As an avid camper/hiker it is immediately evident how much fuel it takes to boil even a small amount of water. In that same vein you become very aware of the water and energy it takes to clean your cookware when done (by hand in the nearest river as opposed to mindlessly throwing it in the dishwasher!). The Eco-Cook design by Kechenyi Camille, which earned honorable mention at the international design competition “Dining in 2015,†addresses both energy and water use while cooking. With a simple water permeable barrier the cook can separately prepare two boiled courses using the same water, the same pot, and the same fuel for heating the water. Although I am sure there is some flavor carry over (I know there is when I boil hotdogs with corn…yummm) the benefits are worth the sacrifice.
Wow, I want one!
When are they going to be produced?
You don’t really need a special device (like above) to do this. Steamers have been around for years and you can pick an eco-friendly bamboo one up for a couple of £.
This is a good idea. Some people have brought up a good point that this may take more energy to produce that it would actually save. Looking at it I can see how it could be used as a strainer too. I’d like to see a little redesign that makes it an effective replacement for the common kitchen strainer furthering the concepts convention of reduction and consolidation. That would make the argument about the production energy cost moot.
We’ve been using these for decades in the restaurant business…
If it has been used for decades in the restaurant business it is time to introduce it for private houses.
The thing is, water boils faster when the lid is on the pot, because it increases the pressure inside the pot, and lowering the water boiling point. With this device, it seems like the lid would not be able to fit the pot, thus escaping water vapor and wasting more fuel.
I usually use a vapor device that fits my pot and allows me to put the lid on as well.
Cheers!
I hate these stupid worthless articles that tell you about something you want but NEVER where to get it or how much. Whats the freakin purpose? There is none… so stop posting this crap unless its for sale…
It seems almost more wasteful… that you have to use that much water to bring the water level up in order to cover the veggies inside of the cooker thing… I never fill my pots up that high when I boil pasta so I’d have to use double the water when I could’ve cooked those beans in a small small pot with much less water
@ NIKKI
You don’t need to add more water, it’s called steaming your vegtables. If you are using more than a couple ounces of water to cook your vegetables then youre cooking all the nutrients right out.
Well that’s not exactly how it’s shown in the photos now is it???
this is useless. people use your brain before you fall for this crap
P.T. Barnum would LOVE this gadget (you know, “there’s a sucker born every minute”).
An earlier commenter mentioned the bamboo steamer. I have been using one of them for over 25 years. The bamboo steamer is economical, energy efficient, environmentally friendly (in its components), and just makes sense.
It sounds to me that the promoter of the “Eco-Cooker” is a charlatan capitalizing on the “green” movement. Unfortunately, people like this will probably come crawling out of the woodwork attempting to sell uselss, over-priced, unnecessary junk.
Wow.
Do you really think this means a damn?
Think about the petroleum necessary to create that brilliant plastic product.
Then think about the truck that drives it to you.
Then think about the packaging it comes with.
Then think about the self righteousness it allows you to have.
Then think about the absurdity of buying disposable consumer culture crap that plays to your ego about being environmentally aware.
Then go cry.
@Nikki - True, you have a point
@ Sam
Yes, this CONCEPT is more productive than your complaining. I doubt anyone will get nearly the sense of self righteousness from this as you get from espousing your negative ASSUMPTIONS…
What packaging? What petroleum? It’s a concept genius… meaning it’s still on the drawing board and it is not locked into those silly assumptions you are making assigning to it so you can pad your wanna be enviro watchdog ego.
As a retired “educator†who enjoys traveling and eating (as my more than ample girth attests to), I used to be an avid reader of many food (and travel) “blogs,†so-called.
However, it didn’t take long to figure out what their (the blog operators) game was about. And when I informed some of the shillers of my opinion, I was promptly “kicked off†the website. I have been “kicked off†RoadFood.com for questioning the “moderators†motives (including the Stern’s fortune-telling operation).
I have also been excommunicated from “Serious Eats†and the “Amateur Gourmet†for criticizing obviously biased and inaccurate posts (not to mention how I raised their hackles when I warned about food imports from CHINA— BEFORE such warnings became fashionable in the mainstream media.
Although I have over thirty “reviews†on TripAdvisor, I was banned after criticizing the Applebees chain . No matter that I am a “Premiere†member of the Applebee’s Frequent Guest Club, who has spent thousands of dollars in their restaurants.
Short story, long … I was deeply humiliated by an incident at the Applebees in Columbia, MD (a dreary community but the price was right). My wife (much younger than me, if that excites you) performs a Bea Arthur impersonation at many fine supper clubs in our little part of the world. Since I can AFFORD it, I often pamper myself with fine wines and cognacs as I enjoy her show. As usual, I was delighted by my wife’s show, but I was told that I became a bit overenthusiastic in calling for her encore.
I, of course, pointed out to the Applebees’ manager how unbelievably boorish it was to admonish me after I had just spent over $14 in his “restaurant†on wine alone. Along with the spinach dip and quesadillas it was close to $22.
As a paying customer of substantial refinement, I expect — no, I DEMAND — to be treated with RESPECT and VENERATION by ALL members of a restaurant’s staff. This is “especially†true when I have willingly paid their rapacious markup on fine wine.
I very promptly reported this intolerable treatment on TripAdvisor . . . yet, the TripAdvisor “moderators’â€, response was to kick me off the website!
Sadly, there are few websites that allow me to post anymore, save for the few (like this one) that have no moderation.
Evening DOCCHUCK,
We do moderate our comments and as a highly respected reader you’re welcome to post anytime. We prefer it to be relevant to the topic at hand, but hey, you needed a place to vent and I’m glad we could accommodate. The only thing’s that don’t fly in our comments are profanity and SPAM. Sometimes things slip through the cracks, but we do our best.
Thanks, Matt
I’m a little shocked by the negative reactions to this product. It’s just a pot for Pete’s sake, and it seems to be a good one at that.
But then again I’m always shocked by people who are needlessly rude and self-righteous. I guess blogs give angry people a place to be nasty without too many consequences. I’m sure (at least I hope) the people who made the over-the-top comments above wouldn’t be as rude if they had to make their assertions face-to-face.
OK, go ahead. Let me have it.
Thanks your good sharing. I appreciated you all.
what a great product…are these available for purchase? If so, where can I purchase one…thanks
nice tool, it will help me too cook fast easier and simple
thanks foe info
Where can I buy this? I was searching in stores but I haven`t found this. Is this available in any online stores? Any help is highly appreciated.
I agree about the Bamboo Steamer. You can get them at any Chinese market and they’re only about $5 each (and stackable). They work better, cook a much nicer, healthier vegetable and are very portable. Much cheaper too.
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