REASONS TO BUY
Powerful circulating pump
Solid thermal stability
REASONS TO AVOID
Bulky design
Somewhat pricey
Wancle Thermal Immersion Circulator Review
An overall solid and affordable machine that boasts an excellent price but isn't quite on par with premium models
By Michelle Powell ⋅ Senior Review Analyst ⋅ February 14, 2022
Contributions From: David Wise
RELATED: The Best Sous Vide of 2025
Our Verdict
In terms of overall results, the Wancle Immersion Circulator finished near the top of our rankings of sous vide machines. It's a decently good sous vide machine, but it couldn't quite clinch an award. It displayed particular prominence in our circulation metric, but was generally overshadowed in most aspects by other top sous vides. The Wancle can cook up some awesome food and won't disappoint in your kitchen. It's tough to beat if you're looking to save money and still have decent performance.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Most of the work with these machines is in the food preparation phase. Credit: Laura Casner
Likes
The Wancle Immersion Circulator's most noteworthy performance was in our circulation test, where we used food dye to see how long it took to circulare the water and achieve a uniform color. This task took the Wancle only 14 seconds, when it took the slowest models over ten times as long — 196 seconds.
The Wancle moved dye very quickly throughout the container. Credit: Michelle Powell
The Wancle Immersion Circulator also performed well in our temperature recovery and stability evaluations, taking only two minutes or so to regain its set temperature of 135°F after we dropped in some frozen burger patties. This product only showed deviations from the steady temperature for 3.33% of the hour — one of the better showings we have seen.
The Wancle does a great job of holding a stable temperature. Credit: Laura Casner
The Wancle Immersion Circulator did slightly above average in our initial heating test, raising the temperature of 9.5 quarts of 48°F tap water to 147°F in 51 minutes. The fastest models did this in just over 35 minutes, but you can always start with hot water if you don't feel like waiting this long.
There is quite a bit of variation between the interfaces and controls of each product. Credit: Laura Casner
The interface on the Wancle isn't the easiest to use, but it wasn't too bad. It's easy enough to read the display, and the control wheel isn't too finicky when it comes to setting the timer and the temperature.
We used a calibrated thermometer to rank and score the accuracy of each product. Credit: Laura Casner
Dislikes
Regrettably, the Wancle Immersion Circulator delivered less than impressive results in our temperature accuracy test. This product averaged 0.70°F under the set temperature of 135°F and almost a full 2 degrees — 1.73°F — when the temperature was set to 147°F.
The spring action clamp of the Wancle is a little less versatile than the screw action models but quicker to use. Credit: Laura Casner
We also found the spring clamp that attaches the Wancle to the side of the sous vide container to be a bit cumbersome, particularly if there was a lip.
Should You Buy the Wancle Immersion Circulator?
The Wancle Immersion Circulator isn't a bad sous vide by any means, but it just can't match the performance of the top machines. It's a great bargain option, usually offered at substantially less than its list price, and gets the job done. One aspect that made it stand out from most others is its bulkiness, with a significantly larger carrying handle than most models. It also can be a little pricey given its performance, with top-tier products costing about the same but offering more functionality in a smaller package. If you are shopping for a sous vide on a limited budget, then we think the Wancle is a worthy option.
What Other Sous Vide Machine Should You Consider?
We also like the VPCOK Sous Vide Cooker if your budget is tight. This machine has similar performance and price to the Wancle, but with slightly better performance in our temperature tests. If budget is less of a concern, or you find good sales, the Anova Culinary Precision Cooker Nano can be purchased for about the same price. This option has better test performance in our temperature and ease of use metrics. Depending on your cooking goals, and possible online sales, it could be the better choice for your needs.
—Michelle Powell and David Wise
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