The Sous Vide SVE26 is another water bath offering by Grant – a company with a reputation for designing and manufacturing high quality scientific equipment. Restaurant chefs rely on Grant models because they can withstand the demanding use of high-volume kitchens – constant use with consistent performance. Grant water baths are also easy to clean and maintain, another important feature in a commercial setting, and famous chefs admit this product is a critical part of helping them enhance creativity in their kitchens and ultimately on their menus. The SVE26 makes this expert-level of functionality accessible to home chefs by offer a large capacity water bath suitable for cooking big meals or entertaining guests with perfectly cooked dishes.
Grant SVE26 Sous Vide Water Bath
Specs at a Glance
- Heats to temperature quickly
- Control panel on short end of the unit for better use of space
- Drain tap to allow for easy cleaning
- Programmable up to 999 minutes
- Large reservoir for big meals/entertaining
The largest of Grant’s sous vide water baths, the SVE26 is one of the highest capacity products available outside of commercial models. Its 26-liter capacity offers limitless possibilities for cooking: the reservoir can hold and carefully care for large cuts of meat like beef brisket or ensure multiple individual packets are perfectly cooked for parties and entertaining. Despite its large size, the SVE26 still heats the bath water quickly and holds accurate temperatures to within 0.2 degrees Celsius. Those wanting a restaurant-kitchen experience at home, though, will pay for it, with this model being one of the highest-priced options reviewed here.
Another benefit to the SVE26 size is stability, which, at almost 21 pounds, means fewer chances for hot water incidents from accidental bumping. The size may be an issue for smaller kitchen spaces, especially for those intending to store it. Like the 5-liter model, this one includes a drain for easy emptying of the reservoir to facilitate storing, though, if cabinet space is not an issue. The designers did place the easy-to-use controls on one of the short ends of the device, which offers more flexible use of countertop space.
Aesthetically, unfortunately, the SVE26 has the Grant look-and-feel of more commercial, scientific equipment that might not blend in on a countertop with contemporary appliances. Like the other Grant models, though, the unit uses insulated walls and a tight-fitting lid to ensure maximum energy efficiency. There are also three programmable settings for frequently used temperatures and a countdown timer with buzzer. Volt options for international kitchens are available as well as accessories to enhance the cooking experience. The SVE26 also comes with Grant’s warranty and customer service, a quality even restaurant chefs find indispensable.
Grant SVE5 Sous Vide Water Bath
Specs at a Glance
- Pre-set programmable temperatures
- Countdown timer with buzzer
- Two-year warranty
- Light-weight and precise
- Compact design
At just over seven pounds, the SVE5 offers portability other water bath models may not (a feature typically exclusive to immersion circulators). The product is compact, as well – roughly the size of a large toaster. Because the SVE5 model is designed by the manufacturer of scientific equipment, the unit looks less like a modern appliance and more like a laboratory leftover. While that aesthetic may not be a problem for some home chefs, others might appreciate that the size of this sous vide device makes it easier to store than other models. The SVE5 also includes a drain tap to make emptying the bath a simple task that enhances the ease of storing it when not in use.
Even though the SVE5 is small in size, the design does not sacrifice the precision required for sous vide cooking. Temperatures range from 5 – 95 degrees Celsius, with stability guaranteed to within 0.2 degrees of the desired setting. This tightly controlled cooking is critical to create dishes with longer cooking times. The 5-litre capacity is somewhat limiting but ideal for small, every-day meals.
The control panel is blue which stands out from the stainless steel water bath and makes the controls easy to see as well as use. There are three programmable temperature buttons to set for the items cooked most often with an audible alarm to indicate cooking perfection has been reached.
The SVE5 comes standard with a tight-fitting lid to reduce evaporation and a tray for serving, with optional accessories that include bath dividers to ensure water surrounds multiple food packets. Unlike some companies, Grant offers its sous vide water baths in both 120V and 230V models to accommodate users from countries around the world.
