Joule

Joule for Android is the remote control app for the first-generation ChefSteps Joule Sous Vide circulator. While the app is running, you can control the water temperature, timing, and doneness for the Joule from anywhere in your home.

What This Smart Kitchen Device Actually Does

The app is the only interface of the original Joule circulator. All communication with the device occurs over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Using Sous Vide Cooking guides from the chefSteps, you’ll receive cooking directions, plus you’ll also see quick videos breaking down the sous vide process. The Visual Doneness is an interesting feature because you press a picture of how you want your steak/chicken to look like. Then the app does the rest, telling you how long at what temperature to achieve that. With real-time notifications, the app will alert you when the water bath reaches your target temperature. It also alerts when your food is ready so you don’t have to worry about pulling from the water too soon. Plus, it tells you when you’re at risk of overcooking because the item has been in the water too long.

Imagine it as a digital cookbook and thermometer for sous vide cooking all in one package. These cooking instruction manuals guide you on how to set up your components till you master the very advanced techniques. Timers and food doneness notification systems will keep your guesswork at bay. This is for serious cooks who want to get repeatable restaurant-quality results without constant supervision.

The Hardware Compatibility Catch

Here’s where things get complicated. The only cooker that the app supports is the first-generation Joule Sous Vide. ChefSteps and Breville ceased updates to it for new hardware, sending customers with later generation circulators to the Breville+ app instead. It’s simple: if you bought a Joule recently, this app is not for you. Users that do not speak English cannot find much in the way of help thanks to a purely English interface. And, since the technology works only via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, going offline is virtually impossible. Reviewing ChefSteps recipes and preparing recipes are not available without a connection.

Community reports show some frustration about this hardware limitation. Users who upgraded their devices assumed the app would keep working. The reality? The original Joule users are the only one that remains useful.

What You Get Without Paying

This app is totally free to use without any in-app purchasing or advertising. You get the total library of cooking content all device controls and all notification features without paywalls or ads. But is it still worth downloading today?

If you own a first-generation Joule circulator, you will need this app, as it is the only way to use your Joule unit. What makes cooking sous vide worth it with visual indicators, precise heating and not needing constant physical monitoring. This allows readers to try advanced methods without fear of a complete failure ruining everything

If you plan to buy a Joule, you should know upfront that this software works only with discontinued hardware. If you were to buy the Breville, you will need the Breville+ app on modern devices, which will have mainly extended functionality and ongoing support. The Joule app makes good on its promise for a specific audience but that audience gets smaller every day as hardware ages out. If you’re holding an original Joule, download it. Otherwise, look elsewhere.