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Sous Vide in the UK: Plugs, Circulators and What to Buy (2026)
How to buy a sous-vide circulator for a UK kitchen: 230 V, Type G, the official Anova plug split, and why a North American unit does not belong here.
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In a UK kitchen, a sous-vide circulator is a 230 V heating appliance first. Get the plug and the voltage right, then worry about which app you like.
Buy the UK voltage, nothing else
Anova’s official plug guide is the document to trust. UK circulators are 220-240 V with a Type G plug. US and Canadian units are 110-120 V at 60 Hz. They are not universal and they are not a travel-adaptor job. A US heater on a UK socket is how you destroy the device.
When you open an Amazon.co.uk or official UK listing, the plug photo should be Type G and the spec sheet should say 220-240 V. I could not load a complete Amazon.co.uk catalogue from this environment on Nov 14, 2026, so confirm that line yourself rather than trusting a US model code.
See the Anova Precision Cooker on AmazonWhy Anova is still the circulator I would shop for
I want a heater that holds a set temperature, clips to a normal pot, and can be warranted in the country where it is plugged in. Anova meets that for me as a machine. If you prefer another UK-voltage circulator with a real UK warranty, the same rule applies: voltage first, brand second.
Containers and lids are easy to buy locally. Use bags meant for cooking.
App and food safety
The Anova app is available in the UK, but wifi start is not a food-safety control. Do not leave raw food in a bath that has not reached the set point. The Food Standards Agency is the UK starting point for home food safety. I am not posting my own time-and-temperature chart; use a current official or maker-backed guide, and a thermometer if you need to check the water.
Warranty and statutory rights
Buy from Amazon.co.uk, Anova’s UK path, or another authorised UK retailer so the Consumer Rights Act 2015 applies. If you buy through an Amazon button on this page I earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
What I would skip
Skip any 120 V import. Skip a no-name heater with no stated UK voltage. Skip treating the app as a safety device. And skip running a low-power circulator in a huge insulated cooler if what you needed was a correctly rated UK unit.
What did I read to write this?
Everything above summarizes what these sources say, in my own words. I link to them so you can check me. I didn't test these products for this page unless an owner box says so.
- Anova: which plug type do I need? (maker or official page): official UK 220-240 V versus US/CA 110-120 V split; units are not auto-switching
- Anova official site (maker or official page): current Precision Cooker hardware lineup
- Food Standards Agency: safer food, better business and home food safety (maker or official page): UK food-safety starting point; sous vide still needs safe handling and a verified water temperature
- Consumer Rights Act 2015 (maker or official page): UK statutory rights on electrical goods sold to consumers
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a US Anova in the UK?
No. Anova’s official plug guide says UK units are 220-240 V and US/Canadian units are 110-120 V, 60 Hz. They are not auto-switching. A travel adaptor does not convert voltage and can destroy the heater.
Is sous vide safe at home in the UK?
It can be, if you use a trusted time-and-temperature path, keep the water at the set point, and follow normal food-safety hygiene. The Food Standards Agency is the UK starting point. I am not publishing an inspection chart here; use a current official or maker-backed temperature guide.
Are these Amazon links affiliate links?
Yes. If you buy through an Amazon button on this page I earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Links go to amazon.com with my tag; Amazon Global Earning sends UK buyers to Amazon.co.uk.
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