• Benefits of Implementing Sous Vide in Healthcare

    Posted by David Pietranczyk

    Healthcare institutions can see great benefits in consistency, waste reduction, health benefits for patients, tighter inventory control, enhance flavor & appearance of food, and reduced products costs.

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  • Fajita Night (Steak or Chicken)

    Posted by PolyScience Staff

    Fajitas are easy to make, so why bother with extra steps? Any night can turn into a fiesta when you pull a bag of fajita meat and veggies from the freezer. Prepare ahead and eat within 4 days, or freeze and reheat within 6 months!

    Serves 4

    Prep time, 10 minutes
    Cook time: 65 minutes

    Ingredients:
    3 Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
    -or-
    1 Skirt Steak, outside cut

    1 Tablespoon olive oil
    1 Tablespoon Fajita Rub
    1 Green Bell Pepper, cored, sliced
    1 Red Bell Pepper, cored, sliced
    1 Large, Red Onion, sliced
    Kosher Salt and Black Pepper, to taste.

    8 Flour Tortillas
    Sour Cream
    Shredded Chihuahua Cheese
    2 Limes, quartered

     

    Step 1:
    Set the Sous Vide Professional™ to 165°F/74°C for Chicken (140°F/60°C for Steak) with the Rear Flow Adjustment Slide closed and Front Flow Adjustment Slide fully open. (Flow Adjustment Slide available on CHEF Series only.)*

    * Even though the temperatures for Chicken and Beef are different, the par-cooked vegetables will be fully cooked after sautéing in Step 7.

    Step 2:
    Keeping meats and vegetables separate, season with Williams-Sonoma Fajita Rub, salt and pepper.

    Step 3:
    In separate pouches, vacuum seal vegetables in one pouch. Vacuum seal beef or chicken in the other.

    Step 4:
    Place sealed bag in circulating water bath and cook for 60 minutes.

    Step 5:
    If serving immediately, remove beef or chicken from bag and slice. For later use, remove bag from water bath, quickly shock in ice water bath.**

    Step 6:
    Preheat a large non-stick pan over high heat with 1 tablespoon olive oil.

    Step 7:
    Sauté chicken/beef and vegetables until nicely browned.

    Step 8:
    Serve with warmed tortillas, sour cream, cheese and limes.

     

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  • Sous Vide Confit of Duck Leg & Breast

    Posted by PolyScience Staff

    DUCK LEGS

    Cure Time: 16 hours
    Cook Time: 10-12 hours
    Serves: 2

    Ingredients:
    2 Duck Legs, Frenched
    1C / 240 ml Coarse Kosher Salt
    1T Dried Thyme
    3 Dried Bay Leaves
    6T Duck Fat, reserve 2T for searing

    Step One:

    Set the Sous Vide Professional™ to the desired temperature, with rear pump flow switch closed and front flow switch set to full open. For duck confit, 167°F/75°C is found to be the best temperature.

    Step Two:
    Crush the dried thyme and bay leaves in the salt until it is evenly mixed. Distribute the salt mixture over the duck legs. Place in the refrigerator and let cure for 36 hours. Thoroughly rinse.

    Step Three:
    In a medium vacuum bag, place seasoned, trimmed portion of duck leg along with 4T duck fat.

    Step Four:
    Seal portion to desired vacuum. For duck, a vacuum of 90-95% is optimal.

    Step Five:
    Once target temperature is reached, place sealed duck confit portion in circulating water bath.

    Step Six:
    Cook to desired doneness for 10-12 hours.

    Step Seven:
    Remove duck from vacuum bag. Sear in a hot pan with remaining duck fat until skin is crisp.

     

    DUCK BREAST

    Cooking time: 45 minutes
    Serves: 2

    Ingredients:
    2 Duck Breasts (1 inch / 25mm)
    3 T / 40g duck fat
    Kosher Salt and Black Pepper, to taste

    For more information on food safety, please click here.

    Step One:
    Set the temperature on your Sous Vide Professional™ to 57°C / 135°F, with rear pump flow switch closed and front flow switch set to full open.

    Step Two:
    Season the duck breast with salt and pepper, place in a bag with duck fat and vacuum seal. Make sure that all ingredients are cold. If necessary, place the bag with the duck breast and fat in an ice bath.

    Step Three:
    Seal portion to desired vacuum. For duck, a vacuum of 90-95% is optimal.

    After it is sealed, place the bag on the counter with skin side down. Shape the duck breast so the skin side is flat and the duck breast looks plump. This will ensure that you will get even color on the skin side when you render the fat.

    Step Four:
    Once target temperature is reached, place duck into circulating water bath set to 57°C/135°F and cook for 45 minutes.

    Step Five:
    Remove the bag from the water bath and let sit on the counter for 10 minutes.

    Step Six:
    Remove the duck from the bag and place it skin side down in a pan on medium heat and render out as much of the fat as you desire. Flip and sear the meat side for no more than 60 seconds. Slice and serve.

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  • Sous Vide Thanksgiving Turkey: Two Ways

    Posted by PolyScience Staff

    Brines are an easy way to ensure your turkey is never dry. Try the straightforward salt brine or our apple cider marinade for a sweet Autumn flavor.

    Brine Time: 16 hours
    Cook Time: 3 hours

    Serves: 8

    Ingredients:
    2 Turkey Breasts, boneless
    2 Turkey Thighs, boned out
    2 Cups (approx.) of Sous Vide Stuffing – Reserve for thighs in Step 7
    4T Duck Fat

    For the Salt Brine:
    1 Gallon Water
    265g Kosher Salt
    115g Sugar
    5 Sprigs of Thyme
    3 Sprigs of Rosemary
    3 Bay Leaves
    3 Shallots, halved, peeled
    5 Garlic Cloves, peeled, smashed
    20 Black Peppercorns, whole

    For the Cider Marinade:
    1 Gallon Apple Cider
    5 Pieces of Star Anise
    3 Cinnamon Sticks
    3 Bay Leaves
    20 Black Peppercorns, whole

    For more information on food safety, please click here.

    Step 1:
    Prepare either brine or cider marinade recipes by combining all in ingredients in an 8 quart sauce pot and bring to a boil. Remove from heat, transfer to a heat safe container and place in the refrigerator until completely cool (40°F/4°C).

    Step 2:
    Using individual vacuum bags for each item, roll the vacuum pouch back at the top, turning it out 1-2 inches. This will help prevent possible cross-contamination.

    Step 3:
    Place one turkey breast in vacuum bag, along with enough brine to cover. Vacuum seal. Repeat for each additional breast and thigh.

    Step 4:
    Place sealed bag in refrigerator for 16 hours.

    Step 5:
    After brining is complete, remove and rinse each piece of turkey under cold water.


    Left: Cider Marinade Right: Salt Brine

    Step 6:

    Set the Sous Vide Professional™ to 147°F/64°C, with the Rear Flow Adjustment Slide closed and Front Flow Adjustment Slide fully open. (Flow Adjustment Slide available on CHEF Series only.)

    Step 7:
    For the thighs, lay thigh skin-side down on cutting board. Place approximately 1 cup of stuffing in center and roll thigh to completely seal in stuffing. Secure with butchers twine.

    Step 8:
    Again, using individual vacuum bags for each item, roll the vacuum pouch back at the top, turning it out 1-2 inches. Place one turkey breast in vacuum bag, along with 1 tablespoon of duck fat. Vacuum seal. Repeat for each additional breast and thigh.

    Step 9:
    Place sealed bags in circulating water bath and cook for 2 hours, or until core temperature reaches 147°F/64°C.

    For advanced users:
    If serving immediately, lower temperature of circulating bath to 122°F/50°C and hold turkey for 30 minutes. Do not exceed 30 minutes. You can speed the process by dropping several ice cubes into the bath until bath temperature reaches 122°F/50°C.

    Step 10:
    Remove bags from water bath.

    If saving for later: quickly shock in ice water bath until temperature has reached 40°F/4°C. Cooling must occur in under one hour. Store in refrigerator and reheat to 140°F/60°C before serving.

    Step 11:
    Preheat oven to 400°F/205°C. Remove turkey breasts and thighs from vacuum bag. Place turkey in roasting pan, preferably on a wire rack. Roast turkey breasts and thighs until skin is golden brown. Remove butcher twine from thighs.

    Step 12:
    If serving immediately: carve turkey and transfer to serving vessel.

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  • Turkey Coldcuts

    Posted by PolyScience Staff

    This easy to make turkey breast is great hot or cold. Slice it thin and you’ve got cold cuts at a fraction of the cost from the deli. This can be done at the same temperature with boneless, skinless chicken breasts in just 35 minutes! Substitute an eye round roast and homemade roast beef can save you six dollars a pound. Simply add your favorite spice rub and never make a boring sandwich again!

    Makes: 8-10 Sandwiches

    Prep time: 10 minutes
    Cook time: 90 minutes

    Ingredients:
    1 Boneless, Skinless Turkey Breast
    1 Tbs Olive Oil
    ½ C Apple Cider
    Kosher Salt and Black Pepper, to taste.
    Spice Rub of your choosing (Optional)

    For Sandwiches:
    Bread of your choosing
    Crisp Romaine Lettuce
    Condiments of your choosing
    Fresh Tomato Slices

    Step 1:

    Set the Sous Vide Professional™ to 147°F/64°C, with the Rear Flow Adjustment Slide closed and Front Flow Adjustment Slide fully open. (Flow Adjustment Slide available on CHEF Series only.)

    Step 2:
    Browning (Optional Step)
    Preheat a non-stick pan over medium-high heat with 1 Tbs olive oil. Season turkey breast with salt and pepper and sear in oil until lightly browned. Remove from pan, drain and cool.

    Step 3:
    Pat turkey breast dry with paper towel.

    Step 4:
    Vacuum seal turkey breast with apple cider.

    Step 5:
    Place sealed bag in circulating water bath and cook for 90 minutes or to an internal temperature of 147°F/64°C.

    Step 6:
    Remove bag, quickly shock in ice water bath.

    Step 7:
    When completely cold, turkey is easiest to slice. Slice thinly on a bias and layer slices on plastic wrap or in reusable container. Sliced turkey will keep up to 7 days.**

    Step 8:
    Assemble sandwiches and garnish to your preference.

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