Heating rice pillows

Eir · 05-30-2010, 05:00 PM

Yo!

I'm going to sew rice pillows for my friends. Problem is that one of them doesn't have a microwave oven... and he is the one who could use a pillow the most...

So, does anyone know of alternative methods of heating rice pillows? I was thinking that putting one on a radiator might work (if the temperature is high enough), but I haven't yet finished one, so I can't try it out.

Cheers!

N0obKnitter · 05-30-2010, 10:53 PM

Maybe a clothes dryer on low for a few seconds? Wut, no microwave and he's a male?! I thought men practically live out of microwave ovens.

Jan in CA · 05-31-2010, 01:02 AM

I'm not sure putting anything cloth would be a good idea on a radiator or dryer.

vaudiss · 05-31-2010, 01:34 AM

Originally Posted by Jan in CA

I'm not sure putting anything cloth would be a good idea on a radiator or dryer.

I'm gonna get in trouble...you can't put clothes in the dryer??? or cloth??? ummm

Ok not on the radiator and if you are going to put it in the dryer make sure that the bag CANNOT break...seams or any other part. Rice in the dryer=BAD. And make sure no part is plastic. Just because the ziploc type plastic doesn't meltin the microwave doens't mean the dryer is safe (things not to ask about)

GinnyG · 05-31-2010, 01:57 AM

The rice bags can be FROZEN and used the same way as heated bag. Often a cold pack is actually more theraputic than a hot. I use cherry pit pillows for neck pain and I keep one in the freezer and one out so I can use it hot or cold.

Crycket · 05-31-2010, 04:35 AM

Ah so it is rice in those bags...what kind of rice?

Jan in CA · 05-31-2010, 04:51 AM

Originally Posted by vaudiss

I'm gonna get in trouble...you can't put clothes in the dryer??? or cloth??? ummm

Yeah, I mean because of the rice especially, but dryers are made for clothing..radiators not so much.

cftwo · 06-03-2010, 04:05 PM

Cryket - mine smells like plain white rice. If you use brown, you have added oils that can go rancid unless they are kept cool, so I'd advise against using brown rice.

Sewing Angel · 06-03-2010, 05:03 PM

I make mine using regular white rice. I make them to sell at craft shows. I have used lots of different things over the years and I think the rice holds up the best. I also use feed corn and it seems to hold up well also. Flax was not my favorite, as I felt it went rancid pretty fast.
I have heard of people wrapping them in foil and heating them in the oven. I have never tried it, so I have no idea how it would work. It seems like it would need to heat at a pretty low temperature, may 250 or so.

OffJumpsJack · 06-03-2010, 10:03 PM

Well does the oven go as low as 150 deg. F ?

250 F would be hot enough to steam the bag. If the foil is sealed around the rice bag then the moisture would be retained and less likely to scorch the cloth.

I have no idea at what temperature cloth (or rice) would ignite. I think I remember paper (like books) burn at 451 F (If you can trust the book title).

Can you moisten the rice bag before freezing or heating?

Any special preparation of the bag used to enclose the rice? Or preparation of the rice?

Oh, why not put it in a ziplock or other self sealing bag and warm it in a pot of water on the cook top? Then you can remove it from the heat when the water is very warm but not yet scalding temp (102 to 108 F)

*the human pain threshold is around 106-108� F[1]