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Designing a kitchen tool

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MushCreek

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The burger thread got me thinking about a kitchen problem I need to solve. I cook our steel-cut oatmeal in large batches (30 servings), then freeze it. I'd like to figure out a clever tool to portion out 6 ounces of cooked oatmeal. Right now, I weigh each portion, shove it into a measuring cup, and then plop it on to a parchment-lined sheet pan. Slow and sloppy (that's what she said!). I'm thinking of a tube (PVC?) with a piston to push it out. They key would be getting the length of the tube just right to measure out 6 ounces. I'm not sure if PVC is considered food safe, although it would only be in contact with it for less than a minute. Any bright ideas out there?
 
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RoninB4

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How much does an ice cream scoop hold? Depends upon the size per the chart below but a large scoop comes close.
 

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HoosierBuddy

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I think RoninB4 is all over it. An ice cream scoop would be the way to go. You need the kind with the lever, or scraper that cleans out the scoop as you empty it.
 
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MushCreek

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An ice cream scoop could work. A 6 ounce scoop is a #5 in the trade. About $15 at Amazon.

As for PVC, considering my house's water supply is delivered via PVC pipe, I guess it would be OK. 2-1/2" would be a good size, but I don't need a 10 foot piece. Small pieces are $$$. A straight-sided container about the size of a soda can or spray paint is about right. They would be too flimsy once open on one end, though. As for a plunger set-up, I could machine one out of plastic I have on hand. Put a threaded rod on it, and adjust the size with some stop nuts. Push it out, and scrape it off with a knife. The problem I have using a measuring cup (I have a 6 ounce one) is that there's no graceful way to get the oatmeal out of it once you pack it full. The ice cream scoop is looking better and better....
 
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MushCreek

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Off topic- Does anyone know why when I click on a link, it doesn't take me there? It just comes back here.

One issue- The weight has to be surprisingly accurate. If it's off 1/10th of an ounce, that's 3 ounces, or half of a serving off. I need 30 servings, or it screws everything up for our daily oatmeal. Also, the ice cream scoop is rather wide, making it hard to fit 15 on one baking pan. I only have freezer space for two pans at a time.

Right now, I'm out in the shop playing with some 3" PVC and plastic I have laying around. Probably a couple hours of work, but no money out the door.
 
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MushCreek

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They require a little work. Heat up with a little milk, and your favorite add-ins. I like maple syrup, peanut butter, and cinnamon. Steel-cut oats are a LOT of work to make every morning, so I make up enough for 30 servings, which lasts the two of us 3 weeks. We eat oatmeal Monday through Friday, a bagel (homemade) on Saturday, and eggs on Sunday.
 
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MushCreek

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I don't think that that cylindrical scoop would be big enough. Of course, they don't tell you how much it holds. At any rate, I cobbled together the Oatmeal-Matic 2000 (patent pending) out of 3" PVC and UHMW, all materials I had on hand. I just made oatmeal, so it will be a few weeks before I get to try it out. I'll post pics then. I'll have to fine-tune the volume but adjusting a couple stop-nuts, but I don't know if it will be consistent enough. I made the piston pusher a large flat knob so I can weigh it on our kitchen scale.
 
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Skiff Builder

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MushCreek said:
The burger thread got me thinking about a kitchen problem I need to solve. I cook our steel-cut oatmeal in large batches (30 servings), then freeze it. I'd like to figure out a clever tool to portion out 6 ounces of cooked oatmeal. Right now, I weigh each portion, shove it into a measuring cup, and then plop it on to a parchment-lined sheet pan. Slow and sloppy (that's what she said!). I'm thinking of a tube (PVC?) with a piston to push it out. They key would be getting the length of the tube just right to measure out 6 ounces. I'm not sure if PVC is considered food safe, although it would only be in contact with it for less than a minute. Any bright ideas out there?
Click to expand...
Question- what is the liquid ounce measurement ( in the cup) of 6 ounces by weight for your oatmeal?
 
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MushCreek

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Okay- I tested the Oatmeal-Matic 2000, and it works well! I put it on my kitchen scale, zeroed out the scale, and loaded it up. I made a spacer (the wooden block in pic 2) to hold it 'open' while I load it, then remove the spacer and push the oatmeal out on to a cookie sheet. It's a little deeper than needed, and I could fine-tune it, but you need room to pile up the oatmeal prior to mashing it down into the cylinder. I thought I was going to have to use a knife or something to separate the oatmeal from the plunger, but it drops right off. Right now, I'm loading it by weight, so I have to weigh each one. I'm not sure of it would be accurate enough going by volume only, but then, we are just talking oatmeal here.IMG_0097.jpgIMG_0110.jpgIMG_0111.jpgIMG_0112.jpg
 
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AffableCurmudgeon

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I eat oatmeal multiple times a week. I make mine in the microwave. Half cup of steel cut oatmeal with about 2 cups of water, microwave on high for 5 minutes, stir and microwave another 5 minutes. Let it sit a couple of minutes, add milk, fruit, nuts and whatever else and eat it.
 
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larry_g

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You now have physical size for the 'cake', can you find a muffin pan that will hold the same volume?

lg
no neat sig line
 
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