Double-lid Donabe rice cooker Naoko Moore of Echo Park brings in Japanese clay pots from the 180-year-old producer Nagatani-en in Iga, Japan. They’re made of heavy clay and have a double lid that captures the steam. Rice cooked in this pot comes out perfect, each grain absolutely distinct, the way it is in a great risotto. $120 to $325 at Toiro at http://www.toirokitchen.com (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Aqua Chef professional oven Finally, a sous-vide cooker for the rest of us! The water oven from Aqua Chef looks like a small home fryer but is made for extended cooking at low temperatures in water. About $160, http://www.aquachef.com (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
