An experiential and tasty twist to a routine Friday, was created at Finovista’s office, with employees getting their hands on electric cooking and preparing a mouth-watering lunch meal for themselves! What more? They did all this while learning and experiencing the nuances of electric cooking, and different appliances and understanding the energy consumed at each of these processes. With a mission to tantalize taste buds while championing sustainable practices, this fun-filled office activity showcased the wonders of electric pressure cookers and induction cookstoves.
On the menu was Rajma, Steamed Rice, Mix Vegetable Dry, Paneer in creamy gravy, Lemon Chicken and Rotis. With a touch of culinary powers, the electric pressure cookers effortlessly conjured mouth-watering Rajma, Steamed Rice and Lemon Chicken. As the pressure cookers worked their magic, it became clear that sustainable cooking could be a seamless blend of convenience, taste, and eco-consciousness. We used 6 Litre, 1000 Watt Electric Pressure Cookers for preparing Rice, Rajma and Chicken. Using Electric Pressure Cookers was a new thing for the team, and most folks were excited to experience cooking with it. It was exciting to see the device getting heated up quickly, giving way to the traditional Indian tadka in the whole spices. The rice was perfectly cooked and not sticky, chicken was tender and juicy. However, given the quantity the team realized that use of a 3 Litre EPC would have been perfect and would have saved time and cost(taking less time to heat, being a smalled pot size and device overall).
The culinary journey continued, with vegetables and curries being prepared on a 2100 watt Induction Cookstove. The team experienced better control over the device temperature, helping achieve the requisite texture for the gravy in the paneer recipe and a smooth blend of flavours in the mixed vegetable. However, cooking chapatis and getting them to puff was hard nut to crack on the onset, with some rotis turning quite stiff and others chewy. Electric Rotimaker was used to make rotis, but the outcome was far from satisfactory. The experience though was quite joyful, with the team taking turns to flatten and puff rotis.
The activity brought back the childhood nostalgia of transforming dough into perfect circles of culinary delight.
It is worth noting that during the demonstration, an interruption occurred when the extension cord of 6Amp connected to a 240V power source failed to handle the excessive load from the induction cook stove and electric pressure cooker. This highlighted the importance of smartly choosing extension cords/power source with suitable load settings. Needless to say that at an onset working with a range of electric cooking devices was a bit challenging, but understand how much time and pressure settings the EPC would work, with little explanation and experience, it became quite convenient and handy. The meal for 10 people, was cooked using 1.99kWh of energy consumption. This could have been surely reduced with training on usage and right choice of size of EPC.
Beyond the realm of appliances, this office adventure served as a catalyst for connection and shared experiences. Colleagues came together, forged bonds, and celebrated the joy of creating something delicious. Conversations flowed, tips were shared, and culinary aspirations were kindled, fostering a sense of unity and camaraderie that extended beyond the kitchen.
The activity turned out to be more than just a culinary escapade. It was a testament to the transformative power of communal experiences and the joy that can be found in embracing sustainable practices. What more? The delightful simplicity of electric appliances inspired a sense of playfulness and creativity, reminding everyone that cooking is an art form to be cherished and helped breaking the Gender Stereotype around Cooking!
As the event came to a close, hearts and stomachs were full and memories were etched. Finovista’s electric culinary wonderland left a lasting impression on all who attended. The event sparked a desire for culinary exploration, inspiring participants to bring a touch of innovation to their own kitchens. The marriage of sustainable practices and mouth-watering flavours became a tantalizing prospect, showcasing the power of electric cooking appliances to revolutionize our cooking experiences.