Has it occurred to you that the side of your Joule does not have any maximum or minimum lines drawn along it? This feature is available on most sous vide cookers, and it can make filling the sous vide jar with water significantly easier.
This article will answer any questions you may have about the water level in a Joule Sous Vide device and how to use it. The Joule has a minimum water depth of 1.5 in (38 mm) and a maximum water depth of 8 in (203 mm).
Additionally, depending on whether or not you have a lid for the sous vide jar and how well insulated it is, the Joule can effectively heat between 2.5 and 10 gallons. For more information, continue reading.
The minimum and maximum water depth of a joule sous vide
The water level in the sous vide jar must be between the minimum and optimum water depths for the Joule to perform properly.
Unfortunately, unlike many other sous vide systems, the Joule does not have maximum and minimum lines drawn on the side of the device, which is a disappointment. A hypothetical line must be drawn according to the instructions included with the Joule. Using the Joule makes it tough to remember where you can fill the water bath, making it tough to recall where you should fill the water bath every time.
Joule’s exact minimum water depth (38 mm) is 1.5 in (38 mm), while its exact maximum water depth is 8 in 203 mm. Unless the Joule is resting at the bottom of the pot or container, these calculations are based on the assumption that it does.
Increasing the maximum water level even further can be accomplished by attaching the Joule to the edge of the container, allowing it to rest higher up. Depending on the size of the container you are using, the maximum water level that can be reached may vary due to this method.
The maximum water capacity of a joule sous vides
If you have a different sous vide setup, the maximum water capacity of the Joule Sous Vide may differ. The bottom line is that if you use an enclosed jar with a lid, the Joule will heat more water. The amount of water that the Joule can heat reduces as you remove insulation and covering from the container.
| Container with lid | Twenty liters(5 gallons) |
| Uncovered jar | 10liters(2.5 gallons) |
| Well-insulated jar with lid | 40liters(10 gallons) |
Water does not evaporate from the container when it is equipped with insulation and a lid, which is why the sous vide setup will affect these numbers.
Due to evaporation, water might leave the container more quickly if not present, giving the Joule less time to heat up what is already present. To ensure that your Joule can efficiently heat the entire volume of water, you should use a relatively small volume of water if you do not have a well-insulated jar or lid.
Many sous vide jars are available with lids that have been tailored to match your Joule. Alternatively, you can cut a hole in a lid yourself or even use cling film or ping pong balls – see this page for additional information.
Metal pots, in general, do not provide adequate insulation when it comes to heat retention. Another reason why polycarbonate containers (such as those made by Cambro or Rubbermaid) are so popular for sous vide cooking is because they are extremely durable. Insulating material sleeves are ideal for those who want to add even more insulation. They are intended for use with polycarbonate containers.
If you cook large quantities of food regularly, the ability to heat large volumes of water is likely to be important to your workflow. It is recommended that you use a good sous vide jar with a lid and an insulation sleeve in this situation. This container from EVERIE, which is available on Amazon, is my favorite sous vide container because it comes with a top and a sleeve, and it’s easy to clean.
How to deal with too low error water jar
It is fairly uncommon for the water level in sous vide cookers to become dangerously low. It will then display an “insufficient water” error message in the application before immediately shutting off the water.
Check to see enough water in the sous vide container as a preliminary step before continuing. Return to the previous section to determine the exact water level that should be present.
After that, you can try to restart your Joule. To do this, unplug the device, wait for thirty seconds, and then reconnect it.
An additional step you can take is to inspect the propeller:
i. Check to see that your Joule is disconnected and has cooled down since you last used it.
ii. Remove the foot at the bottom of your device by unscrewing it slowly and carefully.
iii. Make sure the propeller is in good working order. Check to see if there’s anything in the way. It should be checked to make sure it is not damaged or broken and properly aligned. Finally, make certain that it can spin freely and remain connected while doing so.
Finally, if you’re still getting the low water error notice on your Joule after attempting all of the suggestions above, you might consider cleaning the device.
How can a joule be cleaned?
Fill a small pot halfway with water and half with distilled white vinegar.
In a manual mode, adjust the temperature to 140 degrees Fahrenheit / 60 degrees Celsius, and enable Joule to heat the liquid while the temperature is controlled.
It is complete when Joule notifies you that the cleaning temperature has been reached. Cleansing with vinegar is essential if you have hard water since it helps remove debris inside the Joule, which can cause a whistling sound and slow heating periods. The whistling of Joule and longer than usual heating durations may indicate that the sous vide instrument is in desperate need of a cleaning.
A vinegar circulating bath at a lower temp than the recommended 140 degrees Fahrenheit/60 degrees Celsius can still be quite effective for cleaning and descaling, despite Joule’s lowest temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius).
You should probably run the vinegar circulation bath for 20-30 minutes if it has been a while since you cleaned Joule and the machine is making a little more noise during circulation, taking much longer than anticipated to heat the water bath, obtaining a low water message, or having a stuck motor/cooks stop. It may be necessary to run at Joule’s minimum temperature (or room temperature) of 68 °F / 20 °C if the machine continues to stop while operating at 140 °F / 60°C.
Joule should not be washed in the dishwasher or submerged in water.
Conclusion
When trying to set up your water bath, the lack of maximum and minimum lines on the Joule can be frustrating.
It is hoped that this information has assisted you in understanding how much water the Joule can warm up and how much water should be added to the water bath to obtain the greatest results from your Joule.