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Anova Sous Vide Review: Is Good Enough Good Enough?

Published

2 years ago

September 9, 2022

This post contains affiliate links. When you purchase through links on this post, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thanks.

Table of Contents

Anova Review: Slick, Quiet, Affordable

In continuing with my reviews of wifi-enabled sous vide immersion circulators, I bought and tested the Anova Precision Cooker.

In short, this is clearly one of the best immersion circulators that I’ve tested before, so it lives up to the hype of 1200+ reviews on Amazon and an almost five star rating. Anova clearly rocked the sous vide scene when it came out many years ago.

However, there are now more than 20 devices you can buy on Amazon, ranging from less than half the price of Anova, to significantly more expensive. Does the Anova sous vide cooker still rock like it did when it first came out?

Basic Immersion Circulator Features

For this review, I’m testing the 900 watt bluetooth + wifi version (Gen 2). There’s also an 800 watt version (Gen 1), but if you’re going to go cheaper, you might as well get the updated Nano.

The basic idea behind immersion circulators is that they are able to heat water to a very precise temperature, and hold it at that temperature for a long period of time. This cooks your food to a very precise degree, not overcooking and not undercooking it, leaving it juicy, flavorful, and safe to eat.

Though the Anova Precision Cooker doesn’t state on the sales page how accurate it is, we can assume that it’s within 0.01 degrees. Even basic immersion circulators are able to make this claim, and we see the temperature displayed in 1/10 degrees.

The current temperature and target temperature are displayed on the face of the anova. Once you start cooking, the target temperature (the bottom one) display will flash back and forth between how much time is left in your cook session.

Kudos to the design team. It’s a great looking device!

The clamp that holds the Anova on the side of water vessel is the “screw” kind, where you need to twist open and twist closed to keep the cooker in place.

Personally, I prefer the “lever” or “clamp” style. You can see the two compared in the image below. Even though I prefer the clamp style, Anova has designed and engineer a very ergonomic solution. The matte-black surface of the clamp feels to the touch exactly how it looks. It’s very soft and smooth – high quality stuff!

You can also break it down for storage – but why would you want to? I love sous vide cooking too much.

The Anova App: Does It Ruin The Show?

Though there are several sous vide cookers that can be used remotely, Anova does a better job than most. Setting up the wifi connection is very simple. Download the app and it’ll take you through the pairing process. The hardest part is remembering what your wifi password is LOL.

Unfortunately, the app experience needs some improvement. It is better than the Gourmia app in many ways, but is not nearly as good as the Joule app.

I’m very surprised that with such a meticulously designed product, they really dropped the ball on the user interface of the product.

That being said, there are some cool features about it, and it’s not the worst out there!

While reviewing the Anova cooker, right off the bat I found it confusing to find where the temperature guides were. Turns out, they are all from the community, and user generated. No thanks. I’d like some professionals making these please.

So I went to “guide”, and there are a few general tips, but not many! Under “beef”, it only contains brisket. Under “chicken”, it only contains breast and thigh. Why is there a corn category? Who knows.

Side Note: A million percent better is the Sous Vide ºC app (Apple). It’s got every detailed type of food you’d like to make, with no unnecessary complicated recipes. Just the type of thing you’re cooking, and temp/time suggestion based on doneness. You can even connect it to WiFi sous vide devices, including the Anova. It’s $3.99, but totally worth it if you cook sous vide often with an Anova.

Here’s a perfect scenario to explain what I mean about the app issues:

I cooked some filet mignon today. Instead of having a “filet mignon” setting, I had to find a recipe for filet mignon with mushroom sauce. It also didn’t ask how thick the cut of meat the recommended cook time was for.

I was going for medium rare, but it was less done that I like, despite having cooked at 133 Fº for 45 minutes. Other sources I checked has a steak that size cooking for 60 or 90 minutes.

Despite my gripes about the user friendliness of the app, once you get going, it’s easy enough to use.

It’s a very, very quiet immersion circulator!

Having tested and reviewed so many immersion circulators, I’ve become accustomed to the low hum and gurgle of water heating and circulating in the background of my life. However, I had to walk into the kitchen a few times while testing the Anova to make sure it was still working. I just could not hear it while I was in the other room.

This was surprising to me. I have other circulators that put out a similar 800 or 900 watts of energy and were much louder. We’re not talking jackhammers here – just gurgling water, but still, it was a noticeable difference. Perhaps it has to do with the type of water pump they use? Anyway, if you have used immersion circulators before and were annoyed by the sound they made, the Anova Precision Cooker solves that issue. The only other one that is as quiet would be the Joule.

Cooking Sous Vide With Anova

Because this was one of the more popular sous vide cookers out there I took extra time to make a few recipes with it. Below, you can see I made a bone-in ribeye steak.

Everything went as planned. The first couple times I cooked I made sure to use the Anova app to get a feel for it, however, as I continued to use the device I found myself using the time settings from a competitors app, and then just entering them manually into the Anova app.

One thing that was quite obvious cooking with Anova however, is that it has a weaker heating element. The basic, 1st generation model has only 800 watts of power, and the second generation only has 900 watts. I used this to cook eggs in the morning once and it was quite a painful experience being hungry and waiting for my water to heat slowly.

I suppose I could operate the app from my bed, or preheat water in a pot if I really wanted to though.

The Gourmia GSV150 has a lot more power, and will heat your water faster. (One trick I use now is to simply fill my water container with hot instead of cold water, and the preheating process is much faster).

Technical Stuff About The Gen 2 Anova

Unit Size Size: 14.8 x 2.8 x 2.8 inches, 2.5 pounds
Temperature Range & Precision: Unknown
Heating Power: 800 or 900 Watts (2 options)
Pump Circulation: 2.4 gallons/minute

Broken down into plain English, here’s what you’re looking at: The power is on the lower end of the scale. 800 watts for the bluetooth-only version is pretty weak. It takes much longer to heat water than a 1200 watt unit. 900 watts is a little better, and is more comparable to other popular units which use about 1000 or 1100 watts.

2.4 GPM is quite good, and other devices do as little as 1.5 GPM and still claim to be able to maintain temperature in 10 gallons of water. 3 GPM is about the max that I’ve seen, so Anova is doing great in this category, especially considering that it’s so quite compared to others!

The Anova is about right very light weight as well. 2.5 pounds is not the smallest available (1.3 lbs, Joule), but it’s a heck of a lot lighter than the six-pound Sansaire. Even the Gourmia units are about 3lbs. However, it’s size is a little bigger than other immersion circulators you can buy nowadays. Here are some comparison pictures for reference.

Comparing The Anova Precision Cooker To Other Immersion Circulators

Overall, after all this testing, Anova is my 2nd favorite device. It’s sleek, the app is decent (despite my gripes), and it gets the job done accurately.

Price Comparison

Let’s get into price. The Amazon affiliate program doesn’t allow posting prices because they fluctuate from day to day, so I’ll discuss it in broader terms.

Previously, Anova was sold at a comparable price to the Sansaire and Joule. Now, Anova is the cheapest of the three. The GSV150 is the newest generation of Gourmia immersion circulators and is usually about 50% cheaper than the Anova.

Older Gourmia models are even cheaper!

Comparing the apps between the Joule, GSV150, and Anova, I rank them follows

Joule
Anova
Gourmia

The Anova Precision Cooker is awesome appliance, and worth every penny. However, if you were really looking forward to the wifi cooking, I highly recommend you check out my Joule review. The Joule really bridges the gap between tech and cooking much more smoothly than Anova.

The one main downside to to the Joule is that there’s no manual cook settings. Everything must be done through your phone!

Who Is The Anova Precision Cooker Best For?

It’s really hard to recommend the Anova immersion circulator now that they have to compete with the Joule. Joule is smaller, more powerful, and has a better app.

In my mind, there are a couple main reasons to get the Anova cooker over the Joule.

You prefer the option to operate the device manually
You prefer the clamp style, which does have advantages
You like the traditional immersion circulator look
You want the quietest device on the market

You can get these options individually with other cookers out there, but not all in one package like you can with Anova!

Final Thoughts

The Anova Precision sous vide cooker circulator was a very cool product to test out. Unfortunately, that coolness was lessened slightly because I tried an even even cooler product on the market.

I still highly recommend it, but the Joule really is the kind of sous vide

Pros/Cons Summary of Anova Gen 2

Pros

Very Quite Pump!
Wifi-Enabled
High Quality Construction
Cool Design
Pretty Good App
Accurate Temperature Maintenance
Strong Clamp Design
Versatile Clamp Can Be Used For Large or Small Pots
Manual or Remote Operation
Removable Casing For Easy Clean

Cons

Takes Longer To Heat Water
App Could Be Better
I Prefer The “Lever” Style Clamp
Sits Shallow In Water

Also, did you know that there’s a cooking container made specifically for cooking sous vide, plus a lid that matches and exactly fits your new Anova?

Food grade polycarbonate containers are less heat conductive, which means less heat loss. Also, putting a lid on top of your container will result in less heat loss, so you will not have to refill your water bath even while doing long cook times. The trouble with lids is that you can’t fit your circulator in the water with a lid on!

LIPAVI has sovled this problem by making containers and specific-shaped lids for a few popular immersion circulators. Anova is one of them!

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REI Summer Deals: Sale, Clearance, REI Outlet and more

Published

9 months ago

July 20, 2023

admin

REI is currently having a summer sale with up to 70% off handpicked gear from REI Outlet. This is a great opportunity to save on some of your favorite brands, like Arc’teryx, KUHL, Black Diamond, HOKA, La Sportiva, Osprey, and Salomon.

REI deals

There are deals on everything from hiking backpacks to camping tents to running shoes. So whether you’re looking to gear up for a weekend backpacking trip or just want to save some money on your next day hike, REI’s summer sale is the perfect place to find great deals.

In addition to the markdowns on gear, REI is also offering a $20 bonus card when you spend $100 through July 24. This is a great way to get even more value for your purchase.

So what are you waiting for? Head over to REI today and start shopping the summer sale!

Here are some of the top deals from the REI summer sale:

Keep your summer adventures going with new markdowns on your favorite brands.

Table of Contents

REI Co-op Trailmade Shirt – Men’s

REI deals

Performance you’ll want to pass down—the REI Co-op Trailmade shirt is made with tear-resistant nylon/spandex stretch fabric with solid UPF 50 sun protection. It’s time to see what nature has in store.

REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket – Women’s

REI deals

Waterproof, breathable and windproof, the women’s REI Co-op Rainier rain jacket gives you permission to go outside and play, even on blustery days with a chance of showers.

Roxy Shelter Insulated Jacket – Women’s

REI deals

Cozy for cold, sleek for shredding and waterproof to boot, the women’s Roxy Shelter insulated jacket keeps you covered, dry and comfortable from first chair to last.

Klymit Cross Canyon 2 Tent

REI deals

Designed to deliver a comfortable interior living space with exceptional storage options at a great value, the Klymit Cross Canyon tent makes a great shelter for weekend warriors.

Mountainsmith Lichen Peak 1P Tent with Footprint

REI deals

Whether you’re backpacking solo or not, it’s sometimes nice to have your own tent. The 3-season Mountainsmith Lichen Peak 1-person tent is one you’ll have all to yourself.

Mountain Summit Gear Northwood Series II 4-Person Backpacking Tent

REI deals

The lightweight Mountain Summit Gear Northwood Series II 4-person backpacking tent sets up quickly, offers excellent great ventilation and then packs away nicely for your next adventure.

Marmot Limestone 6P Tent

REI deals

This cavernous camping tent fits up to 6 campers to sit, stand and sleep in total comfort. The Marmot Limestone 6P tent sets up in minutes and creates a roomy and inviting space.

prAna Asgard Hooded Flannel Shirt – Men’s

REI deals

With classic heavyweight style and a hood to match, the prAna Asgard hooded flannel shirt for men takes the chill out of cool days and layers nicely over a classic T-shirt.

ALPS Mountaineering Camp Chair

REI deals

Sturdy yet collapsible for easy storage, the ALPS Mountaineering Camp Chair offers deluxe comfort in camp, on the beach or in the backyard, thanks to its armrests and a padded seat.

OllyDog Rover Dog Pack

REI deals

Let Rover carry his own gear this time. The OllyDog Rover Dog pack is built for comfort and confidence on day hikes and overnight adventures with your pup.

Zempire 2-Burner Deluxe & Grill High-Pressure Camping Stove

REI deals

A complete campsite cooking solution, the Zempire 2-Burner Deluxe & Grill features 2 piezo-ignition, 10,000 BTU burners and a powerful lower grill, all of which you can use at the same time.

C.A.M.P. Trail Force 5 Hydration Vest

REI deals

The C.A.MP. Trail Force 5 is a hyperlight, formfitting running vest purpose-built for skyrunning races and light-and-fast missions where having the right gear and enough hydration is critical.

These are just a few of the many great deals that are available during the REI summer sale. So what are you waiting for? Start shopping today!

I hope this article help you to shopping with REI, you can also read this: REI Summer Sale: Upto 50% OFF.

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Food Lion Review

Published

9 months ago

July 15, 2023

admin

Food Lion is an American regional supermarket chain headquartered in Salisbury, North Carolina, that operates over 1100 supermarkets in 10 states of the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States. The chain employs over 63,000 people. It was founded in 1957 as Food Town, a single grocery store in Salisbury. It later expanded to many locations across North Carolina. It was independently operated until it was acquired by the Belgium-based conglomerate Delhaize Group in 1974.

Food Lion is a leading provider of fresh, affordable food. The company offers a wide variety of products, including produce, meat, seafood, dairy, baked goods, deli items, and frozen foods. Food Lion also offers a variety of private label brands, which provide customers with a more affordable option.

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Who is Food Lion For??

Food Lion is for everyone who wants to save money on fresh, affordable food. The company’s target audience is families and individuals who live in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States. Food Lion is also a popular choice for budget-conscious shoppers and those who are looking for convenient shopping options.

Here are some of the people who Food Lion is for:

Families: Food Lion offers a wide variety of products that are affordable for families, including fresh produce, meat, seafood, dairy, baked goods, deli items, and frozen foods. The company also offers a variety of private label brands, which provide customers with a more affordable option.

Individuals: Food Lion is a popular choice for individuals who are looking for convenient shopping options. The company offers online ordering, curbside pickup, and home delivery, which make it easy to shop for groceries without having to leave home.

Budget-conscious shoppers: Food Lion is known for its low prices. The company offers a variety of ways for customers to save money, including coupons, sales, and its loyalty program.

People who are looking for fresh, affordable food: Food Lion is committed to providing its customers with fresh food. The company has a strict quality control process in place to ensure that its products are fresh and of the highest quality.

If you are looking for a convenient, affordable way to buy fresh food, then Food Lion is a great option for you. The company offers a wide variety of products and services to meet the needs of its customers.

Food Lion Products Offering

Produce: Food Lion offers a wide variety of fresh produce, including fruits, vegetables, and herbs. The company also offers a variety of organic produce.
Meat: Food Lion offers a wide variety of fresh meat, including beef, chicken, pork, and seafood. The company also offers a variety of pre-cooked and pre-seasoned meats.
Seafood: Food Lion offers a wide variety of fresh seafood, including fish, shellfish, and crustaceans. The company also offers a variety of prepared seafood dishes.
Dairy: Food Lion offers a wide variety of dairy products, including milk, cheese, yogurt, and eggs. The company also offers a variety of plant-based dairy alternatives.
Baked goods: Food Lion offers a wide variety of baked goods, including bread, pastries, cakes, and pies. The company also offers a variety of frozen baked goods.
Deli: Food Lion offers a wide variety of deli items, including sandwiches, salads, and hot foods. The company also offers a variety of prepared deli meals.
Frozen foods: Food Lion offers a wide variety of frozen foods, including pizzas, entrees, vegetables, and desserts. The company also offers a variety of frozen fruits and vegetables.
Household items: Food Lion offers a variety of household items, including cleaning supplies, paper products, and personal care products.
Pet food: Food Lion offers a variety of pet food, including wet food, dry food, and treats. The company also offers a variety of pet supplies.

In addition to these products, Food Lion also offers a variety of private label brands, which provide customers with a more affordable option. Some of the most popular private label brands at Food Lion include:

Food Lion Brand: This is the company’s main private label brand. It offers a wide variety of products, including produce, meat, seafood, dairy, baked goods, deli items, and frozen foods.
Nature’s Promise: This is a natural and organic brand that offers a variety of products, including produce, meat, seafood, dairy, baked goods, deli items, and frozen foods.
Taste of Inspirations: This is a premium brand that offers a variety of products, including produce, meat, seafood, dairy, baked goods, deli items, and frozen foods.
Etos: This is a health and beauty brand that offers a variety of products, including personal care products, beauty products, and household cleaning supplies.
Companion: This is a mainstream brand that offers a variety of products, including produce, meat, seafood, dairy, baked goods, deli items, and frozen foods.

Food Lion is a great place to find fresh, affordable food. The company offers a wide variety of products to meet the needs of its customers, and it also offers a variety of private label brands that provide customers with a more affordable option.

Food Lion Promotions & Discounts

Food Lion offers a variety of promotions and discounts to its customers. Some of the most popular promotions include:

MVP Card: The MVP Card is Food Lion’s loyalty program. Members of the MVP Card earn points for every dollar they spend, and they can redeem those points for discounts on future purchases.
Coupons: Food Lion offers a variety of coupons that can be found in the weekly ad, online, and in the Food Lion app.
Sales: Food Lion runs sales on a variety of products throughout the year. These sales can be found in the weekly ad, online, and in the Food Lion app.
BOGO: Food Lion offers BOGO (buy one, get one free) deals on a variety of products throughout the year. These deals can be found in the weekly ad, online, and in the Food Lion app.
Rebate offers: Food Lion offers rebate offers on a variety of products throughout the year. These offers can be found in the weekly ad, online, and in the Food Lion app.

Food Lion also offers a variety of other promotions and discounts, such as discounts for seniors, military members, and students.

To find the latest promotions and discounts at Food Lion, you can visit the company’s website, download the Food Lion app, or sign up for the MVP Card.

Food Lion Shipping & Return Policy

Shipping Policy

Free shipping: Food Lion offers free shipping on orders over $35.
Shipping costs: Shipping costs for orders under $35 vary depending on the shipping method and the location of the delivery address.
Shipping methods: Food Lion offers a variety of shipping methods, including standard shipping, expedited shipping, and overnight shipping.
Shipping time: Shipping time varies depending on the shipping method and the location of the delivery address.

Return Policy

Return period: Food Lion offers a 14-day return policy for most items.
Return methods: Food Lion offers two ways to return items: in-store and by mail.
Return in-store: To return an item in-store, simply bring the item to your local Food Lion store with the original receipt.
Return by mail: To return an item by mail, you will need to print out a return label from the Food Lion website.
Returned items: Food Lion will refund the purchase price of returned items, minus the cost of shipping.

Is Food Lion Worth it?

Overall, Food Lion is a good option for budget-minded shoppers who are looking for a convenient and easy shopping experience. However, if you are looking for a grocery store with a wide selection of high-quality products, then you may want to consider other options.

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REI Summer Sale: Upto 50% OFF

Published

10 months ago

July 9, 2023

admin

The REI Summer Sale is a great opportunity to save on outdoor gear and apparel. The sale is currently ongoing and runs through July 31, 2023. Members of REI Co-op get an additional 20% off select items, so it’s a good idea to join if you’re not already a member.

Here are some of the things you can find on sale at REI during the Summer Sale:

Tents
Sleeping bags
Backpacks
Hiking boots
Clothing
Footwear
Camping gear
Bikes
Snow sports gear
And more!

The discounts on sale items vary, but you can typically find savings of 20% to 50% off. Some items are even marked down to 75% off!

Table of Contents

Dates and Details

rei

The sale is currently ongoing and runs through July 31, 2023, you can shop in store, at REI.com, or through the online REI Outlet and save up to 50% on marked-down items from top brands like Osprey, Gregory, La Sportiva, Kelty, REI Co-op, and many more. Importantly, some of the deals are only available to members, which will require purchasing a $30 lifetime membership in order to take advantage of the savings .

Below we outline some of our top picks for on-sale gear, including tents, hiking boots, stoves, backpacks, sleep systems, and more.

Our Favorite Summer Deals

REI Co-op Flash Hiking Boots – Men’s – Save 50%

rei

Fly over trails in the waterproof, breathable men’s REI Co-op Flash hiking boots. REI-exclusive technologies create fast-and-light boots—with a lighter footprint—that are comfy right out of the box.

OllyDog Rover Dog Pack Bundle Save 56%

rei

Let Rover carry his own gear. The OllyDog Rover Dog Pack bundle includes the Rover pack plus a Mountain leash, making it ideal for day hikes and overnight adventures where leashes are required.

Bote Breeze Aero Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board with Paddle – 10’8″ – Save 15%

rei

Ensure your next paddle is a great one. Perfect for apartment dwellers, the 10 ft. 8 in. Bote Breeze Aero inflatable stand up paddle board collapses down into its own carry pack when the day is done.

Cannondale Quick CX 3 Women’s Bike – Save 29%

rei

Cruising through the countryside or commuting in the city, the women’s Cannondale Quick CX 3 bike boosts your confidence and maintains control on multiple riding surfaces where anything is possible.

Feedback Sports Ultralight Repair Stand – Save 50%

rei

The Feedback Sports Ultralight repair stand is built to professional standards yet weighs only 10.6 lbs. for convenient travel and compact storage.

REI Co-op Base Camp 6 Tent – Save 30%

rei

Combining sturdy geodesic-dome architecture and rugged materials, the mountaineering-inspired REI Co-op Base Camp 6 tent is a roomy and robust campground shelter for 6 people.

REI Co-op Trailgate Vehicle Sleeping Platform Save 50%

rei

Move over, DIYers. Turn your car’s interior into your camp bed with the REI Co-op Trailgate Vehicle Sleeping Platform. It includes a foam mattress and frame with adjustable legs for storage beneath.

Thule Helium Pro 3-Bike Hitch Rack Save – 40%

rei

Taking the stress out of family and group bike trips so you can focus on the fun, the lightweight aluminum Thule Helium Pro 3-bike hitch rack provides secure protection and easy on/off convenience.

REI Co-op XeroDry GTX Jacket – Men’s – save 30%

rei

Durable, lightweight and surprisingly quiet, the men’s REI Co-op XeroDry GTX jacket is an easy-to-pack waterproof, breathable GORE-TEX shell—at a value only the co-op can provide.

Big Agnes Anvil Horn 15 Sleeping Bag – Men’s – save 25%

rei

The Big Agnes Anvil Horn 15 sleeping bag sports a Flex Pad Sleeve that attaches your pad like a fitted bedsheet, creating a fully integrated sleep system to keep you centered on your pad all night.

If you’re looking for a great deal on outdoor gear, the REI Summer Sale is a great place to start. Just be sure to shop early, as the best deals tend to go quickly.

Here are some tips for shopping the REI Summer Sale:

Sign up for the REI email list. You’ll be the first to know about new sales and promotions.
Check the REI Outlet. You can find some great deals on discontinued and overstock items at the REI Outlet.
Use a price comparison tool. This can help you make sure you’re getting the best possible deal.
Be patient. The best deals tend to go quickly, so be patient and keep checking back.

I hope this helps!