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J. Clarke[_2_]

In article >, lid
says...
>
> On 12/16/2012 1:25 PM, gtr wrote:
> > On 2012-12-16 22:49:48 +0000, dsi1 said:
> >
> >> I've been thinking about a gizmo that washes rice automatically.
> >> Essentially, an upright tube made of plexiglass that you put the rice
> >> into. Water and air in the form of fine bubbles are injected at the
> >> bottom of the tube.
> >
> > A cold water jacuzzi for rice kernals.
> >
> >> The bubbles attach themselves to any debris and fine particles and
> >> carry them to the open top where it overflows out.
> >
> > But how does an air bubble attach itself to debris? Why wouldn't it
> > consider rice as debris? I'm not sure what thrasing the rice with your
> > hand is any less inclined to shake debris loose and if passed through a
> > collander would drain it away.
>
> It has something to do with the increased surface area and surface
> tension - I don't know exactly how it works but this does happen when
> you shoot air and water through rice. The rice grains are too dense to
> be carried away by the bubbles.
>
> >
> >> The bubbles also create a positive water flow in one direction i.e.,
> >> debris and fine particles do not get redeposited back onto the rice as
> >> in conventional rice washing. My guess is that the cleaning action of
> >> the air bubbles and the positive water flow would allow you to clean
> >> the rice in half the time using the same or less amount of water.
> >>
> >> Of course, most people wouldn't want something like this, unless they
> >> wash rice several times a day. Restaurants might like such a device.
> >
> > But sadly they have less objections about micro impurities in such as
> > rice than the actual consumer does.
> >
>
> Let's face it, it's a shitty job. It was a chore that the sushi
> apprentice had to do for years until he moved up in skill and rank. In
> this age of robo-sushi, I doubt that this is still true.

If you google "rice washer" you will find expensive commercial ones for
restaurant use and purpose made bowls for home use. Remember, the
Japanese eat rice with just about every meal and they love gadgets. If
there was a market for an automated rice washer for home use they'd be
selling one.