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My advice, having owned one of the first Batch 1 APOs now for several months:
- Most people never bother to clean their conventional oven, so should the APO be any different? Admittedly, your conventional oven probably has a cleaning mode and the APO doesn't. And it's perched up on your counter top, so it is easier to see how dirty it is!
- I've actually only cleaned my APO once so far. I used fume-free Easy-Off oven cleaner, spraying it on and letting it sit overnight before using a water spray bottle and paper towels to clean off the residue (I also covered the holes and fan vent in the back panel using paper towels and masking tape). Then, as Anova recommends, I ran warm 100% steam for a while to further rinse it off. This got it "mostly" clean, but not entirely. Enough to satisfy me.
- Most of the smoke seems to come from around the top heating element where the grease spatter you mention accumulates. Unfortunately, that is also the area that is the most difficult to clean. I've started putting a silicon mat (like a Silpat) on a rack just below the top elements to prevent spatter from lower down getting to the top of the oven. Not an ideal solution if you want to broil something, but it does cut down on the smoke.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007RFQ8WK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Run it with high steam and wipe down. For heavy cleaning, Easy-off:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007RFQ8WK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The area around the upper heating element is difficult to clean (and if it is not clean you will get a lot of smoke at high temps), so I prefer not to do air frying in the APO, or I will put a Silpat on a rack at the top to prevent spatter.
I’m still waiting on my APO to arrive but I’ve ordered some stuff based on the dimensions specified here https://support.anovaculinary.com/hc/en-us/articles/360050323752-The-Anova-Precision-Oven-Frequently-Asked-Questions
Btw I ordered this https://www.amzn.com/dp/B08CZNYQ9S
I also have that perforated silicon sheet and found that it prevents browning when I use it. When I need something browned underneath, I put it straight on this rack with the pan underneath:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H94EPJ2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I find that works better for me.
I was thinking something like this. I live in an apartment without a balcony, so this is the only practical option for me.
Thanks! I might give this a try.
I expect to be baking lots of bread in my APO (when it arrives!).
I've been looking around for a good baking griddle. I don't want to block air circulation in the oven so I was looking for something with lots of thermal mass (steel or cast iron) and with at least 1" of clearance around the edges to allow for good air and steam circulation. I found this griddle on Amazon. It's 3/8" thick by 10" x 13.5" which fits nicely in the 16.9" x 12.5" APO.
This is a beast of a griddle and I may be over doing it or worrying too much about clearance.
What do you think ??
For what it's worth, I got this stone - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XGV3RS4/ - the fit is good and have had good results.
Not affiliated with them and there may be better options out there, but sharing if it helps.
You are not missing much, the racks get stuck when heated, and the pan massively warps.
I've got 6 of these racks (you can fit 6 in if you put one above the top slot, which is great for dehydration):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H94EPJ2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The 16 x 12" pans I just picked up fit really well. Non-standard size, although I did find some pre-cut parchment for them:
I do wish the probe was standard. I'd like to have a spare, and also do some experiments like freezing meats with the probe inside to see how long they actually take to SV from frozen!
I did my first toast run tonight:
- White bread
- 300F, rear heating element, fan on high, 10% humidity
- 3 minutes, flip, 4 minutes (didn't flip the second piece
Results:
- Both came out the same, so no flipping required, at least with the rear element (will try top & bottom tomorrow)
- Interestingly enough, there was no browning, I assume due to the humidity - it made what I call Fancy Toast, which is toasted but not brown, so when you spread your butter on it, it stays golden. I did one with butter & one with chili powder & cinnamon-sugar on top, sort of a spicy-sweet take on cinna-sweet toast
- I liked it...I will probably do 8 minutes next time. It was toasted but not overly dry like toast sometimes comes out. Tomorrow I'll also try no steam as well as 40% steam at 350F
Would I use this for toast? Bulk toast, yes. You could probably fit 18 slices in this thing no problem (I'll have to test it at the next non-COVID family get-together haha!). You have to wait for it to preheat (under 5 minutes) then toast (7 minutes on the first run), so you're waiting 12 minutes for toast. That's a long time! Could probably put the toast in while preheating to save a step.
My problem is that I already have the world's best toaster, which is actually a mini infrared toaster oven, so I can have brown toast in 3 minutes. Only requires a button-push & no preheating:
If the APO is your only toaster, and you have enough patience to wait for it to finish, then I could see it being a good toaster for bread. I just bought a basic wheat loaf & white loaf today to try some off-the-shelf bread, so I'll try more experiments tomorrow to see if I can dial in the settings.
Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum "Jelly Roll" Baking Sheet
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00INRW7GC
15-3/4" x 11-1/4" - very close to the size of the sheet supplied with the oven, but the Nordic Ware sheets have a steel-reinforced rim so they won't warp/pop when heated
A Wifi extender will solve many of the problems most people have with connecting to the oven. They cost around $20. Get one that only has 2.4 ghz. Set it to a different SSID (network name) than your 5 ghz router then connect to that network. You can plug it in near the oven.
>https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H94EPJ2/
Is that sturdier than the racks that come with the APO? I was braising in a cast iron dutch oven yesterday and afraid the rack was going to collapse.
$27 on Amazon:
Notes:
- Description says max 446F, although commenters say they can broil just fine in it
- One answer reply said the exact dimensions are 16.2" x 12.6" x 2.5" tall
- Slides perfectly into the APO on a rack!
Been doing more projects that require a higher lip, so I just needed something I could beat up on. Yay for more APO accessories!!
Pretty simple:
- Preheat APO to 375F 0% rear-fan & line a baking sheet with parchment
- Wash & peel your potatoes (I use this beast), but keep the peelings instead of throwing them away! Toss them in a bowl with some oil & seasonings (salt, pepper, spices, etc.) by hand to get them all evenly covered.
- Bake on the middle shelf with the door cracked at the indent for 10 to 15 minutes, until crispy
These are fun as super-thin potato chips or as a topping to a salad or fall soup! A little bit like those canned dry crispy shoestring fries, just super thin, thinner than a Pringle! I wouldn't go out of my way to make these, but if you're peeling potatoes anyway, it's a simple job to toss them & bake them!
It's nice to have several sheet pans, and extra cookie racks. I have a bunch of these cookie racks, which fit perfectly (although the price seems to have gone up):
I have a twin pack of "checkered chef" aluminum pans. They fit the anova perfectly. They are the same design as regular aluminum sheet pans (rolled edge, warp-resistant), just smaller than the half sheet.
I have this much more elegant solution, which is also ridiculously expensive. But at least I'm elegant.
Yeah it's really not very much, plus distilled water is super cheap! Oh one other accessory, or supply really, grab some descaler, as you'll eventually run into the point where you have to descale the machine. I just get this:
Anyway, you're gonna love it, welcome to the club!!
Notes:
- Wawa (gas station) packaged brownie, did this one 170F 30% SVM for I dunno, 10 minutes. Nice warm brownies do wonderful things to my brain lol. It wasn't a great brownie by any means, but a warm brownie is better than a cold brownie!!
- Used my new mini food processor (just 3.5 cups, SO TINY!) to whip up some heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract into whipped cream. tbh it was the best part of the dessert lol. I have a big food processor, but I do so much small-batch stuff (quick salsas, hummus, etc.) that I finally splurged for this little guy. I have a Blendtec with the smaller-sized Twister jar, but I really like how this performs better as a legitimate small-sized food processor.
- Hershey's caramel sauce, didn't feel like putting in THAT much effort to make a separate sauce lol. Yay for my spinny cake-decorating stand!
Congratulations! Hope you have many amazing cooks.
First recipe I would recommend is this grilled cheese. Yes it is simple, but it also a game changer:
I don't know where you live or what your water filter filters out. So, I'm not happy advising you on this. I live in a crazy hard water area and I just buy distilled water. I thought I would need to invest in a distilling machine but the APO does not use that much water and I do use steam for baking and other cooks a lot.
For items to purchase I don't know where you are but I got this pan set from Amazon and they fit perfect and I wouldn't be without them: Umiten Baking Sheet & Rack [2... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08HHX6JCH?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
I also purchased the perforated sheet pan from Anova and have used it twice. Both times for spatchcock chicken.
I really am super excited for you. The APO has been a dream for me. My AGA has always been sorely missed in the summer as nothing compared to roast meat or the pizzas from it. Now that I have th APO I haven't missed the use of the AGA at all.
Feel free to dm me. I'm not an expert but I am happy to help and I am just a bit ahead of you on this journey.
Tonight Calzone is on the menu. The crust comes out so well. It is a Friday night ritual now!
I tried doing that with cooling racks with metal feet, but it kept sliding off haha. I'd imagine that someone makes one with like silicone feet or something. A quick Amazon search came up with a vented solution that is safe up to 500F:
Competitor to the Breville wooden top:
A few bucks cheaper than the name-brand one (this one is currently $28 shipped with coupon). Also no label on it, which I like (my first board says Breville, which is poorly lasered on lol).
This still gets pretty warm on top, but I like having it there to do stuff like put hot trays of food on top when pulling out of the oven!
My brother went all-in on the APO sale:
- APO
- Chamber-vac
- Pro suction-vac
- Handheld-vac
Same microwave cart I got, only it's the ultra-wide version: ($122)
Fits both the APO & Anova Chamber-vac PERFECTLY! Power combo!!
I got tired of mine taking up valuable counter space, so I settled on a rolling cart for the APO. This is the one I went with from Amazon.
Homestyles Cuisine Kitchen Cart, Natural, Stainless Top https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004KSKKIU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_8B1JSM5H0E9VT5CZJK57
There are cheaper options, but I liked the closed away cabinet/drawer storage and shelf/towel racks this one offered.
>that's awesome. It's great that you figured out what works for you and are going against the mold of what a kitchen "should" be like.
My wife kinda hates the ugly setup, but I cook most of the meals, so she tolerates it haha
>Mine is also about due for a cleaning -- have you tried anything?
I like the Pink stuff:
Just be careful not to rub too hard, it's a bit like sandpaper. I'll post a video or something later.
>Unfortunately I haven't had a lot of time to tinker with my APO -- with your experience, have you picked up any tips? I've got a 10 minute "recipe" on the app for reheating crispy stuff that starts out with steam and then switches to dry for the end. And I similar one for reheating stuff directly on the rack. But other than that, I haven't figured out too much that benefits from steam.
Oh for sure, a million things! Pasta, rice, sous-vide anything (steak, chicken, pork loin, etc.), eggs of all kinds (egg loaf slices for sandwiches, omelet casseroles, egg bites, etc.), veggies, fish, etc. What are you looking for exactly? Low-hassle meals?
I have both a pizza steel (for conventional oven) and a cordierite stone for the APO. There is minor performance difference between them but the stone works wonderfully, and is easier to handle as it is lighter. This one in particular is a perfect fit for the oven
Navaris XL Pizza Stone for Baking - Cordierite Pizza Stone Plate for BBQ Grill Oven - Cook or Serve - Incl. Recipe Book - Rectangular, 15 x 12 x 0.6in https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0769X1QPZ/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_2N618M020SGVK7CT708K?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Someone recommended it to me and it takes some of the elbow work away, but it’s not as powerful as I’d hoped. I like having it, though. Makes things a little quicker. They’re hard to find anymore. I’m guessing they’re no longer being made. Amazon still sells them, but it takes a while to ship. That’s how I got mine. Rubbermaid 2124405 Cleaning Power Scrubber Complete Home Kit, 18 Pieces, Red and Gray https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B08D6T4DKS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_49ZGDX3CQT8Y21M2N9B3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
An annoying problem with the APO is the silicone plug for the thermometer socket, which has a very tiny prong that is hard to insert (particularly when the oven is hot). Not to mention, some people have found that the plug breaks with use, and Anova can't provide a replacement.
Another thing I worry about is plugging the two pipes in the back of the oven when I clean it using Easy-Off.
So I bought some silicon plugs off Amazon to solve these problems. Admittedly, not the cheapest solution in the world (a 40 plug bag!), but they are on sale at the moment for $9.93.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XYD2760?psc=1&ref=ppx\_yo2\_dt\_b\_product\_details
Don't worry, I'll be documenting everything going forward much better. Regardless of whether this attempt succeeds or fails, I'm going to be trying again. Given the level of climate control I have in the APO I'm fascinated by the idea of speedrunning a sourdough starter. I'm looking at buying one of these bad boys https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MWHT1GZ/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_B87WCVFH819X58J187AY so I can monitor the impact of pH throughout the process. I'm all in
I bought these to put under the oven. Easier to clean and provides more airflow.
SODIAL 4 PCS Foot Pads Washing Machine Anti Vibration Washer Feet Pad Anti Slip Rubber Foot Pad for Washing Machines and Dryers https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08617QDWT/
Have you compared it to EasyOff? Is that available where you are?
I got a tub of The Pink Stuff because someone recommended it on another board, but I haven't tried it yet.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DU5SRIY?psc=1&ref=ppx\_yo2\_dt\_b\_product\_details
I have a really cool $15 electrical testing pen:
It lights up & beeps! I keep it in the junk drawer & always use it "just in case" haha!
Yeah, I thought about how to best split up the power, but because I had the circuit breakers available, I thought screw it, why even bother with having to remember to balance things out? I have to cook every day, and sometimes I need ALL of my gizmos at the same time, so it was worth the extra bucks to just get dedicated outlets for everything & never, ever have to worry about power again!
Not good.
I assume you emptied the tray?
I have mine up on these stilts so at least I can see if anything is happening under the oven (also prevents it from cracking the countertop, which there have been a couple of reports):
We looked at many stands and tables for our APO. Since it had to go in the dining room due to lack of kitchen counter space, I wanted it to look relatively nice with our Mission style dining room furniture. We ended up with this computer desk (Amazon non affiliate link, but we bought it cheaper from the manufacturer): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G92L3F8/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_ECFB55G6MXV966E5Q3XB
It turned out to be perfect. Depth and height are just right, there is room to put other things next to the APO (we have our k-cup coffee maker there), and the keyboard drawer has a drop front that allows us easy access to sheet pans, racks, baking stone, and plug-in thermometer storage.
In general, I would be looking at computer desks in the style you are looking for.
Oh sure, the main thing the app adds is remote control & stages, but you can use it manually for pretty much everything else! Also if you're willing to spend $30, you can just plug a 2.4ghz travel router into the Ethernet port of your Xfinity router & set it to AP mode:
We have it in a cabinet as well with 2-3 inches clearance on the sides but more on the top. The biggest problem wasn’t heat transfer but condensation of the vented steam. We mounted two fans in the cabinet - one on the “roof” of the cabinet space to blow over the top of the oven and one one the right side of the cabinet to vent between the cabinet wall and the water tank. We plugged both into one extension cord into an outlet with an on/off switch for ease of operation. Works like a charm, no condensation, keeps the cabinet cool, and I think it may also help preventing steam damage to the front of the water tank since we are venting it away as it exits the port. Works like a charm.
How about something like this butter spreader?
coconut oil melts at a low temperature, so you coulp put the butter spreader in the APO briefly while it's preheating.
>cleaning them thoroughly by hand leaves a bunch of fibers etc stuck in the mesh, and I’m dubious of the long term durability of dishwashing them.
I use a chainmail scrubber, works pretty good:
I actually got these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BJL9MKV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I used the base and two inserts under each foot which brought the Anova to just under my top cabinets. I can easily get a sponge underneath to wipe the counter.
Seems rare, but I've seen a couple of reports. Hence, I have mine sitting up these (one black and one grey at each corner):
I started with a cart, but found mine was a tad small and it looked like it was putting pressure on the moisture trap, so I put some small appliances on the cart and the APO on the counter.
Here's the stilts I use (doesn't look half bad, and makes it easy to clean underneath too):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BJL9MKV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I stack a black one and one of the grey ones at each of the 4 corners.
We use these, work's great and can use 2 for main dish and side at the same time
Use painter's tape & paper towels to cover holes on rear interior panel, then spray with Easy Off and leave over night. Then use wipe clean and use a squirt bottle of water to rinse. Finally run on 100% steam and wipe down again.
I've only done this once since I've owned my Batch 1 oven. In part because when I do any air frying, which is rarely, I put a rack and a silpat just below the upper heating element to avoid spatter (which is impossible to clean and causes a lot of smoke).
Easy Off Professional Fume Free Max Oven Cleaner
This is my setup:
- A grid rack that fits into the sides
- A catch tray (either a 12x16" rimmed pan or a 9x13" casserole dish) on the bottom rack to catch the drips
This is the pan I use: (thanks /u/BostonBestEats!)
I dunno if that perforated pan is worth buying:
- Less airflow than a grid rack
- It will drip onto the bottom of the APO, requiring harder cleanup (have to reach in to clean the bottom inside, rather than just cleaning out the catch tray - bonus points if you use pre-cut parchment or foil on the catch tray as lining for easy cleanup!)
- With the Anova perforated pan, now you have to clean the bottom of the APO, the pull-out wire tray, plus the perforated pan
Is there a benefit to the perforated pan, like does it heat up & singe the food or something extra, over a grid rack?
I bought a chainmail-wrapped silicone sponge for cleaning my wire racks off quickly, works AWESOME! It gets the bulk of the stuck-on food off really fast, then I either let it soak or run it the wire rack through the dishwasher:
I also recently saw a TikTok hack where you can chuck all of your wire racks & baking sheets into the tub with some hot water & cleaning products , leave it overnight, and it comes out all clean! (gets all of the dark patina stuff off, sort of like how EZ Off works), I need to dig up that video & try it haha!
I use something like this: https://www.amazon.com/OXO-Good-Grips-Opener-Base/dp/B002DWA6KM/
Yeah, it's another gadget. But it's small, and pops the lids off quickly, easily, and without munging them up. Meaning I don't have to throw away the lid and get another one when I want to reseal the jar.
Hey everyone. Thanks for your feedback and your help. Also, Thanks u/lordjeebus for finding the oven Japanese cleaner that is equivalent to or similar to the " Easy Off" oven cleaner. I didn't buy it from the website that you found it on. I bought it from Amazon because the shipment and receiving were faster. There isn't much difference in the price. I think about 91 yen difference.
I bought this one "3m スチームオーブン専用クリーナー" which means in English " 3m Steam Oven Cleaner".
If you're living in Japan, then I recommend that one. I just used it. The bottle says to hear the oven from 80c to 95c ( 176 F to 203 F). So, I chose 90c ( 194F). Afterward, I stopped the oven ( turn off) then spray the inside of the oven. Next, I closed the door and waited 15 minutes according to the spray that I used. Finally, I opened the oven, and I wiped the inside, and wow, it was like a commercial. All of the black stuff etc came off with just one wipe. I couldn't believe my eyes. wow, just wow! it works fine.
It is a well-known phenomenon in the sous vide world that, despite the typically low temps involved, placing a immersion circulator water bath container directly on a kitchen countertop without a trivet under it is risky. There are many reports of cracked countertops due to prolonged heat-induced stress.
Anova warns that you should keep 4 inches of space on each side of the Anova Precision Oven to promote air circulation and dissipate heat. Of course, this presumably isn't meant to apply to the bottom of the APO.
However, in the past month there have been 2 reports on Facebook of cracked countertops under APOs. Obviously, at this point, this seems to be a rare occurrence (in contrast to the ubiquitous reports of cracked water tanks). But just to be safe, I took an idea from one of those unfortunate users to put the APO up on 4 Washer/Dryer Anti-vibration Pads to give a couple of inches space below the oven (the pads come with several extenders, so you could easily make it more than a couple of inches). Easy to do, and it doesn't look bad.
Note, while you could set the APO on pan or some other insulation, and some people do, it is important to remember that insulation doesn't stop the transfer of heat, it just slows it and eventually the system will reach equilibrium. (Which is why you should use an elevated trivet, not a kitchen towel under your sous vide bath too!)
Forewarned is forearmed.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BJL9MKV?psc=1&ref=ppx\_yo2\_dt\_b\_product\_details
My Dad made the kitchen cart that mine sits on, so I can't send you to a website, but one word of warning. If you put it on something wooden, you're going to want something under it. The condensation on the front of the water tank always drips in a way that completely misses the drip tray for me. So, I purchased a stainless steel cutting board that has a lip that wraps around the front. It just happened to perfectly fit my cart. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08LNKXKDN/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_asin\_title\_o09\_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I had to put our oven in the dining room as there was no room in the kitchen. Our dining room furniture is all reproduction Mission oak and I wanted something that would look good in there, so I got this Mission desk:
Leick Iron craft Computer/Writing Desk https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01G92L3F8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_YEV2JB100J4Z6C7GGQ7D
It’s got a center keyboard drawer with a drop down front that holds a stack of APO sheet pans and racks as well as the probe. It’s wide enough for me to have my kcup coffee maker next to the oven as well.
I bought it directly from the manufacturer and saved a few bucks off the Amazon price.
Yeah, my buddy has a dedicated unit like this:
I really don't want to pay $60+ for a standalone unit on something I'd use so rarely tho lol. Right now, using the APO to heat the cheese & then using the Searzall to quick-melt the top portion seems like a good method.
I'll have to play with the settings & cookware to see if there's a balance between not melting the cheese, yet getting it warm enough to torch the top layer quickly!
If you're up for a deep-dive, Amazing Ribs has a great $4 eBook that is very thorough:
I finally signed up for their Pitmaster club ($24/yr) this year to get their extra recipes. I now have more than enough stuff to cover me for weekends until Christmas LOL.
I ended up going with this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BXN44YK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
There are lots of dimensions available. It looks ok, but not great. But has been working just fine at protecting the wood so far.
I chucked my original included pan in the oven because it warped so bad. I bought some after-market pans, although they warp too in high-heat. I've been eyeballing this induction-friendly roasting pan:
Way cheaper than a lot of other oval-shaped induction-friendly roasting pans, although no rack is included.
It's not a perfect solution, but have you considered a diffusion adapter plate for induction cooktops? The induction heats the plate, which in turn heats non-induction-compatible cookware:
I got these ones: (they say no flicker, we'll see!)
Based on this review:
>Wasn't sure what to expect on this as I wasn't familiar with the brand. Got this to replace a light on our convection oven (not for heat). Easy to install and once it was on it was much brighter than the original and had a clean white color. The bright white really made it easy to view well inside the oven. Good price for amount you get would purchase again.
Hope it doesn't melt!
A more efficient way to set the APO up as a dehydrator is to use cookie racks like these ones. They fit perfectly in the APO's racking grooves and you can fit 7 in at once if you put one on the bottom and one above the racking just below the top element. I haven't tried running it as a dehydrator with all 7 inside, but it is at least theoretically possible (may have poorer circulation for the top and bottom ones, so you may need to rotate).
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H94EPJ2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It's also worth noting that the BSOA air fryer racks need to be stretched in order to fit the APO's racking grooves.
For people who don’t have BSOA air fryer racks or if they do, don’t want to bend them, I suggest trying something like this put on top of the APO racks. https://www.amazon.com/OSVINO-Resistant-Stick-FDA-Approved-Grill/dp/B074TW1LP1
Here's the rack on Amazon if you're interested. It is made of thinner gauge wire than the two racks that came with the APO though.
Last Confection Stainless Steel Baking & Cooling Rack - 8-1/2" x 12" (Fits Quarter Sheet Pan) - Cookie Baker's Oven Wire Rack https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07DF58NKK
Scored some farm-fresh ground beef. 135F for a few hours on my new mesh silpat (breathable model with holes in it...the burgers slid right off, just brilliant - no pooling of juices on the meat!). Cast-iron seared with KBM (Kosher Salt, Black Pepper, and MSG) & then Searzall'd on some Muenster cheese. Outstanding!
One of the obvious benefits will be with gluten free bread, as it will need as much help to rise as it can get. Here is a good book to help you understand the basics for GF bread:
Gluten-Free-Artisan-Bread-Five-Minutes
As far as pastry goes, you'll want to start with something like Choux Pastry, as it is one of the easier pastry types to convert to GF. For reference, I have been Celiac for 13 years, and have had a lot of experience converting recipes and experimenting.
I can't say about those, but for dehydration I have 7 of these to completely fill up the APO:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H94EPJ2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Recommended checklist:
- If you're open to the idea - keep it & continue trying to make it work. You get a 100-day return period! If you can get past the initial frustrations, it's an absolutely incredible machine that makes fantastic food!
- As far as the wifi goes - try turning off Bluetooth & cellular, then walking through the steps to join it to your network. I had a hard time joining it to my network as well, but eventually it took it & then I was able to run the firmware update on the oven.
- As far as the racks go, I would suggest two things. First, contact Anova Support to have them ship them out. You should have gotten 2 wire racks.
- Second, order at least one of the racks suggested below. You're going to want an additional rack anyway, especially a mesh one for doing stuff like airfrying. This will at least let you get started with the machine until you get the stock racks in!
Your situation stinks (no wifi + no racks), but if you can hang on through the annoyances, then I think you'll be pretty pleased with what you can do with it!
I haven't done it yet, but I ordered this (which is recommended by some other combi oven manufacturers):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000W8KOFG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Someone in another thread linked this-
https://www.amazon.com/Urnex-Espresso-Machine-Descaler-Activated/dp/B004L8V966/
However, it's not liquid. I haven't used it yet. Should I get something different before I need to descale?
An Alexa Skill is available for voice control of your Anova Precision Oven (APO):
SKILL: https://www.amazon.com/Anova-Culinary-Oven/dp/B08GYGGVYH
From Amazon - 100 times better than the original one that APO came with. Perfect fit , slide in and out easily, holding a 12 lb bird with no issues Amazon -12x17 rack
so did mine. I ordered two replacement pans from Amazon and, although they warp, they return to their normal shape after the cool down:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JYY134B/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Yeah, and honestly I don't even like round loaves that much (again, pretty for Instagram!), because then you end up with weird-shaped slices of different sizes. I have this really fantastic cast-iron bread loaf pan, which is what I use for many of my no-knead projects:
That way you can put slices of cheese on it easily & all of the bread slices are the same size; with a round loaf, the curve means the second slice is smaller, and you have to cut things up to fit the taper of the bread, etc. With the rectangle pan, $30 literally gets you a cooking tool that you can use for a lifetime!
My jam is typically closed-crumb no-knead bread in the cast-iron loaf pan linked above. Takes a total of 5 minutes of hands-on time daily & costs like a quarter a loaf. Tastes & smells amazing! You can make sandwiches (cold or toasted), snacks (bruschetta & crostini), and use the dry leftovers the next day for croutons & French toast.
Baking Sheet with Silicone Mat, Umite Chef 16 x 12 x 1 inch Cookie Sheet Baking Pan, Non Toxic Silicone Baking Mat & Stainless Steel Cooling Rack Heavy Duty & Easy Clean
This is a perfect fit.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CZNYQ9S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_78DIFbXCEX38S
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H94EPJ2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
This one fits perfectly and it slides in and out easily unlike the one that it came with that will get stuck when it was heated..
I don't quite know what's a perfect substitution for the pan quite yet...
I ordered some Easy Off Professional Fume Free Max Oven Cleaner on Amazon which I’ve seen recommended on various APO forums, should arrive today, I’ll let you know how well it works.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007RFQ8WK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Noise & fit issues so far:
- Stock pan warped right in front of my eyes. Replaced with this Amazon pan kit. Have run at 482F for more than an hour with no issues.
- Included wire trays get stuck once heated up. I just use my replacement trays for getting food in & out.
- I get intermittent banging inside - what sounds like loud metal pops. Sounds like a tiny little man is trying to escape, lol.
- Variable fan noise. Squeaky sometimes.
- Vibration issues on the side tank. Very loud until I whack it.
- Had one water overflow issue so far.
Issues, yes. Dealbreakers - for me, no. But then, I am an enthusiast of the product. The core thing for me is if I can use it functionally. I can live with the minor issues; I've only had it a couple weeks now & I can't go back to regular cooking lol.
Sure, I do it all the time! My procedure is:
- Flash-freeze the meat for 2 hours to freeze (this way the shape doesn't squish when you vac-seal it), then vac-seal the meat frozen (I usually buy in bulk at like Costco or wherever) & either chuck back in the freezer or into your APO
- Cook it SV in the bag, then shock it in an ice bath to bring the temperature down quickly past the danger zone (40 to 140F), then stick it in the fridge for up to 5 days (works for most proteins, just not shrimp lol). You can also just freeze it to thaw out & sear later!
- Sear as desired!
This book is really good if you want to get into meal-prepping with sous-vide:
You can do it straight-up in the APO without a bag, but I'd imagine the freshness will last longer in a vac-sealed bag. Maybe someone can confirm that.
>Could anyone recommend a similar product to the Precision Oven?
At the moment, this is the only countertop Mini Combo with low-temp support that I know of. Cuisinart has a model for $325 that does steam:
If you buy something like a Meater+ for wireless temperature monitoring via probe, you could kind of semi-replicate the Anova, but you're still looking at $325 USD plus $100 USD for the probe, with all of the extra bells & whistles (including the size) that the Anova has.
The next best bet would be to get a full-sized steam oven, like a Miele or Gaggenau, but the price goes way up at that point.
Baking Sheet with Silicone Mat, Umite Chef 16 x 12 x 1 inch Cookie Sheet Baking Pan, Non Toxic Silicone Baking Mat & Stainless Steel Cooling Rack Heavy Duty & Easy Clean
This is a perfect fit.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CZNYQ9S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_78DIFbXCEX38S
I'll be trying my sourdough bread & basic white bread today for toasting. They had a Toast 101 recipe walkthrough on their website before, but it's missing now - I believe it was 10% steam using the top & bottom elements for like 6 minutes or something. Not sure if you have to flip halfway through or not.
I actually have a separate Panasonic FlashXpress infrared mini toaster oven specifically used to replace my toaster. It is SUPER awesome & does a great job, instant heat-up - I can have a crispy piece of toast or bagel in my hand in 3 minutes:
I built a basic shelf from Home Depot for it above my countertop tho, so even if the APO does good toasting, I think I'll keep the Panny just for quick pushbutton convenience. Not 100% sure if I'll keep the BSOA long-term...it's been a fantastic machine, but I can already see myself using a second APO. Like, 30-minute SV chicken plus steam-injected bread baking, coupled with veggies in my Instant Pot, would be a ridiculously easy dinner system for walking in the door after work, haha!
$120 shipped from Amazon:
Features:
- Top shelf fits APO just right! About 1/2" extra on the front & rear, and just to the edge left & right. Couldn't ask for better dimensions!
- Middle shelf fits my 6qt Instant Pot
- Bottom shelf is holding my small deep fryer
- Left side has a handle for a dish towel
- Underneath the top shelf, a small shelf pulls out. Handy for storing things like the probe and other odds & ends.
- Easy to build, all you need is a screwdriver & maybe a hammer for the screw cover buttons. They include a hex wrench. Built it while I was watching TV. Easy peasy. Diet IKEA.
This is not a rack for people who want additional workspace next to their oven. I have a very small kitchen & this little shelf fit in the one remaining available space I had lol.
Yes and no, the breville mesh baskets fit with a little bit of strenth to widen them. I used a wrench slipped into one side, and pulled on the other and now it’s great! Couple were pulled to far and i had to push it back in. A full 2-3 min of work and works great! Much cheaper not on amazon but having stock issues.
Breville The Mesh Baskets for The Smart Oven Air https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZYK6SNQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_JC-GFbT0AYPPE
12" x 17" Hamilton Housewares Stainless Steel Cooling Rack (eGullet)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H94EPJ2/
Directly on rack groves on side oven.
1: no pricing yet.
2: current content of the oven is 2 racks, 1 pan that sits atop the rack.
3: We dont have a free shipping option post-purchase, but I can bring it up with my team to see if we can make something happen there.
unrelated: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TCBYZXC/ fit and work real well for the short term while we don't have racks available (yet).
Bill
TeamFar Baking Sheet with Rack
Baking Sheet: 16 x 12 x 1-inch
Cooling Rack: 15 x 11 x 0.6-inch
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JQ398MH/ref=cm_sw_su_dp
Fits on top of Anova rack (and stronger than Anova pan), according to poster on eGullet.
Cooling racks that are meant for 1/2 sheets fit perfectly in the oven, i used it as an air fry “basket”. Unfortunately i can’t find pans.
Spring Chef Cooling Rack - Baking Rack - Heavy Duty, 100% Stainless Steel, Oven Safe, 12 x 17 Inches Fits Half Sheet Cookie Pan https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XZ81GBQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_G6MFFb39A0AKW