Timer Function on the Anova Precision Cooker

[adnewman]

Hello fellow Sous Vide enthusiasts. I started this thread 3.5 years ago upon discovering the comically un-intuitive way to start the timer. At the time there was no Android app. Then one was released. It sucked. Then the app was totally refactored for both iPhone and Android. Both sucked. Unsurprisingly, Anova was unable to provide a user install-able firmware upgrade to make the timer more usable and, instead, defended the design based upon hilarious and embarrassing reasoning.

Here's the thing. 3.5 years later I still use and still enjoy my BT Anova Sous Vide. It remains reliable and accurate and does the job. Perfect? Not even close. But I've gotten 3.5 years of solid service and countless excellent meals from this device. These days I keep my phone turned off and when the device comes up to temperature I scream across the room "Hey Google, start a 2 hour timer" (or whatever timer I want).

The world is imperfect and companies are imperfect. I'll happily continue using my Anova until it fails. At that point I'm happy to reconsider other products but I'll start by evaluating whatever new product Anova has first.

Perhaps it's time to retire this thread....

-Best,

/Andy

[Ember]

One very simple reason that the Anova doesn't stop on timer completion..... Food safety!

Don't like the timer beeping? Best solution is don't use the timer. I know it sounds facetious to new sous vide users, but the timer is superfluous to most sous vide processing. There are very few truly time critical items with this sort of cooking. That's one of its beauties. An extra hour or two on a steak makes no difference. Four or five extra hours on a roast is no biggy.

Time precision is not required. As an often controversial sous vide advocate says, "Put away the stopwatches, people!"

[AlyssaWOAH]

@Ember is right - the unit doesn't turn off when the cook is done because of food safety. We heard all of the feedback regarding the beeping/notifications, and because of it, we were able to make the sounds from the Nano much softer and kinder to the ears. This feedback will also apply to future products. In a perfect world, all products we push out would be flawless - but as we continue to make new things, we'll improve along the way. Keep the feeback coming - we're listening. I always document it and let the rest of our team know what our community wants.

[Mirozen]

Hi @earlten

While I agree that the implementation of the timer needs work I've found Anova to be very responsive to customer issues when it comes to problems that prevent units from actually cooking food. I guess I'm just saying this because you went from not realizing why the unit does not turn off when the timer completes (which is explained as a food safety issue) being the only problem you had to practically calling for a boycott of Anova in the space of three posts! I'm right on the bandwagon regarding software improvements, but so far I'm pretty darn happy overall with the WiFi unit I've purchased.

I see you also follow the "Sous Vide Everything" YouTube channel (An excellent source to learn more about sous vide cooking!) Did you happen to catch the review of various sous vide units they did a few months ago? When they tested the competition the Anova came out as their favorite. At this time after considering build quality, performance, customer service on hardware issues, and price - at least for me - if I were to buy another sous vide unit at this time it would be another Anova.

PS -I'm NOT saying that the problems you noted should be ignored - you've listed real concerns that should be addressed!

[maltyone]

The timer is junk. I would not recommend this device as it does not do what it says it is supposed to do. I like doing sous vide, so I'll time it by hand and get a different brand in the future.

[michihenning]

If you operate the unit manually, without the app, and set a separate timer on your phone or some such, it works fine. It's quiet and, so far, has been reliable for me. Even if the timer worked reliably, it doesn't actually do anything, except beep (forever). So, not having the timer is no great loss.

It's much like an old-fashioned kitchen oven: turn it on, wait until it's up to temperature, put in your cake or roast or whatever, and set a kitchen timer so you know when things are done.

That's not so hard, is it?

The not so much annoying, but embarrassing part of this story is how, whoever writes software for the Anova, has managed to repeatedly botch the timer function over many months and over many releases.

Just forget about the timer and the app. Set the temperature on the device, use a kitchen timer, and move on. Your life will less complicated, have one fewer annoyance, and your blood pressure will thank you for it.

[Mirozen]

I'm in complete agreement with @michihenning on this issue. Set a timer on your phone, or use a standard kitchen timer. Personally I just note the time when I start my cook and set an alarm on my phone for the time that it should be complete. Not using the timer on the unit a non issue for me.

[Ember]

Or just forget about the timer. It's not super critical with sous vide cooking.

[Anomalii]

For cooks shorter than 10 hours I’ll just stand there and count.... 1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi, 3 Mississippi...etc. Works like a charm every time.

[Partial_Anomaly]

Ember may be right, but the notion is wrong-headed. Shorter protocols (thinking eggs) DO rely on timely shut-off for proper cooking. I am not always available to hit Stop within a 5 or 10 minute interval, which can make a big difference with eggs. Plus, ALL modern electronically-controlled cooking devices with timers shut off when the timer is finished. Sous-vide is NOT more susceptible to poor time management of the end user than any other cooking method- if your crockpot shuts off 10 hours before you get to it, it's not safe food either. PLEASE GIVE ME THE OPTION TO HAVE THE TIMER STOP THE COOKING!!!

[Ember]

If you're not there to pull eggs out they're going to keep cooking anyway sitting in a nice warm bath.

[Mirozen]

Hi @Partial_Anomaly

Do a little research and take a look around at any other sous vide units on the market. You won't find any that turn off when the timer shows completion...because it's not worth the inevitable lawsuit some idiot would instigate when they got sick after leaving their food in the bath for hours after it was finished. It's a food safety issue.
If you really want to have it turn off by itself you can plug your APC into one of those home automation plugs. These can be set to turn off automatically at whatever time you want. This removes any responsibility from the manufacturer of the sous vide cooker yet will still give you precisely the control your asking for. (I just bought two plugs for 20 USD on Amazon a couple months ago. They work well.) Let me know if you'd like more info.

[Partial_Anomaly]

True, but I have a protocol which works perfectly, which incorporates this factor, developed using manual shutoff. I just can't predict when I'm going to be unavailable or out of range when the timer hits zero. Why does legalistic wimpiness limit technical capabilities in the sous-vide world, but convenience and user control rule, eg, in the crockpot world? Along the same lines, why cannot these be programmed to turn ON at a given time, and program for different stages? Programming-wise, it's a pretty simple job.

[Ember]

I think there's a bit more to it than 'legalistic wimpiness'... Remember food poisoning can be deadly

[Mirozen]

When I first started cooking sous vide I didn't see why they didn't provide the ability to shut off the APC when cook time had completed. Then after a lot of reading - and learning the ramifications (Thank you Doctor Baldwin!) - I came to the conclusion they they had made the right decision.

Bottom line is that it would be foolish for Anova to allow the unit to automatically shut off when the cook time has completed, opening themselves up to litigation by people who won't take responsibility for their own actions. But since options are available for anyone who desires this functionality to implement it themselves (as I described in my previous post) those of us who desire "shutoff" at end of cook time can do so and take on the onus of responsibility for ourselves.

[Partial_Anomaly]

Lawyers over foodies, that's all it is. No special vulnerabilities that don't affect 'idiots' (per Mirozen) using crockpots, induction cookers, etc, at low temps, all of which permit decent digital control. Indefensible, self-limiting timidity.

[Mirozen]

I guess we'll just have to disagree about this subject, but since every other sous vide cooker on the market has implemented the same behavior I wouldn't call the decision self-limiting. Keep in mind that this is not a feature that the vast majority of users want, primarily because the ability to leave something running "over long" in the sous vide bath without negative impact is one of the core strengths of sous vide.
If you need any more info about using a home automation outlet to implement the auto shutoff just let me know. When I first bought my APC I considered implementing this, then changed my mind after coming to the conclusion that I didn't need it.

[Partial_Anomaly]

Yeah, I get that. That's why I wished for the OPTION to have the timer shut it off- make it hard to select, use lots of warnings, I don't care..The 'danger' issue with careless users is NOT specific to sous-vide. In fact, many protocols I've seen here won't kill even salmonella, one of the easiest pathogens to neutralize, even if the unit runs forever- they're on the surface of all solid meat/fish, and are only killed by the sear. You cannot idiot-proof consumer products, no matter how hard you try. What you CAN do is warn, and satisfy customers with features. Whatever is done elsewhere, I guarantee the majority of new users assume the timer will shut it off. Also, while on the subject of inexplicable programming limitations, why on earth does the timer not BEEP ON THE APP??? I know there once were complaints about annoying beeps from the unit (new ones have a single, nice chime), but we all have dozens of apps that we use to beep, chime, notify- get our attention when the phone is in our pocket. THAT could be a big help here, too- a chime on the phone when temp is reached, and again when the timer is done. After all, the whole idea of bt/wifi is freedom to move away from, out of earshot of, the unit. C'mon- it's a nice processor (and a GREAT heater/circulator, btw), why not a little more user-friendliness?

[Ember]

You are incorrect with your assumption of salmonella only being able to be killed at searing. Also, salmonella is not a surface dwelling bacteria.

I would suggest you read Baldwin as it would seem you have not yet done so.

Baldwin Sous Vide Bible

[Drewmichael]

I created a whole account just to weigh in and say the timer function is terrible and the app is basically useless because if you move out of range everything resets. Do better Anova.