As huge fans of all things Asian, we are always on the lookout for Asian inspired gadgets you can use in the kitchen or on the go.
Here we have compiled a nice list of 6 fun items you may not have ever heard of but once you check them out, you will wonder how you lived without them! All but one of these fun products are for use on the go or traveling.
As we go through the reviewing process, we tried to point out the good points of each item as well as some possible concerns if there were any. I think you will be surprised that some of these products even exist. I know we had no idea a few of them were out there, but now that we found them our kitchen is getting fuller with cooking toys!
Multi-Function Mini Travel Rice Cooker for Your Car
Our Rating:
If you are a hard-core fan of Asian food, and rice in particular, you must have wondered “how the heck can I get some rice right now while I am driving?” If this is a question you have ever asked yourself, we have some good news. There is in fact such a device that will cook rice for you no matter where you are, as long as you have access to a lighter socket inside a car. This little rice cooker is small clocking in at only a 1-liter capacity. This is just enough rice to get your fix, definitely not enough to feed a family!
If you never knew this existed, welcome to the club! We have always been big fans of rice; in fact, you can see on the rest of our site loads of articles about rice and rice recipes! When we found out about this little gadget, we had to check it out!
What Is It?
The multi-function mini travel rice cooker is a small little white croc pot style device that will hold a liter worth of rice which is enough to feed 1 to 2 people. It is powered by a 12v car lighter adapter which plugs directly into your lighter port. It is portable and small which makes it easy to bring with you anywhere. As an added bonus it has kitty cats on and paws on the front. It has a power and heating light so you can know at a glance whether it is on and actively heating.
Breaking it Down
Heating
It has efficient PTC heating technology which means it provides added security against overheating if you happen to forget it is on.
Cooking Time
Depending on how much rice and water you put in, it takes between 28 and 33 minutes to fully cook your rice
Material
It is made of stainless steel and has a nonstick coating inside to avoid the rice sticking to the unit. The little gadget is white with cats painted on the front.
Features & Benefits
- Small and portable
- Cooks enough rice for up to 2 people
- Plugs in any car lighter socket
- Will not overheat
- Cooks rice in about half an hour
- Not expensive
Product Specs / Details
- Model No.: C2
- Voltage: 12V
- Capacity: 1L
- Power Rating: 100W
- W.(PCS): 0.9 KG
- W.(PCS): 1.0KG
- Inner Pot size:120mm*90mm
What is in the Box?
- 1 mini rice cooker
- 1 steam plate
- 1 power cable
- 1 measuring cup
- 1 spoon
- 1 user manual
It is nice that comes with some extras! When you purchase a mini rice cooker in addition to the obligatory user manual and power cable, you also get a little steam plate, measuring cup, and a plastic rice spoon. This means the package contains everything you need to make and eat some rice on the go.
Conclusion & Rating
Our Rating:
This little travel rice cooker is a welcome addition to any rice fan’s toolbox. It can travel with you anywhere and only needs a car lighter socket to get power. It won’t accidentally overheat which is good to know, since it is easy to start some rice and walk away and forget it’s cooking! It comes with everything you need to cook rice on the go and it is made of stainless steel and has a nonstick cooking surface. For the price, we think it is totally worth it. After all, is there ever a time that is not a good time for some tasty rice?
Electric Lunch Box / Portable Travel Food Warmer
Our Rating:
Finally, a product for those of us who practically live on the go. If you have ever been on a lunch break but don’t really have enough time to go to a drive-through or a restaurant, but you want to want to get the heck out of the office for lunch then this is the gadget you have been waiting for.
What is it?
The travel lunch box portable food warmer Is a rectangular device with 2 compartments that will warm up your food on the go. It is not a super fast heater because it only uses 40 watts of power when plugged into your lighter socket. Imagine if it used 120 watts it would drain your battery quickly. It is a convenient solution to the problem of wanting to heat your food on the go, and to that end, we think it does a great job. Let’s talk more about the details.
What is it for?
It will allow you to heat up last night’s leftovers right in your vehicle as you hang out in some random parking lot away from the office. If you are wondering what to cook for dinner tonight, we have some ideas for you right here! This thing also has the option of using a normal 120v plug so you can also use it at home or inside the office. Let’s take a deeper look at this thing!
Breaking it Down
Heating
It can take 30 to 50 minutes to fully heat a meal due to the low power usage, but this is safer for your vehicle.
Material
It is made of stainless steel on the main inside shell and food-grade plastic on the outside. The material is all food-grade material and meets the standards of dietary materials.
Cleaning
It is easy to clean and you can wash the steel trays in the dishwasher with no issues.
Uses
This can be used for lunches on the go or heating up some leftovers whenever you get the urge. Many customers have said it is exactly what they needed for work and some people plug it in right at their desk and eat lunch right there at work.
Product Specs / Details
- Size- 9.6 x 6.8 x 5 inches
- Weight- 1.85 pounds
- Power usage- 40w
What is in the Box?
- Main unit with stainless steel insert
- 2 power cables 1 for car and one for home or work
- Plastic food grade compartment to separate dishes
- 1 plastic spoon
- Lid with sealing ring to stop leakage
Conclusion & Rating
Our Rating:
If you are someone who is on the go for hours at a time, or just have a full-time job and are tired of spending money on lunch when you could just eat your leftovers, this little gadget could be exactly what you have been waiting for! It has over a thousand positive reviews and it is loved by almost all who have tried it out. There are a few complaints about uneven heat or some of them showing up defective, but most people love this thing, and we did too!
Ultrathin Travel Foldable Electric Kettle with Separable Power Cord and Handle, Boil Dry Protection, Food Grade Silicone, 555ML 120V (Blue)
Our Rating:
Here at My Asian Cooking dot com, we are huge fans of tea. There is never a time on any given day that is not a perfect time for a nice cup of tea. If you are like us, then you have had experiences where you really want a hot cup of tea but are out of luck unless you want to go to Starbucks and pay a thousand dollars for some hot water and a teabag. This product solves the problem of tea on the go, and we think it is brilliant!
What is it?
This is a foldable travel tea kettle made of food-grade silicone. You can bring this travel kettle anywhere and it folds up when you are not using it and collapses into an almost flat shape. It is a nice soft baby blue color and boils water in 3 to 5 minutes. This kettle does not plug into a car lighter socket unfortunately but anywhere that has a 120v power outlet will work.
Breaking it Down
Materials
It is made of food-grade silicone and has a stainless-steel lid and heating plate.
Design
It is an accordion-style design that you can collapse for easy storage. It has a detachable handle and power cord so it can be stored nearly flat.
Uses
It is a portable tea kettle that is used to heat and keep the tea warm as you travel.
Safety
It will automatically shut off if it senses there is no liquid inside.
Features & Benefits
- Portable and easy to store
- Boils fast in only 3-5 mins
- Safe materials and auto shut off
- Inexpensive
- Attractive color
- Stainless steel heating plate and lid
Product Specifications and Details
- Size: 149x139x50 mm while folded // 170x139x132mm unfolded
- Material: food-grade silicone, 304 stainless steel heating plate, and lid
- Kettle mouth diameter: 85mm
- Power: 700 Watts
- Capacity: 555ML
- Voltage Range: 110/120V
- Boiling Time: 3 mins
What is in the Box?
- 1 Foldable Travel Kettle w/ detachable lid and handle
- Instruction manual
- Power cord
Conclusion
Our Rating:
If you are a big fan of drinking tea anywhere that has a power outlet this is a welcome addition to your tea set. It is easy to store, heats up fast, and will give you hot tea whenever you want it. It has its limitations but for the money, we thought it was well worth the cost. It is not expensive either and costs much less than you may expect.
Aroma Housewares AWK-080MV Collapsible Electric Travel Kettle 0.6 L, Collapsible & Foldable with Temperature Control and Dual Voltage, Boil Dry Protection, Food Grade Silicone, Auto Keep, White
Our Rating:
Much like the other travel tea kettle up above, this is Aroma Housewares version. It is a collapsible tea kettle you can take with you and make tea almost anywhere.
Differences Between This and the Ultrathin Travel Foldable Electric Kettle
The key difference between this kettle and the other kettle in this guide is that this one has the dual voltage, and it is also a little cheaper. The downside is that this kettle does not have a stainless-steel lid, and it looks and feels a bit cheaper. You get what you pay for as they say.
This means it can be used in countries where 220v is the standard or a traditional wall outlet where 120v is normal and it will cost you a little less than its competitor. It is remarkably similar otherwise. You sacrifice a little fancier look and stainless lid to gain the ability to use it in any country.
What is it?
This is a collapsible travel tea kettle that you can use in any building that has a power outlet.
Breaking it Down
Materials
It is made of food-grade silicone and has a stainless-steel heating element; the handle and lid are plastic. The handle is attached to the lid.
Design
This kettle is all white and can be squished into a nearly flat circle. It is a utilitarian design with no frills. It has a light on the temperature knob to let you know it is on.
Uses
It can be used to make tea anywhere and will keep the tea warm for a little while. If the tea gets cold you can turn it on the warm setting to quickly warm up your tea.
Safety
It is not specified in the white papers if it has an automatic shut off or not. Be careful just in case and if you are not using it make sure to turn it off!
Features & Benefits
- Made for travelers
- Durable
- Collapsible design
- Good for any occasion
- Less expensive than many competitors
Product Specifications and Details
- Dual Voltage (110/V or 220/240V)
- Size- 8.11×6.14×5.43 inches
- Weight- 1.69 pounds
- Boil time- 3 to 5 minutes
What is in the Box?
- Tea Kettle
- Power cord
- Instruction manual
Conclusion
Our Rating:
This is an inexpensive travel tea kettle made by a well-known company, Aroma Housewares. They make a big variety of home cooking gadgets and have a lot of good reviews. The kettle will collapse and can be used in any country with any wall outlet. It has a simple utilitarian design, nothing fancy. It can heat up a single cup of tea in just about one minute where a full kettle will take 3-5 minutes which is pretty fast.
We think it is a good kettle for the money and a fun way to make tea on the go.
Animal Mini Waffle Maker- Makes 7 Fun, Different Shaped Pancakes Including a Cat, Dog, Reindeer & More – Electric Non-stick Waffler, Fun Gift
Our Rating:
Mini waffles are extremely popular in Asia and around the world, especially silly or interesting animal-shaped mini waffles. If you have picky kids or like to have fun with your food, this is a fun and interesting little gadget you will wonder how you lived without!
It is basically a round clamshell-style waffle maker much like others you may have seen or already own. The key difference is that it makes small little cute animal-shaped waffles. It makes little waffles similar in size to the silver dollar sized pancakes most of us have had before. How cool is that?
How to Use
If you have ever made waffles, then this is not going to be surprising. First, you spray down the metal cooking surface with some cooking spray, so the batter does not stick. Next, you pour the batter into the little animal-shaped molds. Finally, you plug in the waffle maker and close the lid. Wait a few minutes for the batter to cook, and the waffles are done. Add some butter and syrup or any toppings you want and eat up!
Breaking it Down
Capacity
These little mini waffle makers will make 7 cute animal-shaped mini waffles at one time. They are about 2-3” across each.
Waffle Shapes
- Cat
- Dog
- Reindeer
- Tiger
- Bear
Design
It is a standard clamshell waffler design with a hinge on the back that you plug into the wall. It is white which goes well in almost every kitchen.
Safety
It has an indicator light to let you know it is on. A few customers complained that their light did not work, so keep an eye out for that possible flaw.
Features & Benefits
- Makes cute little animal shaped waffles
- Cooks the batter in only a few minutes
- Simple white clamshell design
- Plugs into your power outlet for easy fast use
- Kids love mini waffles
Possible Issues
- Some people said the power light stopped working too soon
- There is no lock on the clamshell so you could burn yourself if not careful
- The cooking surfaces can not be removed but wipe down with a damp cloth easily
Product Specifications and Details
- Weight- 3.25 pounds
- Dimensions- 11x9x5.4 inches
- Form Factor- Clamshell
- Color- White
- Voltage- 110 /120v
Whats in the Box?
- Mini waffle maker
- Instruction manual
Conclusion
Our Rating:
This fun little mini waffle maker is a cute addition to any kitchen. It makes 7 2-3” little animal-shaped mini waffles per load. It is easy to clean (if you use cooking spray) and not too big. The simple white design will look good in any kitchen area. It is not very expensive and costs just about what normal ‘non-specialty’ waffle makers cost. For what it does and the fun it adds to breakfast we thought it was well worth the money.
