Rice pounder

The device has similar functionality to a mortar and pestle, but with more mechanical advantage to conserve labor.

Rice is dehulled by continually raising and then dropping the heavy head or pestle of the pounder into a block or mortar.

Some rice pounders are foot-operated; the head is raised by standing on the handle of the device past its fulcrum (similar to a see-saw).

Once raised, the user quickly steps off of the handle, allowing the heavy head to fall into the mortar and pulverize its contents.

This is because it preserves the brown rice coating that is perceived as a healthy part.