The Joule effectively converts any cooking pot into a water bath and then instructs you to achieve optimum results. If you enjoy sous vide cooking, the Joule is an excellent choice.
This is a great place to start if you’re new to sous vide yet fascinated by the concept. It’s unlike anything else. It works by heating and circulating water in a pot or pan until the temperature is suitable for cooking your food.
For years, high-end restaurants have used sous vide cooking to consistently prepare food to the exact level of doneness desired. If your Joule sous vide does not heat or circulate, there could be a problem with the Joule itself. A flickering red or orange light is sometimes associated with this problem.
Let’s not start the whole discussion here, as we have very detailed guidance within the whole article. Read-Along!!
Why do you need to Troubleshoot Joule Sous Vide?
When it comes to sous vide cookers, we all know Joule is a top brand. Sous vide cookers have never been better or more inexpensive. Some newer models incorporate Wi-Fi, which allows you to prepare a meal from afar and apps that guide you through each stage of the cooking process.
However, like with any new gadget, you can run into some technical issues that you weren’t expecting, which can be a pain to deal with.
Joule outperformed the Anova in a variety of ways. Joule has a more appealing appearance and is easy to store in a kitchen drawer because of its small size. Furthermore, its mobile app is more user-friendly, and the gadget boils water 50% faster than Anova. As a result, it has the benefit of being up to date.
These modifications can cause issues after updating the operating system or Joule Sous Vide by ChefSteps. As a result, totally restarting the smartphone or tablet is always an excellent first step. The elements are reloaded after the restart, and many errors have already vanished.
But don’t worry; this tutorial will walk you through some of the most common problems with the Joule Sous Vide machine and how to address them.
What Causes Joule Sous Vide to Have Problem?
There are various reasons your Sous Vide will have problems. Let’s briefly discuss them.
Not getting heated
One of the most common problems of all, the sous vide not getting heated. There could be several reasons. There’s a little propeller inside of the Joule that circulates the water while heating it simultaneously. It all depends on the temperature of your sous vide and how much water you need to heat up.
The longer it takes the sous to vide to heat up, the higher the temperature and the larger the water used.
Clean your Joule if your propeller is spinning, but the water isn’t becoming any warmer. It will not heat up if the heating element is broken or not working. Cleaning this could help with any heating or circulation problems you’re experiencing.
The heating rods can be tested by removing the metal sleeve from your machine and touching them directly with your fingers. As a general rule, your sous vide should heat up between 15 to 30 minutes. Essentially, what you do in this scenario is a relatively simple answer that we all use regularly.
Just unplug it from its power source and let it cool down. Once you are sure that it is cooled down, verify that the propeller is not broken, bent, cracked, or misaligned. If everything is okay, just put it back in.
Keeps Stopping
The timer or the motor in your Joule sous vide may be malfunctioning. There is a possibility that a red or orange light will flash when this problem occurs.
We all know there would be a small propeller inside the Sous vide. As the sous vide cooks, a chunk of food can literally get stuck with it. At first, you will feel that the sous vide is running slow. Gradually it will make your video stop.
The simplest solution is to remove the foot and pull out the propeller and clean it. Due to hard water, the metal rod holding the propeller can get mould around it. These moulds make the propeller run slow and literally stops the sous vide.
Not Turning On
You can face the problem of your joule is not turning on at all. Reliable technology is nothing new. Joule Sous Vide has produced a high-quality device. However, it can occasionally bring complications. Mostly joule shows these kinds of issues after one year. As it comes with one year guarantee.
There could be some straightforward solutions for these;
Turn on the power switch located just behind the display by pressing the button on the back. There is a possibility that the problem is with the switch you are using to connect. Then try plugging Joule into a different outlet. To check that the original outlet was the problem, plug another device into it and see if it powers up as well.
An additional power switch is required to turn on the machine. GFCIs should be checked on all outlets to ensure they have not been tripped. Assuming it has been tripped, please try plugging Joule back in after pressing the Reset button on the outlet to check if Joule now powers on. The company’s customer service department is always there to help. To replace a defective product, simply return it to the store.
Joule Sous Vide Circulator Is Not Working
As the water in your sous vides bath changes, mineral deposits will form on parts of the immersion circulator, particularly the heating element. As a result of the deposits in tap water, this buildup is quite typical. White, brown, or black deposits might form depending on your water pipes and source.
How often this should be done can’t be determined by the water in the water bath. Thus it’s hard to say. When the internal components begin to lose their shine, it’s better to just keep an eye on them and clean them when necessary.
This is what you can do to deal with the issue;
Disconnect Joule from the wall and let it cool completely before continuing. Joule’s foot may be removed from the bottom by gently unscrewing it. As soon as you remove the foot, spin/rotate the propeller 360 degrees a few times to make sure it’s free to move about. The heating unit and impeller of a sealed immersion circulator are inaccessible.
Start Joule again and see if the motor is spinning and the water is now heating. Cleaning the interior workings is therefore only possible by running the circulator in a cleaning solution.
Joule Sous Vide Making Rattling Noise
Joule or motor speed fluctuations are usually not causing alarm, but we understand that they can be uncomfortable. As a result, the motor’s vibration is communicated to the counter through the pot, which amplifies the noise.
Every day is a faint rattling sound. The engine, impeller, and cooling fan of your cooker will generate a buzzing sound when it is in use. Still, it shouldn’t be irritating or overly loud. There’s a problem when the stainless steel skirt isn’t tight enough.
Push the stainless skirt into the guiding groove and turn it to the right until you hear a click to correct this. When the skirt is in place, the noise will be reduced or eliminated.
As an alternative, a slightly bent stirring shaft may cause the grinding sounds. Remove the clear plastic lid on the device’s bottom and carefully push the impeller till it’s in the middle if this is the case.
The fact that you should not put Joule in a dishwasher or submerge it in water should come as no surprise. 20-30 minute vinegar circulation baths for noise reduction are recommended.
After the cleaning cycle is complete, remove the foot and propellor from your Joule and check the interior. Check that the entire surface of the internal heater is clean and free of any accumulation before use. Upon completion of this check, please reinstall the propeller and screw on foot.
4 Tips To Keep Keep Joule Sous Vide Error Free
A correct pot
This method works with any pot large enough to accommodate the immersion circulator and keep your food submerged in the water There are smaller pots you may use as well. A Joule, which has a magnetic base to assist it to attach to the bottom of pots, is ideal. It’s also possible to make do without buying another stockpot if you require a larger container. Check out these pots or containers.
Handle Sous Vide Pouches Properly
Sous vide pouches can appear like a mess if water from the bath gets into them. Tongs are not your friend when it comes to sous vide cooking. This means that your delicate fish fillets are at risk of being crushed by them. Suppose you don’t mix the pouch every now and then. In that case, you’ll wind up with a vast attaching-in, connected piece of meat instead of individual fillets that are excellent. Use a weight to keep your bags in place, or use a clip to keep them in place.
Proper Temperature
When it comes to choosing the right cooking temperature, it’s not always obvious. And unlike on a cooktop, higher temperatures don’t necessarily translate into shorter cooking periods. Because of its wide temperature range and high accuracy, the Joule is suitable for all types of sous vide cooking. The maximum temperature is set at 208°F (98°C) on the thermostat. Cooking sous vide you to control the ultimate temperature of the dish. Temperatures can range from 120°F (48.9°C) all the way up to 185°F (85°C).
Proper Plastic Bags
BPA-free and constructed of polyethylene, food-grade vacuum sealing bags are recommended by sous vide maker ChefSteps (we like the ones made by FoodSaver). Vacuum sealers are required to seal these bags, which FoodSaver also makes.
After cooking sous vide, you may reuse your plastic bags! Once you’ve used them for sous vide cooking, you’ll never want to repurchase them. Also, use them to pack lunches or store vegetables in the refrigerator. In fact, vacuum-sealed containers are preferred in several situations. Plus, you can utilise vacuum-sealing bags without sealing them.
FAQs
Question: Do Joule sous vide work without WiFi?
Answer: Wireless or Bluetooth connections are required to use Joule. Joule’s Bluetooth connection allows you to cook without WiFi. Still, your phone or tablet must be connected to the internet at the time of pairing.
Question: Can I leave the house with Joule on?
Answer: While at home, you may operate your Joule from wherever you have internet access by using the Joule app on your Apple iPhone, iPad, or Android mobile device.
Question: Why are my sous vide whistling?
Answer: Hard water users should use vinegar to eliminate buildup inside Joule, which might produce a whistling sound and/or poor heating times due to buildup. Your sous vide tool may require a bath if Joule starts humming or heating times seem longer than usual.
Question: How do you fix sous vide joules?
Answer: Cleaning your Joule is as simple as running a water/vinegar combination at 140°F through it (click here for my step-by-step guide on cleaning Joule). Remove any debris from the propeller and heating elements so that your Joule can heat water more efficiently. Undesirably long heating periods Your sous vide tool may require a bath if Joule starts humming or heating times seem longer than usual.
Closing Words
These are the process you can follow to troubleshoot your Joule sous vide. These troubleshoots are nothing major but following simple ways to maintain the Joule. We hope following these procedures you can quickly.attachinginTongs are not your friend when it comes to sous vide cooking. solve the problems you are facing with your joule.
Good Luck!!