Why Do You Need The Best Sous Vide Container?
Hi, I’m Abigail, a wife, foodie, and home chef. But before I turned pro, I was a home cook trying sous vide cooking.
I wanted to grill some sirloin and wanted to make sure it would be juicy and tender. So I got my Anova immersion circulator, and for a cooking vessel, I got a one-quart saucepan.

I left the Anova running for hours while I did about with my chores, and when I came back, the water was all depleted, and the sirloin was not even tender or juicy.
While saucepans can be used for sous vide but they are not the best cooking containers, and I learned that the hard and expensive way.
5 reasons why steel pots are NOT to be used for sous vide:
So while it is easy and cheaper to make do and use any pots for sous vide, or even ice coolers or bathtubs, there is the best kind of container for sous vide use, which is no other than polycarbonate sous vide container.

You say what…
I didn’t know about this either until that unfortunate sous vide attempt, and since then, I have done some serious research to answer the question “what is the best container for sous vide at home,” below are the results:

What is a polycarbonate sous vide container?
Polycarbonate is a kind of plastic that resists heat so even the high temperature in sous vide cannot adversely affect the material.
It is also lightweight, and a better alternative to glass. It is also clear so you can easily monitor the cooking.
Top 7 benefits of polycarbonate containers for sous vide:

Polycarbonate containers are very affordable and readily available, so it would really benefit you to get your own instead of just using whatever pots or pans are in your kitchen.
The material, size, and shape are tailor-made for optimized sous vide cooking without wasting time, fuel and energy.
You can also suit your choice of polycarbonate container to your existing brand and model of immersion circulators.
In a nutshell, the polycarbonate container has many advantages over other types. It will help you boost the efficiency of sous vide cooking up a lot.
Top 5 Considerations In Buying Sous Vide Container

Here are the KEY aspects that we should consider:
1- Quality
2- Shape and size
Pro advice:
The best container size for home cooks is 12 quarts. It fits most family meals.
You should use the following popular sizes to optimize your sous vide:
3- Suitability
4- Dedicated Lids
5- Design
Which Is The Best Sous Vide Container For Home Cooks 2021?
Based on my research, I have narrowed it down to my top 3:

Top 3 Sous Vide Containers Comparison Chart
Container | Name | My rating | Size | Lids | Handles | Water levels | Material |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | [BEST] | 12 quarts | transparent polycarbonate | ||||
![]() | [Great] | 12 quarts | transparent polycarbonate | ||||
![]() | [Good] | 12 quarts | transparent polycarbonate |
These are highly recommended brands and models for home cooks. We don’t have a big counter or storage spaces, we have simple needs, and most often, we cook for just a few people.
Professionals would have different specifications, cooking for a bigger group of people and with more complicated recipes.

These three brands have their own merits, but my personal choice is the Rubbermaid Container 12 quart because it has more advantages than the other two containers, and you will read it in detail why I choose this brand and size.
In a nutshell, the material is sturdy, see through, able to withstand extreme temperatures, it works best with my Anova, and the size is perfect for daily use for a home cook like me. Its square shape makes it easy to stack, and I get 25% more storage space.
It can also work well with other accessories like the special sleeve, which gives added insulation to keep the cooking time shorter.
Sous Vide Container Reviews
As I always promise you, let me help you decide on your kitchen needs, and I do this best by providing you relevant information and my two-cents worth of opinion.
Let’s go!
#1- Rubbermaid Sous Vide Container [BEST]
Our rating:
Pros:
Cons:
Feature table of Rubbermaid Sous Vide Container
Features | Rubbermaid Container |
---|---|
Size | 12 quarts |
Color | Transparent |
Precut lid | |
Collapsible lid | |
Handles | |
Water levels | |
Sous vide sleeve | |
Sous vide rack | |
Dishwasher safe | |
And more >> |
Why I love it
Rubbermaid is a life-long brand, and my grandmother has products that are 20 years old or more.
I love my Rubbermaid Container-12 quarts because it is the perfect fit for my Anova. I can sous vide up to 4 steaks inside.
I have a friend who has a Sansaire immersion circulator, and it also fits well with her Rubbermaid.
While it may have warned about materials, it is made of, when doing sous vide, the food products are inside plastic bags and will NOT be in direct contact with the container itself so there will be no harm of transfer.
Pro tips – forget BPA:
No BPA free is NO problem if you have an airtight seal for sous vide cooking.
What is the know-how?
Let’s use a top vacuum sealer for sous vide with the BPA free food-grade bags, and then your food will be absolutely safe.
The plus point for the product is that it comes with great accessories that are very useful for the cooks:
My love:
My love:

With its outstanding advantages, I have stamped the Rubbermaid as the BEST sous vide container for home cooking.
The next is
#2- LIPAVI Sous Vide Container (C10 Model)
Our rating:
Pros:
Cons:
Feature table of Lipavi Sous Vide Container
Features | Lipavi Container |
---|---|
Size | 12 quarts |
Color | Transparent |
Precut lid | |
Collapsible lid | |
Handles | |
Water levels | |
Sous vide sleeve | |
Sous vide rack | |
Dishwasher safe | |
And more >> |
Why I love it
I like LIPAVI Sous Vide Container because of its bigger size container at 26 quarts, which is great when you are cooking so many things at once, like for a party.
For home cooks, this is a considerable size, but if you plan to segue into trying commercial cooking, like starting a food business, this can be a good start of your investment.
My first sous vide container was a mere 12 quart, and when I started loving cooking so much, I accepted simple catering jobs and had to buy a bigger size eventually.
Providing the cooks with a complete, consistent and useful sous vide system is an excellent advantage of the LIPAVI:
My love:
My love:

Housed in a dedicated system, the Lipavi C10 model deserves to be a GREAT container for sous vide cooking.
And the last position is
#3- Camwear Food Storage Container
Our rating:
Pros:
Cons:
Feature table of Camwear Sous Vide Container
Features | Camwear Container |
---|---|
Size | 12 quarts |
Color | Transparent |
Precut lid | |
Collapsible lid | |
Handles | |
Water levels | |
Sous vide sleeve | |
Sous vide rack | |
Dishwasher safe | |
And more >> |
Why I love it
The Camwear container is very durable, and I know some restaurants use this. With its transparent design, I can see through the material and watch the food cook. It is also easy to monitor the water level.
I love that they have this cute 2-liter container, but well, besides being cute, I really would instead opt for a bigger one for multiple uses.
The container does not give the option of buying already with a lid, so you will have to buy it separately and manually cut it to fit your cookers.
Lids are essential to ensure heat is retained inside and water will not evaporate.

The Camwear is a top sous vide container, is the best alternative to Rubbermaid container.
However, I prefer the Rubbermaid and Lipavi to it because they have enough dedicated accessories for sous vide cooking.
Wrapped Up

For your sous vide cooking, it is best to have the best container, so you avoid costly mistakes.
Get polycarbonate containers, which are affordable and readily available in various brands and models.
Which container is the best among them?

The Rubbermaid Sous Vide Container (12 quarts) is my best choice.
The Rubbermaid polycarbonate containers are safe, although it may contain a minute amount of BPA, its level is not hazardous to health, and is within government standards.
Also, remember our foods are inside food bags and do not directly touch the container, so there is no fear of transfer.
As a home cook, the 12 quart is the best size for me. It is the perfect size for cooking for my family, which is every day.
Whenever we have guests and I have to cook for more people, I do two batches if really necessary, but most times, just cramming them in the 12 quarts still works.
Rubbermaid containers are see-through, and I can easily monitor the water level, although with a lid on, there is little fear of water evaporating.
But well you know, any cook will tell you it gives a different thrill to see how the cooking process happens.
6 Pro Sous Vide Tips

1- If you do not have a sous vide sleeve, use instead a towel
2- Use sous vide water balls
If you do not have lids, you can use the Sous Vide Water Balls, all 250 pieces:
My love:
3- Use a cooking torch
You have cooked the perfect steaks but they are all pale from sous vide cooking.
The best way to finish off your masterpiece is by using sous vide torch to glaze the top of your meat like this:
My love:
Eating with the eyes is as important as eating by the mouth! And to have a delicious meal, a good sous vide cookbook is indispensable.
4- Protect your countertop
5- Keep out of reach of children
6- Do not put sous vide under cabinets
Happy cooking with sous vide!
>> Read more: 3 Best FoodSaver Vacuum Sealers
(*) Last updated on Oct 21th, 2021.