sous-vide
soo-VEED
/suːˈviːd/
A method of cooking food slowly in a vacuum-sealed plastic pouch submerged in a temperature-controlled water bath.
It implies absolute precision in temperature control, ensuring that the food cooks evenly from edge to edge without losing moisture or volatile flavor compounds.
The story behind the word. Developed in the mid-1970s by French chef Georges Pralus for the world-renowned Restaurant Troisgros. Pralus discovered that cooking foie gras wrapped in plastic wrap in a water bath prevented it from losing its valuable fat and kept its texture incredibly creamy.
Word relationships
- vacuum-cooked: Vacuum-cooked is the literal English translation, but sous-vide is the universally accepted industry term used by professional chefs.
Commonly confused with
- boiling: Boiling cooks food in direct contact with water at 100°C, which can destroy delicate textures, while sous-vide cooks food sealed in plastic at much lower, highly controlled temperatures.
Collocations
- sous-vide cooker
- sous-vide bath
- cooked sous-vide
Example sentences
- "By preparing the tenderloin sous-vide at fifty-four degrees Celsius, we guarantee a perfect medium-rare throughout the entire cut." A modern culinary manual explaining steak preparation.
- "The introduction of sous-vide cooking allowed the restaurant to serve perfectly cooked fish consistently, even during the busiest dinner rushes." Discussing the benefits of modern kitchen technology.
Memory hook
Think of 'sous' as 'sub' (under) and 'vide' as 'void' (empty vacuum). Under a vacuum void. Under vacuum, cooked to perfection.
When not to use
Do not use to describe simple boiling, poaching, or steaming in open water; it must involve a vacuum seal and precise thermal circulation.
Fun facts
- Although popularized in French fine dining, the basic principle of cooking food under a vacuum was first described by the British physicist Sir Benjamin Thompson in 1799, though he used hot air instead of water.
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.