The Joule Immersion Circulator, by ChefSteps. This gadget inspired me because it is beautifully designed, conveniently sized, yet difficult to connect via WiFi. An immersion circulator is a tool that makes precise, temperature-controlled water baths to cook vacuum sealed food. The benefit of this style of cooking is that you never end up overcooking foods, such as steaks and roasts, because the temperature is consistently kept at a maximum temperature. The Joule does this task with relative ease as it’s controlled by a mobile application to set temperatures and timers.
One of the reasons I purchased the Joule was to cook at friend’s houses due to it’s portability (standing at 11 inches tall and weighing roughly 1.25 pounds). The issue I have with the Joule is that it first requires a WiFi connection to work. Since I originally connected my Joule to my home’s WiFi network, it has trouble connecting anywhere else. Since there’s no physical interface on the Joule to reset a WiFi connection, I’m helplessly unplugging the device, replugging it back in, and hitting the physical button on top in the hopes that my phone will recognize the device. This process usually takes 10-20 minutes to figure out, whereas it connects instantly at home. As much as I love using this tool, I’ve recently grown to despise the connection process. I admire the beautiful aesthetic of the device, but would love a physical button with appropriate signifiers and/or feedback to expedite the connection process.
Hi Daniel, For a while now, connectivity has been one of those everyday essentials – taken for granted in many places in the world. Your post reminds us that we’re not only reliant on connectivity for communicating with other people across the globe, but also to serve food on the table with devices like the immersion circulator and even to turn simple lights on/off at home with IOT devices. But your post also reminds us that there are still many other places in the world where connectivity is either too slow, or expensive, or even non-existent. Curious to know if you still use this product. I started off when I read your post to imagine this device being so useful for novice cooks (esp. those who aim to become expert chefs) and enable them to cook with precision. But based on your experience, I think apart from such potential frustrations with Wifi, it could also steal the joy of cooking. Have you come across other such products where the design is frustrating in some way but it also interrupts the flow of the activity?
Thank you for being our first post!
I probably set a bad example by picking something problematic. But what a fascinating device.