Cook Japanese Food at Home! Top 8 Innovative Kitchen Appliances

After your trip to Japan, it's now easier to enjoy authentic Japanese meals at home! We'll introduce eight kitchen appliances that make it easy to host a Japanese cuisine party in the comfort of your abode.

Japanese Cooking Appliances

1. Chicken Yakitori Grill
2. Takoyaki Maker
3. Kushiyaki Fryer
4. Yakiniku Grill and Shabu-Shabu Pot
5. Sushi Hand Roll Maker
6. Conveyor Belt Sushi Maker
7. Tabletop Flow Noodle Maker
8. Japanese Shaved Ice Machine

1. Chicken Yakitori Grill

A chicken yakitori restaurant, where the scent of charcoal-grilled chicken skewers fills the air, is undoubtedly a must-visit Japanese gourmet spot when traveling to Japan.

Apart from savoring various parts of chicken grilled over charcoal, including the charred aroma from grilling, the skillful artistry of chefs flipping and basting the skewers is also a highlight of the yakitori experience.

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To recreate the ambiance of a chicken yakitori restaurant at home, I recommend purchasing an electric "Chicken Yakitori Grill" that can hold three to five skewers at once.

With its compact size, which doesn't take up much table space, and the electric grilling method, you can enjoy yakitori without the smoke. This appliance allows you to choose your favorite cuts of chicken to create skewers, grilling them to your desired level for a personalized yakitori experience.

2. Takoyaki Maker

Takoyaki, the beloved national dish of the Kansai region, has been the subject of an interesting survey on a Japanese variety show.

It revealed that people from Osaka begin making takoyaki by hand from as young as four years old. A takoyaki do-it-yourself grilling plate is considered an essential household appliance in Osaka.

Picture courtesy of Bruno
As the saying goes, "A craftsman must sharpen his tools first" to perfectly replicate the essence of takoyaki. You must start by acquiring a takoyaki maker that has been popular in the Kansai region of Japan for many years.

Additionally, it is recommended to prepare ingredients such as batter, octopus, green onions, pickled red ginger, mayonnaise, and tonkatsu sauce to immediately experience the joy of flipping takoyaki.

In recent years, the versatile Bruno grilling plate has gained popularity in Japan since it replaces the single-purpose takoyaki grilling plate with its wide range of functionalities.

3. Kushiyaki Fryer

Fried skewers, alongside okonomiyaki and takoyaki, are known as the three iconic foods of Osaka, serving as popular street eats that quickly satisfied the working class during the Showa Era.

This dish involves cutting meat, seafood, vegetables, and other ingredients into bite-sized pieces. Then, you skewer them on bamboo sticks, coat them with a thick batter, and deep-fry them in oil. The crispy texture of the batter, the juicy fillings, the savory sauce adding flavorful depth, and the refreshing touch of cabbage harmoniously create an irresistible treat.

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If you wish to enjoy the pleasure of frying skewers at home, we recommend an easy-to-clean electric deep fryer. Its compact size allows you to place it conveniently on your dining table.

The grooves in the fryer are designed to hold the skewers, enabling you to quickly enjoy the golden and crispy fried skewers straight from the fryer.

4. Yakiniku Grill and Shabu-Shabu Pot

Japanese yakiniku uses a charcoal grill called "shichirin" to coax oils from the sliced meat, creating a charred aroma on the surface.

Alternatively, Japanese shabu-shabu uses thinly sliced meat and swishes it in a savory broth, emphasizing the pure flavors of the ingredients with the clear broth. Whether it's yakiniku or shabu-shabu, both are must-try Japanese cuisines when visiting Japan.

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If you wish to enjoy these Japanese delicacies at home, I recommend using a grill and hotpot set that serves yakiniku and shabu-shabu.

With its electric power source, you can barbecue indoors without the inconvenience of smoke. The hotpot section features dividers, allowing you to enjoy two different types of broth simultaneously. This set is a must-have centerpiece for hosting Japanese cuisine gatherings during winter months.

5. Temaki Sushi Maker

Photo by Pixta
When savoring sushi in Japan, one of the must-try dishes is the hand roll, also known as "temaki." A long seaweed sheet wraps ingredients such as vinegared rice, cucumber, shredded egg, and fish slices.

With each bite, the seafood ingredients enveloped by the seaweed offer a multi-dimensional texture and burst of fresh seafood flavor that tantalizes the taste buds.

Photo by Amazon
Now, you can easily create your desired hand rolls with a hand roll maker. Arrange the ingredients of your choice in the maker, rotate the rolling rod to shape them into a cylindrical form, and then wrap them in the outer layer of seaweed.

The hand roll maker has a toy-like and adorable appearance alongside its effortless and straightforward process. Sushi hand rolls will be a hit for kids and adults at home.

6. Conveyor Belt Sushi Maker

Rotating sushi, also known as conveyor belt sushi, has shattered the notion of sushi being expensive and exclusive. Apart from its affordability, the variety of seafood options available often surpasses those found in traditional sushi restaurants.

In recent years, conveyor belt sushi places have expanded their offerings to include ramen, fried foods, and cakes to cater to various tastes among diners. Due to its versatility and broad appeal, conveyor belt sushi has become an indispensable dining choice in the daily lives of many Japanese people.

Photo by Amazon
To recreate the atmosphere of conveyor belt sushi at home, we recommend purchasing a rotating sushi plate. Various types of rotating plates are available online, ranging from sushi bar-style designs to Ferris wheel-inspired structures.

Placing homemade sushi on a colorful and cute rotating plate will make meal times more enjoyable during family gatherings.

7. Tabletop Flow Noodle Maker

Gathering around a bamboo canal, eagerly awaiting the flow of chilled noodles, is a familiar summer scene in Japan, where families enjoy a relaxed atmosphere. However, constructing a framework to support the flowing noodles on bamboo can be challenging.

It involves purchasing bamboo, cutting it into appropriate lengths with a saw, and securely fastening the bamboo strips at waist height using cotton ropes—a process that can be pretty labor-intensive and sweat-inducing.

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Why not opt for a tabletop flow noodle machine for an easy way to enjoy the refreshing experience of flowing noodles?

Nowadays, many online stores offer a variety of whimsical machines, ranging from ones shaped like swimming pool slides to those featuring printed cartoon characters on a rotating plate. You can choose a model based on your family's preferences to enhance your enjoyment on hot summer days.

8. Japanese Shaved Ice Machine

Shaved ice is a quintessential treat for cooling off in the summer. Aside from the shaved ice in Taiwan, toppings like chewy pearls, taro balls, peanuts, red beans, and other ingredients are essential for a satisfying experience.

On the other hand, Japanese shaved ice, known as "kakigori," focuses more on presenting a refreshing taste during the sweltering summer months. Therefore, the syrups used are vibrant and colorful, giving a visually stunning appearance.

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There has been a nostalgic trend among Japanese homemade shaved ice machines in recent years. While these machines feature fully automated blades to produce fluffy shaved ice effortlessly, they often incorporate retro elements from the Taisho and Showa eras in their design.

This blend of modern functionality and vintage aesthetics allows users to enjoy delicious shaved ice and appreciate the visual appeal that the machine brings to the experience.

Enjoy Cooking Japanese Food at Home!

Many people cannot satisfy their desire to indulge in Japanese cuisine due to time, family, work, etc.

If this describes you, why not start by purchasing these kitchen appliances to quickly satisfy that slight regret in your heart to indulge in Japanese meals at home?

Main image by Pixta