Sous-Vide Developers Turn to Kickstarter for Business Boost

In an effort to bring an attainably priced and complete sous-vide cooking package to home cooks everywhere, a group of friends and self-proclaimed “foodies” in the San Diego area launched a Kickstarter campaign for the AquaChef Clarity, a cooking appliance that transforms everyday food into gourmet-quality meals.

The AquaChef Clarity makes it simple for home cooks of all skill levels to prepare meats, fish and other items. Sous vide is French for “under vacuum.” Using AquaChef Clarity, ingredients are placed in a vacuum-sealed bag and submerged in the water-filled oven, which is preset to the final and most desirable consumption temperature. With a push of a button, the Clarity’s vacuum system removes the air from the bag and locks in the food’s flavors, nutrients and moisture. The bag is placed in the Clarity’s water bath and it cooks until the user is ready to eat it.

Featuring an optically clear, high-polish, thermal-resistant and food-grade polycarbonate for the cooking bath, the AquaChef Clarity is designed so that users can watch their food evolve into perfectly cooked meals.

With Kickstarter, there are several pledge levels available. These range from $10 for the AquaChef Clarity Sous Vide Cookbook, all the way to $199 for the complete package.

“We are a group of friends that love food,” said Anna Pacheco, AquaChef Clarity’s chief foodie officer. “We’re not top chefs, but we believe that everyone should be able to use science to create amazing dishes at home. Let’s face it: Not all of us have the time or resources to go to cooking school or purchase expensive gourmet appliances. The AquaChef Clarity was conceived for those of us that want sous vide made simple.”

The AquaChef Clarity™ is expected to be available in early 2014 at a suggested retail price of around $300 for the complete sous-vide package, or almost half the cost of other sous-vide systems. The Clarity will also come with a hand-held vacuum system, a set of vacuum bags and a cookbook. 

“Sous vide is starting to hit the food market in a big way, but we want the AquaChef Clarity to be the first to offer a complete and affordable system,” added Pacheco. “We are far along into production, but we need Kickstarter to get the first supply into the hands of consumers. The cost of manufacturing and shipping is high, so we need help in providing everyone the opportunity to eat great food at home that would cost an arm and a leg at an upscale restaurant.”

The AquaChef Clarity Kickstarter campaign is available for pledging through Nov. 16.

“We are huge fans of Kickstarter and everything it represents as a dream-fulfilling social media site,” said Pacheco. “Those who support us with a generous pledge will start cooking like they never imagined with the Clarity.”