Cindy Zheng

The City College of New York

Writing for Engineering: ENGL 21007

Professor Jacobson

April 12, 2023

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. History and innovator
3. The Modern Rice Cooker
   1. Explanation of each part and subpart: Interior  
   1. Explanation of each part and subpart: Exterior  
   1. Overview of how the rice cooker can be used
4. Conclusion
   1. Summary of the item’s importance
5.  References

1. Introduction

Just until a couple decades ago, housewives across the world were still cooking with traditional wood and coal stoves. With such methods of cooking, the taste and quality of the rice relied heavily on constant monitoring of the fire and water. Housewives often started preparing the rice early in the morning to have it ready for dinner. (Suzuki, 2021) Then with the invention of the first successful automatic rice cooker in the 1955 (Toshiba Mirai Kagakukan), the time spent on housework decreased dramatically and improved the lifestyles of many housewives. In this essay, we will cover the technical explanation of the rice cooker and its parts along with the brief discussion of the how the rice cooker came to be, the inventor, and the need for the innovation.

• History and innovator(s)

For centuries, rice has been a staple food to people all around the world. It has much cultural and traditional significance and is a highly valued commodity. Its preparation process has traditionally required a lengthy process. For instance, in Japan, rice was typically prepared and soaked for hours before being cooked by boiling it in an iron pot known as hagama with a wooden lid on top of stoves known as kamados. (Highlighting Japan, 2020)

Figure 1. A kamado kitchen with hagama’s (Source: Ewbank, A. (2020, July 31).)  

The first attempt at making the first ever rice cooker was 1945, post-World War II where cash was scarce, and some companies started to accept rice as a form of payment. (Toshiba Mirai Kagakukan. (n.d.).)  One such company was a radio repair company that would later be known as Sony. Sony received so much rice that they thought to expand their product line by making the first ever electric rice cooker. However, after multiple failed attempts they went back to fixing radios. Then, in the early 1950s, a Japanese company called Toshiba created the first automated electric rice cooker, completely altering how rice was prepared and consumed.

Figure 1. The first automatic rice cooker (Source: Toshiba Mirai Kagakukan. (n.d.).)  

The inventor of the first automatic rice cooker is Yoshitada Minami, president of Koshinsha Co., Ltd., a partner company to Toshiba. (Toshiba Mirai Kagakukan. (n.d.).) Toshiba had created the first automatic electric rice cooker with a bi-metallic thermostat switch and two cooking pots, one inside another, covered in three layers of iron to turn off the cooker when the rice reached a temperature of 100 ° C (Ewbank, A. (2020, July 31), and all the water evaporated, and insulated the cooking pots from harsh weather. However, at a time when many households did not have much income, electric devices such as rice cookers seemed like a risky investment by lower class families. Due to much public skepticism, a Toshiba salesman, Yamada had taken the time to demonstrate the ability of the rice cooker to farm villages throughout the country and since then, the popularity of the electric rice cooker rocketed. Soon after, several Japanese firms, like Panasonic and Zojirushi, entered the market with their own electric rice cookers, intensifying competition. As technology developed, manufacturers started to build upon Yoshitada’s original rice cooker design to produce upgraded rice cookers with more advanced functions, like microcomputers, fuzzy logic, and induction heating to keep the rice warm and fluffy for a long period. (Suzuki, 2021)  

1. The Modern Rice Cooker

The modern cooker was built upon the original Toshiba rice cooker with several main components, including a heating element, a cooking pot, a thermostat, and a timer. These components work together to cook the rice perfectly. One of many rice cookers that has been in popular demand by families is the model produced by Zojirushi named Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy 5.5 Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer. This model implemented fuzzy logic technology which used a microcomputer detected temperature changes, keep the rice warm, extend the keep warm function, and have multiple menu settings to include white rice (regular/sushi, softer or harder rice), mixed, porridge, sweet rice, semi-brown rice, brown rice, rinse-free and quick cooking. ‌(Neuro Fuzzy® Rice Cooker & Warmer NS-ZCC10/18. (n.d.))

Figure 3. The modern rice cooker (Source: Neuro Fuzzy® Rice Cooker & Warmer NS-ZCC10/18. (n.d.).)

3.1 Description of each part and subpart: Exterior Parts

Figure 4. The exterior of a modern rice cooker parts (Source: Cindy Zheng, 2023)

Figure 5. The exterior of a modern rice cooker parts (Source: Cindy Zheng, 2023)

Figures four and five showcase the exterior casings of the rice cooker. In figure four, hook button allows for users to open and close the rice cooker and the shallow indent located at the lid of the rice cooker is the heat vent where the steam from cooking the rice is released. This allows for the rice to be cooked evenly within set parameters of what type of rice is being cooked and what method of cooking was chosen. Nearing the end of the cooking process steam is released in order to bring the rice to an ideal temperature. How the parameters for how the rice is being cooked will be shown in figure five, where a close-up picture of the menu settings is provided. This menu selection allows user to chose a cooking method at their preference. At the center of the menu settings is a green box which displays the the timer. The timer is responsible for controlling the length of time the rice is cooked. When the rice cooker is turned on, the timer begins counting down. When the timer reaches zero, the rice cooker automatically switches to a “keep warm” mode, keeping the rice at the ideal temperature until it is ready to be served.

Figure 6. The modern rice cooker interior parts diagram (Source: Neuro Fuzzy® Rice Cooker & Warmer NS-ZCC10/18. (n.d.).)

Figure 7. The interior of a modern rice cooker parts (Source: Cindy Zheng, 2023)

1. Description of each part and subpart: Interior Parts

On figures six and seven, the center sensor is responsible for heating the cooking pot and cooking the rice. The center sensor is usually located at the bottom of the cooking pot and is made of metal. When the rice cooker is turned on, the heating element heats up, and the cooking pot begins to warm up. When the ideal temperature is met the sensor signals to the microcomputer that the rice is done cooking and will ring a tune to let users know that the rice is done cooking.

Figure 4. The exterior of a modern rice cooker parts (Source: Cindy Zheng, 2023)

Figure 5. The exterior of a modern rice cooker parts (Source: Cindy Zheng, 2023)

Figures four and five showcase the exterior casings of the rice cooker. In figure four, hook button allows for users to open and close the rice cooker and the shallow indent located at the lid of the rice cooker is the heat vent where the steam from cooking the rice is released. This allows for the rice to be cooked evenly within set parameters of what type of rice is being cooked and what method of cooking was chosen. Nearing the end of the cooking process steam is released in order to bring the rice to an ideal temperature. How the parameters for how the rice is being cooked will be shown in figure five, where a close-up picture of the menu settings is provided. This menu selection allows user to chose a cooking method at their preference. At the center of the menu settings is a green box which displays the the timer. The timer is responsible for controlling the length of time the rice is cooked. When the rice cooker is turned on, the timer begins counting down. When the timer reaches zero, the rice cooker automatically switches to a “keep warm” mode, keeping the rice at the ideal temperature until it is ready to be served.

Figure 6. The modern rice cooker interior parts diagram (Source: Neuro Fuzzy® Rice Cooker & Warmer NS-ZCC10/18. (n.d.).)

Figure 8. The interior of a modern rice cooker parts (Source: Cindy Zheng, 2023)

Looking to figure eight, the cooking pot is where the rice is cooked. Most rice cookers will have markers to determine the amount of water that is needed per cup of rice. These markers will also be classified to the type of rice being cooked as shown on figure 8. It is typically made of metal or non-stick material and has a lid that fits snugly on top. The cooking pot is also removable, making it easy to clean. Then the part that is removed from the top is the inner lid gasket of the rice cooker that covers the inner cooking pot. This is to ensure that the rice is insulated during the cooking process before steam is released.

1. Overview of how the rice cooker can be used

Figure 9. The modern rice cooker parts diagram (Source: Neuro Fuzzy® Rice Cooker & Warmer NS-ZCC10/18. (n.d.).

With every model of the rice cooker, a spatula, spatula holder, and measuring cups are provided as seen in figure 9. To use the rice cooker, you simply use the desired amount of rice and water to the cooking pot and change the parameters if needed and turn the machine on. The rice cooker will automatically adjust the cooking time and temperature based on the amount of rice and water added. Once the rice is cooked, the machine will output a musical tune and switch to a “keep warm” mode, keeping the rice at the ideal temperature until it is ready to be served.

1. Conclusion

The electric rice cooker has revolutionized the way rice is cooked and consumed around the world. Its invention by Toshiba in the 1950s has saved countless hours for housewives and made the process of cooking rice much simpler and convenient. With various technological advancements, rice cookers have become even more versatile and user-friendly.

We have explored the different components of a rice cooker, from the exterior housing such as the menu settings and steam vent to the interior parts such as the insulated secondary pot and the center sensor that control the heating and cooking of the rice. Understanding how a rice cooker works can help future users understand what type of functionalities to look for in order to cook the perfect bowl of rice.

References

Toshiba Mirai Kagakukan. (n.d.). History of Toshiba’s Products. Toshiba Mirai Kagakukan.

Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://toshiba-mirai-kagakukan.jp/history/ichigoki/products.htm

Suzuki, Krys. (2021, December 15). The Japanese Rice Cooker: A History of Trials and Errors. Unseen Japan.

Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://unseenjapan.com/japanese-rice-cooker/

Ewbank, A. (2020, July 31). The Battle to Invent the Automatic Rice Cooker.

Atlas Obscura. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/rice-cooker-history

Highlighting Japan. (November 2020) The Evolution of the Rice Cooker

Retrieved April 5, 2023, from

https://www.gov-online.go.jp/eng/publicity/book/hlj/html/202011/202011_07_en.html

‌ Neuro Fuzzy® Rice Cooker & Warmer NS-ZCC10/18. (n.d.). Zojirushi Online Store. Retrieved April 12, 2023, from https://shop.zojirushi.com/products/nszcc

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