ChefSteps Reviews 1,200

So I bought the Joule 10 months ago through amazon, I use it a few times a month. A couple months used it for a week straight, solid 60 hours, then another 24 hours back to back. Yes, I have some bluetooth connectivity issues periodically....but guess what have the same issues with other bluetooth devices. I have it connected to my home Wifi, and connect to it all the time while out of the house....mostly to show off that I can, and have never had a failure to connect. Fast forward to last week, Joule breaks on me.....no support through amazon (after 30 day warranty period), contact ChefSteps to ask if there is a discount for current owners ....."you are covered under the 1 year warranty, we will ship you a new unit just need copy of original purchase receipt and shipping address". Forward receipt by email, with address........30 min or so later warranty order confirmation pops up in email confirming new unit. I can't live with out my sous-vide and would have replaced anyway, maybe looked at other units, but customer service really defines a company in my mind, they stepped up process was simple, painless, and efficient. Cannot recommend this company enough, BRAVO!

I almost bought the Joule sous vide. It came out top on Americas test kitchen. That was in 2018 so i decide to buy it and Americas test kitchen gave the price of $130 in 2018.
Surprise the price in a year had gone up to $199 more the 50% price rise.
So I thought I'll see if BB&B has it and use a 20% coupon, they did so i went ahead to buy it, Surprise! This vendor does not allow anyone to use coupons.
I checked around on Amazon etc and eventually bought an ANOVA that was on sale for much less than the Joule.

I've had a Joule for over a year now- purchasing it as a second circulator along with my Anova. I have to say that the Joule heats up faster and is quieter than the Anova, BUT, and it's a huge but- it doesn't work 75% of the time. The connection is lousy, as is the app.

It's a constant hassle and struggle to get Joule to connect to Bluetooth or to get the app to work which makes dealing with it a constant frustration. There should really be an override button that allows you to still use it manually with a dial or something when the app is being finicky. I wish at this point I had spent my money on a second Anova instead. I had to throw Joule away today which was a painful mistake, but when I want to cook I want to cook- not spend 45 minutes dealing with crappy tech. Coming to post a review to save someone else from making a similar error. Save your money- buy an Anova which wiil still work for you, and isn't 100% reliable on an app.

The Joule is fine when it works. What can you say about a little water heater? It needs a power button and a thermostat knob. If you lack aggravation in your life, this is the kitchen gadget for you. You will find yourself swearing at the heavens once you try to get this damned thing to connect to your phone. Seriously, only buy this piece of crap if you have a serious desire to harm yourself. This thing will drive you absolutely nuts trying and failing to connect. I have spent many long hours swearing at the moon while using this damned thing. Yes, it cooks great food, when it is working. That's a BIG if.

Prior to purchasing Joule, I used every other circulator on the market. I currently own a Polyscience Professional, and there's never been an issue with it, but as a professional chef, I'm almost embarrassed to say that my $200 Joule does what the $1,000 PolySci does, but it's more user-friendly. For someone cooking at home, there is no advantage to a professional machine - the main difference is the amount of water the machine can handle. I've rigged my PolySci in my bathtub and cooked multiple whole prime ribs.....but who would normally do that at home? Joule does it all, and the app makes it stupid-proof. I can be anywhere with a signal and my phone tells me that the food is ready (as well as how long I have before the quality starts to suffer). I was skeptical at first, but I'm absolutely thrilled with my Joule. Another advantage is the size - I can roll up the cord and put it in my knife bag or drawer. It also weighs a lot less. And it's friggin' magnetic - I can put it in the middle of my pot and it stays there. For non-professionals, the app really seals the deal - my kids can get dinner started for me after school, and they're in fifth grade. I'm normally a pretty tough critic, but I have nothing bad to say about this thing - absolutely nothing.

Outstanding. I have tried the competition. Joule heats faster, is quieter, has a better user interface, and stores much more easily. I used to hate the sound of my sous vide pump. But the Joule is really quiet. The WiFi and Bluetooth were a snap to set up. The app is great; I especially like the cross-sectional pictures of what different levels of doneness will look like. I love being at the gym and seeing that my dinner is cooking. I set a high bar for equipment in my kitchen. Joule clears it easily.

Wonderful, Wonderful, WONDERFUL! Absolutely great, great, great. I use Joule all the time for anything from yogurt to pot de creme to perfect steaks. Highly recommended for anyone who wants darn good food.

Just ruined our Thanksgiving prep. We had tried the recipe previously for Turkey breast so we had no surprises. Go to replicate it on the eve of the big day and it doesn’t work . Used less than a dozen times. Really disappointed - put us in a pinch in on a big food holiday.

ChefSteps-- the web page with a wonderful abundance and variety of recipes- broken down into stages with visual references, notes on technique, ingredients, and enhanced instructions on timing & temps-- is the best of all resources. I find the videos to be most informative while bringing a delightful sense of whimsy to the art and mastery of everyday cooking. I have also been using Joule for at least 3 years now (I've lost track of time). It is a great piece of equipment. It is reliable, easily set- up and maintained, the wifi app is easy to use and navigate- integrates well with ALEXA, and makes for a stress-free experience. ChefSteps is my go to place for ideas, instruction, and exploration into the world of applied science of cooking. Joule and its app (with recipes and visual ques) guarantees consistent results and great quality.

We got this for Christmas last year and thought, "oh great, another cooking utensi". But, we are now converts. This is the ultimate cooking utensil! It's really easy to use and the fish and chicken come out perfect every time. The carnivores in my family liked the steak but still like steak on the grill better. Maybe I'll try sous vide steak on the grill...
Anyway, we really haven't used to for anything else but the above so we can't really comment on the other dishes. The app is easy to use but would really love a couple of other tabs like reheating food and other types of veggies like potatoes.

This is my second Sous Vide device. First one was Anova with wi-fi. Great device, but very very huge. Then I decided to upgrade to Joule.
Joule looks like it was created in some Apple lab: slim, sexy, minimalist design and very powerful.

I have only two CONS:
1) notification doesn't work all the time. it works most of the time, but not all the time. I literally have to open and close my app to see if the temperature is ready. WiFi access point is very close to my joule and firmware is updated, I believe the problem is with the app itself.
2) I wish, when I got my notification on my cell phone and apple watch, that temperature is ready and I can start cooking, I don't have to reach out to my pocket to open app to start cooking. Instead, I would love to just submerge my bag and press button on top of joule to start cooking and to get another notification when it's ready.

I will be truly happy with my joule if those two problem will be fixed in some future updates.

Joule is incredibly simple to setup. You need your smartphone to control it, but I don’t see that as something negative. It’s also tiny compared to most other sous vide devices.

WiFi setup was literally one minute, then I was cooking. Water heats quickly, and the magnet at the bottom is awesome.

The Joule itself is beautiful compared to other sous vide devices, and it doesn’t take up much room.

Super easy to work with, great company.

Fantastic, simple product to use. Better than the competing products.

I bought my Joule sous vide new in a box from a 3rd party. It didn't work properly. Chef Steps couldn't replace it but agreed to give me $20 off on a new one. I returned the original for a refund and bought straight from them. They did a good job helping me and with the credit.

Been following ChefSteps for years; love their bold innovations and easy-going style that helps build your confidence in making the recipes they publish and in your own cooking skills in general. Bought a Joule for Christmas - single greatest cooking "help-me" I have ever purchased.......ev-er!! As long as ChefSteps keeps putting it out there, I'm gonna continue to suck it up, 'cause I think they do it the best!!

Love the device. App is a bit difficult to use. The step by step section is excellent. But I get confused trying to navigate to the section where you pick the food you want to cook.

I love Joules and since getting it in January have been addicted to it! I use ChefStep a lot to find recipes and try new techniques(to me that is). Very informative and easy to follow recipes/

There's really only one downside to sous vide and it's that it makes other (albeit less time consuming) methods of cooking seem inferior. They put a lot of effort into tailoring recipes based on community feedback and helping people get the most out of the circulator.