Go to the Article: The Control °Freak
Hi Greg, sorry, just stumbled upon this now! You can find a downloadable version here: https://d3awvtnmmsvyot.cloudfront.net/api/file/AnCq6rwfQoOB13oOXFoe
My brother in Christ, I can buy an entire induction stove for this price.
Any chance a high res version of the cooking/temp chart could be made available?
What’s the best temp and timings to do medium/short grain rice/ sushi rice? I want to try doing some infused flavors, but using chicken stock and tomatos (acidity) is frowned upon when using a Zojirushi pressure induction rice cooker, the sushi setting doesn’t use pressure so at that point it’s an induction cooker
So I can use the control freak to get the same results with the flavor profile I want correct?
And if I use a induction compatible pressure cooker that would work too?
God bless you for this chart. Got my Control Freak two weeks ago and there is far too little documentation about this powerful tool.
In my experience, as a user, the functioning of the cooktop is implicit in its name, “Control Freak.” As such, I agree with Kyl that in order to control the temp of the water you have to use the probe and not the pan temp. If you need to precisely control the temperature of the pan contents, use the probe. If you need to control the pan temp, use the pan temp setting. For example, when I am frying or making candy, I use the probe because I need the liquid to remain at a specific temp. When I am simmering or toasting, controlling the pan tip is adequate. It is truly a joy to work on and I would buy 2 if it had an app and wireless control. I highly encourage using the save feature if you tend to make the same dishes over again. I encourage you to keep it and enjoy!
Hi Howard, I think what you are experiencing is correct. The surface probe only reads the pan temp where it is touching. Typically it will spike high as it is heating the entire pan but eventually will plane out. If you want precise control over liquid in the pan you must use the probe. There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with your device.
Just received the Control Freak and tested it by heating water to 150F. However, the water heats to 168F (checked using a Thermoworks calibrated thermometer) using the surface temperature sensor. It is fine if I use the probe. I thought perhaps it's the pot but I tried a 1 quart and 4 quart and it's exactly the same. I think it's mis-calibrated and I should return it but I'll like to see if anyone has this issue and a theory. TIA
oh wow thanks, how long have you used the control freak for? is it hard to use?
That has changed. Breville warranty now covers home use for the Control Freak
Folks! I stopped into Williams-Sonoma today to order the Control Freak. I figured if I ordered from them I could avoid the shipping charges as it would be delivered to the store for pick up.
The clerk asked if I had a WS credit card and when I said I didn’t she told me that anything I bought on the day the account was opened would be 20% off, including the Control Freak. The approval process took seconds and I scored a major discount. But here’s the thing: the manager mentioned that the credit card company that processes the accounts is changing in two days and that after that, the 20% discount offer for all new accounts will be rescinded.
Bottom line, if you’ve been thinking about the Control Freak, today’s the day. Carpe diem!
Icing on the cake? They actually had one Control Freak in stock so I was able to take it home today. Can’t wait to get started.
— Robert
I like to cook for my family a ton and I really appreciate convenience in the kitchen. I’m planning to renovate my kitchen and am wondering if I should get induction over gas. Seems like a simpler method that gets precise results. Am I losing all that much by ditching gas?
is a thermomix a good investment?
I think I'll have to pull the trigger on this next time there is a discount... Maybe there'll be one for the new year? Valentine's Day? Studio Pass member special? ;-)
I bought the Control Freak in Australia and I love it. I would love to have had the discount in Australia as it was expensive. However, its the first time I have been able to make lemon and bernaise sauces without a double boiler. I am looking forward to learning how to use it properly as I have not used the timer and some of the other features yet.
Thanks for the hub, lets add to it or a facebook forum. What would be great is if it you can add downloadable programs for the hub usb for certain dishes or create a forum where folks can download these. I have been using mine for everything and trying to figure out the best temps for certain dishes and pans. I want to use this with a flat bottom wok as it gets freakin hot and stays there. Has anyone experimented with this? I just replaced my All Clad with Demeyere Atlantis (on sale for $1,199 for 9 piece set) and look forward to seeing the difference as these pots and pans are truly induction ready. Regarding the WOK is 5 ply better than 3 ply? should I stick to carbon steel or move to cast iron. Or is it not worth it and purchase a wok induction burner instead? Nuwave has one for $99.
I have been using all clad and noticed some scratches and even a nick in glass .. is this normal? nothing abrasive used on them, just wiped clean with cloth.
I have been seriously considering replacing my Joule with a Control Freak as my regular applications for the joule are often for yogurt and cheese making and wet braise type meat cooks which I hate doing in bags within a large Cambro. I would rather these cooks on this induction stove right in a pot which would likely bring things to temp more quickly. I assume you can still do the occasional steak in a bag in this using the probe temp and a water bath in a conductive pot and get 95% the accuracy of the joule. My only hesitation on induction is with cast iron performance. I’ve used every type burners with my lodge and field cast iron and induction has always been the worst for hot spots and cold spots while gas seems to diffuse heat the fastest and most evenly. Electric glass tops make a lot of surface noise against the cast iron but heat slow and actually do a decent job of warming the whole pan. With induction I can sear a steak on the tiny ringed hot spot but any butter for basting at the periphery is 200deg cooler and barely melting even with a long preheat on the burners I’ve used. I am wondering how the control freak works out with cast iron for any owners and whether using the intensity control you are able to slow down the heating and allow for better heat diffusion in the cast iron or if it’s hard to avoid hot and cold spots. If any owners or the chefsteps team can comment on these points it would be amazing.
I received mine a week ago. It is getting alot of use. I wish there were a forum to share more information about what people cook with it, what temperatures, and how things have worked out well.
I have had my control freak for a bit over two years, my oven burners rarely get used anymore. The programs are great for chocolate, eggs, pressure cooker, candle wax, deep frying, etc. It also travels very nice with the case.
Some of the things that I think about with it is the firmware is no longer field upgradeable, it has to be sent in back in. I have not found any software to edit the programs on a computer, it would be much faster to make update instead of the wheel. I hope is possible to have a file from Chefsteps for each recipe that we are able to add.
For the pot size question I have attached a few photo's with items I use on the Freak. Joule added in pot for reference, the Freak has it own probe for temperature control.
Thank you for the discount. I’ve wanted one for a long time & this made it possible.
I bought a Control Freak and I love it! What an amazing device. Sure it's a bit pricey and you might be able to get by with something cheaper, but if you want the best, this is it. Keep in mind that induction burners are not all the same. I bought one a while back that was much cheaper and it worked OK for boiling water and maybe frying an egg, but if I fried something a little longer or higher temp like chicken, it would overheat and shut down. The Control Freak is much more substantial and I haven't used it much yet, but I am impressed already. It is WAY beyond the cheap induction burners. True professional quality on this one.
One thing that would be really great is if ChefSteps could put together some custom cooking programs that we can download and install on the Control Freak through the USB port. That would be a great perk for the Studio Pass (hint, hint).
Thank you for the deal! went ahead and bought one. Now you guys need to do a class similar to the countertop oven for the Control Freak, I have a few ideas on how to take advantage of it, but some professional advice would be very welcome
Apparently you have until 4PM PDT today (April 24th).
I love mine too! It is helping my cooking be more consistent and improve over all. I really look forward to content that will help me get better and the temp guide on this page has already been helpful.
Crap! I gave up and ordered one. It can be the Yin to my stovetop's 8-gas burner Yang -- and I do love closed-loop temperature control.
It is warrantied for home use as Grant posted.
Not sure why you're getting so much negativity. I purchased a Control Freak a while ago and love it. I think it's fantastic that you've worked out this deal with Breville and hope the cynical comments don't discourage you from similar things in the future.
Dang! Now where did I put that spare $1300 for the balance for a 1 burner cooker(OK, precision cooker)? Regardless, searching sofa cushions now. Just saw the post below, no warranty for home use? OK, I'm in for one!
I would absolutely love to buy this, since I've been wanting one ever since I first heard about it 4-5 years ago, but it's still a wee bit out of my price range. Maybe when I get my next big raise...
From the Poly Sci website:
https://polyscienceculinary.com/products/the-control-freak?utm_source=CSnewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=SP_15OFF_CF
Thank you Grant. Now have a Negroni.
Hmmm, I hope it's only a left hand - right hand problem.
I checked with Breville customer support, and they confirmed that "The control freak's purpose is for commercial use and if you want to purchase it from your home it would not have a warranty"
What does "For a Limited Time" mean? When will the offer on the Control Freak end? Still waiting for a stimulus check...
Just placed my order total $ 1,274.96 thanks for that discount. And for clearing up warranty. What pot and pans are recommended to start with? Preferibly under $200 each but I will go to $300 a piece. Thanks for all you do.
Hi ChefSteps and Grant, I'm thrilled that you worked with Breville to make this offer available and thanks for clearing up the confusion on the warranty. Yes, it's an investment piece of kitchen equipment but I expect it to make working in the kitchen a pleasure rather than the chore it can often turn into when working with less reliable tools. While I was surprised by and initially leery of Chefsteps' acquisition and what it would mean for ChefSteps' content, I've enjoyed ChefSteps since the beginning and happily find that I still do. Your videos and recipes have been a wonderful way to pass the time while in seclusion and the positivity you and your team exude have brightened many of my days. Keep up the amazing work; I look forward to continuing my subscription for many years.
Grant, although we have never spoken before, I wish to personally send thanks to you and the team for arranging this offer, for clearing up the confusion and for all the new content that Chefsteps have been publishing. I have found the new stuff both interesting and useful. Please keep it up. Thanks again!
Bruce, sorry for the confusion—it has a warranty.
CONROL FREAK WARRANTY THE CONTROL FREAK IS UNDER WARRANTY—Even though it's commercial grade, the Control Freak's warranty covers home use. (If you already bought one from us you received the Commercial Warranty, Breville-PolyScience will be sending you the consumer warranty soon. If you were considering buying one, rest assured there is consumer warranty coverage. SEE ABOVE
Hi, Michael – please see my response above.
HELLO ALL, GRANT HERE. I hear all your questions and concerns, please trust me when I say we will make you made happy. We would never offer you a product that we do not stand by AND believe in. As you may or may not know, commercial products like the Control Freak are approved for commercial sanitation and electric safety under ETL AND UL guidelines. These guidelines are slightly different than the home guidelines and usually much stricter. The Control Freak is built to a much higher durability standard but I completely understand your concerns here. I am working with PolyScience and Breville to get you a precise answer on the matter asap, but rest assured that no one in Studio Pass will be left anything less than fully satisfied.
How can you in good conscience market something to your subscribers that has no warranty?
Was about to order, and seen the no warranty for home use part. What a joke. Will stick to my Hestan Cue for now.
