Cambro size advice

What size Cambro container (or other advice) do people normally use with circulators? I have pots I'm probably going to use with Joule for my day to day (8qt stock pot and 3.5qt pot) but probably need something bigger for when family comes. It's my first time to have a circulator so I don't know what size containers I'll need for bigger meals. For instance when family comes in I'm normally making steaks for 9. Or for my kiddo's birthday I'd like to make sous vide burgers for 20 (because everyone gets hungry at the same time) and skip being stuck at the grill the whole party.

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nasv

I have a small/tall 4qt square cambro that I use for very quick and small things... like a few eggs, or a single portion of salmon, nothing more.

The 6qt square cambro is just as tall, but definitely more space for water circulation, you could do chicken leg quarters, a couple of steaks, etc... I highly recommend this size.

After the above, now you're talking family-size and beyond. I have a 4.75 gallon cambro that is a good step up, would be most convenient for a smaller dinner party or larger family, could probably fit 5 or 6 quart jars for pickling, 6-8 steaks, a whole pork shoulder, etc... My largest container + lid is a 26 quart (6.5 gallon) container that I use for larger or longer items, almost more special occasion... think the smokerless brisket, leg of lamb, etc...

I haven't needed larger than that, and if I do, well, there's always the cooler

fisher23

I have two sizes, a 3 gallon LIPAVI and a 4.75 gallon cambro. I use the 3 gallon the most. The 4.75 gallon would hold a lot of burgers.

corey.schwanz

I'm looking for two as well, a "my wife and I" container and a "company is over" container. I've been leaning towards the 4.75 as my larger one. I guess my big question is about lids. I've seen all kinds of people cut holes in their cambro lids to fit circulators through. Do you recommend that? How do you do it easily/safely?

fisher23

For the 3 gallon size LIPAVI makes one that fits Joule pretty well, it's cut for the Nomiku. I cut the lid on my cambro with a whole saw and a saber saw, both with fine blades for cutting steel.

Johan_Edstrom_5586

I have two 4.75 - yes a bit large, but they also nicely fit a half rack of ribs or larger roasts and so on.

corey.schwanz

Thanks John! It sucks that the lid is just as expensive as the whole container, but if people pay that price there is no reason to bring it down! The 3 gallon and 4.75 are looking good to me. I may do the 3 first because I have a cooler for larger things if I need anything in the immediate future.

douglas_bd

Same for me. I also use a 8 qt stockpot for small cooks.

tshewman

one 4.75 cambro, 2 - 5qt stock pots, 1 12qt stock pot and 1 20qt stock pot

Matthew_Snyder_68770

Same here, but I'll reiterate that my favorite feature of Joule is that you don't need that kind of water volume. I like the idea that I can just use a small dealybob to cook a pork chop for Tuesday night dinner, but can still use the thing in the larger Cambro to cook up ribs and stuff on the weekend when friends come over.

Martin_411586

I use a 1/2 GN such as this one: http://www.horecaworld.biz/images/product/369e738c0b86af48d13075b3f92281bd.jpg

I live in the Netherlands and have an Anova PC. Just cut a hole in the lid to fit Joule and you're good to go

I'm looking for a way to insulate this properly. Maybe line it with a foam or something..

wolfiegirl

I've got lots of dealybobs. All named Bob.

artstype

In the US, you can get rigid foam insulation that is used for home insulation at hardware stores. It can be had in many thicknesses and is easy to cut with a utility knife.

fisher23

My wonderful bride made mine an insulated sleeping bag that works well. @Hammered Chef made a previous post where he made an insulated lid that floats on the water made of closed cell foam with a hole cut to fit Joule.

(Old photo circa pre Joule)

Raki_57840

Thanks for the great advice. Think my "family visit" container will be the 4.75G Cambro with a foam lid. @HammeredChef found this great website for Cambro containers.

Duane_311356

I don't supposed your wonderful bride has a pattern for said sleeping bag. Or better yet an Etsy store where she sells them?

fisher23

No sorry, she just took the measurements and sewed it.

Ted_Howard_143775

I got a 12 quart Cambro because that footprint allows for a full gallon freezer zip lock. Anything smaller and I would be forced to bend the food, cut the food shorter (asparagus!), or fill bag vertically and use more water to cover the height. In fact, I got the Cambro because I was sick of shoving things into a stockpot.

Now I need to cut the lid so my overnight recipes lose less to evaporation.