Sous-Vide Steak Au Poivre (2024)

This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency on behalf of FoodSaver®; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

The execution of sous-vide steak is easy if you have the proper equipment and understand the basics of sous-vide cooking. As we do in the Savory Experiments kitchen, we did the research and are here to share what we’ve learned!

Sous Vide Steak Au Poivre is a sous-vide steak recipe worthy of an easy weeknight meal or a special occasion. New York strip is cooked to the perfect temperature and smothered in a creamy Au Poivre Peppercorn Sauce.

What is sous-vide? To put it simply, sous-vide cooking is putting food into a vacuum sealed plastic bag and submerging it in temperature controlled water until it reaches the desired doneness. It holds at this temperature preventing it from overcooking.

It is a technique that has long been used in restaurants to consistently deliver perfectly cooked food. A technique that is now being employed by home cooks to prepare the same exquisite results.

What temperature should I sous-vide my steak?

Rare (120-128 °F), medium rare (129-134 °F), medium (135-144 °F), medium-well (145-155) or well done (156 °F). Your steak will be the same temperature throughout. Remember that to kill off harmful bacteria, meat should be cooked to 130 degrees. This steak was cooked at 131°F.

Do I need a sous-vide machine?

Yes! Also known as a water circulator, immersion circulator or water cooker, a sous-vide machine is necessary to keep water at the perfect temperature to facilitate cooking.

Do I need a sous-vide container?

You need some type of container that holds water, a sous-machine and your food, but exactly what that is doesn’t really matter. You can use a large Dutch oven, pot or a plastic food prep container. (See above).

How long does it take to sous-vide a steak?

Good question! It is a myth that food can simmer indefinitely. The actual time depends on how well done you like your steak.

Sous-vide is magical, but not so much that your meat will instantly reach the correct temperature. A larger cut or more well done cut will need longer.

How should a sous-vide steak be cooked?

Beef enthusiasts and experts will tell you that steak should be served at medium-rare. At this point you get the best beefy flavors combined with the optimal texture. With traditional cooking methods, medium-rare is hard to achieve.

You can guess or use a meat thermometer, but the meat is cooking super fast and it’s easy to overshoot. With sous-vide, it gets to the correct internal temperature and stays there. This takes anywhere from 1-4 hours depending on the size of your cut and the temperature of the water.

How do I season my sous-vide steak?

Minimally and with aromatics. Spices and seasonings will not react the same to the technique of sous-vide as they do traditional methods.

Beef is best with its own juices, fresh herbs and garlic. No need to add butter or olive oil, as these can actually mute your flavors.

Do I need to sear my sous-vide steak?

Your steak will be fully cooked, but will not have the desirable crust. You can finish it in a pan or on the grill. For the most even bark, I suggest a cast iron skillet.

The trick is to get it super hot, the point where your pan is smoking. Then adding a fat (butter) and flipping it from side to side in 15 second increments. Long enough to start to brown, but not long enough to cook it any further.

What type of bag do I put it in?

There is only one answer: FoodSaver® FM2000 Vacuum Sealing System! In order to cook properly, sous-vide bags must be airtight and sink to the bottom (no floating!).

FoodSaver® sous-vide bags are constructed with multiple layers and sealed with powerful heat, resulting in the best resistance to punctures and tearing.

Sealing in freshness and flavor, sous-vide bags work best with a FoodSaver® FM2000 Vacuum Sealing System. Precut bags come in a variety of sizes, but you can also buy a roll, allowing you to pick the optimal size. From there, they can be taken directly from the fridge or freezer to the sous-vide machine.

Side dishes for steak:

• Roasted Carrots
• Mascarpone Mashed Potatoes
• Tomato Salad with Mustard Bacon Dressing

The FM2000 system and sous-vide are good for so much more than just sous-vide. Use them to store foods and keep them fresher longer. Freeze meals and put them directly in the microwave or oven, preserve fruits and vegetables and even make ice cream!

You can purchase FoodSaver Sous-vide Vacuum Seal Bags (as well as the FoodSaver. FM2000 Vacuum Sealing System) in store or online at Target.com.