A packet of instant noodles containing those yellowish curls is a child’s first love, a college kid’s best friend, a busy employee’s quick hunger fix, and an object of nostalgia for many of us. Nearly all of us have eaten them in a myriad of ways and have many memories associated with this quick and filling dish. Today’s question is: can you eat ramen raw? I would say “yes,” and there’s no harm in doing that, although our parents, teachers, and several other people have told us not to. You can safely eat instant ramen noodles without worrying about any dire consequences. Instant noodles are t ..read more

The humble ketchup that we find in almost every kitchen and on every dining table and restaurant table across the world has gone through numerous makeovers over the centuries. It most likely, as far as folks have been able to determine, has its origin as the briny fish sauce of Asia, and it then migrated to Europe in the 1600s. The original word for this condiment was “ke-tsiap” or “koe-chiap,” and soon there were cultural adaptations of the word, leading to many variations (including our most recognized version: “ketchup”). While ketchup is predominantly made of tomatoes, it may also contain ..read more

If you are a fan of Japanese food, you likely want to try the various noodle options in every possible concoction. One of my favorites is Japanese yakisoba, a Chinese-styled buckwheat noodles mixed with pork belly, diced meat, and veggies. Yakisoba is often tossed with a thick and sweet sauce, such as standard yakisoba sauce or even tonkatsu. People often ask, “Can you use yakisoba noodles for ramen?” The simple answer is yes. It’s perfectly fine to use yakisoba noodles for making ramen. These noodles are packaged after steaming; hence, they are much simpler and easier to cook. You typically ..read more

If you are a ramen lover and someone asks you what makes it a favorite, you will probably say it’s due to the umami flavor without even batting an eye. Have you ever wondered what gives that unique umami flavor to your much-loved delicacy, though? Many people have wondered about this question: do ramen shops in Japan use MSG? The answer is yes in almost all cases. Most of the ramen shops in Japan add small amounts of MSG as an ingredient to their soups, so MSG may either be added as one would simply do with any other seasoning, or it may come from the seaweed or other MSG-containing ingredien ..read more

Japan has a food culture to die for! If you ask anybody that has visited Japan, they will tell you that trying street food is a must on your travel itinerary. Needless to say, there’s no better way to explore and indulge in the local Japanese culture. No matter what time of the day you go out, expect to find hundreds of vendors packed on the streets. If you are lucky, you may even get to be a part of the several festivals that take place yearly . Whether you are on a short business trip or a long relaxing holiday, make sure you try all or at least some of these 13 street foods in Japan. They ..read more

If you are a fan of Japanese cuisine then why not prepare your meals in the traditional method followed by the people for centuries. They use cast iron cookware for various good reasons that include keeping the food healthy and ensuring the durability of your utensils. The connection between Japan and cast iron products dates back to the end of the 17th century when the Nambu Clan called artisans from Kyoto to create tea kettles, iron armor, and pots from cast iron. These items became precious items gifted to the nobility of that time and their production helped the country economically. Toda ..read more

A kitchen is incomplete without a really sharp set of knives that can accomplish all types of cutting, chopping, slicing, and dicing tasks with ease. When talking about knives, the first thing that comes to mind is Japanese Gyutou, but there are several other varieties available. The best Japanese knife set is made from the finest quality steel that is lighter and thinner than a European knife and holds a much better edge. Interestingly, the different styles of knives in Japan are known by different names such as Yanagiba, Nakiri, Bunka, Deba, Santoku, and Cleaver. The unique feature of Japan ..read more

If you are a chef or you have a chef in you, then you know how indispensable a knife is for the profession. When it comes to choosing knives, the name of Japanese Sakai Takayuki Knives stands tall as they have a rich 600-year history to celebrate. These knives come from Sakai, a city that is regarded as the home of cutlery and they are much sought after by the chefs in Japan. The most unique feature of Sakai Takayuki Knives is the sharp-durable edge created by careful forging and polishing the edges using the timeless-traditional technology. Sakai Takayuki is known as the largest maker of kni ..read more

Are you a meat lover? Do you like chicken more than anything else? Then you certainly need a good boning knife – a Japanese poultry knife to be particular. Well, today we are going to help you choose the best honesuki knife that works great on meat, poultry, and fish. The typical honesuki knife features a small and short blade with a distinctive, triangular shape and single-beveled with a taper on the tip. More of the knife weight is closer to your hand and unique design points towards making this knife an efficient tool for deboning. The fine, light part of the knife is easy to maneuver whil ..read more

Have you ever walked into a professional kitchen and awed at the chefs skillfully moving their knives to slice and dice like a dream? Well, half of that credit goes to the best Japanese Cleaver they use. This is what you need to perform jobs like preparing the perfect beef steak or chopping a whole chicken. The Japanese are known around the world for their precision and intelligence, and their knife is no less. Nothing comes close to the precision delivered by a cleaver when you need to chop, dice, or slice veggies and meat. Their distinctive features, sharp edges, and sheer efficiency put th ..read more