Instant Pot vs Anova Sous Vide: Product Comparison
There are so many different types of sous vide cookers out there. One big brand is Anova. There are also other brands that are well known in the cooking industry in general, like Instant Pot.
So which is better? I’ve done some extensive research comparing the Instant Pot vs Anova sous vide immersion circulators to find the answer.
In the next section, I’ll give you my quick answer about which sous vide immersion circulator I think is the best and why. After that, I’ll elaborate and get into all the details.
Instant Pot vs Anova Sous Vide Overview
In the table below, I’ve highlighted the key differences between the Instant Pot Accu Slim Sous Vide Immersion Circulator and the Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker Nano.
You’ll be able to tell that I think that the Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker Nano is definitely the better choice, and here’s why:
- It has a larger temperature range, giving you much more versatility in what you can cook and how you can cook it. Sous vide cooking is all about cooking at the precise, exact temperature, so you want to have options here.
- On the topic of precise temperature, the Anova Nano also has much better temperature accuracy. It’s approximately 0.9°F more accurate compared to the Instant Pot Accu Slim.
- You have the option to control the device using your phone app with the Anova Nano. If you’re working in the yard or in another part of your house, you can turn the machine on or off or adjust the temperature from a distance.
- You have the option to not use the timer while cooking with the Anova Nano.
- While the display on the Anova Nano doesn’t show the timer and temperature at the same time, you do have the option to view either the current temperature or target temperature. With the Instant Pot Accu Slim, you have to remember that the temperature displayed is the target temperature.
- The Anova Nano and Instant Pot Accu Slim are different in average price. Click the links in the table below to check the current price for each.
| Instant Pot Accu Slim Sous Vide Immersion Circulator | Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker Nano |
|---|---|
| Smaller temperature range of 68°F to 203°F (20°C to 95°C) | Larger temperature range of 32˚ to 197˚F (0˚ to 92˚C) |
| Inferior temperature accuracy of +/- 1°F (0.1°C) | Better temperature accuracy of +/- 0.1˚C (0.2˚F) |
| Cannot control device remotely with phone app; must use display only | Can use the phone app or display to control the device |
| Timer must be used; no option to run device without a timer | Able to disable timer and run device without setting the timer |
| Display shows both time and target temperature | Display shows either time or temperature (have to press mode button to toggle between the two); for temperature you can view the current temperature or target temperature |
| Check price | Check price |
Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker Nano vs Instant Pot Accu Slim Sous Vide Immersion Circulator
How They’re Different
Let’s first dive into the differences between the Instant Pot Accu Slim vs Anova Nano and what features you should take into consideration when deciding which one is best for you.
Temperature Range and Accuracy
The Anova Nano allows for versatility in what you can cook with a wide temperature range of 32˚ to 197˚F (0˚ to 92˚C). Not only this, it’s also an extremely accurate device, only ever being off by about 0.1˚C (0.2˚F).
With a range of 68°F to 203°F (20°C to 95°C), the Instant Pot Accu Slim doesn’t have quite as wide a temperature range in comparison. While still fairly accurate, it’s less accurate compared to the Anova Nano with a temperature accuracy of +/- 1°F (0.1°C).
Bluetooth Connectivity and Compatible Phone App
The Anova Nano has Bluetooth connectivity to connect to the iPhone or Android app to control the device. This is great because you can change the temperature, timer, or turn the device off or on from a distance. You can also access hundreds of recipes in the app to cook your next fantastic meal.
For the Instant Pot Accu Slim, there is a compatible phone app, but unlike the Anova Nano, you can’t use the phone app to control the device. You can, however, access different sous vide recipes.
Display Controls
For the Anova Nano, if you don’t want to use the app, you have the option to use the display controls to control the device. While you can’t view the temperature and timer at the same time, it does allow you to see either the target temperature or the current temperature. This is awesome because it can give you an idea of how much time you have left for your water bath to preheat.
With the Instant Pot Accu Slim, on the other hand, your only option is to use the display controls. You can view both the temperature and timer, but it isn’t clear on the device that the temperature is the target temperature and not the current temperature.
Timer Features
With the Anova Nano, if you don’t want to use the timer while cooking, you have the option of disabling the timer function. This can be handy if you just want to leave the device on for extended periods of time. Otherwise, it would automatically shut off when the timer runs out.
You don’t have the option to disable the timer if you don’t want to use it while cooking with the Instant Pot Accu Slim.
Clamp Quality
There have been many reports with the Instant Pot Accu Slim that the clamp is not very well made. Users say it’s weak and not very stable.
How They’re Similar
Let’s next take a look at the similarities between the Instant Pot Accu Slim vs Anova Nano:
- They effectively circulate water at a precise temperature for perfectly cooked food every time you use either of them.
- They’re small in size and weight. They’re not bulky and are easy to store in your kitchen drawer.
- The Anova Nano has a high wattage of 750 Watts and the Instant Pott Accu Slim has a high wattage of 800 Watts to quickly heat up your water bath.
- They have a very large maximum water bath capacity of 4-5 gallons, so you can easily cook in large quantities, in bulk for meal prep, or even a whole turkey in a large container.
- They have lines conveniently marked on the devices to show you the minimum and maximum heights you should fill the water bath to.
- Although you can’t adjust the clamp up and down to different heights for these sous vide machines, they do fit on almost any pot.
Instant Pot Accu Slim vs. Anova Nano Comparison Chart
| Instant Pot Accu Slim Sous Vide Immersion Circulator | Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker Nano | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 2.55 x 4.6 x 12.9 inches | 4.1 x 2.2 x 12.8 inches |
| Weight | 1.65 pounds | 1.6 lbs |
| Wattage | 800 Watts | 750 Watts |
| Voltage | 120 volts | 120 volts |
| Temperature Range | 68°F to 203°F (20°C to 95°C) | 32˚ to 197˚F (0˚ to 92˚C) |
| Temperature Accuracy | +/- 1°F (0.1°C) | +/- 0.1˚C (0.2˚F) |
| Maximum Water Bath Capacity | 4-5 gallons | 4-5 gallons |
| Bluetooth Connectivity | No | Yes |
| Compatible iPhone/Android App | Yes, but for access to recipes and not for control of device | Yes, for access to recipes and to control device |
| Control Panel on Device | Yes, touch screen digital controls; display shows temperature, timer, increase/decrease buttons, mode button to toggle between temperature and timer, start/stop button | Yes, touch screen digital controls; display shows temperature, increase/decrease button, start/stop button, current temperature button, target temperature button, timer button |
| Timer Feature | Timer must be used, no option to run device without a timer; When timer goes off, device shuts off | Able to disable timer and run device without a timer |
| Timer Range | 1 minute to 72 hours | N/A |
| Material | Stainless steel with rubber coating on handle | Stainless steel with polycarbonate handle |
| Maximum Water Depth | Line indicated on unit; ~8 inches | Line indicated on unit; 6 inches |
| Minimum Water Depth | Line indicated on unit | Line indicated on unit; 2.6 inches |
| Water Circulator | Yes | Yes |
| Clamp | Yes, adjustable width but it stationary (cannot be moved up and down) | Yes, adjustable width but it stationary (cannot be moved up and down) |
| Magnetic Base | No | No |
| Warranty | 1 year | 2 years |
| Price | Check Price | Check Price |
Instant Pot vs Anova Sous Vide Summary
All in all, I’ve concluded that the Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker Nano is a better choice compared to the Instant Pot Accu Slim Sous Vide Immersion Circulator.
When comparing the Instant Pot vs Anova Sous Vide, there are a few key features, such as the temperature range and accuracy, phone app capability, and display options, that I think just make the Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker Nano the better device.
Now that you have a good idea about the Instant Pot Accu Slim and its features, check out my article about the other Anova sous vide models here to compare. Or, for a comparison of the Anova Nano to another budget sous vide cooker, click here.
For a full comparison of the best sous vide machines you can get in a lower price range, click here for my review of the low-cost sous vide cookers.
Read also: Breville Joule Sous Vide CS10001 vs CS20001: Key Differences
