Unit works well
I've been using this to cook Chinese Herbal Medicine for a few months now. I used to use a ceramic pot to cook the medicine. This unit is much easier to cook. You plug and let it do its job. The ceramic pot is easier to clean and costs $5.99. This unit you cannot put into a dishwasher due to electronic components being part of the unit. One time I was rinsing the unit trying to clean it and the water got onto the base and the unit stop working for 24 hours ... until it was dry again. Normally this does not happen if you clean it carefully.
This unit works by cooking the medicine until the water level drops to a certain point. Then it switches to warm mode. This often takes 1.5 to 2 hours for the medicine I cook. However the herbalist whom I get my medicine from says to cook it only for 30 minutes after it boils and not to exceed 40 minutes. Well since he is an OMD, and a former professor of the Beijing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, I'll take his word...
Overall well made, but you do need a kitchen timer.
I just got one of these at a local herb store (mine is the Chinese model ss-3040 but is exactly the same thing as the NY636). After using it once I can tell several things right away:
1) overall it's well made and looks nice (nice thick glaze over the ceramic with some cute calligraphy on the front).
2) there is very little circuitry inside so there is less to fail but at the same time the unit is "dumb". It will just keep boiling until the water level drops enough to expose the top of the stainless steel heater element (which rises about maybe 1-2 inches from the bottom) then will switch to keep warm. After boiling it seems you are left with around 2 cups of liquid.
3) much easier to deal with (IMHO) than boiling herbs in a ceramic double-lid "ginseng cooker". Just plug in and let it go (after adding your pre-washed herbs and water, of course).
4) it is not suited for aromatic herbs or herbs with high volatile oil content as steam escapes...
Functional & Attractive Medicine Cooker
It works great, heats fast and looks very nice on my counter. I agree with the other reviewer, unplug it after 45 minutes (15 minutes to heat-up, 30 minutes to boil...) More than 30 minutes can diminsh the efficacy of some ingredients. When in doubt, ask your pharmacist!
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