Like us on Facebook to see similar stories, Raking leaves again this fall? Is someone listening to everything you say? How to decontaminate an N95 mask in an Instant Pot. Back in February, before coronavirus lockdowns began to sweep across the United States, researchers at Chung Shan Medical University in Taiwan experimented with a variety of possible sterilization methods for N95 respirators. The team put the viruses on the mask’s strap, inside edge, inside center, outside edge and outside center. The video also notes that several masks can be disinfected inside the cooker at one time. This video illustrates how it can be done from the comfort of your own home. With one of these gadgets, it’s easy to make tasty veggie plates, fall-off-the-bone meats and mouthwatering stews in minutes. Reach out today to ask your digital question. Researchers at the University of Illinois have demonstrated a new, easy way to decontaminate 3M’s disposable N95 masksfor reuse: Put the mask in an electric cooker. For successful decontamination, 3M states the method has to inactivate the target virus, not cause damage to filtration ability, not affect fit, and not leave behind potentially harmful chemicals for the wearer. The fact that you can clean multiple masks at once also means that it’s more effective than UV-light treatment. After 20 cycles of 50 minute dry heat treatments in the pressure cooker, the efficiency only dropped to 95 percent. It can be a rice cooker … N-95 respirators. All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. But the way that Instant Pot cooks is also perfect for eliminating germs on face masks like the N95, which is one of the safest and most popular masks you can buy. If you haven’t bought an Instant Pot yet, now’s the perfect time. (Water boils at 212°F, so it’s the temperature at which you cook rice.) In addition to my bylines with NASA, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and the American Institute of Physics, I break down complex science topics for people of all ages. You can also use an oven if you don’t have a countertop cooker. shows how they may be decontaminated for reuse, using kitchen appliances. For cloth masks, hand-wash or use the washing machine. Pressure cookers don’t just cook food either. If you’d like to try the technique yourself, all you need is a cooker, a paper or cloth towel, and the right setting. No water is poured into the pot at any time; the sterilization requires a completely dry cycle. Impact 50: Investors Seeking Profit — And Pushing For Change. Recommendations are not part of any business incentives. Pretty cool right? You might even be on my show! The catch is that most ovens won’t let you target 212°F specifically, the way a cooker will. However, dry heating them in a rice cooker effectively sterilized the masks while causing the least amount of damage to filtration of any other tested method. A team from the University of Illinois found that pressure cookers, which are capable of maintaining a high temperature for long periods of time, are able to decontaminate multiple N95 masks … You might not have thought that Instant Pot was something you could “hack,” but leave it to the creative geniuses of the internet to come up with these awesome accessories you can pick up for your very own Instant Pot at home. That means you may have to settle for 200° or 225°, but the researchers warn that if you go hotter than 212°F, you could hurt the mask. Researchers at the University of Illinois have demonstrated a new, easy way to decontaminate 3M’s disposable N95 masks for reuse: Put the mask in an electric cooker. Go cooler, and it could take longer to sterilize. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window). When heating a mask, do not place it at the bottom of the cooker, where temperatures are high, he said, … I break down complex science topics for people of all ages. Meanwhile, components such as the elastic headband stayed intact. The Kim Komando Show ® and all material pertaining thereto is a Registered Trademark / Servicemark: No. Stop right now, Houston Chef Chris Shepherd's Southern Smoke Has Raised $3,361,772 for Restaurant Workers in Need Right Now. In July, scientists from Case Western Reserve University wrote about their results from using a rice cooker a decontamination tool. Once that was done, they sealed the lid and set a cooking cycle that would maintain 212°F for 50 minutes. The Instant Pot is a pressure cooker that uses steam and pressure to give your meals heat without skimping on flavor. Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. Naturally, when it comes to cooking at home, you can’t go wrong with adding some kitchen tech like the critically acclaimed Instant Pot to your life. After 20 cycles of 50 minute dry heat treatments in the pressure cooker, the efficiency only dropped to 95 percent. The solution to mitigate the risk posed by reuse may be found in an unexpected place — your kitchen! America's Digital Goddess ® and all material pertaining thereto is a Registered Trademark / Servicemark: No. Taiwan’s Health Minister Chen Shih-chung even promoted the rice cooker method by demonstrating it at a Central Epidemic Command Center press conference in April. – And again: read and follow the safety instructions that come with the pressure cooker. You can even use your oven. When the cooker has reached 15 psi, the right temperature has been reached and you can turn down the gas. Each mask had a calculated fit factor of greater than 100 — a passing grade for the test. Looking for even more gadgets to compliment your Instant Pot? In one package, you’ll get steamer baskets, an egg steamer, egg beaters and more. The researchers used a Faberware pressure cooker — a relatively inexpensive and common appliance — for the experiments. This dehydrating rack from Goldlion fits perfectly in your Instant Pot and will let you create delicious dry treats like jerky, chips and more. Just remember that, unlike just about everything else you cook in an Instant Pot, you don’t add water. Navigating the digital world can be intimidating and sometimes downright daunting. To ensure the 20 cycles of treatment had not … Any and all other material herein is protected by Copyright © 1995 - 2021 WestStar MultiMedia Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved. On the Farberware, the setting reads “P03.” Researchers tell us that’s a setting for cooking rice, which makes sense. This is especially important considering that UV-light has been the preferred option, with other methods usually destroying the masks. By clicking our links, you’re supporting our research, as we may earn a very small commission. And for the chef who wants it all, this accessory pack from Aiduy includes a range of kitchen gadgets that all work in-sync with your Instant Pot. To ensure the 20 cycles of treatment had not significantly altered the fit of the respirators, the researchers put the treated masks through rigorous fit testing. The Department of Homeland Security published a video on YouTube to explain the process. Delete your personal information from this scary site now! A team from the University of Illinois found that pressure cookers, which are capable of maintaining a high temperature for long periods of time, are able to decontaminate multiple N95 masks at once from the inside-out. To combat a shortage of these masks during the Covid-19 pandemic, new research ... [+] shows how they may be decontaminated for reuse, using kitchen appliances. Step 1: Bag the Masks. Before becoming a writer I graduated with a degree in physics from Syracuse University where I worked as an assistant in high energy physics and astrophysics laboratories. The study comes after months of PPE shortages in the United States, leading scientists to search for methods of decontaminating N95 masks, among them: using a microwave to steam the masks, though that technique may require you to source a few extra supplies to do the job. So how exactly do you sterilize an N95 in an electric cooker? They found each virus tested was inactivated by at least 99.9 percent over the course of the treatment.