Three Essential Korean Appliances

Most families have several appliances at home, such as a refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, washer and dryer. While these are somewhat indispensable to many people, there are several appliances that are even more important and special to Koreans. 

The first item is the steamed rice cooker.  Like other Asian countries, rice is the basic staple food for Koreans. Making steamed rice seems simple, but it is not.  Rice can often come out crunchy or too sticky and, if it is not monitored, it is very easy to burn rice when you boil it.

A rice cooker is a wonderful appliance because it controls the process automatically. Japan developed an electric rice cooker around the 1950s. Then around the 1980s, Korean electric companies such as LG, Samsung and Cuckoo started making the Korean-style electric rice cooker.  At first, it had simple functions like the thermostat turning off the cooker when the rice was cooked. Rice cookers have since changed a lot.  To say nothing of design, rice cookers can suit every person’s taste, such as soft-boiled rice, hard-boiled rice and so on.  Also they can be set for the desired time, and be used for other purposes, including steaming, making soup, and even making bread. 

The second item is the Kimchi refrigerator. The Kimchi refrigerator, just like its name implies, is a .  Reportedly, Koreans consume more than a million tons of Kimchi a year. The refrigerator controls the different stages of the Kimchi fermentation process, so it helps preserve the Kimchi longer without its taste being compromised.  That is, if Kimchi is stored in a Kimchi refrigerator, it helps to keep the original taste.  Kimchi refrigerators have become very popular in Korea due to this function. Kimchi refrigerators can now store other foods as well, such as fruits, dry foods, and even bread.

The last item is a steam washing machine, which can outperform a traditional washing machine.  People know that steam washing is clean and is good for health, but it requires a bit of work.  My mother has steamed white linens for years using a steam basket over the stove.  She does it the old-fashioned way.  Now, steam washers have been developed to make the process easier.

Just 50 years ago, Koreans used the traditional cast iron pot (Sot) to make steamed rice. Until 10 years ago, Koreans used crock pots to keep Kimchi fresh and the basket to steam wash clothes.  These used to be the must-have “appliances” for Koreans, but not any longer.  Due to technology, home appliances and tools have changed, but the Korean lifestyle remains the same.