We are trying to find the most environmentally sustainable option that also guarantees product freshness and quality. We would appreciate your feedback. From paddy field to your table, it’s our aspiration to make the process as health-promoting as possible – for you, the farmers and planet.

It was customer feedback that made us aware of the need for a better rice cooker. When we go to trade shows we always take rice cookers and prepare samples for buyers and visitors to taste. Our rice cookers used to be non-stick coated aluminum. More than half of all cookware sold today is made of aluminum. However, visitors to our booth cautioned us about the health risks associated with both materials. Aluminum is reactive and foods cooked in it can react with the metal to form aluminum salts associated with impaired visual motor coordination and Alzheimer's disease, although there is no definite link proven. Non-stick finishes like Teflon and Silverstone scratch easily and may release little bits of inert plastic into the food when cooked.

They told us that when cooking with aluminum pots, the more pitted and worn out the pot, the greater amount of aluminum will be absorbed, and cautioned us to minimize food storage time in aluminum -- the longer food is cooked or stored in aluminum, the greater the amount that gets into food. In fact, aluminum cookware manufacturers warn that storing highly acidic or salty foods such as tomato sauce, rhubarb, or sauerkraut in aluminum pots may cause more aluminum than usual to enter the food.

DuPont studies show that Teflon off gases toxic particulates at 446°F. At 680°F Teflon pans release at least six toxic gases, including two carcinogens. DuPont acknowledges that the fumes can sicken people, a condition called "polymer fume fever." A study by Environmental Working Group, in collaboration with Commonweal in 2005 found chemicals in the umbilical cord blood of US-born infants including the Teflon chemical PFOA. Similarly, researchers at John Hopkins Hospital, who released findings in 2006, found PFOA the Teflon chemical, in umbilical cord blood in 99% of 300 newborns tested. The Canadian government is introducing legislation to ban PFOA. The following is an informative site on cookware and health http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/prod/cook-cuisinier-eng.php

So in order to ensure our customers can prepare our rices in the healthiest cooking environment we came up with a 100% stainless steel rice cooker that has both a rice cooking pot and steaming tray constructed completely out of surgical grade stainless steel 304. Not just a stainless steel coating, and both the cooking pot and steaming tray are 100% recyclable. With the steamer you can make all sorts of tortillas, dumplings, and spring rolls and even shellfish as well as veggies. Cooking with a steamer is a great way to retain nutrients and reduce the temptation to cook with butter and oil.

I personally love to make risotto and usually do not mind standing over the stove stirring the rice over medium high heat and adding broth for about 20 minutes, or until each rice kernel is cooked but still toothsome. But imagine my delight when I recently made a risotto in the rice cooker that was equally delicious with a great texture. I hope you agree. The recipe is at the bottom of today’s blog. Enjoy!

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