Sous vide cooking is such a trendy cooking technique at the moment. However, since it’s reputed to involve cooking in plastic bags, people are often filled with questions about it. One of these recurrent questions is “what are the ideal bags for sous vide?” I’m here to offer you 15 of the best sous vide bags you can find on the market today!
In a Hurry? For the sake of protecting our planet, my ultimate choice would be the Stasher Silicone bag. Though it’s a little pricey, silicone’s durability ensures that its price would be a one-time thing.
1. FoodVacBags Vacuum Seal Rolls
Description
They come in a package of two 11” x 50” rolls. The sous vide rolls are made of BPA-free plastic. The rolls also offer you complete freedom in customizing the bag size.
What We Like
- The customizable size ensures that no material goes to waste
- They can be used to store food in freezers
- They can be used in microwaves
What We Don’t Like
- They require a vacuum sealer machine
- They’re not the cheapest, considering they’d require an extra machine
2. SousVideArt Sous Vide Bags
Description
The SousVideArt bags come in a package of 37 items, including 30 reusable sous vide bags that come in 3 different sizes. The sous vide bags are also made of BPA-free plastic, so there are no worries there!
The kit also includes a hand pump and six clips to help in sealing the bag.
What We Like
- They don’t require a vacuum sealer machine to be sealed properly
- The SousVideArt cooking bags can do well in a microwave and a freezer as well
- They can be cleaned easily
What We Don’t Like
- The hand pump is not the easiest to use
3. Savour Sous Vide Cooking Bags
Description
They come in a package of sixteen 11” x 13” reusable bags, following all federal regulations.
The Savour sous vide bags also come with a smart sealing system. All you have to do is put the bag in water and then suck the air out.
What We Like
- They’re super easy to use
- They’re made of very healthy material
What We Don’t Like
- The sixteen bags come in only one size
4. Stasher Reusable Silicone Bags
Description
The Stasher Silicone bags are made of pure platinum food-grade silicone, free from any plastic and BPA. This makes them environmentally friendly and very healthy.
The package includes two bags. One bag is grey and the other is transparent. Their size is 7.5″ x 7″ x 1″.
What We Like
- They can handle the temperature of your oven as well as your freezer
- You can clean them in your dishwasher
- They’re completely and safely reusable
What We Don’t Like
- They’re more pricey than plastic bags
- They don’t offer much freedom when it comes to resizing
- Hard to come by, sometimes these are sold out
5. OUII Sous Vide Cooking Bags
Description
The OUII kit comes in 22 pieces, 15 of which are BPA-free sous vide cooking bags that come in two sizes. The kit also includes an easy-to-use hand pump and 6 clips. If you are looking for something cheap that still works then this might be your pick.
What We Like
- They’re a good choice if you’re on a budget.
- The cooking bags can endure any temperature.
What We Don’t Like
- They’re not the easiest to clean.
What You Need to Know About the Best Sous Vide Bags for Cooking
If you’re still unsure which sous vide cooking bag is the best for you, here are some answers to questions many people ask when considering buying a cooking bag.
Are Plastic Bags Safe?
Not all plastic bags are safe. Before buying a sous vide bag, you must make sure it’s BPA-free (doesn’t contain Bisphenol A). If the plastic is not BPA-free, you’ll risk the plastic breaking down and integrating with your food. This can cause serious health problems.
Not to worry though, I’ve made sure that all the products recommended above are BPA-free.
Is It Better to Use Plastic Bags or Silicone Bags?
Let me be honest with you, some experts still disapprove of plastic even if it’s BPA-free, maintaining that it’s still not the safest option. So, if you’re one of the people who are anxious about their health and that of their family’s, silicone is probably best for you.
Silicone is also recommended for other reasons. For one, it’s safer for the environment. Moreover, silicone is more dependable than plastic when it comes to reusability; plastic is more likely to go bad over time.
Be honest. If your plan is to cook an A5 grade piece of Wagyu meat are you going to cheap out on the cooking bag? Don’t think so. Imagine paying this much for a piece of meat just for the bag to accidentelly rip open during cooking.
What Other Things Might I Want to Consider When Buying the best Sous Vide Bags for cooking?
First of all, you need to decide what you’re going to use it most for. If you use a lot of liquid while cooking, you’d want the bag to be thick. If you want to use it to store food, you’d need to make sure the bag is suitable for cold temperature.
You should also consider its size. Cooking for one requires much smaller sizes compared to cooking for a whole family. Always put this in mind when shopping.
Are There Other Options for Sous Vide Cooking?
Some people suggest using canning jars in lieu of bags for sous vide cooking. Some cooks have even succeeded in cooking bakeries like cake and cookies in canning jars. Usually, canning jars are used when cooking something with a lot of liquid.
However, I don’t think this is the most practical option. After all, how much can you cook in a jar?!
And if you are looking for recipes and guides on how to cook with a sous vide cooker you might want to check out our article: 7 best cookbooks reviewed for sous vide cooking
Conclusion
Well, after going through all of that, you might still be confused about which bag exactly is the best for you. Let me make it easier for you.
For the sake of protecting our planet, my ultimate choice would be the Stasher Silicone bag. Though it’s a little pricey, silicone’s durability ensures that its price would be a one-time thing. Not to mention, you can clean it in a dishwasher. This would be great if you’re like I am, someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy cleaning tough stains.
My next choice would be the SousVideArt Sous Vide Bags, though they’re not the cheapest. I find the SousVideArt to be the most self-sufficient, and promising to last a long time. While its hand pump might not be that easy to use, I’m sure with time you’ll get used to it.
