Beer Cooler Steak (AKA: Redneck Sous Vide)

srfshane · 01-20-2014, 09:57 AM

OK, I know it's not BBQ, but I still thought you guys would be interested. I've been interested in Sous Vide cooking for several years, but the home devices have been too expensive (though they're coming down). However, after reading this article, I decided to give the "at home" method a run http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/04/c...vide-hack.html Here's the process:

This is the cooking device I used. The best part of the whole thing was my wife walking in and saying, "What's with the cooler?" and me responding "Just cooking steak" then leaving the room. I like to mess with her head like that.

Water from my tap came out at 128 degrees. Perfect, 125 is what I'm planning on cooking at anyway.

Stars of the show, a couple of flat irons from The Double R Ranch.

All seasoned and in the ziploc bags. I made sure they were closed air-tight and all the air was sucked out of the bags, I wanted to make sure they sank in the water.

Drop bags in cooler and wait. I gave it an hour. The cooler lost a bit of the temp, about halfway through I added some boiling water to get it back up to 125. However, I was blown away at how well it held the temp overall.

Unfortunately, I didn't get a pic of the steaks coming out of the bag. Honestly, they didn't look particularly appetizing, they were basically gray on the outside. I checked internal temps and it looked good though, so I went with it. Through them on a super-hot cast iron grill for about 30 seconds each side, and away we went.

First cut through to see how I did. Turned out awesome...perfectly done from edge to edge.

The money shot. Exactly how I like it.

I have to say, although I do love using the grill, this may be my new favorite way to cook steaks for a bit. It just came out so perfect. Thanks for looking!

sliding_billy · 01-20-2014, 10:01 AM

srfshane - There is an issue currently with pic uploads. If possible, you may want to insert Photobucket img links.

srfshane · 01-20-2014, 10:02 AM

Aha - got it, thanks! I'll come back and fix the pics later today.

cpw · 01-20-2014, 12:18 PM

So you seriously just dumped hot water in a cooler, and then topped it off with more hot water when it cooled? That's crazy easy!! How long were the steaks in the sous vide for?

sliding_billy · 01-20-2014, 12:23 PM

Now that I can see the pics... looks great.

peeps · 01-20-2014, 12:25 PM

looks tasty! how long did you have them in the bath?

Shagdog · 01-20-2014, 12:33 PM

Love it! Great, simple solution, and the final product speaks for itself

pigsmoke · 01-20-2014, 12:38 PM

That's a great looking set of steaks! My boss gave me a sous vide circulator in 2012 as a year end bonus and I've used it like crazy. Next to smoking and grilling, sous vide is my 3rd favorite style of cooking. If you're interested in this type of cooking, I highly recommend spending the money to buy a good circulator, there are things that you can make this way that cannot be beaten. I make amazing (humble brag) beef short ribs in it, but they need to cook for days.

If you can keep your water temp above 183* (and if your cooler can handle it) you should try some carrots sous vide style - they're amazing.

srfshane · 01-20-2014, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpw

So you seriously just dumped hot water in a cooler, and then topped it off with more hot water when it cooled? That's crazy easy!! How long were the steaks in the sous vide for?

I left them in for about an hour. The cool thing is that they could have been in there for 3 or 4 hours and they would have come out exactly the same (not overcooked) which makes it an awesome way to cook for groups and a TBD dinner time.

srfshane · 01-20-2014, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pigsmoke

That's a great looking set of steaks! My boss gave me a sous vide circulator in 2012 as a year end bonus and I've used it like crazy. Next to smoking and grilling, sous vide is my 3rd favorite style of cooking. If you're interested in this type of cooking, I highly recommend spending the money to buy a good circulator, there are things that you can make this way that cannot be beaten. I make amazing (humble brag) beef short ribs in it, but they need to cook for days.

If you can keep your water temp above 183* (and if your cooler can handle it) you should try some carrots sous vide style - they're amazing.

Yeah, after trying this little experiment, I'm now VERY interested in a sous vide circulator for home use. Although, there is something cool about a beer cooler....LOL.

pigsmoke · 01-20-2014, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srfshane

Yeah, after trying this little experiment, I'm now VERY interested in a sous vide circulator for home use. Although, there is something cool about a beer cooler....LOL.

Nobody said you couldn't use a beer cooler....Buy one of the PolyScience Sous Vide Professional water circulators (I have the SVC-AC1B) and you can use any container you can fit it into to circulate! Now I might have concerns about the range of high temps that a cooler can withstand...I have no research or experience to make a safe or accurate recommendation on that front.

Bludawg · 01-20-2014, 02:18 PM

Git you one of these babies http://www.dorkfood.com/ and use your Crockpot

Amazon

01-20-2014, 10:01 AM	#2
sliding_billy somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 08-27-13 Location: Princeton, TX Name/Nickname : )	srfshane - There is an issue currently with pic uploads. If possible, you may want to insert Photobucket img links. __________________ Custom Offset/GMG Davy Crockett/Vision Kamado/Blackstone 36"/Weber 22" "redhead"/WSM 14.5" X2/Jumbo Joe/Pit Boss Copperhead/KCBS

01-20-2014, 12:18 PM	#4
cpw Babbling Farker Join Date: 02-28-11 Location: Savannah, Georgia Name/Nickname : Chad	So you seriously just dumped hot water in a cooler, and then topped it off with more hot water when it cooled? That's crazy easy!! How long were the steaks in the sous vide for? __________________ ________________ [COLOR=Orange]Outlaw 2860 Porch Model[/COLOR] Lang 84 Deluxe Yoder YS640 Savannah, GA [URL="http://www.facebook.com/yesdearbbq"]Yes, Dear BBQ on Facebook[/URL] Proudly sponsored by Royal Oak Charcoal and [URL="https://www.atlantabbqstore.com/"]The Atlanta BBQ store[/URL]

01-20-2014, 12:23 PM	#5
sliding_billy somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 08-27-13 Location: Princeton, TX Name/Nickname : )	Now that I can see the pics... looks great. __________________ Custom Offset/GMG Davy Crockett/Vision Kamado/Blackstone 36"/Weber 22" "redhead"/WSM 14.5" X2/Jumbo Joe/Pit Boss Copperhead/KCBS

01-20-2014, 12:25 PM	#6
peeps somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 08-09-13 Location: Round Rock, TX	looks tasty! how long did you have them in the bath? __________________ - [B][COLOR="darkorange"]Earl [/COLOR][/B]- My Custom Vertical Offset Smoker by AJ's Custom Cookers ([URL="http://bit.ly/1gelc9M"]build link[/URL]) - [B][COLOR="darkorange"]Colt[/COLOR][/B] - Superior SS-2 w/ DigiQ DXII- Courtesy of Gainesville Jaycees and Superior Smokers - [B]Weber Kettle 22.5 OTG[/B] w/ Craycort Cast Iron Grates - [B][COLOR="darkorange"]Major[/COLOR][/B] - Mini WSM (from SJS) [B][COLOR="Blue"]Certified IMBAS MOINK Baller![/COLOR][/B] ([URL="http://bit.ly/1lr5cKx"]Certificate of Authenticity[/URL]) / [B][COLOR="Blue"]Join the fun in the [URL="http://bit.ly/1ew3H57"]Throwdowns[/URL]![/COLOR][/B]

01-20-2014, 12:33 PM	#7
Shagdog Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-01-13 Location: Grayslake, IL	Love it! Great, simple solution, and the final product speaks for itself __________________ [FONT=Trebuchet MS][SIZE=3][SIZE=2]Matt[/SIZE] [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS] [URL="http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=86"][SIZE=3][B]Come Join the fun in the Throwdowns![/B][/SIZE][/URL] [COLOR=Blue][SIZE=2]Shirley Fabrication 24x70 Trailer - UDS - Weber Kettle - WGA - Fire Pit Rotisserie - Shirley-Shagstone Griddle/Wok Cart - Carson Rodizio [B][SIZE=3][COLOR=Black]2016 Official BBQ Brethren Ribeye Master[/COLOR][/SIZE][/B] [/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS][SIZE=1][COLOR=Silver] [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

01-20-2014, 10:02 AM	#3
srfshane On the road to being a farker Join Date: 11-15-13 Location: Boise, ID	Aha - got it, thanks! I'll come back and fix the pics later today.

01-20-2014, 12:38 PM	#8
pigsmoke Got Wood. Join Date: 01-03-14 Location: Alexandria, VA	That's a great looking set of steaks! My boss gave me a sous vide circulator in 2012 as a year end bonus and I've used it like crazy. Next to smoking and grilling, sous vide is my 3rd favorite style of cooking. If you're interested in this type of cooking, I highly recommend spending the money to buy a good circulator, there are things that you can make this way that cannot be beaten. I make amazing (humble brag) beef short ribs in it, but they need to cook for days. If you can keep your water temp above 183* (and if your cooler can handle it) you should try some carrots sous vide style - they're amazing.

01-20-2014, 02:18 PM	#12
Bludawg somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-04-09 Location: Jonesboro,Tx	Git you one of these babies http://www.dorkfood.com/ and use your Crockpot Amazon Amazon __________________ I'm a Proxy Vegetarian> Cows eat grass & I eat cows.