Dining in 2015: Eco-cook
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.21.08
Kechenyi Camille from France won honourable mention with Eco-cook:
In 2015, environment problems from energy will become more and more serious. I believe that everyone’s life will be concerned. Thus kitchenware will be modernise to reduce energy consumption. My eco-cook is an object that helps to save water, energy and time. Everyday, everyone, has to cook pasta, rice or various vegetable. Therefore different pots are needed. In a unique pot, the eco-cook enables to divide 2 or 3 space and to boil different food at the same time.
Thereby, water and gas or electricity is saved. Moreover when food is taken out the eco-cook, it will automatically drain out, allowing to win precious time. In 2015 I also believe that most people will always be in a hurry. The eco-cook design permits to help 2015 people that pay close attention to energy and time. ::Eco-cook
Definitively it is a great saving not only of energy, also of time. It facilitates the moment for cooking to all the women, who in addition to being mothers and wifes are professional persons who spend all the day generally abroad.
The cook of the picture could save even more energy, by using less water. For vegetables and potatoes it is sufficient to have the water level halfway to the top of the vegetables/potatoes. Use a lid, and turn the heat down as soon as the water boils.
I would prefer the divisions to be above the pot of biling pasta, to provide steamed veggies instead of boiled. Better taste and better nutrients.
Looks like a nifty little product. One question... why wait until 2015? Why not bring it to market now?!?
This reminds me of some pots my grandmother had. They were half-circles so that you could put two on the same burner. We need lots more of this sort of thing, and I think I will get myself some wire mesh and make one of those.
We have something like this already. I'm not sure of the brand, and they are about 20-25 years old (supposedly this was given for a wedding in 1983, so some time around then). They are useful for those of us living in small quarters, and only having two burners. The only thing that you really need to watch with them is that the heat doesn't get turned up too high, as I am now missing one of three of them.
I think I saw something like this also at Cabelas, or the Coleman outlet, I don't remember which (and their websites are not helping me in the search).
So yeah, this sounds really cool, but I think it already exists in the real world.
Or you could buy a bamboo steamer.
Free sample?? Need "testers"???
What a fab idea!!
Nothing better than cooking vegetables in starchy water.
Seriously, if you have enough extra water at the top to cook additional items, you probably are using too much water.
This is not a new idea. Well maybe for the home consumer, but if you've ever worked in a restaurant and walked through the kitchen during dinner you'd see this being used every day. Chefs have been using this tool to do just that, cook multiple veggies and pastas within a limited space. However, as most of us have mentioned, i've yet to see this kind of kitchen gear available for purchase at local shops. I'm a sure a good restaurant supply shop should carry them.
How many different products could the name "eco-cook" describe? Why not the edgeboiler or the danglebasket or something?
I'd prefer if the little dishes were made from a material different from plastic. Just in case it releases chemicals, especially if heated.
And I'd stress the importance of using a lid, especially if the claim is energy efficiency.
I'd prefer if the little dishes were made from a material different from plastic. Just in case it releases chemicals, especially if heated.
And I'd stress the importance of using a lid, especially if the claim is energy efficiency.
...or, you could just use an ordinary steamer, putting the pasta in the water below, and the vegetables on top. Steaming is a better way to cook vegetables anyway, nutrition-wise. Most ordinary steamers are simply steel, easily recyclable; this looks like it has rubber or silicone parts to it, making recycling harder. As other commenters have pointed out, steamers would less water and are available now. Stick this in the "unnecessary gadget hopping on the green bandwagon" pile.
What about putting the cover on the pot? Does one of these save more energy then using thecover on the pot with a single thing cooking?
Hey, this is rediculous! A joke-goof-teezer on me or whaa? Who says and why is this product not going to be on the market till 2015? Uhhhmmm, well this is needed NOW, especially since the divorse rate here in L.A. is shooting over the 50% mark and if you knuckle-headed red-lighters wait till 2015 it will certainly be up & way over 75% by then, so with that many single parents who spoil the heck out of their kids enough as it is now, and each brat has/have their own SPECIAL tastes will be catered to. This will make the demand for this item insane by then!! Save us! Must go take my meds now b4 my X drops off the kids...