Review of the SWID and SWID Premium Immersion Circulator

The SWID is a professional immersion circulator launched on the market in 2009. Designed and manufactured in Germany, the SWID was the world’s first immersion heater designed exclusively for sous vide cooking.
The SWID is mainly sold in Europe. It is renowned for its high level of technical specification, reliability, highly responsive after-sales service and minimum 10-year repairability. It is frequently seen in action at MOF (Meilleur Ouvrier de France) cooking competitions and even at the latest Bocuse d’Or (Team Canada).
The ‘Classic’ version of the SWID (1,800W) is available from the manufacturer’s website (Sous Vide Consulting) at a price of €495 excluding VAT (2023 price). The Premium version of the SWID (2,400W) can be purchased from the same website at €695 excluding VAT (price 2023) and also from approved resellers.
Before making your decision to buy an immersion circulator, and to better understand the comments below, I recommend that you read the 2 articles on the subject of “criteria for choosing a sous vide immersion circulator”:

How to choose a sous vide immersion circualtor 1/2
How to choose a sous vide immersion circulator 2/2

I. Technical specifications of the SWID and SWID Premium immersion circulator

• Capacity: 28L for the SWID and 58L for the SWID Premium
• Power: SWID 1,800W, SWID Premium 2,400W
• Adjustable temperature range: 25° to 95°C (77°F to 203 °F).
• Display: 2 screens, one showing the temperature, the other the cooking time
• Timer: 0-99hr
• Temperature accuracy: 4-wire Pt100 class A sensor, ± 0.15°C
• Temperature stability: ± 0.05°C (see comments in section below)
• Low water alarm: metal safety float switch
• Mini. tank depth required: 200 mm
• Pump flow rate: not specified. Since 2023, the SWID Premium has benefited from a new, more powerful motor than the previous version and the SWID “Classic” version.
• Dimensions: 268(H) x 124(W) x 190(D) mm
• Finish: ABS case, stainless steel underwater section
• Weight: 2.2 kg
• Warranty: 2 years. The SWID is the only immersion heater on the market to boast a minimum 10-year repairability.

II. Notes on the technical SPECIFICATIONS of the SWID and SWID Premium immersion circulators

1. The manufacturer presents the SWID “Classique” as particularly suitable for small restaurants with 20 to 40 place settings. It has been optimised for use both in a container of just a few litres and in a 28 litre GN 1/1 – 200 mm container. Despite its 1,800W, the manufacturer states that it can also be used in a 58L container on an occasional basis. I can confirm this, having tested it myself.
2. The SWID Premium is an improved version of the ‘Classic’ SWID. It is more powerful (2,400W), with reinforced components for very intensive use in large volumes (58L max). It’s an immersion circulator designed for caterers, but can also be used by restaurants. There’s no need to use a large container with the SWID Premium – you can use it in a saucepan of just a few litres or in a 58 litre GN container.
3. The SWID and SWID Premium immersion circulators are lightweight (2.2 kg), which is a very good thing. They are therefore easier to transport and, above all, easier to handle at the end of service when you remove the immersion circulator from the pan (watch out for falls) than a Smartvide (3.6 kg) or Fusion Chef (4.5 kg).
4. Temperature accuracy is guaranteed by a Platinum Pt100 sensor that cannot be decalibrated over time. This is a major advantage over certain competing models (particularly Chinese), which become inaccurate after a few years’ use.
5. The stability of the water bath temperature is impressive. I tested it with my SWAT precision thermometer in both small and large volumes. Be careful to check that stirring is correct between pouches, especially for 58L container. You can greatly improve stirring by placing a pastry grid at the bottom of the container.
6. The SWID immersion circulator is very easy to use, with 3 intuitive buttons. The SWID is silent.
7. For descaling, access to the submerged components is easy and the quality of the materials (all stainless steel) makes it a durable appliance.
8. The SWID and SWID Premium do not have a Bluetooth or WiFi connection, or an integrated external temperature probe. The SWID is only available in a 220V-240 version.

III. Known faults in the SWID or SWID Premium immersion circulator

It’s very difficult to find people on the internet reporting complaints about the SWID. This shows a certain reliability of the machine as well as an efficient after-sales service that doesn’t leave the user ‘out in the cold’.
Nevertheless, on a personal note, I had a problem in 2018 with the casing which fixing lugs had broken after my SWID had fallen on a table. The case was replaced without any problem with a new reinforced model. The manufacturer confirmed that the fixing points were now very strong. I’ve had no other problems to date.
A friend, a professional cook, had a faulty electric element (8 years of intensive use). Again, no problem replacing it.

IV. SWID immersion circulator reparability

1. Exploded view & user manual for SWID immersion circulator

They are available and can be downloaded by clicking on this link.

Exploded view of SWID Premium immersion circulator

2. Availability of spare parts for SWID immersion circulators

Finally, a real after-sales service worthy of the name! Just send an email to Sous Vide Consulting and we’ll get back to you within the day (or even within the hour). You can also contact Sous Vide Consulting by phone, they are available and ready to listen.
It is possible to buy spare parts directly and replace them yourself. The explanations are clear and concise. If you don’t feel comfortable repairing your SWID yourself then you can send it by parcel post to Germany. The manufacturer assures that a SWID is usually repaired the day it is received and can be returned the next day.
According to Sous Vide Consulting, for SWID models after 2018, all new components can be integrated into these immersion circulator models. This would make the SWID an infinitely repairable sous vide device…
For models prior to 2018, some parts are sold out. But overall, if you need an electric heater, motor, fan, etc., no problem. Some turntables can also still be repaired.
As for the price of a repair, Sous Vide Consulting told me that you should expect to pay around €125 including VAT (including the part) + return postage.

V. Easy to open and replace a faulty part on a SWID immersion circulator

Simply remove 4 screws from the underside of the immersion circulator, slide the case open and you’ll have immediate access to the components inside the case. To close the SWID again, you’ll need to be careful to reconnect 2 cables, but there’s nothing tricky about that either.
The notion of “Repairability” takes on its full meaning when you open a SWID immersion circulator. All the parts are easy to access and replace. There’s no need for special tools, either. According to Sous Vide Consulting, “the tools you have in your toolbox are all you need to repair a SWID”. If you have a problem, you can arrange a video conference via Facetime or Skype.

VI. Cleaning the SWID or SWID Premium immersion immersion circulator

Unlike other immersion circulators on the market, the SWID does not have a 360° protective cage. A protective grid, which prevents the electrical resistance and the motor propeller from coming into contact with the cooking pouches, is located at the front and on both sides of the SWID.
The flow of water generated by the SWID’s motor and propeller is powerful enough to repel any pouch that slips under or behind the SWID. Thanks to this design, you don’t need any tools to clean or descale your immersion circulator – it’s child’s play and explained in this blog article.
Like the Smartvide or Grant immersion circulators, the SWID’s stirring system is simple: a motor, a shaft and a propeller. This makes it very easy to clean. Unlike immersion cisulators such as Fusion Chef, Roner, Lauda, Buffalo… which have “closed” pump systems that can become blocked by limescale or food residues and are very difficult to maintain.

View of the SWID submerged components, all stainless steel, easy to access and clean.

Conclusion

The SWID immersion circulator is a cooking device for demanding professionals. Its strong points are its simplicity, its technical specifications and its repairability. In my opinion, the SWID immersion circulator is the easiest to repair on the market.
The company that manufactures exists since 2009, is located in Germany and is easy to contact.
The price of the SWID “Classique 1.800W” is very affordable compared to competing professional immersion circulators. It’s also accessible to private individuals.
For around €200 more you can buy the SWID Premium, which is, in my humble opinion, the best-performing immersion circulator on the market.
With comparable technical specifications, the SWID Premium is €300 ex VAT cheaper than a Smartvide 6 and half the price of a Julabo Pear Fusion Chef immersion circulator!
Another strong point that I haven’t found anywhere else is the possibility of having the SWID immersion circulator serviced and repaired free of charge, even after the 2-year manufacturer’s warranty. This offer is only available from the manufacturer, Sous Vide Consulting. To take advantage of this offer, you need to buy cooking pouches from them and meet certain conditions (see Privilege Offer article).
Sous Vide Consulting also offers accessories for the SWID, such as GN containers with lids cut out for the SWID, insulated covers, transport cases, etc.

A few small negative points, which I don’t really see as negative, but which should be mentioned nonetheless:

• if you’re looking for an immersion circulator to connect to your phone, don’t bother. The SWID is designed to be simple, effective and reliable. These gadgets (which I’m very fond of, by the way) are sources of technical problems that the pros try to avoid.
• The SWID will not be able to provide you with a curve or firing report. Unless you are subject to HACCP rules, this shouldn’t be a problem.
• The SWID cannot connect directly to an external probe to measure the core temperature of a cooking pouch. Again, for me, this isn’t a major flaw. It’s preferable to have a thermometer (with alarm, like the SWAT) separate from the immersion circulator, which will do the same job. The advantage of having 2 separate pieces of equipment is that, in the event of a breakdown, you don’t have to send both to be repaired at the same time. We all remember those televisions with built-in VHS video recorders. When the video recorder broke down, you had to send everything to the after-sales service…