(upbeat music)
- Ready Ebbers? - Yep
- Lift the closh on product number one.
- It's a little mini rice cooker,
but apparently will also do porridge
- Ebbers, this is the Lakeland mini electric rice cooker.
It cooks one to two portions
of white or brown rice in 30 minutes.
It has a lift out non-stick 500 millilitre pan,
and is easy to use with its LED panel.
Now obviously a rice cooker isn't a brand new gadget
that no one's ever heard of before.
Rice cookers are a permanent fixture
in so many different parts of the world.
We've never really seen the need to have a rice cooker
in the kitchen because we don't cook rice.
- Nope.
- That often or in quantities enough to warrant having one
and it takes up so much space on a work surface.
However, this is a nice mini one,
and will therefore sit on a worktop.
So, what we wanna put to the test is
is this worth it for us?
- Nah.
Like we can cook rice a number of different ways,
whether it's sushi with a lid,
whether it's pilaf style,
whether it's boiled in excess water and poured off.
If that is easier for you to get rice at home, it's fine.
I never cook enough rice to warrant a rice cooker.
This has peaked my interest.
- Ooh.
- Peeky.
- There's only one way to find out.
Shall we make some rice?
- [Jamie] Let's do it.
- One cup of rice to two cups of water,
approximately 30 minutes of cooking time.
However, there is a countdown timer
that will give you the countdown in the last six minutes,
which presume is all you need to do
is do a quick stir fry to go with it.
This is back to premium ingredients.
Some things are worth spending a bit money on.
- That's the thing, Ebbers, you're right about rice.
It is a very cheap commodity that we've,
after our extensive testing, have realised
is something that you should spend more money on.
Still relatively cheap compared
to a lot of other ingredients at the moment.
A lot of people looking for ways to save money
in all areas of their lives.
Food is one way that we can help people do that.
Rice is a great cheap ingredient.
Buy the best that you can afford.
- One thing I absolutely would say
that a rice cooker has going for it
is it should be very insulated
and it should need a very little amount of power
to cook a small amount of rice.
Rice washed, going in.
One cup, 135 grammes.
Ample for two,
Two cups of water.
Nothing else.
- No. - No seasoning?
- No, - No
No. Place the cooking pot onto the main unit.
Place the rice cooker lid on top.
Close the locking clips
- That I have done.
- Press the power, stroke warm button
and the appliance were going to stand by function.
- [Ben] Correct.
- Press the rice button and the appliance will beep once.
The rice indicator light,
oh, the rice indicator light will light up.
- [Ben] We're good
- [Jamie] And blank square will display on the display panel
- Correct.
- [Jamie] The blank square indicator lights will snake
in a clockwise direction to indicate cooking has begun.
- Like a Nokia 3310
- Right? 29 half minutes to go
- Fab.
It cooked for 30 and it's been hot holding for 17.
- Lovely. Should we have a look?
- [Ben] I hope I don't steam it.
- [All] Ooh
- The beauty of Basmati is you have these wonderful,
long individual grains.
- [Barry] Are they?
Is it clumping together?
- Very well cooked.
- Oh, oh my.
- [Ben] That's pretty good.
A little soft.
You'd have to be careful as you served it
so you don't break up too many of those grains.
Bit wetter on the bottom.
It's more sticky, bouncy.
- Would you say it's done it well?
- I don't regularly eat rice out of a rice cooker.
So if that's what it's supposed to be, that's fine.
I don't think that's great.
Like at the bottom it's all mushy and overcooked.
The top grains were lovely and perfect
- So obviously we always try to give everything a fair test.
So before you had the chance to play with it,
the food team had to play with it as well.
They've put together an incredible looking
crispy beef dish from our Big Night In recipe pack.
They used the rice cooker.
It came out perfectly.
The only difference being
that it's salt in at the beginning of the cooking process.
- The top half I thought were individual lovely grains
and the bottom, they're all stuck together
but in hindsight, so these.
- Personally, I look at that and I go
that looks like pretty good rice to me.
- [Jamie] Yeah
- [Barry] And I've always,
and I'm comparing that to packet rice.
So that's exceptional.
- [Jamie] As a normal,
I don't get that kind of rice from cooking it in a pan.
As a chef, how would you cook rice?
- So I would do exactly that.
I would quickly wash and rinse,
not always if I'm being really lazy
but usually a quick rinse and then two to one,
bring it up, cover it with the lid,
cook it, take it off, residual.
It cooks quicker than 30 minutes
and you have complete control over it
and it works every single time.
What I like about it is the fact you measure it out
and then you just let it do its thing.
It's a lot more hands off than my method.
I wouldn't say it's any better,
but it's certainly one of the best examples we've ever done
for small volumes.
- Should we talk about price?
How much do you think the mini rice cooker is?
- 32 pounds.
- [Jamie] It's 39 99.
- [Ben] Fine, you know what?
Around Black Friday, you'd probably get it for 30 grid.
- Do I dare ask for your rating and review?
- By far the most practical, functional
and useful rice cooker,
but if you want an alternative, come to Uncle Ben.
Three and a half stars.
- I hope you've got one to make him happy
- No
- Ebbers lifter.
Oh, oh
- From behind, before I turn it around,
I can see water vat that I imagine will drip feed into
something that in normal circumstances would give me coffee.
- [Barry] What have you got?
- Aqua Optima.
Okay, this does exactly what I thought it did
except any temperature I want
will be vented from this machine.
- Ebbers, this is the Aurora instant hot and cold
water dispenser.
An all in one device that will eliminate the need
for a kettle.
It's a water heater, cooler, water filter jug
all in one device.
With a total of 49 different temperatures
and volume options from chill to cooked
and from one cup to a litre,
you're just a whiff away from the perfect beverage.
- I have to be honest,
that's how I like my water, cooked.
(all laughing)
- It's like this really posh, fancy taps
that dispenses this boiling hot water or freezing cold water
that looked really cool
but no one can ever really afford or instal.
This was like a smarter version of that.
- Yeah, this becomes a desktop or work top plug and play
and you don't have to have something like instal
which is very expensive,
but it has got multiple temperatures,
multiple dispensing volumes
- And it supposedly filters the water as well
- That I do need.
'cause where I live, I have very, very line scaly water.
- Feeling thirsty?
- Yes, what have we got?
- So to test the boiling hot water function,
let's make cup of tea
- Specifically Masala Chia, it is in the bag.
- I think the thing I like about this as well
is that you can make just one cup of tea.
It claims it's a lot more energy efficient
than boiling a whole kettle.
- So specifically this one cup,
five minutes of brew time,
does recommend freshly boiled water of a hundred degrees.
So we're going boiling, boiling first
- [Barry] Little higher.
- I was worried about boiling water smash back.
I was instantly corrected.
- So select the temperature on the left hand side
and then choose how much water you want on the right.
Then push go.
- We're up to boiling.
- [Jamie] I can see it steam.
- That's instant hot water.
- Well, let's see.
- Oh, he's got a thermometer. - Why would you whip it out?
- He's got a thermometer
- [Ben] It's registering 96 degrees.
I'm happy.
That was probably boiling before it came out.
200 millilitres of boiling water.
- Now it's for that reason,
I have actually bought a very similar machine to this
for my Nan 'cause she's got quite bad arthritis.
She struggles to lift up the kettle
to pour out a cup of tea,
whereas just one single cup at time
and she lives on her own,
that made a lot of sense.
- We've spoken recently about energy use.
Boiling an entire kettle just for cup
is something that far too many people
probably myself included, are guilty of.
- Let's see how cold it goes.
A refreshing cordial please.
- Yep.
Apple and blackberry Jolly fresh low sugar.
It says, "Mix it with gin."
Gin is an option, just saying.
- Hot call you ate past gin.
(all laughing)
- [Barry] This is our charter test.
How cold it goes.
It doesn't claim ice cold, just cold.
- Each time it unlocks, quick get in there
- How cold are we going?
- Oh, its very cool.
- Straight away.
It's filtered water
and you are limiting how much water you use.
You're not leaving the tap on in the background as well.
So you're reducing your water wastage.
- Okay, water in here is room temperature
23 and a half degrees today.
What came out when we pushed the cold button
Eight and a half degrees?
- Lovely. Okay, good.
Now to test it for more specific temperature.
Let's move on to some oolong.
- Well this is like Goldilocks.
Too hot, too cold.
Ah, just right
- [Barry] And what temperature is this asking
for it to brew out?
- Exactly 80 degrees.
- [Jamie] Whoa.
- I'm going to vent.
- [Barry] Where we at?
- It's punching a bit of above its weight at 85, 82.
- [All] Oh
- I come on mate, that's looking good.
- 81.
- [Barry] Whoa.
- So going from cold, it took a while to work it out
but it got to 81 degrees for the last bit.
Now to be fair to it, 84 degrees
by the time it's fallen down to here is probably about 81.
(all laughing)
I think that's pretty good.
Again, bang on the measurement
- [Jamie] Bats, that's this replacing in your kitchen
or is this an additional piece of equipment?
- I think it's, for me this is replaced in the kettle.
- Okay
- At the same time, if you can get cold water from it
and it controls a matter of water that you are using
and the energy, it kind of makes sense.
- But that's not replacing my kettle
unless it's gonna decant like a litter when I need it.
Like to fill a pan of boiling water
or in this case you gimme green stuff.
- You'll need to wit that down
with a litter of boiling whole water
and then blitz it with your almonds and Parmesan
- You can fill it up without removing the lid
and it's got a no splash feature.
- I'm intrigued.
So here, if you're boiling a kettle
how long is a kettle to boil?
- [Ben] Two to three minutes to boil
and then five seconds to decant.
- You know max temperature, maximum amount of water
- [Ben] And exactly like a kettle,
you can just push it and leave it to its thing.
I've got no idea where that was leaking
'cause I wasn't measuring it.
However, given how accurate it was on those three,
I'm prepared to give it the benefited out.
That's literally job done.
You just want to wilt the greens
and then we'll drain it and then blend it.
- So this dish is actually from our psychic app
which is our own bit of kitchen tech.
- [Jamie] Yeah, you just pick your week's meals,
you plan which day you're gonna have them on
and then psychic will generate a really simple shopping list
of ingredients and make sure that you use up
every single fresh ingredient By the end of the week.
- [Barry] You'll improve your cooking skills
save on your food bills, and never have a boring meal again.
- Plus now's a really great time to give it a go
or gift it cause it's 40% off.
- Tell you what boys,
if it's got recipes like this in it, I'm on board.
(all laughing)
- [Barry] Okay, I think we've tested
this pretty fairly today.
How are you feeling about it?
- I don't need this in my life until you use it
and you go hang on a minute.
This is more efficient on water
'cause you are only heating up what you need
having been filtered and you're only dispensing
what you need.
That bit is smart.
- So shall we talk money?
Ooh, your last kettle's just died.
You're thinking this might be a good investment
- In my current setup, I absolutely don't need it
but there will come a point when you go to seek a new kettle
and that might be the time to think,
This will replace a couple of things.
A Brita filter, a kettle.
It feels well-engineered.
If it's a smart kettle, 70 to 80 quid.
If we're putting it in the alternative to a coffee machine
in your kitchen 'cause it's dispensing tea
at just the right volume and temperature,
then it's probably higher.
I wouldn't pay more than a hundred
and they even then I'd have to think about it.
- [Barry] This comes in at 149.99.
- I very rarely have tea.
I have coffee and I have a coffee machine,
which is about this size that's in the kitchen
and costs more than that.
However, as a nation of tea drinkers,
maybe there is a place for it.
- It does everything ,sure
- And it does it well.
- Does it well, sure
I don't need one.
I'll tell you what on Black Friday, if they're 30% off
I'll give a hundred grid, I love it.
- Hey Ebbers, what's your rating
and what's the reviewer leaving?
- If you live alone, this might be for you.
I do, It's not.
Three stars.
(Jamie and Barry laughing)
Come on boys.
I've got more stars to give.
- Ebbers, lift the closh
- It's plugged in but it appears to have room for a bat,
Oh no, that's not a battery.
Candy play, is this a liquid sugar pen?
That sounds lethal.
- [Barry] Yes, Ben.
This is the play 3D candy pen by Polaroid.
It allows cake artists and candy enthusiasts
to create edible 3D designs for their cakes,
bakes and desserts.
- Excellent, should we try it?
- [Barry] Hell yeah.
- Straight off, should I be worried
that the quick start guide is 75 pages long?
(all laughing)
- So it comes with 48 cartridges, which are vegan,
sugar free and have natural flavourings.
I know - Sugar free candy?
Okay, sugar free.
Oh, it's 99.6% ice mould.
- All we're doing here is drawing straight
onto parchment paper.
They could work and trace something you designed earlier
like one of our characters or we know you're an artist, Ben
freehand it.
So you'll insert your cartridge of choice.
Press the power button to turn the pen on.
The LED light will indicate the status of the pen.
Once the light is blue, press the star button
to begin drawing.
So I'll do the outline, stop, let it cool down
and then show it away.
- Let it stop, let it stop
- Remember I were you listen into the instructions.
- No, its running away from me.
(all laughing)
- What I've done instead is a unicorn
with a parachute drinking from a serpent.
It's like modern art.
It is what you see in it.
Oh that's terrible.
- What are you seeing there?
- Ebbers, this isn't supposed to be a raw shark test?
I wrote Mary
'cause that's what you have to be to find fun in this
- [Barry] Flipping heck.
Okay, but that's quite impressive, Ben.
- A five letter word, well done Ben.
Oh he has got a lot of letters in it.
- I've heard the idea
of you just give him a pen and automatic.
He just was, it was a sign isn't he?
- You can all have a lick of Ebbers
(beep sound)
You want me to make a lolly pop but then
- I am done.
- This is a terrible attempt at the word Ebbers.
Mary was done a while ago so it might peel off as one.
- I've tried to write happy birthday on cakes before
and it's gone terribly wrong.
- [Jamie] What, like ice piped ice?
- Yeah. - Yeah,
'cause it is a weird trap
but that seems a little bit easier to work with.
- If anything I would say it's harder
'cause it's slower pipe that with chocolate
you can get a flow to it that just does that.
This you've got an occasion at least catch up
with it's built and it sticks out a big bit
and then a small bit
but once it's set you could, whatever you've designed,
stand up and you'd have the light glow fluid.
I think that's quite cool.
Ebbers is still a bit sticky, but
(Barry chuckling)
It does what I would expect of isomalt.
It melts.
It sets really hard.
It gives you that snap.
It's pretty firm.
Especially if you made it more structured in its design
and it does taste strawberry.
- Wow
- Do you know what, I genuinely think like with anything
it needs a bit of practise
and we actually had a bit of fun with that
and imagine the things you could draw in sugar.
I think you could write messages on cakes
that are very personal.
I think you could start to even think about
like stain glass cookies,
stain glass things around the festive time.
I think you could do an awful lot with it
and once you started,
yes, you can do lettering and stand it up
but you could start to layer it now.
So if you wanted to go higher and higher and higher
in the same way a 3D machine, 3D printing machine
- Ebbers, Ebbers, Ebbers, Ebbers, Ebbers
- But I think you could be quite creative with it.
- What are you thinking when it comes to price delivers?
It does say it is for the age of 14 and up.
- I mean molten sugar.
That does make sense.
I feel like it would entertain for a while.
I think if you're an artist
or cake decorating or have an artistic flare,
I think you can create some fun stuff with this.
The brand isn't a cheap brand
so I imagine this is probably 48 pounds,
pound for each stick.
This comes free.
- Ooh, 49 99.
- Are you ready for your review and rating?
- With an artistic flare, this absolutely would work
but ironically I think kind of pointless for a pen
but I will give it four stars
- What?
- If it's reduced in price on Black Friday,
Don't pay 48,99 pound for it.
- So whilst everyone is deep
into their Black Friday discounts
- Including us,
- We thought now is a really good time
to showcase more ways that you can save money.
- So on Friday 25th, November, that's Black Friday,
we are gonna be live streaming to bring you
Hack Friday at Brian's.
- Yep, I'll be on hand to give you a whole bunch
of chefy tips to speed things up, save you money
and get you more delicious food on the table
and our food team will be here.
Not just answer your foodie questions
but also to put loads of stuff to the test in real time.
Cheers boys.
Average number of stars today.
I think you guys knew better.
Comment down below with any other food gadgets
or tech that we should review and we'll get to it.
- We start off too high.
- Yeah, this is exactly what it was.