If you are just getting started or even a veteran of Japanese cooking, here are 8 cooking items that could be game changers for your kitchen.
1. Japanese Mortar & Pestle
This pair of tools has been used to make dishes delicious since the Stone Age, yet still does wonders today. At some point in Japanese history, the original design was greatly improved upon allowing for ingredients to grind and mix better together thanks to the ridges carved into the mortar. Mortar and pestles are still often preferred in modern times despite the inventions of clunky blenders and food processors as they are smaller, simpler, lighter and thus noticeably faster to just grab off the shelf and use on the fly when you are in the mood to cook. Using a mortar and pestle is also known to be considerably less headache inducing as relatively little to no noise and racket will be produced compared to those machines with tangled power cords stored in the back of your cabinets. They are also notably easier, faster and safer to clean than blenders and food processors notorious for lots of small and sharp parts, which allows for a pleasant surprise of having more time to rest at the end of your day. But most importantly, using a mortar and pestle to grind sesame seeds, spices, and herbs create a decidedly wonderful aroma and taste from the way ingredients will get mashed and mixed together against the ridges. So though seemingly a simple and crude tool by first glance, we really can’t recommend including one in your kitchen enough.
2. Japanese Omelet Pan
Until now, you may have gotten by with a conventional frying pan to make regular omelets and scrambled eggs but good luck making tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelets) or omurice (Japanese rice omelets) without a Japanese omelet pan. The first key secret to these pans is the fact they are constructed out of copper. This particular material is critical because it allows for the egg to heat up quickly and evenly which results in easy to flip and lovingly fluffed up omelets and tamagoyaki. Particularly when cooking tamagoyaki, you can take advantage of the square shape of the pan and use the wooden lid with the same shape to achieve the authentic form factor of the dish just as you would see in a Japanese restaurant. Without a doubt, this item is an absolute must for Japanese omelets and tamagoyaki.
3. Wasabi Grater
Grating wasabi means you get to finally taste the luxury of real wasabi, which is surprisingly rare in the United States as of the date of this posting. Yes, it is indeed a very sad but true fact, but even in the fancy restaurants that serve it, what you’re really getting with this so-called “wasabi” stuff that typically comes in a tube is a curious mixture of things like green food coloring, horseradish and spicy mustard! The taste of freshly grated real wasabi is soft and mild compared to the tubed product you’ll find in the grocery stores that often just has the name “wasabi” slapped on the packaging. Yet despite this difference in flavor, freshly grated wasabi still produces a strong, distinct and much loved aroma. It is sure to enhance the flavor of your Japanese cooking by giving it an authentic edge but requires this specialized grater that notably can be used to grate not only wasabi but also ginger and garlic as well. The only problem is after experiencing the real deal you will likely have a hard time returning to the old tubed stuff, however, if you really are after the delight of authentic Japanese flavor then grab one of these and start grating to enjoy the real taste of wasabi!
4. Miso Strainer
Not getting the taste you imagined with your miso soup at home? Are you finally getting tired of the “instant miso” that is not even a fraction as tasty as what you remember in the Japanese restaurants? Well, worry no longer as the solution just lies in owning a decent miso strainer. Of course, you’ll also need a good miso recipe and to maybe finally graduate from instant miso, but what a miso strainer is going to allow you to do is properly dissolve the miso paste and keep it from getting lumpy. Using it will efficiently and effectively dissolve the miso, resulting in a balanced and delicious flavor in your soup. You are probably starting to see the pattern here. When it comes to Japanese cooking, having the right tools in your kitchen for the dish you plan to make will make the task exponentially easier!
5. Sushi Rice Mixing Tub
This is not just a tub and you’re going to make life much easier with one of these if you are planning to make sushi at home. Wooden sushi tubs absorb just the right amount of moisture from the rice, so the sushi rice does not get soggy (and we definitely know soggy rice is not Japanese rice so this alone is pretty crucial!). You basically take advantage of the surface area and walls of the tub to mix rice and vinegar when making rice for sushi. As you can tell by the design, this is indeed a method and tool used from the beginning of sushi-making in Japan so instead of digging through your shelves and storage at home for some makeshift solution that likely won’t get the results you want, just use one of these and enjoy the best taste you’ll be able to get out of your own sushi rice at home!
6. Tea Pot Strainer
A decent tea pot strainer (there are many out there but please check out ours) is the only way to go for getting the optimal results out of your Japanese tea. For the right taste and gaining all the benefits the tea you are drinking is known to offer, you’ll need it to have a strainer with evenly distributed mesh which will allow for the tea leaves to mix well. A strainer with very fine yet sturdy wire mesh will prevent the leaves from escaping and possibly decreasing the quality of your tea. Tea pot strainers are ideal for all kinds of tea from herbal to Japanese blends. These are basically a must-have item for enjoying the same standards of tea quality found in Japan.
7. Sushi Rolling Mat
Sushi rolling mats made of bamboo look nice in your kitchen but also feel great on your fingers. You’ll certainly need one of these to get your sushi to have the right shape and taste. If you were making sushi any other way, this might be the item you need to upgrade your sushi and help you make it more efficiently. For those getting started learning about the art of making sushi, you’ll find having one of these will give you a serious leg up on your progress as these are indeed what the pros are also using. Sushi rolling mats also will come in handy for making nori rolls and datemaki.
8. Adjustable Cooking Drop Lid
This particular type of drop lid has a unique sliding mechanism which allows it to resize to fit various pot sizes. But for those who have no idea what a drop lid even does, they are basically lids that go inside the pot rather than over it and hold down the ingredients so they stay in place and won’t move around or crumble as they cook. It also improves heat efficiency and reduces cooking time. When cooking with a drop lid, the space inside the pot becomes smaller and the broth or sauce flows against it. This allows the flavors to soak into the ingredients evenly, resulting in a delicious dish. The holes in the lid of this adjustable version allow steam to escape and the lid can be lifted by the ring in the middle. For those planning to make Japanese simmered fish, ramen, simmered pumpkin, or stews such as “nikujaga” (Japanese meat and potato stew), you’ll want to have one of these.
Thank you for reading
Of course, there are many more items we can't wait to tell you about but this time we limited it to just 8 for now. Definitely stay tuned for more posts like this in the near future. if you enjoyed this article, please let us know in the comments below and we'd love to see you on the TIKUSAN Facebook and Instagram channels so don't forget to follow us over there too for more great information on Japanese cooking! See you next time.