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ricer

A ricer is a kitchen tool used to create rice-like grains from cooked potatoes or other soft foods. A typical manual ricer consists of a perforated plate and a matching plunger housed in a hopper; the cooked food is forced through the holes to produce small, delicate strands resembling grains of rice. Ricers are made from materials such as stainless steel or cast iron and come in various hole sizes, which affect the texture from fluffy to more compact. Electric ricers or ricer attachments for stand mixers also exist. While most commonly used for potatoes to make light mashed potatoes or potato puree, ricers can also process cauliflower, squash, or fruits for specific textures. They are valued for speed, uniform texture, and minimal lumps, and are commonly used in homes, restaurants, and catering.

The term ricer has other, unrelated meanings. In some contexts, it functions as a pejorative slur for

people
of
East
Asian
descent,
a
usage
deemed
offensive
and
inappropriate.
In
automotive
and
car-modification
slang,
"ricer"
or
"rice"
refers
to
a
person
who
adds
inexpensive
or
exaggerated
cosmetic
or
performance
upgrades
to
imitate
high-performance
vehicles;
this
usage
can
be
insulting
and
is
part
of
broader
debates
about
automotive
culture.
Given
these
non-culinary
senses,
the
word
is
considered
sensitive
and
should
be
used
carefully
or
avoided
when
referring
to
people.