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Tupperware's Ripcord-Based, No-Electricity-Required Food Processor
For those of you that cook: Does this look useful, or gimmicky?
I cook three nights a week out of necessity and I hate it. I am a horrible cook. The prep work takes me forever, and I lack the patience and dexterity to chop, dice or mince vegetables into consistent sizes.
That's why this Tupperware Chop 'N Prep contraption looks pretty good to me.
Enter a caption (optional)Here's a video of it being reviewed, and for the impatient among you we've cued it up to right when the usage starts:
(Is it me or was there a quick edit shortly after she begins shredding the carrots? Hmm.)
To vet the device I forwarded the video to my girlfriend, who like me is an industrial designer, but who unlike me is a talented cook. I asked her if she thought this thing was legit, or gimmicky. "Gimmicky!" she wrote back. "It looks like a gadget that'll just take up space in your kitchen. This isn't different from a food processor which is way more efficient."
Yeah, but the ripcord is so cool I wanted to say.
Anyways, experienced cooks among you: Does this seem at all useful, would you ever use this? Would the hassle of washing the thing out offset the convenience? Do you think the ripcord will last over time? This design looks like it would solve one of my problems, but I am admittedly an idiot in the kitchen. Am eager to hear feedback from industrial designers that cook frequently.
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Comments
i like it, uses no electricity and gives the user a little workout each time. you could almost certainly do it faster and with less effort by using a motor, but this is way more efficient for a very similar result...also, less noise.
I'm an avid home cook and mechanic and I agree with the comments below about this not really solving a problem. The biggest hassle of food processors is storage and clean up. You still have to store and clean this, and there are several brands that make mini processors that would take up the same space, would require the same cleanup, but are electric. I also owned a pull-start salad spinner, and the action was horribly awkward.
I have this product and use it to make the following:
Actually this is really useful. I use mine pretty much every day. For small stuff like dicing onions/garlic/herbs this is way faster and easier to clean than using a (bulky) food processor that's stored and needs power to work. Also, for that type of stuff, I also feel you have more control on the chopping action compared to using a food processor.
my grandparents had a jar based chopping system years ago, and they loved and used it all the time. it was similar to this one:
I cook every night and have for years so I have some experience to draw on. I think this or the gear-driven one mentioned below are interesting, and not just for camping or outdoor use. I agree this one does look a little lightweight and possibly hard to manage for someone with dexterity or strength challenges. Clamping to a countertop, like a pasta machine, might help there if the clamp was easy to use (large knob, etc.). I think the pluses are:
I'm not 100% sold. I like the fact that it does not require electricity but the pull mechanism is suspect. Notice how the product bounces around while she is holding it down and pulling the cord ( most noticeable with the larger one)... Similar frustration would be starting a lawnmower . I would like to see how this is use by a person with mobility / dexterity / strength issues. If the mechanism utilized the users weight and gravity this may be more feasible. If the pull cord remains, then a anti slip mat or a suction force would be something to look into
i agree with Josh, there is definitely a niche market, in the outdoors. But even at home, I could see its use. My wife likes to use this hand crank (gear driven for speed of course) food processor that she got as a gift some years ago. Seemed 'gimmicky' at first, but after using it, it works very well, and allows for much better user feedback, so getting the right consistency with stuff like salsa, where you dont want everything liquified, is much easier, and just as quick as the regular electrical processor.
That being said, i think the hand crank gear driven version is better... but this rip cord idea has value in that it allows for speed with less effort. My only concern with it is the cord material and the rewind mechanism. My experience is that those are both weak points, and most likely to malfunction.
Great application for cabins, camping, picnics, even backpacking with the small unit- anywhere that power is an issue
What's the point when I can just press a button? This doesn't solve a problem.....typical ID