CONFIT VS. SOUS VIDE: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

The main difference between confit vs. sous vide lies in how the food is heated on the cooktop. With confit, food is immersed and cooked at low temperatures in fat, oil or syrup. With the sous vide method, ingredients are sealed in a vacuum-sealed bag and cooked in hot water.

The techniques of confit and sous vide are slow cooking methods that are particularly useful for creating recipes with juicy, tender meats like poultry or pork, as well as other ingredients. Discover more about the differences between these two cooking styles and how to use them for creating in your kitchen.

A red pot on a white slide-in range A red pot on a white slide-in range

WHAT IS SOUS VIDE?

Sous vide is a French method of heating food in which ingredients are protected in a vacuum-sealed, airtight bag and placed in hot water to cook. Often, a circulator tool that simultaneously heats and circulates the water is used, but the sous vide technique can also be performed on the stove.

The sous vide method can help you achieve more precise cooking for heating ingredients to just the right temperature, ideal for making buttery steak or flavorful pork tenderloin dishes.

WHAT CAN YOU SOUS VIDE?

Sous vide is a versatile cooking method that can be used to cook foods from hearty proteins like beef and lamb to more delicate ingredients like vegetables or eggs.

With sous vide, you can make beautifully presented dinner dishes with soft, evenly cooked salmon or juicy lamb chops, or create a delicious breakfast of velvety eggs benedict over a toasted muffin.

Homemade meat and vegetables on a plate Homemade meat and vegetables on a plate

TIPS FOR SOUS VIDE COOKING

With the sous vide technique, you can achieve consistent, even cooking for your ingredients. Below are a few tips for sous vide cooking that can help you grasp the method and start applying when creating in your kitchen.

1. USE HIGH QUALITY BAGS

You can sous vide ingredients using regular zip-top bags. To ensure your ingredients are protected throughout the cooking process, be sure to use good quality plastic bags that won’t allow water to leak in as the food heats. 

2. AVOID OVERFILLING THE POT

To help prevent spills and messes, be sure to account for the size of your ingredients and avoid overfilling the pot with water.

3. BE MINDFUL OF WATER TEMPERATURE

Because sous vide is a temperature-controlled technique for heating food, it’s important to know how hot the water is while the ingredients are cooking with a thermometer or sous vide circulator.

4. ADJUST BURNERS WHEN NECESSARY

To help ensure even cooking when using the sous vide technique on the stove or cooktop, adjust the burners when necessary for a consistent temperature as the ingredients cook, especially after initially placing the bag into the water.

5. SEAR TO ADD FLAVOR

If you’re preparing a protein like steak, consider searing the meat before or after cooking for added flavor and texture.

6. USE A COOKING TIMER

Use a kitchen or phone timer to know when to remove the ingredients from the water bath and ensure accurate cook times according to your recipe. 

7. SECURE THE BAG DURING COOKING

To protect the ingredients against excess movement, consider using a clothespin or clip to secure the plastic bag to the pot.

A woman pouring water into a pot A woman pouring water into a pot

WHAT IS CONFIT?

Like sous vide, confit is a French method of slow-cooking meats like chicken or fish, as well as other fresh ingredients like eggplant, lemon, garlic or thyme. Simply immerse the food in fat, oil or syrup according to your recipe and place the dish in the oven to bake. 

With confit, food is cooked at low temperatures, differentiating the technique from other methods like deep frying.

WHAT CAN YOU CONFIT?

The confit technique allows you to get creative when cooking your favorite foods. With the confit method, you can make sophisticated dinner dishes like confit chicken or duck, or create an exciting new holiday signature with confit turkey, a different method of turkey preparation.

You can use the confit cooking method to enhance the flavor of whole ingredients like tomatoes, lemons or shallots. For confit cooking inspiration, explore this recipe for garlic confit flatbread. Make sure to store the confited garlic in an airtight container in your refrigerator.

A prepared garlic confit flatbread A prepared garlic confit flatbread

TIPS FOR CONFIT COOKING

You can use the confit technique to elevate the flavor of your dishes while also ensuring just the right texture through slow, even cooking. Consider the following tips as you navigate the confit method of cooking meat and other ingredients.

1. CHOOSE THE RIGHT LIQUID

With confit, you have a choice as to what type of liquid is used to cook your food. Experiment with different types of oils, or explore fat options like duck or goose fat. 

2. USE OVEN-SAFE COOKWARE

Protect your cookware from the high temperatures by using oven-safe pots or pans when confit cooking food.

3. USE THE RIGHT POT SIZE

Ensure even cooking of the food by choosing a dish that is large enough to hold your ingredients and have them submerged in oil, fat or sugar syrup. If cooking large items like a whole chicken, be sure to use a pot that can hold the meat and all other ingredients. 

4. SET AND MAINTAIN THE CORRECT TEMPERATURE

Setting the oven to the correct temperature according to your recipe can help you achieve consistent results when cooking confit. 

5. ENSURE INGREDIENTS ARE THOROUGHLY COVERED

When cooking, be sure to fully submerge ingredients in the fat, oil or syrup completely to ensure even heating.

SHOP KITCHENAID® RANGES

Gas and electric ranges by KitchenAid brand allow you to experiment with different cooking methods while helping you maintain precision and consistency throughout the cooking process. Available in both freestanding and slide-in models, KitchenAid® ranges can help you prepare juicy meat and vegetable dishes with ease. 

DISCOVER COMPLEMENTARY RECIPES WITH KITCHENAID BRAND

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