The Breville Joule Turbo Sous Vide delivers precise temperature control with 0.1°C accuracy, making it ideal for professional-grade cooking at home. Reviewers praised its large 10L capacity and intuitive digital interface with pre-programmed settings. However, some users noted it's a premium product that sits higher in price than basic models, and its size requires considerable countertop space. This appliance is best suited for serious home cooks who value precision and convenience over budget options.
Full review
Speed and Heating Performance
The Breville Joule Turbo Sous Vide delivers on its primary promise of speed, significantly outpacing its predecessor and competitors in heating water. Serious Eats reviewer Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm timed the Joule Turbo heating a gallon of cold water (63°F) to 190°F in just 22 minutes, which is 13 minutes faster than the original Joule and 38 minutes faster than Anova. The device achieves this through an updated PID controller and improved algorithm, according to Breville's senior mathematician Douglas Baldwin. TechGearLab's Lesley Robinson confirmed the Joule Turbo heated water to 147°F in only 32 minutes, averaging a three-degree-per-minute increase. The Turbo's efficiency is particularly notable for cold water heating, though it maintains accuracy with only a half-degree variance from set temperature during testing.
App Integration and User Experience
The Breville+ companion app represents a major upgrade over the original Joule's interface, according to both Serious Eats and The Spruce Eats reviewers. The app now features video tutorials, cleaning instructions, and step-by-step recipe guidance, transforming it from a simple timer into a comprehensive sous vide resource. Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm noted that the app's recipe integration includes videos for each step, while Donna Currie from The Spruce Eats highlighted its Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility. TechGearLab's review emphasized that the app enables remote control and voice commands, making it particularly convenient for busy home cooks. However, the app's reliance on smartphone connectivity means the device lacks manual controls, which some users may find limiting for situations where mobile access is unavailable.
Turbo Cooking Feature
The Turbo feature is the Joule Turbo's standout innovation, designed to cut cooking times by roughly half compared to traditional sous vide methods. According to The Spruce Eats' Donna Currie, the Turbo mode uses preset temperatures and adjusts cooking time based on food thickness and weight measurements. For instance, chicken breasts are limited to 162-165°F, while steaks can be set to 122, 131, 140, 149, or 158°F. Serious Eats reviewer Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm tested a filet mignon using the app's Turbo feature, which demonstrated the technology's effectiveness. However, the feature is limited to tender meats and doesn't work with longer-cooking items like pork ribs, which require extended time for tenderness. The Turbo mode also requires precise food measurements, including a stainless steel ruler included in the package, to ensure accurate results.
Build Quality and Design
The Joule Turbo's slim profile and flat magnetic base distinguish it from traditional sous vide units, making it more space-efficient and easier to store. The device measures just 1.85 x 1.85 x 12.28 inches and weighs only 1.5 pounds, according to The Spruce Eats. Its magnetic base allows it to stand upright in stainless steel pots without needing the clip attachment, which TechGearLab's Lesley Robinson found particularly useful. However, the fixed clip height may not accommodate all container sizes, and the lack of physical controls means users must rely entirely on the app for adjustments. The device's sleek design and compact footprint make it ideal for smaller kitchens, though some users may miss the tactile feedback of physical buttons.
Accuracy and Circulation
Temperature accuracy remains a strong point for the Joule Turbo, with Serious Eats reporting less than half a degree variance from set temperature during testing. TechGearLab's Lesley Robinson noted that while the device was relatively accurate, it wasn't perfect, showing an average discrepancy of less than half a degree. Circulation performance was equally impressive, with the device creating a consistent whirlpool in just 15 seconds during testing, as demonstrated by TechGearLab. This rapid circulation ensures even heat distribution throughout the water bath, preventing hot or cold spots that could affect cooking results. The Joule Turbo's 1100-watt heating element, combined with its efficient circulation system, makes it suitable for both quick and extended cooking sessions.
Where It Falls Short
Despite its many strengths, the Joule Turbo has notable drawbacks that potential buyers should consider. The lack of manual controls is a significant limitation, as users cannot adjust settings without a smartphone connection. The Spruce Eats' Donna Currie noted that the device doesn't automatically restart after a power outage, which could be problematic during long cooking sessions in areas with unreliable electricity. Additionally, the Turbo mode is restricted to specific foods and cooking methods, limiting its versatility. TechGearLab's review highlighted that the narrow clip attachment and lack of physical controls may not suit all users' preferences. Serious Eats' Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm also pointed out that while the Turbo feature is impressive, it's not universally applicable to all sous vide recipes, particularly those requiring longer cooking times or different temperature profiles.
Who It's Best For
The Breville Joule Turbo Sous Vide is ideal for home cooks who value speed and convenience without sacrificing performance. It's particularly suited for busy professionals or families who want to prepare restaurant-quality meals quickly, especially when using the Turbo feature for steaks and other tender cuts. The compact design and magnetic base make it perfect for smaller kitchens or those with limited counter space. According to The Spruce Eats' Donna Currie, it's an excellent choice for users who want to reduce cooking time while maintaining quality. However, serious sous vide enthusiasts who prefer manual control or plan to cook extended-time items like pork ribs may find the device's limitations frustrating. TechGearLab's Lesley Robinson recommends it for users who prioritize smartphone integration and app-based control over traditional physical interfaces.
Value and Market Position
At $250, the Breville Joule Turbo sits in a competitive market segment where price and features are closely scrutinized. TechGearLab's review gave it an overall score of 8.4 out of 10, ranking it #3 among 7 sous vide models tested. Serious Eats' Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm placed it at the top of their full immersion circulators review, praising its accuracy, speed, and app integration. The device's value proposition lies in its combination of rapid heating, app connectivity, and Turbo functionality, which can save significant time for busy cooks. However, The Spruce Eats' Donna Currie noted that while the device is excellent overall, it lacks manual controls and doesn't restart after power outages, which may affect its long-term reliability for extended cooking sessions. The inclusion of a stainless steel ruler and magnetic base adds value for users who frequently measure food thickness for Turbo cooking.
Strengths
- +Precision temperature control with 0.1°C accuracy
- +Large 10L capacity suitable for family meals
- +User-friendly digital interface with pre-programmed settings
- +Fast heating and cooling cycles for efficient cooking
Watch-outs
- −Higher price point compared to basic sous vide models
- −Requires significant countertop space
How it compares
The Breville Joule Turbo excels in capacity and speed with its 10L tank and fast heating, surpassing the Anova Nano 3.0's smaller size and slower warm-up time. Compared to the Anova Pro, it lacks the premium stainless-steel build and raised impeller design but offers a more affordable price point. While it's more user-friendly than the Dash Chef Series, it doesn't include a vacuum pump or bags like the Dash model.
Who this is for
At a glance: serious home cooks wanting large capacity and convenience.
Why you’d buy the Breville Joule Turbo Sous Vide
- Precision temperature control with 0.1°C accuracy.
- Large 10L capacity suitable for family meals.
- User-friendly digital interface with pre-programmed settings.
Why you’d skip it
- Higher price point compared to basic sous vide models.
- Requires significant countertop space.
Rating sources
“The Breville Joule Turbo Sous Vide heats water faster than any other immersion circulator we've tested. It has a plethora of helpful features, too, including unparalleled app integration.”
“I was more than ready to test its abilities. The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie Turbo mode offers preset temperatures for each cook.”
“Simplify meal time with the Joule® Turbo Sous Vide automated cooking experience, powered by Breville. Let Autopilot take the guesswork out of cooking with delicious and consistent results every time, hands-free.”
Our 4.6 score is the average of these published ratings. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
