TikToker turns a hotel toilet into a sous vide machine

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

By Lindsay Parrill Published June 25, 2023

Steak and asparagus — Ashley Byrd/Unsplash

There are some things for which there are no words. Some things that happen that are just so preposterous that any explanation will forever fall short of their true absurdity. This is one such case.

In a recent happening that, all things considered, should surprise absolutely no one, a TikToker turned his hotel room toilet into a sous vide machine. And that, it seems, is only the beginning of this chef’s talents. The self-proclaimed “Bathroom Chef” is filling a request absolutely no one made in his tremendously popular TikToks, featuring his cooking talents from his apparent favorite room, the John.

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While we must give the man points for originality and shock value (not to mention an idea that is sure to be a social media hit), it should go without saying that the whole thing just seems a bit, well, gross. To be fair, his meals do come out looking tasty. That is if you can somehow convince your brain to forget the — for lack of a better term — shit show you’ve just witnessed.

In this particular video, our Chef de Commode whips up a sous vide steak and potato dish using the essentials — a hot plate, a tin bucket, a toilet, and what appears to be an old pizza box. (Because, of course.) Added tools and ingredients include individually wrapped butter packets as well as several hotel room coffee creamers.

The whole thing is very familiar. Remember Kramer making dinner from his shower? This strikes that familiar chord. And while many things have changed since that famed Seinfeld scene, our reactions to the idea of a bathroom quickfire have not. The reason that hilarious episode is so great is because of its absurdity, not because Kramer was really on to something.

Don’t get us wrong. We’re not blind to the caricature this person is trying to make of himself. The pearl-clutching reaction he’s undoubtedly seeking is indeed being had. And we also have to give points for the fact that he recognizes that sous vide steak is, indeed, a fantastic way to cook meat. (We just, you know, prefer the sous vide machine.)

It’s true, the Bathroom Chef does appear to have some culinary talents up his sleeve. And cooking in the bathroom may very well be a useful skill in some futuristic, apocalyptic world in which we’re held prisoners with only a toilet and a sink for comfort. But for now, we’ll stick to the kitchen.

In the words of one TikTok commenter — just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.

Lindsay Parrill

Contributor

Lindsay is a graduate of California Culinary Academy, Le Cordon Bleu, San Francisco, from where she holds a degree in…

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Put down the grill tongs. Trust us.

grilled and sliced tri tip steak

I grew up in California, eating tri-tip on an almost weekly basis, so when I got a little older and moved around a bit, I was shocked to learn that this delicious cut of beef isn't as well known in other parts of the country. I'll never forget visiting a friend in North Dakota and asking a grocery store butcher if they had any tri-tip. I was met with a very confused, sympathetic stare from someone who thought I must be nuts.

When I was growing up the most popular way to cook a tri-tip was on the grill, over smoking charcoals with a huge amount of grilled vegetables and a ton of friends to enjoy it with. But I've been grown up for a while now, and in that time, more than a few things have changed. Chiefly, my favorite way to prepare this delicious cut of beef. While tri-tip is still a favorite of mine and a regular item on the menu in my house, these days I make it quite a bit differently - using my favorite sous vide machine and the below recipe.
Sous vide tri-tip recipe
Ingredients

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Berries going bad too fast? Try this amazing viral TikTok hack that actually works

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Berries are a fan favorite in the produce section. These juicy little delights are a vitamin-packed fruit that's great for baking, snacking, making fruity cocktails like sangria, and even brightening up your weekend charcuterie boards. If you're someone who loves berries, you know how frustrating it can be when they start going bad too quickly.
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Food & Drink

The ‘Wall Street Hustle’ sous vide cocktail is simple elegance we can’t get enough of

Sous vide makes this cocktail recipe come alive

Wall Street Hustle Cocktail

While the art of sous vide cooking has been around in restaurants for ages, it's really just been in the last decade or so that this wonderfully consistent, always delicious cooking method has made its way into home kitchens. We love the sous vide method for its ease of use, reliability, and succulently perfect results, every time. And while many home cooks were skeptical at first, most have (whether they care to admit it or not) come around and finally admitted that a sous vide machine is truly the best way to cook almost everything, from delicate desserts to hearty barbecue ribs. (Seriously. Ribs. Just try them, and we promise you'll never cook them another way again.)
For all of the sous vide recipes floating around out there, though, there may still be one thing you may not have considered preparing in your sous vide machine. And now is the time to remedy that situation because sous vide cocktails are about to become your new favorite indulgence.
Admittedly, the idea may sound a little bit peculiar at first, but there's just no other method of mixology that allows the fusing of flavors the way a sous vide bath does. By gently cooking cocktail ingredients in a vacuum-sealed bag, each element of your drink has time to infuse and intensify. The depth and complexity of flavor this creates is really quite astonishing when compared to a simply shaken and poured cocktail.
The wonderful thing about this method is the creative freedom you can take in becoming your own modern-day mixologist. Of course, your classic favorites will likely rise to a whole new level of sublime when prepared in this way, but feel free to experiment with any spirit you love, from tequila to vodka to gin to whiskey — they'll all taste even better after an infusion with your own mix of fresh herbs and spices, fruits, or any other cocktail ingredient that comes to mind.
And while part of the fun is creating up with your own mixes, if you're looking for sexy in a glass, we've got just the thing — The Wall Street Hustle. This sophisticated and sultry whiskey cocktail from Breville is beyond beautiful in its layered depth of flavor.
So even if cooking isn't exactly your thing, now you have a great excuse to pull down and dust off that sous vide machine you got last Christmas. Trust us.

Wall Street Hustle recipe
Makes nine cocktails
Ingredients: