clear, bright button on the face of the device. Surprisingly, more than one other circulator I tested had low-lit button which made it hard to read and navigate. It's also got a nice anti-glare finish on the screen much like the Anova, and matte-finish black casing (not as nice as Anova's silky satin texture though!)
To operate the device, press the ‘M' button to switch between the Temperature and Time display. You can see each clearly labeled. To add or subtract time and temperature, simply press the + or – button. Once you've got it set, press the START button to begin heating your water!
But before we get cooking, I wanted to point out one feature that I did not like about the Instant Pot circulator construction. You can see in the image below that the clamp snaps onto the body of the immersion circulator. That's fine, but it is not adjustable like the Anova (by the way, this review is not strictly an Instant Pot VS Anova comparison). There is no advantage to having a removable clip since it only has one operational position.
Above me, you can see this this is the “screw down” style clamp, which is not my preference. To make it worse, the metal is quite thin, so bends if you tighten it down too much. Just look at the image to see it bending slightly. I think this could cause issues over time, although you can probably just bend it back in place.
After reaching your target temperature, the Instant Pot immersion circulator will give a few warning beeps, then start cooking immediately. I prefer that it waits for some interaction with you before starting like the Gourmia GSV140. For example, while I was writing this article, I was actually using the Instant Pot. It beeped to let me know I reached the 149º F desired temperature, but I was still editing an image, then I got distracted on reddit. 15 minutes later, with the countdown timer already started, I only had 45 minutes left of a 60 minute cook time.
It was very easy to restart the timer, but still. I guess an easy solution would be to just leave the chicken in there from the start, since overcooking is hard to do!
Extra Features
Look below, and you'll see that the Instant Pot SV800 actually has a wide, flat bottom, which makes it great for placing in the middle of a pot rather than on the side though. Not all immersion circulators are made for this, or they do it poorly. The Joule has this feature, but is best when used on metal surfaces since its magnetic. Sansaire Sous Vide is even wider and more stable in the middle of a container, but there are some big downsides to that product as well.
I also noticed that the Instant Pot was very quiet compared to other immersion circulators. Some, like the NutriChef Prime or the Kitchen Gizmo, are quite noisy. Many others I've reviewed are just as quiet! If you're cooking a roast for 48 hours, having a quiet sous vide cooker can be important or that whiz-whir will get on your nerves!
Cooking Experience
Though I cook a lot of salmon, steak, and chicken with my various sous vide devices, I wanted to try something new and do some poached eggs. I love soft eggs on toast in the morning, or on steel cut oatmeal. I usually just fry them because it's quickest, but poaching is my choice method of cooking.
Sure enough, sous vide poached eggs are amazing. In the photo below you can see some orange sweet potatoes in the background. I tried to do the sweet potato toast thing that was trendy for a minute, but it didn't really work out. I ended up pan-frying them to get them soft enough to eat without burning them.
If you are going to do sous vide eggs, I recommend putting them in a bag. I didn't think about it but they can crack, and can get egg stuck on your heating element swirling around in the water. I didn't have this issue, but it can happen! Instant Pot's circulator has an easy-removable casing so you can clean, if necessary, but some other models, namely Gourmia ones, do not have this feature.
Keep in mind though, with only 800 watts of power and no adjustable height, you may be stuck heating a large pot of water before you reach ideal cooking temperature for your eggs. For example, I waited 30 minutes to reach my desired temp, then another 40 minutes for my eggs to finish. I hope you weren't hungry!
Technical Stuff
- Unit Size Size: 3.5 x 3.5 x 15 inches, 1.7 pounds
- Temperature Range & Precision: 0.4°F/ 0.2°C, Up To 195º F
- Power: 800 Watts
- Pump Circulation: 2.1 GPM (Gallons Per Minute)
The Accu Sous Vide is slightly wider than most circulators at the bottom, which makes it great for sitting in the middle of your cooking vessel. Since it has an omnidirectional pump, meaning it sprays water in multiple directions, this would be the ideal position I think! However, it still more stable when clipped to the side of the container.
The temperature accuracy is slightly less accurate than almost all the other brands out there, but just barely. The difference between 0.1 and 0.2 probably won't make a difference in any of your meals.
The main point the Accu Sous Vide suffers is the wattage. 800 watts means you'll heat water at a slower pace, although 2.1 GPM is quite good, considering some models go as low as 1.3 GPM. You would probably want to stick to a 5 gallon max capacity, but smaller volumes of water will be better since they heat quicker.
Comparing The Instant Pot SV800 To Other Immersion Circulators
Usually I get quit in-depth in the comparison section, but it turns out I've done a lot of comparisons throughout this review of the SV800, so I'll just summarize with a few main points.
- 800 watts is the lowest power you can expect from an immersion circulator. The Joule from ChefSteps and the Gourmia GSV140 both do better. The Joule is more expensive, and the GSV14o is cheaper. I prefer both of them to Instant Pot. The only other worse deal in terms of heating element is the Anova (previously mentioned) which gives you 800-900 watts of power and is considered a “premium” circulator.
- Instant Pot has a pretty standard design, without any color variation. Gourmia models come with color choices, as to Kitchen Gizmo. It's decent construction, but not the best in comparison to others. It does have a very nice display though!
- Just talking about price, I find it hard to pay extra when this is a pretty normal immersion circulator. Why pay 30% – 50% more when you can get similar or better features for cheaper?
- Gourmia GSV140
- Brand: Gourmia
Generation: Second
Max Capacity: 10 Gallons
Heating Element: 1200 Watts
Temperature Accuracy +/- 0.1º
Colors: Black/White/Grey/Gold/Blue
Price:
Includes Recipe Book: Yes
Wifi/Bluetooth Enabled: No - Tested
Reviewed
Recommended - Rank: #1
- Gourmia GSV130
- Brand: Gourmia
Generation: First
Max Capacity: 10 Gallons
Heating Element: 1200 Watts
Temperature Accuracy +/- 0.1º
Colors: Black/White/Gold
Price:
Includes Recipe Book: Yes
Wifi/Bluetooth Enabled: No - Tested
Reviewed
Recommended - Rank: #2
- Simplified Sous Vide
- Brand: Kitchen Gizmo
Generation: First Max Capacity: Unknown
Heating Element: 800 Watts
Temperature Accuracy +/- 0.1º
Colors: Blue/Grey/Red
Price:
Includes Recipe Book: Yes
Wifi/Bluetooth Enabled: No - Tested
Reviewed
Recommended - Rank: #3
Who Is The Instant Pot Accu Sous Vide Best For?
If you really like the Instant Pot brand, then the Accu Sous Vide SV800 is a good product for you. It's got solid construction, and executes basic functions as expected. It's definitely worth the money, especially if you cook sous vide often. If you like this particular design, that's another good reason to get this particular device as opposed to any other one.
However, I think there are other models which will appeal a more specific audience. If you want super cheap, then I'd go with the NutriChef Prime or a Gourmia, both of which also come with a stronger heating element. If you are looking for great design, then the KG Simplified Sous Vide is a great choice. In fact, I think the Anova Precision looks similar to the Instant Pot design, with some obvious upgrades.
==> Get The Instant Pot Accu Sous Vide!
Conclusion
This was a very good product, but it just didn't provide enough added value to justify the higher-than-normal pricing. Perhaps someone who's used this brand of immersion circulator can give me some insight into why they prefer it to others, or what their personal experiences have been. Leave a comment below and lets find out!
Pros/Cons
Pros
- Very Quiet Pump
- Trusted Brand
- Wide, Flat Base Can Sit In Center Of Water Bath
- Removable Casing For Easy Clean
Cons
- Short Cord (2 Feet)
- Mid Price, But Basic Features
- Only 800 Watts
- Automatic Shutdown After Cooking
==> Get The Instant Pot Accu Sous Vide Immersion Circulator Here!
- Gourmia GSV140
- Brand: Gourmia
Generation: Second
Max Capacity: 10 Gallons
Heating Element: 1200 Watts
Temperature Accuracy +/- 0.1º
Colors: Black/White/Grey/Gold/Blue
Price:
Includes Recipe Book: Yes
Wifi/Bluetooth Enabled: No - Tested
Reviewed
Recommended - Rank: #1
- Gourmia GSV130
- Brand: Gourmia
Generation: First
Max Capacity: 10 Gallons
Heating Element: 1200 Watts
Temperature Accuracy +/- 0.1º
Colors: Black/White/Gold
Price:
Includes Recipe Book: Yes
Wifi/Bluetooth Enabled: No - Tested
Reviewed
Recommended - Rank: #2
- Simplified Sous Vide
- Brand: Kitchen Gizmo
Generation: First Max Capacity: Unknown
Heating Element: 800 Watts
Temperature Accuracy +/- 0.1º
Colors: Blue/Grey/Red
Price:
Includes Recipe Book: Yes
Wifi/Bluetooth Enabled: No - Tested
Reviewed
Recommended - Rank: #3
Unboxing and getting ready to cook some sous vide eggs!
John Rico says
February 7, 2017 at 5:20 pmHey there! I really liked your review about instant pot accu sous vide immersion circulator. I’m looking for a gift for my mother’s birthday. She like to cook foods, any type of food. Since she’s gonna be 49 next week I was thinking of buying her something to help her when cooking. She already have a food processor and set of knives. I think that she doesn’t have one of this. Do you think that this is a perfect gift for her? Thank you for response.
Food For Net says
February 8, 2017 at 10:14 amIf she loves cooking, then yes, this would be an awesome gift for her. I know that I was very surprised to learn how sous vide worked back when I started researching these devices. Now, I use one every week.
It’s such a unique way of cooking, and really make some types of cooking “hands off”. You can cook a steak for 2 hours and not have to touch it the entire time! I’m not sure what type of food your mother likes, but even if she’s not into medium rare steaks, she can cook things like pudding, creme brûlée, and other sweets. There are entire books for sous vide dessert recipes!
Some of the desserts tend to be a bit more involved, but if she has the time, they can be really fun projects. It’s like discovering a whole new way to cook food, and can turn into a really awesome hobby.
Princila says
February 9, 2017 at 7:28 pmVery insightful review, thank you!
I love cooking, but I’m more of the traditional type who doesn’t really invest much in electronic kitchen products for the simple reason that I once bought an electronic product and non one in my household could operate it.
Is this easy to operate, even for the ‘electronic challenged’ like some of us? 🙂
Food For Net says
February 9, 2017 at 7:32 pmImmersion circulators like this one are just “plug and play”. The only things you need to be able to set are the temperature and time. Plus, there are only two buttons to operate! It should be easy enough. Once cooking, you just leave it be. When the cook is done, you can just press the off button, then unplug it. No cleanup necessary either!
Audrey L. K. says
February 10, 2017 at 6:14 pmThank you for writing this incredibly helpful article! I love to cook and have always admired immersion circulators from afar, and felt overwhelmed by the task of figuring out which one to choose. I don’t have the time to do extensive research, so this really helped me a lot. The Instant Pot looks like an excellent product with all of the necessary features for cooking sous vide. I’m definitely going to check this out!
Food For Net says
February 12, 2017 at 8:41 pmGlad I could help Audrey. A lot of people haven’t heard of immersion circulators, but when you hear about them for the first time, it’s hard to ignore. The concept is so interesting, and for a “new” style of cooking, it’s incredibly easy to get started. A hundred bucks and you’re good to go, and you can start cooking authentic, sous vide meals!
Plus, just about everyone can enjoy a good steak, and it’s the most fun to do when you get started.
Hope you enjoy your Instant Pot immersion circulators. Stop by after you’ve tried it a couple times and let me know what you think!
Frank says
February 12, 2017 at 6:24 pmI am totally blown away by this review. Your comparison of the various products and the opportunity to purchase the different product based on a personal preference is great.
I am not into this type of cooking but you peaked my interest. I will be looking into this in the near future and will certainly return to your site to have another look.
I am also impressed that you answer all your comments, as this will build trust and customer loyalty.
Thanks for the opportunity to view this page. It is giving me many ideas for my own product reviews.
Brad says
February 14, 2017 at 6:19 pmSo how do I really know if this something for me? If I don’t cook that often is it really worth it for me to purchase something like this. Also thinking about getting one for my mom who does a lot of cooking herself. Would this be something that I would need to ask to see if she would really use it or do you think she would find more times to use it knowing that she had one. Thank you for your advice
Food For Net says
February 15, 2017 at 9:14 amIt’s hard to say! I would say you need to ask her if she wants one, but then again, most people don’t know what these are, so it may be better to just get one for her and that might force her to use it. Or get one for yourself, make some food with it, and see if she would be interested!
Richard U. says
February 16, 2017 at 2:01 pmi have been looking for something like this for ages and i am glad i stumbled upon your site right now.
I have a food related website and i will love to see more on how this items works, what mechanism, and how lasting it is all where it is made.
The great thing is half of questions has been answered by your post so i will keep this saved and come back to it with rapt attention.
Thanks.
Kathy says
February 18, 2017 at 11:21 amThis is your second sous vide device review I have read. My first one was the review you wrote about the Anova Precision Cooker Immersion Circulator. From your review, I think I would much prefer the Anova over the Instant Pot. Do you agree? I’m still not totally sold on this technique of cooking, but you are slowly making a believer out of me. 🙂
Kathy
Food For Net says
February 18, 2017 at 11:21 amYes, I do prefer the Anova. It’s a little more expensive, but not by much! If you get the 800 watt instead of the 900 watt, it’s even closer in price. In terms of usability, and features, I think it’s worth getting the full 900 watt version of the Anova unless you really want to save money.
Steve says
February 20, 2017 at 11:42 amThis looks good and it seems clear, clean and easy to use. But due to the price I may well go for the Gourmia GSV130 – that seems like a better option. Thanks for helping me make up my mind!
Food For Net says
February 20, 2017 at 3:32 pmSounds good man! That’s also a great option.
Makayla says
February 21, 2017 at 6:39 amThank you for this great product review! You provided a lot of great information and details. I love to cook and I am in the kitchen every chance I get!
I have been looking into getting an immersion circulator, since I have heard so many good things about them! I plan on checking out some of your other reviews now, to see which one will be the best fit for me. Thank you again for this great review!
Food For Net says
February 21, 2017 at 9:37 amHere’s a list of all my sous vide reviews so you can compare them!
Keith says
February 22, 2017 at 3:11 amThere are a lot of similar products on the market making it difficult to choose one to buy.
Which is why review sites such as yours are so valuable.
This is a well rounded review with lots to think about. The better construction verses the higher price tag when compared to competitor products.
Decisions. Decisions.
Colm says
February 23, 2017 at 3:54 amThanks for the detailed review. I have been looking into Sous Vide cooking, it is new to me so I am really only getting started with it. I need to buy an immersion circulator to get moving, I reckon I’ll go with the Gourmia GSV40 as you recommend.
What food would you suggest I start with when first cooking with this method? That is, to get used to the cooking process and so on, is it easier to cook meat as opposed to say poached eggs as you reference in your review? Also, can you cook several things at the same time? So, say meat in one bag and green beans in another?
Food For Net says
February 23, 2017 at 11:16 amAll things are pretty much similar. Personally, I started with the exciting stuff and went straight for the steaks. It’s hard to mess up a sous vide steak.
The weird part is that they come out of the bag wet and floppy. It’s not too attractive. But once you dry them off and sear in butter, they start to look like a regular steak….and they taste much better!
BelieveYouCandle says
February 24, 2017 at 8:02 pmWow! That is one impressive review for a Instant Pot Accu Sous Vide Immersion Circulator! I love the overall layout of your page and the way you broke out each section and talked about them independently! Very nice!
As for the product itself, I have never heard of it! 🙂
My wife loves to cook and I love to eat so it is a match made in heaven. This could be a possible gift down the road thanks to all the great information you have provide here!
Thank you!
🙂
Marc says
February 26, 2017 at 8:41 amGreat review!
I love cooking but I honestly never tried sous vide yet. I am thinking of getting to it soon but more importantly I was thinking to offer one of those as a gift to my mother since she is always overcooking red meat although she likes it medium-rare.
Thanks for the help!
Tressy says
February 27, 2017 at 12:24 pmI didn’t even know that this existed…hehe..
Great review. I especially liked your video-review. I liked it on YouTube.
I don’t really cook much myself, but this might be a good gift for my mum, who has a birthday coming up..:-)
I might have to look at the other ones you have linked to as well.. Will you do more reviews on those? I still have some time before my mothers b-Day…:-)
Caleb says
February 28, 2017 at 1:09 pmThis circulator looks like a pretty sweet device. I’ve looked at the Instant Pot brand many times in the past to just look and what they have and their pressure cookers and such. However, what I really want to know about this circulator is exactly what it is capable of in case I might buy it in the future.
ALFRED5230 says
March 1, 2017 at 11:08 amI really like the fact that with instant cooker there is less means and efforts to prepare a well delicious meal for the family. The only things you need to be able to do is to set up the temperature and time. I like the overall design of your website pages. I think there will be more and more of your adience visiting your site to explore on various items on the pages as set upfront. All in all the work you have done is fantastic. Thank you
Rori O'Hara says
March 2, 2017 at 3:45 pmThanks for the overview on immersion circulators. I have a knack for overcooking everything and burning entire meals. With this method I won’t have that problem anymore. And I will finally enjoy my soft-boiled eggs…soft!
I didn’t even know of this way to cook, so I’m glad I ran across your informative blog for making cooking easier.
Thanks for your recommendations. When it comes to buying kitchen appliances, I like to know I will be getting a good product and good value!
Amir Setoudegan says
March 4, 2017 at 4:55 amHi
I always like to cook and sometimes help my wife and cook.
I am a crazy of tech and the Instant Pot Accu Sous could be one of my favorite. I know the price is very good but do they have valuable warranty?
your review on this product was awesome and the most important thing for me is user experience.
Robert Junk says
March 9, 2017 at 1:59 pmI’ll be honest I still don’t understand how this works or what the benefits are of using it other then it’s cool. Don’t get me wrong I think it’s really cool and would use it if I knew how to. I then watched the video and now I understand how it works. Nathan, are these popular? Do you use one? I feel I like I want to but just wonder your thoughts. Thanks in advance for helping get me over the hump. 🙂
Food For Net says
March 9, 2017 at 3:06 pmYes, I use this on a regular basis! They aren’t super popular, but they are gaining popularity. I think people are getting bored of all the “normal” cooking techniques like frying, baking, etc, and want to branch out. Though the sous vide technique isn’t new, per se, it hasn’t been very popular for a while. It’s on a comeback now!
Many of the newest sous vide devices were released just at the end of last year. I’m curious to see what 2017 holds for the sous vide and immersion ciruclator world.
Wayne says
March 11, 2017 at 4:16 amHello Nathaniell, after reading this article review, now I know what “Instant Pot Accu Sous Vide” is. Never heard of it before, I’ve bookmarked this article for later reading because I want to get one soon. This is for me a great review on something I never heard of before. It is very simple to understand and I really like the comparison of the other products as well. Thank you for this review.
Anthony Manzolillo says
March 12, 2017 at 12:58 pmGreat review! Especially on a product I have never used before and had no knowledge on. I feel like I know a little more about this product and have a new idea on an upcoming bday present! You mentioned you can use it to cook steak? Do you have a site link or something with a good recipe on how this works. I’d be interested in giving that a shot. How does it compare to cooking on a grill or in the oven?
Rikki says
March 15, 2017 at 8:59 amI found the Instant Pot Circulator on sale for 89.99 in some blowout deal one day and for that price, I’d say it’s a great little machine….for that price. I don’t know what you paid for it when this article was written but the joule is still about twice that price. I’m curious if it was this price when you wrote the article or if it’s come down low enough you might rank it differently.
Keith Newton says
May 27, 2017 at 3:54 pmHave been checking out the immersion heaters and this Instant Pot appealed to me because I like their cooker. I just found it on Amazon.ca for 120 CAD which would be 89 USD. At that price point it is probably what I will get. Thank you for the reviews.
Eveline says
October 10, 2017 at 1:36 amHi! Anova is doing a sale right now so it’s very close to the price of the instant pot. Which would you recommend? Which one is quieter? I’m hoping to just use my instant pot inner pot for the Sous Vide…
Food For Net says
October 10, 2017 at 9:18 amGiven the choice, I’d pick Anova. Hopefully it’s the Gen 2 on sale. Gen 1 only has 800 watts, while Instant Pot has has 1200. I like the design of the Anova though, and feel it’s higher quality.