Inuction Cooker for an elderly person
November 14, 2019 12:51 PM Subscribe
A family member who lives in an independent living complex left a plastic pan cover on an electric stove burner. There was an aide in the apartment at the time that saw the burning cover and extinguished the fire.
It was agreed, in a family meeting, that they would not use the stove anymore and that the family would supply more packaged meals and come over during the week and cook family meals for them.
What are your thoughts on giving them a tabletop induction cooker and proper cooking utensils so they can still prepare some meals on their own?
If they are at the age or mental state where there is a danger of them being unsafe using a stove, then I think an induction cooker may provide some fire safety, but it will not reduce dangers of burns from scalding water, hot pans, or grease fires.
A tabletop burner also won't be properly vented unless you put it right on the stovetop. and then I can see a case where they turn the stove knobs on instead of the burner's knobs, which could be a fire AND electrocution danger.
My mom is getting to the age where she's facing these sorts of issues, so I sympathize with you and your family member, but I think the danger is "using a hot stove" more than any specific issue the stove might cause.
posted by bondcliff at 1:01 PM on November 14, 2019 [4 favorites]
A tabletop burner also won't be properly vented unless you put it right on the stovetop. and then I can see a case where they turn the stove knobs on instead of the burner's knobs, which could be a fire AND electrocution danger.
My mom is getting to the age where she's facing these sorts of issues, so I sympathize with you and your family member, but I think the danger is "using a hot stove" more than any specific issue the stove might cause.
posted by bondcliff at 1:01 PM on November 14, 2019 [4 favorites]
Some induction burners have builtin auto-shutoff timers, and over-heat cutoffs. Or you could control the outlet with a hardwired timer knob (like for a bathroom fan or light). I agree that's not the only hazard, though.
Do they have a microwave?
posted by snuffleupagus at 1:03 PM on November 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
Do they have a microwave?
posted by snuffleupagus at 1:03 PM on November 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
So you could think about what folks use in a dorm: sometimes a hot water kettle (the kind that turns off when the water boils) and a microwave.
posted by bluedaisy at 1:17 PM on November 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by bluedaisy at 1:17 PM on November 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
I used to live in a house where I only had a bedroom and bathroom (there WAS a kitchen, but it was super gross and shared and I didn't want to use it) and I was able to cook a LOT of meals with just a rice cooker with a steaming basket, and a electric kettle. A lot of my meals were just rice or noodles with steamed veggies and shrimp or fish or chicken (ie: things that steam easily) but it wasn't too bad not having access to a stove.
That being said though sometimes trying to convince someone to cook things in a way they aren't used to is a non-starter.
Or maybe you could look into an electric hot pot? I know a few of them have safety features like overheat protection and boil dry protection. maybe something like this one?
posted by euphoria066 at 1:22 PM on November 14, 2019
That being said though sometimes trying to convince someone to cook things in a way they aren't used to is a non-starter.
Or maybe you could look into an electric hot pot? I know a few of them have safety features like overheat protection and boil dry protection. maybe something like this one?
posted by euphoria066 at 1:22 PM on November 14, 2019
I remember living for 4 months with only a rice cooker and microwave. It wasn't terrible. Now I'm thinking that something like an Instant Pot might be a good way to go.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 1:25 PM on November 14, 2019
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 1:25 PM on November 14, 2019
My mother was thrown out of her apartment for repeatedly setting fire to it. Mostly by forgetting stuff on the stovetop even though her mental capacity is generally fine. We got her a device that turned off the burners automatically after 15 minutes, but she still managed to create new fires or at least set off the smoke alarm.
Don't do it!
Luckily we found her a nursing home where she gets food, that she complains about. I tell her she should have thought about that before lighting up her home, which makes her laugh. But she wants to have snacks and alternative food in her pantry for days when the food at the home is too horrible.
An electric kettle and a variety of cup noodles is something my mother actually enjoys. There are many varieties. Also avocados and salad dressing, fruits, yogurts and smoothies, cottage cheese, hard boiled eggs, crackers and cheese, ham. Sometimes she and her new friends order take-out.
It's not like it was, there is a loss of autonomy and there are lots of foods my mother misses. But
in a way, it's mostly in her head. It wasn't gourmet meals she was cooking the last few years, it was just boiling an egg, or heating up a stew from the supermarket. I talk with her about this, and it helps her to have a sense of humor about it.
posted by mumimor at 3:11 PM on November 14, 2019 [4 favorites]
Don't do it!
Luckily we found her a nursing home where she gets food, that she complains about. I tell her she should have thought about that before lighting up her home, which makes her laugh. But she wants to have snacks and alternative food in her pantry for days when the food at the home is too horrible.
An electric kettle and a variety of cup noodles is something my mother actually enjoys. There are many varieties. Also avocados and salad dressing, fruits, yogurts and smoothies, cottage cheese, hard boiled eggs, crackers and cheese, ham. Sometimes she and her new friends order take-out.
It's not like it was, there is a loss of autonomy and there are lots of foods my mother misses. But
in a way, it's mostly in her head. It wasn't gourmet meals she was cooking the last few years, it was just boiling an egg, or heating up a stew from the supermarket. I talk with her about this, and it helps her to have a sense of humor about it.
posted by mumimor at 3:11 PM on November 14, 2019 [4 favorites]
Electric kettles are good, and there are dehydrated soups and meals that are nicer than ramen bricks.
I had an Instant Pot as my primary cooking situation for a while, and I think that could be a good, relatively safe option depending on how your relative does with electronics and keypads. The saute function is good, and automatically shuts off after 30 minutes / has temperature controls so it can't get too hot. You can use it as a slow cooker, if that's of interest. There might be a learning curve for pressure cooking, but basic stuff like hardboiled eggs or soup is pretty easy. It's designed so that you can walk away from it, forget about it, and come back to warm food. It's basically an induction burner enclosed in an insulated case with safety shutoffs. You might want to replace obviously meltable kitchen implements if you go this way.
I'm assuming you are planning to shut off power/gas to the stove - getting a countertop or cover for the top that makes it a useful counter space and some safer appliances to go on top seems like it would help take some sting out of not getting to use it any more.
posted by momus_window at 4:01 PM on November 14, 2019
I had an Instant Pot as my primary cooking situation for a while, and I think that could be a good, relatively safe option depending on how your relative does with electronics and keypads. The saute function is good, and automatically shuts off after 30 minutes / has temperature controls so it can't get too hot. You can use it as a slow cooker, if that's of interest. There might be a learning curve for pressure cooking, but basic stuff like hardboiled eggs or soup is pretty easy. It's designed so that you can walk away from it, forget about it, and come back to warm food. It's basically an induction burner enclosed in an insulated case with safety shutoffs. You might want to replace obviously meltable kitchen implements if you go this way.
I'm assuming you are planning to shut off power/gas to the stove - getting a countertop or cover for the top that makes it a useful counter space and some safer appliances to go on top seems like it would help take some sting out of not getting to use it any more.
posted by momus_window at 4:01 PM on November 14, 2019
Induction cooktops can interfere with pacemakers if that's relevant.
posted by the duck by the oboe at 7:45 PM on November 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by the duck by the oboe at 7:45 PM on November 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
Please note to bring up any additions such as an induction burner to the independant living facility, because the family already agreed during the meeting to provide meals. Talk to her treatment team for ideas and referrals if you believe what was agree to is unfeasible for the family. It could be concidered breaking her lease for her to continue cooking.
You may want to look into aging options for her such as meals on wheels or other senior dining programs that can provide some assistance. Home home health aids can also provide meal preparation services.
posted by AlexiaSky at 2:46 AM on November 15, 2019
You may want to look into aging options for her such as meals on wheels or other senior dining programs that can provide some assistance. Home home health aids can also provide meal preparation services.
posted by AlexiaSky at 2:46 AM on November 15, 2019
The portable induction burner I have would indeed shut off if left unattended or after a period of time. I found that if I turn the unit on and the pot is empty it complains and turns off.
The "1800W induction cooker is equipped with a settings lock and a built-in safety feature that automatically shuts the unit off in the case of overheating, short circuit, and high voltage levels. The unit will not function unless there is a suitable cooking vessel on the cooktop and will cease operating after a period of three hours of non-stop use."
It's not foolproof by any means, but significantly safer than electric alternatives.
posted by terrapin at 10:07 AM on November 15, 2019
The "1800W induction cooker is equipped with a settings lock and a built-in safety feature that automatically shuts the unit off in the case of overheating, short circuit, and high voltage levels. The unit will not function unless there is a suitable cooking vessel on the cooktop and will cease operating after a period of three hours of non-stop use."
It's not foolproof by any means, but significantly safer than electric alternatives.
posted by terrapin at 10:07 AM on November 15, 2019
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posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 12:57 PM on November 14, 2019 [5 favorites]