Instant noodles have been around long enough that we take their 2-minute preparation time for granted. Now Japan brings us Hotto! Raisu - specially packed rice that can be served up as a piping hot meal, just by pouring water over the packaging. No cooking required!

The rice is packed by being subjected to 4,000 times the normal atmospheric pressure and thus retains its moisture. The rice packet contains an exothermic agent which is activated when water is poured over it, taking about 15 minutes to heat the packet's contents to an appetizing temperature.

As the product's developers point out, Hotto! Raisu could be used in areas that have been hit by natural disasters, where electricity and clean or boiling water may not be available to prepare food. I'm thinking it'd be great if they came up with a commercial version too - one more tasty "instant meal" that I could stock up on for nights when I don't have the time or energy to cook. After all, it's real rice, not processed flour as is the case with instant noodles.

Via Mainichi Daily News.