Sous Vide Ribeye - Went Here 8 This (2024)

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Steakhouse results without the high price, this Sous Vide Ribeye recipe is tender, juicy and packed with flavor. You just need a few simple ingredients, and the sous vide guarantees evenly cooked steaks prepared to your liking every time!

Seriously, you guys, perfectly cooked steaks couldn’t be easier with the sous vide! If you’re new around here, the sous vide is by far our preferred way to cook beef.

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This sous vide sirloin and sous vide filet mignon are definite favorites!

And if you're looking for a fancy meal, this sous vide prime rib or sous vide beef tenderloin are incredible!

We enjoy most cuts of beef cooked to medium rare, and this is sometimes difficult to achieve with other cooking methods. There’s a short window to hit that sweet spot!

With sous vide cooking, since you set the temperature of the water bath, you have much more control over how your food is cooked. And overcooking is far less likely.

Since the sous vide takes care of cooking the steaks, you have time to prepare delicious side dishes like these creamy garlic mashed potatoes and air fryer carrots.

You can also make it surf and turf by adding sous vide scallops, sous vide shrimp or sous vide lobster tail!

Check out this complete guide to sous vide steak!

Jump to:
  • Why this recipe works
  • What is Sous Vide?
  • Other sous vide beef recipes
  • What are ribeye steaks?
  • Ingredients
  • Step by step instructions
  • Sous vide ribeye temperatures
  • Expert tips
  • Common questions
  • Storage and reheating
  • Serving options
  • Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

Why this recipe works

  1. The sous vide takes the guesswork out of cooking steak. The temperature of the water bath (which you set) determines how well your steak is done. It’s that easy!
  2. Ribeye steak is an expensive cut of beef so you want to cook it the way you like it. Using the sous vide ensures you won’t waste your money!
  3. You get better than steakhouse results with the sous vide at a much lower cost. And, you get to enjoy it in the comfort of your own home (hello comfy pants)!
  4. This recipe is easy to make! You just need a few ingredients and 2 hours in the water bath before a quick sear in a hot skillet.
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What is Sous Vide?

Sous vide is basically a method of cooking using what is called an immersion circulator (i.e. the sous vide machine). This immersion circulator circulates water in a temperature controlled water bath at a certain temperature to perfectly cook your food every time.

Because the temperature doesn't change, and it keeps your meat (or dessert, veggies, etc.) at the same temperature, your risk of overcooking becomes very minimal.

To learn even more about sous vide cooking, head over and read "what is sous vide cooking and the benefits of sous vide cooking."

What is the Water Displacement Method?

The displacement method is where you slowly submerge a ziplock bag in water pushing the air out of the top of the bag (the bag should be slightly open at the top to allow air to escape).

Use a clip (I use sous vide magnets) to clip the bag to the side to keep it from floating and getting air and/or water inside.

Tools Used

You will also want to check out these posts on the best sous vide containers and the best sous vide bags for more information!

Other sous vide beef recipes

  • Sous Vide Rib Roast
  • Sous Vide Chuck Steak
  • Sous Vide New York Strip
  • Sous Vide Flank Steak
  • Sous Vide Skirt Steak
  • Sous Vide Chuck Roast
  • Sous Vide London Broil

What are ribeye steaks?

Ribeyes are taken from the rib primal section of the cow. It’s the same area where prime rib is taken from.

Ribeye steaks have a lot of marbling so they’re rich, tender and juicy. They’re sold as boneless and bone-in and are usually readily available at grocery stores and butcher shops.

Ingredients

For the full list of ingredients and quantities, refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

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You'll need 1 ½ pounds of boneless ribeye for this recipe, or about 2 medium to large steaks. I usually buy steaks that are at least 1-inch thick. For the best flavor, look for steaks with plenty of marbling, which creates a more tender and juicy steak.

You’ll also need salt and pepper to season the steaks, as well as butter, garlic and fresh thyme.

I recommend using unsalted butter as the steaks are well seasoned with salt.

As for the garlic, I highly recommend fresh cloves as opposed to garlic powder. The recipe calls for 2 cloves (smashed), but if you like extra garlic, feel free to add another clove.

For an earthy flavor, I like to add fresh sprigs of thyme to the beef as it cooks. If you don’t have fresh thyme, try using fresh oregano or marjoram.

Lastly, you’ll need avocado oil (or another high smoke point oil) for searing the steaks before serving.

Step by step instructions

Season the steaks with salt and pepper and let sit in the fridge, uncovered, overnight.

Heat a sous vide water bath to 127F degrees.

Place the steaks in a vacuum seal bag with the thyme, garlic cloves and butter.

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Seal and cook in the water bath for 2 hours.

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Remove steaks from the bag and pat dry.

Heat a cast iron skillet over high heat and add the avocado oil. (You can also sear them on the grill).

Sear the steaks for about 45-60 seconds per side, until a crust forms.

Remove and serve.

Sous vide ribeye temperatures

The recipe calls for cooking ribeye to 127F degrees. This will result in a medium-rare steak that’s tender and juicy. If you prefer your steaks cooked another way, refer to the table below, adapted from Serious Eats.

DonenessTemperature
Rare120°F to 126°F
Medium-rare (recommended)127°F to 134°F
Medium135°F to 144°F
Medium-well145°F to 155°F
Well-done (not recommended)156°F and above

Expert tips

  1. For even cooking, you’ll want the steaks sealed in the bag in a single layer. If they’re overlapping, they will not cook evenly.
  2. Properly removing air from the bag is an important step to keep bacteria out of the bag and safely cook your meat.
  3. Air may get in the bag and cause the bag to float. If this happens, just open the bag, let the air out and reseal it.
  4. To prevent floating, you can also use a sous vide sinker weight or something heavy to weigh down the bag.
  5. For the best crust, use a paper towel to dry the surface of the steaks before searing them in the skillet.
  6. The skillet should be super hot before adding the steaks so they brown and form a crust quickly without overcooking.
  7. To prevent overcooking, you only want to sear the steaks for 45-60 seconds per side. Any longer and they may cook beyond your desired level of doneness.
  8. Instead of searing the steaks in a hot skillet, you can also grill them over high heat until a crust forms.
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Common questions

Do you need to season ribeye steaks and let them sit overnight in the fridge?

Yes, this is considered dry brining and helps seal in the juices. If you’re in a rush, you can skip this step, but your steaks will likely not be as flavorful or juicy.

What is the best temperature to sous vide ribeye?

Ribeye steaks are best cooked to medium rare. To achieve this using the sous vide, you’ll need to set the temperature of your water bath to 127F degrees.

How long does it take to sous vide ribeye steaks?

For medium rare at 127F degrees, it just takes 2 hours to cook ribeye steaks using the sous vide. If your steaks are much thicker than 1-inch, you may need to cook them a little longer.

Can you overcook ribeye using the sous vide?

It’s difficult to overcook any kind of meat using the sous vide method. The water bath is very precise in its temperature. With that said, meat will start to get soft and break down if you leave it in the water bath well past its cooking time. The greater risk for overcooking, however, comes from reverse searing at the end.

Can you sous vide frozen ribeye?

While you can sous vide ribeye from frozen by adding another hour to the water bath cooking time, I prefer to thaw the steaks first so I can dry brine them. You can also try dry brining and defrosting at the same time, but you won’t get the same results.

Do you need to reverse sear the steaks before serving?

Yes! The searing forms a crust, which is delicious and adds to the presentation.

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Storage and reheating

Leftover ribeye can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

The easiest way to reheat steak is to add it to a skillet with a splash of broth and heat over a low heat until warmed through. This should help prevent it from overcooking or drying out.

Serving options

Here are a few of our favorite side dishes to pair with ribeye:

  • Truffle Mashed Potatoes
  • Duck Fat Crispy Smashed Potatoes
  • Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
  • Sous Vide Asparagus
  • Instant Pot Carrots
  • Instant Pot Brussels Sprouts

If you love this recipe, leave a comment below and let us know your favorite thing about it. We'd also love to connect on Instagram! Follow us at @went_here_8_this for awesome recipes and all sorts of fun food stuff 🙂

Recipe

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Sous Vide Ribeye

Sous Vide Ribeye is tender, juicy and packed with flavor. You just need a few ingredients and the sous vide guarantees evenly cooked steaks every time!

5 from 2 votes

Print Rate

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours hours

Resting Time: 8 hours hours

Total Time: 10 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 2 people

Calories: 838kcal

Author: Danielle Wolter

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ pounds boneless ribeye about 2 medium to large steaks
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 garlic cloves smashed
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • butter
  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil for searing

Instructions

  • Season the steaks with salt and pepper and let sit in the fridge, uncovered, overnight.

  • Heat a sous vide water bath to 127F degrees.

  • Place the steaks in a vacuum seal bag with the garlic cloves, thyme and butter.

  • Seal and cook in the water bath for 2 hours.

  • Remove steaks from the bag and pat dry.

  • Heat a cast iron skillet over high heat and add the avocado oil. (You can also sear the steaks on a grill).

  • Sear the steaks for about 45-60 seconds per side, until a crust forms.

  • Remove and serve.

Expert Tips:

  1. For even cooking, you’ll want the steaks sealed in the bag in a single layer. If they’re overlapping, they will not cook evenly.
  2. Properly removing air from the bag is an important step to keep bacteria out of the bag and safely cook your meat.
  3. Air may get in the bag and cause the bag to float. If this happens, just open the bag, let the air out and reseal it.
  4. To prevent floating, you can also use a sous vide sinker weight or something heavy to weigh down the bag.
  5. For the best crust, use a paper towel to dry the surface of the steaks before searing them in the skillet.
  6. The skillet should be super hot before adding the steaks so they brown and form a crust quickly without overcooking.
  7. To prevent overcooking, you only want to sear the steaks for 45-60 seconds per side. Any longer and they may cook beyond your desired level of doneness.
  8. Instead of searing the steaks in a hot skillet, you can also grill them over high heat until a crust forms.

Nutrition

Serving: 8ounces | Calories: 838kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 69g | Fat: 62g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 33g | Cholesterol: 208mg | Sodium: 3666mg | Potassium: 937mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 102IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 6mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @went_here_8_this or tag #wenthere8this!

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Sous Vide Ribeye - Went Here 8 This (2024)

FAQs

How long should I cook a ribeye in a sous vide? ›

In most cases, you can cook a ribeye steak to medium-rare using sous vide in about two hours. For medium or higher doneness levels, you may need 2-3 hours.

Is 8 hours too long to sous vide steak? ›

A steak cooked at a well-done 160°F, for instance, will be soft and shreddable (and dry) after only 8 to 12 hours. For best results, I don't recommend cooking any longer than the maximum recommended time for each cut and temperature range. Should I add butter, oil, or any other liquid or fat to the sous-vide bag? No.

What happens if you leave steak in sous vide too long? ›

Longer is not always better You don't always get better results by keeping food in the sous vide machine for longer. For example, many chefs recommend that sous vide steak should not be cooked for longer than four hours because the connective tissue begins to break down and the steak can become mushy.

How long to sous vide steak at 140 degrees? ›

Steak or Lamb
Preferred DonenessTemperatureMin Time
Medium-rare129°F / 54°C1h 30m
Medium140°F / 60°C1h 30m
Medium-well145°F / 63°C1h 30m

What is the best temperature for ribeye steak? ›

For ribeye steaks, the ideal internal temperature is 135°F for medium-rare, 145°F medium, 150°F medium well and 160°F for well done.

Does meat get more tender the longer you sous vide? ›

Sous vide allows for long, slow cooking at a low temperature, which breaks down these tissues and results in tender, juicy meat. Prepare the meat with generous salt and any other desired seasonings, then cook for a long time at a low temperature.

Why is my steak tough after sous vide? ›

Rare sous vide steak (120°F/49°C): Your meat is still nearly raw. Muscle proteins have not started to contract much and will have a slippery, wet texture. Chewier cuts, like hanger or flap meat, will be particularly tough at this stage. Fat has not yet started to render, so fattier cuts will have a waxy texture.

Can you sous vide 2 steaks in 1 bag? ›

Regardless of your method, you'll also need some sous vide bags that fit your cut(s) of meat – the Half Gallon Bag is great for larger cuts, and the Quart Bag is perfect for smaller steaks. For best results, give each steak its own bag.

What is a disadvantage of sous vide? ›

If you're not careful about cooking times (as specified by the product manufacturer), your food can become contaminated. In addition, if your food is not properly vacuum sealed, or your food becomes contaminated during prep, cooking sous-vide poses an additional threat.

Why do you chill steak after sous vide? ›

Chill-based reverse sear is when the meat is taken from the sous vide bath and chilled—still in its cooking bag—in an ice bath. By shocking the meat in an ice bath, we cool the exterior and a thin gradient of the interior so that when we perform the sear, we don't risk overcooking the precisely-temped steak.

How to know when sous vide steak is done? ›

3. Sous Vide the Steak for 1-3 Hours
  1. Rare: 120-128°F.
  2. Medium-rare: 129-134°F.
  3. Medium: 135-144°F.
  4. Medium-well: 145-155°F.
Nov 21, 2023

How long to sous vide a ribeye? ›

Secure the vacuum sealed steak with sous vide magnets to keep them from floating while cooking. My favorite time and temp for a medium-rare ribeye steak is 132 degrees F for 2-3 hours. If you're cooking your steak from frozen, I recommend a minimum cook time of 2.5 hours.

Should you put butter in sous vide steak? ›

Here at Sous Vide Tools we often like to add a small amount of butter to the bag and find that for best results, flavoured butter works really well to add a little something extra during the cooking process. Our preference is to place butter into the bag itself, rather than on top of the product.

What is a 140 degree ribeye steak? ›

Medium (140°-150°F)

A steak cooked “medium” will be mostly pink. A small ring of grey may form on the outside and a strip of red will remain in the center. For steaks with more marbling, this will be the temperature where the fat begins to liquefy and add flavor.

How long do you sous vide steaks for 2 hours? ›

Set the sous vide to 130ºF and let the water come to temperature. Salt and pepper the steak and let the steak sit for 10-15 minutes. Then place the steak into a stasher bag, Ziploc, or food saver bag with butter and herbs. Place steak into the sous vide and let it sous vide for at LEAST 2 hours.

Is it possible to overcook steak in sous vide? ›

So, while it's certainly very difficult to overcook your food using sous vide, to say that it's impossible is a little bit of an overstatement. Just remember that while you technically can't 'overcook' your food, the quality could start to decline if it's left to cook for a lot longer than is recommended.

How long to cook 1 inch ribeye at 500 degrees? ›

How To Grill a Perfect Ribeye Steak
  1. Take your steaks out of the refrigerator and allow them to temper for about 30 minutes before grilling.
  2. Preheat your grill to 450-500 degrees.
  3. Place steaks on the grill and let them cook for 4-5 minutes on each side—Cook for an additional 3 minutes for medium-rare.
Mar 18, 2022

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