Convenient and clean: making the most of enamelware (hōrō)

Getting to know enamelware (hōrō)

Enamelware, or hōrō, is a material made by coating a metal base such as iron or aluminum with a glassy glaze and then firing it at high temperature.

This is an extremely old technique, with Tutankhamun's golden mask being a famous example. The mask's base was gold and silver, coated with crushed minerals melted into a glaze and then fired. This is what's known as "shippō-yaki" (cloisonné enamel).

Shippō-yaki and hōrō share the same basic structure, but
・shippō-yaki as a work of art
・hōrō as a practical, everyday item
is the general impression people have.

The technique of fusing a glass glaze onto metal arrived in Japan during the Asuka period, brought over in the form of Buddhist ritual implements. However, it was only in the past 130 years or so that hōrō became rooted in Japanese daily life as pots and containers. Large storage containers and washbasins used in hospitals were once common—hōrō used to be a far more everyday material than it is now.

Hōrō, an excellent material

Because hōrō is glassy in nature, it offers a great many advantages.

・Resists absorbing odors and stains
・Resistant to acid, salt, and rust, so it lasts a long time
・Prevents the growth of bacteria
・Can be written on directly with an oil-based pen

Here are the specifics.

Resists absorbing odors and stains
・・・With plastic containers, curry or meat sauce can leave stains that are hard to remove, and kimchi's strong smell can make you hesitant to use the container for the next ingredient. With hōrō, none of that is a concern.

Resistant to acid, salt, and rust, so it lasts a long time
・・・There's no problem storing pickles, umeboshi (pickled plums), jam, and other foods for long periods.

Prevents the growth of bacteria
・・・Because it stays clean and prevents bacteria from multiplying, it's less likely to alter the flavor, taste, or quality of food.

Can be written on directly with a pen

You can write directly on hōrō with a pen and later erase it. In that case, it's safer to use a whiteboard marker. Alternatively, we recommend writing a note on masking tape and sticking that on instead. It looks cute, and it peels off cleanly without leaving any odd residue.

Looking at these points, it's easy to see why hōrō is a material you'll want to put to full use in the kitchen.

A star performer in the kitchen

Now that we know a bit more about hōrō, let's actually try out Noda Horo's White Series and report on how it feels to use. Noda Horo's White Series is a remarkable set that lets you handle prep, cooking, serving, and storage all with the same piece.

※ What is Noda Horo?
A long-established enamelware maker founded in 1934. Skilled craftspeople continue to make easy-to-use, functional enamelware products entirely by hand. Enamelware production involves many steps, and Noda Horo maintains its high quality by handling everything, from mold-making onward, in its own factory.

As the name suggests, Noda Horo's White Series consists of beautifully white enamel containers. Food and dishes really stand out against them. Let's start by looking at some standard ways to use them.

For example, for storing prepared dishes or leftovers. Cook in batches on the weekend and store them in hōrō containers. Since bacteria have a hard time multiplying in it, it's ideal for long-term storage. When it's time to eat, you can bring it straight to the table and it still looks beautiful. If you want to reheat it, you can place it directly over an open flame. (Not microwave-safe.)

Or use it for food prep. It works well as a temporary holding spot for cut ingredients, or as a staging area for frying. It's also handy to cut your vegetables ahead of time, put them in the container, and leave everything ready so all that's left to do is cook.

You can also cook something and store it directly in the same container. How about, for instance, simmering fruit with sugar to make jam? Once it's cooled, you can put the whole hōrō container straight into the fridge, so there's no extra dish to wash.

The square-shaped ones also work wonderfully as bento boxes. Hōrō resists the growth of bacteria and is quite durable.

Since it cools quickly, it also makes a great tray for jelly or marinades. Hōrō has good heat conductivity, so it cools down fast once placed in the refrigerator. That makes it perfect for cutting down the chilling time when making jelly or marinated dishes.

And oven cooking becomes easy too. Hōrō can be used both over an open flame and in the oven. Pound cake, pudding, and other oven-baked dishes are simple to make with hōrō. You can even make extra gratin on the weekend, freeze it in the hōrō container, and then pop it straight into the oven to cook when you're ready to eat.

※ Noda Horo's White Series can be frozen with the sealing lid still on. Just remove the lid before heating or cooking over a flame or in the oven.

Other enamelware brands worth knowing

We also recommend enamelware products from brands other than Noda Horo. These tend to lean more toward being cooking tools.

FALCON
An English enamelware brand with roughly 100 years of history, born as tableware for making traditional pies. In the search for dishes that were heat-resistant, durable, and could go straight from oven to table, they arrived at enamelware as the ideal material.

Plate Dish Set
A set of four easy-to-use plates, each 24cm in diameter. They're perfect for serving spaghetti with meat sauce like something out of a foreign film, a hearty curry loaded with vegetables and chunks of meat, or even a one-plate breakfast with salad, a fried egg, and sausages. This plate dish set comes in a size that's useful no matter how many you have on hand.

Pot
A teapot with an utterly charming, plump form and a beautifully curved spout. Its shape is close to conical, with a somewhat distinctive silhouette. At 1L, the capacity is a bit smaller than a standard pot, making it handy when you just want to boil a small amount of water.

Precautions for Use and Maintenance

Horo (Japanese enamelware) has both merits and drawbacks. With an understanding of these points, please take good care of it so you can enjoy using it for a long time.

The Surface Is Made of Glass

The fact that horo has a "glass" surface, which is what makes many of its merits possible, is also one of its drawbacks. In other words, please be aware that if it is dropped or subjected to a strong impact, it may chip or crack.

Not Microwave Safe

Please note that it cannot be used in the microwave. Since horo is made of metal, putting it in a microwave can cause sparks or damage the microwave itself. Please never place it inside one.

Do Not Heat Empty

Never place it on heat with nothing inside. If it has been accidentally heated while empty, please let it cool down naturally rather than pouring water on it.

Dishwasher Safe

The horo body itself can be washed in the dishwasher. However, since it may knock against other dishes and chip, we don't particularly recommend it. Also, please do not wash the lid's seal in the dishwasher, as the heat may cause it to warp or discolor.

Do Not Scrub Hard with a Metal Scouring Pad

The surface will get scratched, so please avoid scrubbing hard with a metal scouring pad or abrasive cleanser.

What If It Gets Burnt?

We introduce how to care for horo that has gotten burnt in a separate article. Please take a look for reference.

▼Caring for Horo - With Things You Already Have in the Kitchen

Horo products can be enjoyed for a long time, kept clean, as long as you follow a few simple precautions. Isn't it wonderful when the tools we use lift our spirits and bring a bit of joy? We hope you'll incorporate these versatile everyday items, along with a few ideas, to make your daily kitchen work more enjoyable.