First of all, a disclaimer; this is going to be a technical review for the WiFi version of the cooker. I am an IT consultant with network engineering experience.
The device is great on paper. The actual part that does the immersion cooking is as far as I can tell, flawless.
Unfortunately, the wifi version is hobbled by TERRIBLE FIRMWARE
1. If you have a 2.4ghz/5ghz mixed network, don't expect it to connect properly.
2. If you have any special characters in your network password (IE, a more secure password), don't expect it to connect properly.
3. If you expect these problems to be fixed in the future, don't. I've talked to Anova support and the device is not firmware flashable.
This means that if you run a WiFi access point where it uses 5ghz 2.4 ghz mixed mode and does not allow you to disable the 5ghz channel, such as certain UniFi products, you are out of luck. I even tried setting the UniFi access point to it's lowest power setting for 5ghz band and taking the anova out of range of 5ghz to pair to 2.4ghz, and no luck whatsoever.
I did not attempt to change my wifi password.. that's the line for me. I'm not going to lower the security of my network to accommodate a single device. Besides that, I'd have to go and change the wifi password on about 100 devices throughout my house. Not worth it.
Speaking of not worth it, the WiFi version of the device is 55 dollars more than the bluetooth version. That's 55 dollars for a function that only works under certain conditions.
I feel like this is an issue with a firmware developer simply writing sloppy wifi connection code somewhere in the process. Probably a few lines where the password is not encapsulated in quotes.
The wifi feature has great potential with home automation software and smart home integration, and the possibility of linking to google home, while not needed, is cool. Unfortunately the same people that are most likely to use these kinds of features are the type who will have a secure wifi password and a 5ghz band.
Now here's something interesting for the more technically minded people.... All of the above is based on their troubleshooting suggestions, their advice for getting the thing to connect to wifi. My evidence shows that none of that is actually the problem.
The thing is, the device actually does connect to the wifi, according to the DHCP logs on my server. It connects but then will not register that it's connected. Sloppy code somewhere is keeping the connection process from finishing. I'm not sure if it's in the smartphone app, or the firmware of the device itself. See below:
Dec 5 21:25:14 dhcpd DHCPACK on 192.168.5.11 to f0:fe:6b:65:f7:80 via vmx0
Dec 5 21:25:14 dhcpd DHCPREQUEST for 192.168.5.11 (192.168.0.1) from f0:fe:6b:65:f7:80 via vmx0
Dec 5 21:24:54 dhcpd DHCPACK on 192.168.5.11 to f0:fe:6b:65:f7:80 via vmx0
Dec 5 21:24:54 dhcpd DHCPREQUEST for 192.168.5.11 (192.168.0.1) from f0:fe:6b:65:f7:80 via vmx0
Dec 5 21:23:43 dhcpd DHCPACK on 192.168.5.11 to f0:fe:6b:65:f7:80 via vmx0
Dec 5 21:23:43 dhcpd DHCPREQUEST for 192.168.5.11 (192.168.0.1) from f0:fe:6b:65:f7:80 via vmx0
Dec 5 21:23:23 dhcpd DHCPACK on 192.168.5.11 to f0:fe:6b:65:f7:80 via vmx0
Dec 5 21:23:23 dhcpd DHCPREQUEST for 192.168.5.11 (192.168.0.1) from f0:fe:6b:65:f7:80 via vmx0
Dec 5 21:23:23 dhcpd DHCPOFFER on 192.168.5.11 to f0:fe:6b:65:f7:80 via vmx0
Dec 5 21:23:23 dhcpd DHCPDISCOVER from f0:fe:6b:65:f7:80 via vmx0
As you can see, the device is making it past the wifi connection process, using the correct password, and then looking for a DHCP address (Which I have statically assigned to 192.168.5.11.) The fact that the device does that, and then doesn't realize it's done it, and then goes through the wifi connection process again (and again, and again) until it errors out shows that the problem is badly designed firmware or software.
I'm going to attempt to return the device and get the bluetooth version, or maybe look at another product with proper wifi integration. Such a shame! It's a great little product!
Edit: I'd like to add that I offered to their support person to consult pro bono with their development and engineering department, and the request was not even acknowledged. The support department is a joke.
There is a newer model of this item:
Anova Culinary AN500-US00 Sous Vide Precision Cooker (WiFi), 1000 Watts | Anova App Included, Black and Silver
$169.00
(8,914)
Only 2 left in stock - order soon.
$169.00
(8,914)
Only 2 left in stock - order soon.
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From the manufacturer
Cooking the perfect meal is easier than ever
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Step 1Attach the Anova Precision Cooker to any water-filled pot. |
Step 2Set the time and temperature either manually on the device, or through the Anova Culinary app. |
Step 3Put food in a ziplock bag, drop the bag into the water and clip it to the side of the pot. |
Step 4Food is ready to eat out of the bag. Some people like to finish their cook by searing, throwing it on the grill, or by broiling it to give a nice look and a crispy outer layer. |
Consistent results
Amazing taste
Waste reduction
Never overcooked
Voice-Controlled Cooking with Alexa
'How would you like it?'
Anova is the only sous vide device that allows you to set and control your foods time and temperature manually on the cooker, through an app, or by voice. Use Amazon Alexa to:
- Ask Anova to cook a steak
- Ask Anova how long my food has been cooking
- Ask Anova to heat the water to 129 degrees
Get out of the kitchen with the Anova app
The Anova app lets you manage your cook remotely, so you can spend less time tied to the kitchen and more time with loved ones. Start your cook through the Anova app, monitor the status of your food, and come back when you're ready to eat.
- Recipe discovery: 1000+ step-by-step recipes from award-winning chefs
- Guided cooking: Choose your preferred level of doneness and press start to cook
- Cook notifications: Stay up-to-date on your cooking status without being in the kitchen
- Recipe Sharing: Share your favorite recipes with friends directly through the app
- Video tutorials: Cook select recipes with video tutorials to guide you from seasoning to searing
Care Details
- Do not submerge cooker in water above the fill line
- The cooker's detachable stainless steel skirt and disk are dishwasher safe
- To clean the cooker, wipe with a soft, damp cloth
It’s simple, yet powerful, flexible and accurate
Technical Specifications :
- Temp Range: 77°F to 210°F ± 0.01°F / 25°C to 99°C ± 0.01°C
- Pump Speed: 1 - 1.2 GPM 7-8 LPM
- Directional Pump: 360 Degree
- Tank Capacity: 4-5 Gallons / 15-19 Liters
- Timer: 99 Hours
- Safety: Bi-Metal Fuse
- Power Input: 110-120VAC
- Heating Power: 900W
Customer Questions & Answers
Customer reviews
Excellent product with garbage parts.... EDIT..... Anova design Flaw figured out!!
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2017
So the unit is fantastic and worked like a champ..... right up to the point where it didn't. Something went wrong with the thermostat and it no longer was able to regulate a correct temperature. What can I say, its a machine and its prone to break I suppose but I didn't have it for a full week and I would like to think that the components used to build this were more robust than that. Ill give it another try and if it doesn't work Ill find another manufacturer that isn't afraid to use dependable parts.UPDATE......So thanks to Amazon and their no BS return/replacement policy I received my new Anova yesterday. I went to try it out today and set the temp to 176.0 and let it heat up the water. Once it got to 160+/- the temperature began to fluctuate again like the original unit did. I found it hard to believe that I received two defective units and began to investigate what I might be doing wrong. After some testing I discovered that when the hot steam is allowed to enter into the vents on the rear of the unit, the fluctuations of the temperature began. If I blocked the steam then the unit worked perfectly. Heres a picture of the remedy. This problem does not occur when cooking at lower temps when the water does not create so much steam which is why I never noticed it before.
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2017
Images in this review
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