Japan’s Sanyo has committed to creating products that contribute to increasing rice consumption. Rice is the second leading crop behind corn, but the rice sector and consumption is steadily declining. The latest product from Sanyo is the GOPAN, the world’s first home cooker that makes bread from rice grain. It should also appeal to those on a gluten-free diet.
For people that are allergic to wheat gluten, the GOPAN comes with a wheat-free setting. For this process all the ingredients are placed in the bread pan with powdered rice taking the place of the wheat gluten.
Using ingredients like brown rice and minor grains also allows the GOPAN to produce a variety of breads and, like other conventional bread makers it can be used to make wheat bread, bread dough, and wild yeast bread. The device also includes a “Gluten and nut automated putting feature” for the creation of gourmet breads, while a “Jam Course” feature tops the bread with a topping made from fruits. Additionally there is a “Noodle Dough course” for the making noodles and pasta and a “Rice cake course” for making rice cakes.
Next week, Sanyo will open the “GOPAN Café” in Tokyo to give consumers a chance to try out the new device before it’s release in October. Sanyo’s GOPAN is set for an October 8th release in Japan at a price to be announced. Sanyo hasn’t yet revealed when or if the device will get a release outside Japan.
