What culinary technique involves cooking foods in a vacuum-sealed bag?

The technique that involves cooking foods in a vacuum-sealed bag is sous-vide. This method is characterized by cooking food slowly at a precise temperature in a water bath, ensuring even cooking and retaining moisture, flavor, and nutrients. The vacuum-sealing process eliminates air, which helps in maintaining the integrity of the ingredients, allowing them to cook uniformly. This cooking method is widely used in both professional kitchens and by home cooks who seek to achieve restaurant-quality results at home.

In contrast, the other techniques mentioned, such as baking, grilling, and frying, do not utilize vacuum-sealed bags and are based on different cooking principles. Baking involves dry heat in an oven, grilling applies direct heat from below, and frying uses hot oil to cook food quickly. Each of these methods has its own unique application and is suited for different types of dishes, but they do not encompass the vacuum technique associated with sous-vide.