Sous vide cooking has become an increasingly popular technique in recent years. It involves cooking food sealed in plastic pouches submerged in precisely temperature controlled water. This results in food that is cooked evenly throughout while retaining moisture and nutrients.
One question that often comes up with sous vide is whether you can use silicone molds or containers rather than plastic pouches. Silicone is considered safe for high heat cooking, can withstand the prolonged cooking times of sous vide, and lends itself well to making shaped creations like small cakes and molded eggs.
Can Silicone Be Used for Sous Vide?
The short answer is yes, silicone molds and containers can be used for sous vide cooking in most cases. Here are some key points on using silicone with sous vide:
- 100% silicone has a high heat tolerance of up to 428°F, making it suitable for sous vide’s low temperature cooking below 200°F.
- Silicone is flexible and can conform well to immersion circulators and water baths.
- It does not degrade or leach chemicals into food like some plastics when heated.
- Silicone makes it easy to cook and shape foods like eggs, custards, yogurt, and cakes.
- It is advisable to avoid silicone with porous surfaces or fillers that may trap bacteria.
- Make sure silicone molds are properly sealed to avoid water seeping in during extended sous vide cooking.
So in summary, food-grade 100% silicone products that completely seal out water can be safely used for most sous vide cooking applications. The flexibility and heat resistance of silicone makes it a useful material for molded or shaped sous vide recipes.
Best Practices for Cooking Sous Vide in Silicone
If you want to use silicone molds, cups, or bags for sous vide, follow these best practices:
Use 100% Food-Grade Silicone
Check that any silicone product you use is specifically designed to be food-safe and contains 100% silicone. Avoid silicone containing fillers, chemicals, or other materials.
Seal Properly to Avoid Water Seepage
Because silicone is flexible, special care should be taken to tightly seal any openings or lids to prevent water from the bath leaking into containers or molds. Use clips, bands, ties, tape, or other means to completely seal.
Avoid Overcrowding
Leave adequate space between silicone molds or containers in the water bath for proper water circulation. Do not pack too tightly.
Maximize Surface Contact
Rotate or flip silicone molds periodically to ensure even heating on all sides. Minimize stacking molds to maximize surface contact with water.
Hand Wash Properly
Wash silicone in warm soapy water after each use. Avoid abrasive scrubbing that can cause scratching and damage over time.
Regularly Inspect for Damage
Inspect silicone closely for any tears, pits, or cracks forming over time that could compromise safety. Discard if any damage is found.
Ideal Foods to Cook Sous Vide in Silicone
Here are some of the foods that lend themselves well to silicone sous vide cooking:
Eggs
Silicone egg molds are a popular way to shape and cook eggs sous vide, resulting in evenly cooked easy-to-peel eggs. Use molds to make round eggs, egg bites, cylinders, or other fun shapes.
Custards and Puddings
The gentle heat of sous vide produces smooth, creamy custards and puddings perfectly in silicone containers. They retain moisture without curdling or separating.
Yogurt
Making yogurt in a silicone jar or mold allows for consistent temperatures for fermenting and incubating yogurt sous vide style.
Cheesecakes and Cakes
Silicone provides an excellent non-stick surface for cooking small moist cakes and cheesecakes to tender perfection. The molds make for easy release after cooking.
Mousses and Cremes
Silicone cups or ramekins work well for creating light, airy mousses and creamy dessert cremes using the gentle sous vide technique.
Ice Creams and Gelatos
Cooking custards for frozen desserts in silicone allows you to precisely control temperatures before churning or freezing them into ice creams and gelatos.
Seafood Dishes
Cooking seafood like lobster tails, crab legs, or fish fillets in a silicone sous vide bag or container helps retain all the moisture and flavors.
Best Silicone Molds and Containers for Sous Vide
Here are some top options for high-quality silicone products designed for sous vide use:
Sous Vide Art Silicone Egg Bites Molds
These reusable molds are perfect for making egg bites with the sous vide method. The two-cavity design allows you to cook egg bites to consistent doneness. BPA-free silicone resists odors and stains.
Kuhn Rikon Silicone Sous Vide Cups
These colorful silicone sous vide cups come in a set of six. Each cup has a screw-top lid to seal out water during cooking. Great option for desserts, sauces, custards, and more.
Aozita Silicone Cooking Bags
Reusable silicone sous vide bags available in various sizes. The thick food-grade silicone allows for boiling, freezing, and sous vide cooking. Resists odors and stains better than plastic.
Sous Vide Supreme Silicone Rack
This custom silicone rack is designed to hold silicone jars upright in the Sous Vide Supreme water oven. The rack optimizes water circulation while keeping jars securely in place.
Oliso PRO Smart Hub Sous Vide Container
This BPA-free silicone container connects to the Oliso smart sous vide hub. Includes a wireless thermal sensor to regulate temperatures and cooking times automatically via a mobile app.
Safety Tips for Cooking Sous Vide in Silicone
While silicone can be safely used for sous vide cooking, be sure to follow these important safety guidelines:
– Do not use silicone bags or bottles with zipper seals, as these could open during cooking. Stick to screw-top and snap-tight lid designs only.
– Avoid using silicone containing fillers like silicone baking sheets or mats not meant for high-heat sous vide cooking. Stick to 100% food-grade silicone.
– Inspect silicone carefully for damage before each use. Throw away any containers with cracking, pitting, tearing, or other deterioration.
– Discard and replace silicone bags, cups, and molds after a maximum of 2-3 years to avoid breakdown from extended use.
– Minimize risk by cooking foods that spend less time in the “danger zone” between 40-140°F when using silicone.
– Chill foods quickly after cooking and avoid keeping warm in silicone for prolonged periods.
Pros and Cons of Silicone Sous Vide Containers
Here is a look at some of the key advantages and disadvantages of using silicone instead of plastic for sous vide cooking:
Pros:
- Conforms well to different bath shapes and immersion circulators
- Transfers heat efficiently and consistently
- Provides foolproof non-stick surface for many foods
- Easy to clean and sanitize after multiple uses
- Can withstand higher temperatures than some plastics if needed
- Does not degrade or leach chemicals with extended sous vide cooking times
- Molds allow for creative shaping of foods like eggs and gelatins
Cons:
- Requires diligent sealing to prevent water seeping into containers
- Not suitable for extremely prolonged cook times beyond 24-48 hours
- Can develop odors and stains over time with oil-rich or spicy foods
- Repeated use can cause scratching and deterioration after a couple years
- Generally more expensive than disposable plastic pouches or bags
- May need special racks or accessories for optimal use with some water baths
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you reuse silicone sous vide bags or containers?
Yes, silicone sous vide containers and bags can be reused many times if properly cared for. Avoid abrasive scrubbing, and inspect carefully for damage prior to each use. Replace bags or containers that show any major deterioration.
What temperatures can silicone withstand?
100% food-grade silicone has a high heat tolerance up to 428°F. Sous vide cooking temperatures are much lower, generally under 200°F, making silicone a safe choice.
Is silicone better than plastic for sous vide?
Silicone and plastic both have pros and cons for sous vide use. Silicone does not degrade or leach chemicals like some plastics can over extended cook times. However, silicone requires diligent sealing and has a shorter lifespan compared to heavy-duty plastic pouches.
Can you freeze and reheat food in silicone sous vide containers?
Yes, you can freeze prepared foods in silicone sous vide cups, jars, or molds. Make sure to leave headspace for expansion. Reheating from frozen can then be done gently in the sous vide bath until thawed and heated through.
Can you boil silicone sous vide bags to sterilize them?
It is not recommended to boil silicone sous vide bags, as high temperatures can damage the material over time and compromise the seal. For sterilization, washing with hot soapy water or diluted bleach is recommended.
Conclusion
Silicone is considered a safe, effective material for many sous vide cooking applications. When selecting the proper 100% food-grade silicone products, and taking care to completely seal containers and bags, home chefs can achieve great results cooking foods like eggs, seafood, custards, and more.
Following the best practices of avoiding overcrowding, maximizing surface contact, and taking safety precautions will ensure high-quality cooking. For shaping or molding foods, silicone offers a unique advantage over traditional plastic pouches. With proper maintenance and replacement over time, silicone can be a smart choice for enhancing your sous vide cooking.