SousVide Demi vs SousVide Supreme Water Oven

When it comes to sous vide equipment, two top sellers are the SousVide® Supreme and the SousVide® Supreme Demi. Both are sous vide water ovens designed for home users, and each one gets high praise from novices and experts alike. The technology and inner workings are the same, so you can expect the same excellent quality in performance and results no matter which one you choose.

There are, however, some important differences you need to know about before you buy. This article is intended only as a brief overview to explain the few ways in which the Supreme and the Demi are not alike. To get complete details each of these models you’ll want to read the individual reviews. Links to those reviews are located in the menu above, right underneath the photos of the models below, and at the very bottom of this page.

Sous Vide Supreme Demi Water Oven
Read the complete review here.

The SousVide Supreme is the original sous vide water oven for home users and is the largest. The SousVide Supreme Demi is virtually the same model in a compact size.

There is a considerable price difference between the two. At last check, the Demi in red was selling for about $80 less than the Supreme. You can save even more on the Demi if you choose the black model.

Otherwise, the main differences between the two models are cooking capacity, overall size, and exterior finish.

Cooking Capacity

As you can see from the chart above, the Supreme will hold up to twenty 4-oz. food pouches whereas the Demi will hold a maximum of only twelve. The actual amount of food you can cook at once depends partly on what you’re cooking. One general rule that applies to both models is this:

• In order to allow for proper water circulation, food pouches should not completely cover the perforated grill on the floor of the unit. The water circulation through the grill holes is necessary to constantly maintain the temperature at the accurate level.

Both models include a pouch rack that solves this problem when you’re cooking two or more pouches at once. To give you an idea about quantity, here are examples of what the larger SousVide Supreme will hold:

• Without the rack: Holds a large cut of meat (roast, tenderloin, leg of lamb, etc.) up to approximately 6 pounds.
• With rack inserted horizontally: Holds up to four gallon-size cooking pouches.
• With rack inserted vertically: Holds up to five gallon-size pouches, or up to 10 quart-size pouches.
• If you are using bag rolls and cutting bags smaller than quart size, you could expect it to hold as many as 20 single-serving pouches (3 ounces each).

If you compare total volume, the interior capacity of the Demi is about 200 cubic inches smaller than the Supreme. Obviously, you save some counter space with the Demi, but you give up some cooking room too.

Appliance Size and Weight

While the Supreme will give you the maximum cooking capacity, it’s also going to take up more counter and storage space. The Demi has a smaller footprint and is also a little lighter, so it saves you some space and may also be a little easier to move around the kitchen or in and out of your cabinets or pantry.

Both machines will be very heavy when full of water. For some people it can be quite a load to lift when cooking is finished and it’s time to empty it. One easy solution is to use the unit near your sink. You won’t have to carry it far, and if need be you can use a measuring cup or pitcher to dip out most of the water before you try to lift it.

Exterior Finish

There is only one option with the Supreme, and that is a brushed stainless steel exterior.

The exterior of the Demi is coated steel. If you buy directly from the manufacturer, it is only available in black. If you buy from Amazon, the Demi is available in either black or red, with the red costing a little more than the black.

Quality and Performance

Aside from all the above, these two models are virtually identical – same push-button control panel, same digital LED display, and same timer. As noted in the individual reviews of these models, the timer does not automatically shut off the machine because that could be a food safety hazard. Instead, the timer only sounds a repeating, audible beep to alert you that the cooking cycle has ended.

Both models are also designed with the same patented PID technology for precision temperature control. Maintaining the correct temperature at all times is vital for sous vide cooking, and both the Supreme and the Demi will keep the temperature accurate within 1 degree Fahrenheit of the selected setting.

There is also no difference in the types of foods you can cook in these two water ovens. If you’re new to sous vide, you might be surprised to learn that while these models really shine when it comes to meat, that’s not all they can do. The manufacturer has a list of “10 Surprising Things You Can Cook Sous Vide“. You can click that link to see the original article, but the ten culinary delights are:

• Infused Alcohols and Syrups
• Ricotta Cheese, Yogurt, and Crème Fraîche
• Condements, Sauces, Fruits Coulis, Compotes
• Stock for Soups and Sauces
• Cheesecake, Bread Pudding, Steamed Pudding, Pot de Crème or Crème
• The Perfect Egg
• Custards, Lemon Curd, Dulce de Leche, Zabaglione, and Ice Cream Base
• Overnight Oatmeal
• Pickled Vegetables
• Infused Vinegars and Oils

(I count a lot more than 10, but they made the list, not me!)

If you’re about to embark on your first venture into sous vide cooking, there is one more resource that may be of interest to you. SousVide® provides a chart of cooking times and temperatures, and it covers a wide variety of foods. One of the biggest “learning curves” for newbies isn’t about operating the machine. It’s about learning how and when to plan ahead. Take a look at the information on this page, and it will give you a good idea of what to expect: Sous Vide Cooking Reference Guide

Ready to Find Out More?

Now you know the differences in the SousVide Demi vs SousVide Supreme Water Oven. In a nutshell it comes down to overall size and weight of the appliance, total available cooking capacity, exterior and interior finish, and price. Of course, you probably also want to get into all the finer points before you buy.

Read my Sous Vide Supreme Demi Review

Click the image below to see the Sous Vide Supreme Demi Water Oven on Amazon.