Old-fashioned rice cookers are extremely clever

Technology Connections · 3.2M views · 2020-01-15 · 11:11

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Overview

Technology Connections explains how old-fashioned non-electronic rice cookers work, using a magnet and spring switch tripped by the Curie point. It shows the thermodynamics and magnetism behind a simple appliance.

On Hacker News

HN recommends it as a delightful breakdown of the cleverness in dumb appliances and an entry point to the channel.

Recommended by 6 HN people across 6 months · HN mentions 2020–2025

Topics

Everyday physics & science demos Mechanical & precision engineering

What people said

JadeNB · 2020-05 · Strong recommendation
Have I got the channel for you! Technology Connections: [LINK] . My introduction was his rice-cooker video: [VIDEO] .
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zer00eyz · 2025-10 · Recommendation
> weight/balance mechanism in a traditional "dumb" rice cooker These are far more interesting than that. Technology Connections YouTube channel did a great breakdown of how they really work: [VIDEO]
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rootbear · 2022-04 · Recommendation
It's a great channel. I was also fascinated by his rice cooker episode. I had no idea they were so clever, combining thermodynamics and the physics of magnetism. [VIDEO]
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Sources

Video by Technology Connections, played through YouTube.

HN Library · Source license

Data and selection notes

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