may kukula designs hotpot, a device for slow cooking off the stove

may kukula designs hotpot, a device for slow cooking off the stove
(above) the shape of the circle is dominating the design of the hotpot
all images courtesy of may kukula

we live in a world where urban societies depend on linear systems which are based on fossil fuel-driven tools and that waste precious energy resources. german designer may kukula took a closer look into our daily habits to find a more sustainable way of living. this led to the following question: how could we save energy which is used during cooking processes? ‘hotpot’ gives a possible answer to it.

the ‘hotpot’ can be used for slow cooking or keeping food warm in a porcelain bowl covered with a wooden lid

made of cork, ‘hotpot’ is designed for off-the-stove slow cooking. it encourages people to change their cooking habits and save energy at the same time. to use it, the food should be pre-heated first on the stove and then placed inside the ‘hotpot’ which does the rest of the cooking. the insulation properties of the cork allow the food to keep on simmering even after being removed from the stove. by the end of the process, the food is tender and ready to be served.

by fitting the cooking pot inside the ‘hotpot’, heat is captured

the simplicity of its handling, its kitchen-friendly size and its ability to keep food warm, offers people the possibility of enjoying a cooked meal while saving energy usually used by kitchen appliances. its size and rounded shape of the ‘hotpot’ invites the user to place it on the dinner table and serve directly from it.

the size and round shape of the ‘hotpot’ invites the user to place it on the dining table and serve directly from it 

‘hotpot’ is an homage to an old cooking method, referencing a historical kitchen device called ‘kochkiste’, dated from the early 1900’s in germany. back in those days, energy resources were precious and, therefore handled thoughtfully. the ‘kochkiste’ was a big isolation box which helped serving energy thanks to its warmth insulation properties. the trapped heat and steam created by the pre-boiled food was enough to make the food tender. by using this technique, only 30% of the original cooking time on the stove was needed. the cooking process might take longer however, the energy consumption reduces drastically.

its design is simple in shape, material and function

cork, cast iron and unglazed porcelain — a contrasting material combination that complements one another

‘hotpot’ cooking pot and porcelain bowl make a great ensemble

boil food for 1/3 of the original cooking time and keep it stored in the hotpot for approx. 2x the original cooking time

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: juliana neira | designboom