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    Home » Tips

    How to Perform the Displacement Method for Sous Vide

    Apr 11, 2018 · 6 Comments

    Did you finally take the leap and buy a sous vide machine, but don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on a vacuum sealer? Are you trying to figure out how to fully submerge your food in the bath without it persistently floating to the surface? Well I've got an incredibly easy and affordable solution for you. The water displacement method - your golden ticket to cooking sous vide without having to invest in a fancy vacuum sealer.

    The Displacement Method is a technique where you first place your food and marinades in a Ziploc double zipper, freezer bag or Stasher bag. Note that using this specific type of bag is recommended, as they are BPA and dioxin-free, and durable enough to endure lengthy cooks. Next, submerge your food in a container of water, and allow the pressure to force all the air out of the bag. Last, seal the bag up and bam, that's all there is to it! Now enjoy all the brilliance of cooking sous vide without having to break the bank buying all the extra equipment.

    Below I have provided a thorough step by step explanation with pictures included:

    Step 1

    Place your food (including fresh herbs, olive oil and/or marinades) in a double zipper, freezer bag. Zip up 80% of the bag, only leaving one corner unzipped.

    Step 2

    Fill container or pot with enough water to fully submerge the freezer bag. Place the bag in the water, gently massaging out any air pockets surrounding the food. The pressure of the water will force all the air out of the bag as you continue to submerge the bag.

    Step 3

    Once the water level is just below the zip-line, seal the rest of the bag. Ensure that the bag is fully zipped so that no water can enter during the cook.

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    About Jason Veselak

    Jason is a home chef with a passion for preparing perfectly-cooked, gourmet meals at home - so naturally he became obsessed with cooking sous vide. This obsession led to a quest to find the perfect cooking time, temperatures and techniques for every type of food he puts in the bath. Jason is excited to share his pro-tips and favorite recipes to help make cooking sous vide an unforgettable experience for everyone. Follow his culinary adventures at @sousveezy on Instagram to learn more!

    This post may contain affiliate links for products I use regularly and highly recommend.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jeff A. says

      December 10, 2018 at 5:56 am

      Damn. I just bought a Food Vacuum machine just for this

      Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. How to Cook Steak – 6 MethodsWorldabcnews | Worldabcnews says:
      August 5, 2019 at 9:08 am

      […] the steak in a plastic zip-top bag, and seal using the displacement method (or vacuum seal if you have a set-up). Use the sous vide to cook the steak at 129°F for 1 hour and […]

      Reply
    2. How to Cook Steak – 6 MethodsWorld News | World News says:
      August 5, 2019 at 9:15 am

      […] the steak in a plastic zip-top bag, and seal using the displacement method (or vacuum seal if you have a set-up). Use the sous vide to cook the steak at 129°F for 1 hour and […]

      Reply
    3. The Absolute Best Way to Cook Steak Perfectly, According to Wayyy Too Many Tests – Culinary Home says:
      August 5, 2019 at 9:22 am

      […] the steak in a plastic zip-top bag, and seal using the displacement method (or vacuum seal if you have a set-up). Use the sous vide to cook the steak at 129°F for 1 hour and […]

      Reply
    4. How to Cook Steak – 6 MethodsInstaNewsWorld | InstaNewsWorld says:
      August 5, 2019 at 9:24 am

      […] the steak in a plastic zip-top bag, and seal using the displacement method (or vacuum seal if you have a set-up). Use the sous vide to cook the steak at 129°F for 1 hour and […]

      Reply
    5. How to Cook Steak - 6 Methods - Kitchenpedia.co says:
      August 6, 2019 at 9:33 am

      […] the steak in a plastic zip-top bag, and seal using the displacement method (or vacuum seal if you have a set-up). Use the sous vide to cook the steak at 129°F for 1 hour and […]

      Reply

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