Ghetto Sous Vide

[TimG]

So.. I have this PID controller I built for my brewery, which may not be of any use (1500W in a big ass hybrid BIAB cooler is too low power and the temp change over time too slow for PID to work efficiently). I attempted to use it with a slow cooker to do some ghetto sous vide, it sucked (shitty borrowed slow cooker was way too low powered.. same issue as above). So I was thinking, this isn't NEAR ghetto enough. Why not make a hot plate out of an old clothes iron. Most are 1500W, nice flat base.. tear it open, hard wire the element (no internal thermostat) and plug into PID controller. I'd make a wooden base for it to keep it nice and stable.

Can anybody think of any reason why I shouldn't do this?

[Keggermeister]

I have used an electric frying pan with a deep skillet on it. It had more power than my slow cooker. I bet a hot plate and large cast iron dutch oven would work ok too, or a counter top deep fryer filled with water.

[RubberToe]

Single burner hot plate (XSCargo like $12), pot of water on top should work. I'm planning to do that using my smoker controller.

[RubberToe]

Also, I've read that if you want to use a slow cooker for sous vide that it's a good idea to prime it with hot water.

[Keggermeister]

Always have the water stabilized at final temp for a while before cooking begins.