{"id":2638,"date":"2015-04-27T03:54:25","date_gmt":"2015-04-26T18:54:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.fromjapan.co.jp\/en\/?p=2638"},"modified":"2019-07-03T14:48:47","modified_gmt":"2019-07-03T05:48:47","slug":"6-must-have-japanese-kitchen-gadgets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.fromjapan.co.jp\/en\/japanese-culture\/6-must-have-japanese-kitchen-gadgets.html","title":{"rendered":"6 Must-Have Japanese Kitchen Gadgets"},"content":{"rendered":"

Intro to Japanese Kitchen Gadgets<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Japanese<\/p>\n

The man arm pillows, heated toilet seats, sushi bag covers \u2026 we\u2019ve all heard of these bizarre, yet actually (kind of) useful items. And we secretly want all of them. Well, if Japan can make ingenious inventions for the bedroom and bathroom, there\u2019s no reason why it can\u2019t for the kitchen\u2014and it did. Here are some top must-have gadgets!<\/p>\n

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Takoyaki Maker<\/h2>\n

Piping hot, delightfully gooey little spheres of batter mixed with bits of octopus, slathered in a savory and tangy sauce, and topped with bonito flakes … drool-inducing bliss\u2014and that, ladies and gentlemen, is what Osaka\u2019s beloved takoyaki<\/i> (literally, \u201cfried octopus\u201d) is. Hungry? Well, it turns out you don\u2019t have to be in Osaka (or even Japan) to fill up on these heavenly bite-size balls. That\u2019s right, the Gods have gifted humanity with the electric takoyaki machine! Rejoice.<\/p>\n

\"Takoyaki<\/p>\n

All you have to do is plug it in, turn it on, and get cooking. Really, it\u2019s that<\/i> simple. In just minutes, you could be reliving that unforgettable moment you had in Osaka\u2014with the added fun of poking and turning your own takoyaki. Don\u2019t worry if you can\u2019t get it perfectly round the first time; the great takoyaki Senseis didn\u2019t master the art in one night, Little Grasshopper.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\"Takoyaki<\/p>\n

For those of you concerned about the compatibility of the electricity plug and voltage, there\u2019s also the takoyaki pan, which can be plopped right on top of the stove. These pans can whip up a serving or two faster than the electric machines\u2014especially when used on a gas range.<\/p>\n

\"Takoyaki\"<\/p>\n

What’s even cooler about these Takoyaki pans and machines is that they even double as an aebleskiver pan! The above pancake balls were made from an electric Takoyaki machine<\/p>\n

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Search for Takoyaki Maker<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n

Taiyaki Pan & Machine<\/h2>\n

\"Taiyaki<\/p>\n

The takoyaki maker is a standard home appliance in Osaka (and other prefectures of Western Japan), but this groovy appliance isn\u2019t as common. Presenting you the taiyaki<\/i> (\u201cgrilled red snapper\u201d) machine. Taiyaki are hot, fish-shaped pancakes filled with sweet azuki (red bean) paste. The best ones are crispy on the outside and moist on the inside\u2014and now you can make these delightful homemade fish pancakes from the comfort of your own kitchen (with or without pants on).<\/p>\n

The taiyaki machines look just like a hot panini press, and all you have to do is pour the batter in, scoop the bean paste on, close the machine, and voila, a freshly baked taiyaki! Needless to say, repeat steps as many times as necessary. As many times…<\/p>\n

\"Taiyaki<\/p>\n

Like the takoyaki maker, for those living in areas that don\u2019t support the 100V voltage, there\u2019s always the taiyaki pan. These pans are self explanatory. Just plop it on the stove, fill it up and cook away. Remember to turn the pan halfway through for an evenly cooked little fishy.<\/p>\n

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Search for Taiyaki Pan & Machine<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n

Nagashi Somen Machine<\/h2>\n

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Read it exactly as it\u2019s written: Na-ga-shi So-men. It\u2019s a mouthful\u2014of delicious somen noodles, that is! Somen are thin wheat noodles that are usually eaten cold during the hot summer months. In nagashi somen, small portions of somen are released down a slanted bamboo chute water slide. The fun part is that diners have to catch these noodles as they zoom by.<\/p>\n

There are several restaurants throughout Japan that offer this service during the summer, but for those living far away, there\u2019s always the motorized home appliance version of it. No surprises there, right? This little nifty machine may not seem like a necessity, but it sure is during the muggy summers when you don\u2019t feel like eating anything \u2026 unless they\u2019re sliding down a giant slide or floating along in a lazy river. Caution: this requires some mad chopstick skills and excellent hand-eye coordination.<\/p>\n

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Search for Nagashi Somen Machine<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n

Kirin Battery Powered Frozen Beer<\/h2>\n

\"Kirin<\/p>\n

Yes, frozen beer. There\u2019s nothing like a mug of cold beer on a humid summer day \u2026 unless, of course, it\u2019s a mug of super cold beer with frozen head on top. This Frozen Beer machine is, without a doubt, Kirin\u2019s greatest invention yet. It\u2019s battery-operated (C batteries), compact and portable, so you can showcase it on your minibar, bring it into your man cave or bust it out at any barbecue party. All you need is some table salt, ice and your favourite brewski, and within minutes you\u2019ll have 600 ml (approximately 20 oz) of delicious beer slushie.<\/p>\n

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Search for Frozen Beer Machine<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n

Rice Cooker<\/h2>\n

\"Rice<\/p>\n

Simply calling it a \u201crice cooker\u201d really doesn\u2019t do these Japanese rice cookers justice. Because, yes, they cook rice, but they also do so much more. With a digital display that offers an elaborate menu of functions, this one machine is worth every penny you spend. You can set the timer so that your rice will be ready when you get home; bake a cake or a loaf of bread; and there\u2019s also a setting for cooking brown rice. Once the rice is ready, the rice cooker will let you know by beeping and chiming pleasant little tunes. Rumor has it that the newest model of rice cookers even allows you to set how soft you want the rice to be. What?! It\u2019s like you pay for a rice cooker, and get a little chef.<\/p>\n

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Search for Rice Cooker<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n

Mochi Maker<\/h2>\n