# Question on a 12hr cooking time and when to start
**URL:** https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/question-on-a-12hr-cooking-time-and-when-to-start/598
**Category:** Anova Precision® Cooker
**Tags:** timetemp, steak
**Created:** [September 16, 2015, 3:19pm UTC](https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/question-on-a-12hr-cooking-time-and-when-to-start/598 "2015-09-16T15:19:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Micmb](https://community.anovaculinary.com/u/Micmb)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2015, 3:19pm UTC](https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/question-on-a-12hr-cooking-time-and-when-to-start/598/1 "2015-09-16T15:19:54Z")
Just got my sous vide setup and the first few have come out great. Am anxious to (re)try a skirt steak recipe that was very flavorful but unfortunately of course the meat was tough. So I see that flank steak, skirt steak and so on should be cooked for about 12hr for tenderness, but my question is when do you start the cycle? I assume when you make a skirt steak you are not getting up 5-6:00 in the morning to start your sous vide (or are you?). Can I cook it halfway, put away in fridge and then cook the rest the next day?
Thanks
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### Author:  [@john.jcb](https://community.anovaculinary.com/u/john.jcb)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2015, 10:44pm UTC](https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/question-on-a-12hr-cooking-time-and-when-to-start/598/2 "2015-09-16T22:44:35Z")
Since I am up and about around that time I start 12 hour cooks at about 6 AM for a 6 PM dinner. I have done a few 36, 54 and 72 hour cooks and start them at 5-6 PM. Your idea of cooking halfway should work although you may need to add 30 minutes or so for the steak to start cooking after it has been refrigerated. I often use a similar method to reheat leftover meat so it is not overcooked. A leftover medium rare roast can be reheated and it will be medium rare the second day.
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### Author:  [@Bill](https://community.anovaculinary.com/u/Bill)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2015, 10:56pm UTC](https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/question-on-a-12hr-cooking-time-and-when-to-start/598/3 "2015-09-17T22:56:06Z")
John pretty much hit the nail on the head on that one. I follow very similar methods myself!
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### Author:  [@kiporter](https://community.anovaculinary.com/u/kiporter)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2015, 11:03pm UTC](https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/question-on-a-12hr-cooking-time-and-when-to-start/598/4 "2015-10-19T23:03:49Z")
You could always plug the Anova into a timer. Definitely look for one that is grounded and has the correct amperage. Also check it the post here for controlling time delay via an app [http://community.anovaculinary.com/discussion/444/delayed-start-on-set-time ](http://community.anovaculinary.com/discussion/444/delayed-start-on-set-time)