LESHAN smart rice cooker concept also tries to keep watch over your blood pressure

For some cultures, rice is more than just a side dish, and this beautiful rice cooker idea makes it possible to cook this staple food wherever you go, for better health, of course.

Like with many things in life, it took a disaster of epic proportions to give people a rude awakening when it comes to their health. The COVID-19 pandemic has made some more acutely aware of their bodies’ state, as well as the things they do to keep it healthy, from exercise to food. While heart rates and blood oxygen levels take the highest priorities these days, abnormal blood pressure that leads to hypertension has always been a problem that sneaks up on people unawares. There are a few ways to lead a healthy lifestyle to keep blood pressure levels normal, and eating rice in proper amounts is what this smart rice cooker concept is trying to promote.

Designer: Fu Lèlè (付 楽楽)

It almost sounds counterintuitive that rice, especially white rice, would be recommended for people suffering from high blood pressure, considering how the many diets and health coaches push people away from carbohydrates and whole grains. There are, however, some studies on the positive effects of such food on blood pressure. Plus, rice is pretty much a necessity for some people and cultures.

This smart rice cooker concept tries to take the middle road by encouraging the consumption of rice in the proper amounts. This regulation mostly happens through a mobile app, which is able to not only check particular stats but also control the operation of the rice cooker itself. That feature definitely doesn’t sound that special in light of the number of smart cookware today, but it’s the design of LESHAN that really captures the eyes and the imagination.

The rice cooker embraces a minimalist design that eschews smooth curves for faceted surfaces that give the canister a more interesting look. As with most rice cookers, there’s a single physical control to activate its primary function, though there are a few light indicators for the different ways you can use the device, from cooking rice to even making tea. The designer chose colors that make no qualms about its purpose and inspiration, from traditional white grains to yellowish sorghum.

LESHAN deviates from typical rice cooker designs by adopting a tall, cylindrical form that immediately limits how much rice you can cook in it. Although it does have a plug underneath, it seems that the device was designed for easy portability, giving people fewer excuses not to enjoy a healthy rice meal no matter where they are.

The post LESHAN smart rice cooker concept also tries to keep watch over your blood pressure first appeared on Yanko Design.

Cook the perfect single serve of rice with this portable Japanese rice cooker!

Rice…I don’t think it gets appreciated enough so I am going to tell you how rice is a global food icon. It is found in every country and every cuisine, rice can be fancy gourmet and also comfort home food. Rice can be had for any day of the meal, unlike ‘breakfast for dinner’ no one says ‘rice for dinner’ or lunch or brunch because it can truly be eaten anytime, anywhere. Now that we all agree on its omnipresence in the food world, the Thanko Electric Bento rice cooker is here to make rice omnipresent – literally. This portable cooker will let you cook a bowl of warm rice wherever you are!

It is a perfect gadget for those who want to cook a single-serve in a short time and the LED light will glow when it is ready. It is very optimal for those who travel often or want fresh food at the office instead of takeout. The cooker has the capacity to cook 6 ounces of rice at a time and comes with a measuring cup for convenience. Add water, rice (pro tip: salt the water or use chicken broth to up the flavor!) and depending on the ounces it should be cooked between 14 and 20 minutes. Unlike the usual cookers, this particular device doesn’t let out steam or make any noise so it is discreet enough to use practically anywhere. It only weighs 2 pounds and is compact enough to fit easily in your bag.

What I love the most is that you can eat the rice directly from the container after cooking and that means fewer dishes to do! Rice is a quick meal that goes with everything, and Thanko lets you eat some anywhere, leaving your stomach full and soul feeling fulfilled.

Designer: Thanko.

This reinvented sustainable packaging design pays homage to the rice farmers

Rice is a sacred global grain – it is a part of almost every cuisine and can be found anywhere you go. Rice is what home would feel like on a plate and that is what Backbone Branding conveyed with their reimagined packaging design. The goal was to evoke an emotional response for the rice farmers while also being functional as a product that is to be sold in health stores.

The new design was minimal, familiar and reminded us of the humans behind harvesting rice. With these elements at the core, the new packaging used minimal black graphic lines to show the different emotions one feels during the process – the faces radiate confidence, pride, satisfaction, empathy, and even tiredness. This spectrum of feelings is something we all can relate to and bridges the gap between the consumer and the farmer, it births a moment of respect when you see the rice bag and recognize the person responsible for it.

Moving from form to function, the bags were designed for two types of rice – small bag for small grain and a tall bag for long grain. The material used in the packaging was 100% sustainable, the rice would be contained in a high-density sackcloth fabric covered with a carton lid in the shape of an Asian farmer’s traditional hat. To make the design more functional, the inner cone hat is marked with rice cup measurements. The beautiful Asian calligraphy and the simple visuals represent the heritage of this humble grain.

Designer: Backbone Branding

Gene-edited rice plants could boost the world’s food supply

Rice may be one of the most plentiful crops on Earth, but there are only so many grains you can naturally obtain from a given plant. Scientists may have a straightforward answer to that problem: edit the plants to make them produce more. They've us...

Guy Makes Hand from Fried Meat: Edible Facepalm

Oh Internet, you always know how to raise the creep-meter to 11. Watch in awe and disgust as this guys create a hand out of fried meat, then fills it with rice. For some reason. Why? Why not? Watching this video feels like an origin story for the worst superhero ever. A guy named Fried Meat and Rice Hand who goes around slapping people.

Its creator, Kiwami Japan first makes some kind of mechanical contraption, then he cuts some meat and stuffs it into a glove. Then he shapes it to look like a real hand. Next, he cuts the hand free of the glove and adds some soy sauce, salt and pepper. Then he adds an egg on top, dips it in flour and fries it up in the pan before adding the fried rice topper.

At this point you’ll ask out loud why you are still watching. I have no idea. I’m guessing if you made this, you’d eat the fingers first. This has got to be one of the weirdest and creepiest cooking videos I’ve ever seen. Seriously, why would you do this? So many questions. Zero answers.