A taste of autumn calls for delicious rice. Enjoy authentic donabe-style rice with ease using TOJIKI TONYA's rice pot

What brings out the best in autumn's seasonal flavors is a bowl of delicious white rice.

Sanma (Pacific saury), chestnuts, sweet potatoes, mushrooms. Alongside these delicious autumn flavors, there's always a bowl of white rice. Good ingredients deserve good rice. Many of us have probably thought, "If the rice I usually cook in a rice cooker could taste even better, I'd love to try cooking it in a donabe (earthenware pot)..." But the more you research it, the more it seems like something you couldn't keep up with on your own, and many people end up giving up, feeling that the hurdle is a bit too high. Here are some of those concerns, for example.

・Since it involves an open flame, you can't take your eyes off it even for a moment.

・The pot is large and difficult to handle. A big pot makes it inconvenient to cook small batches frequently.

・Cooking it well seems to require delicate know-how, like adjusting the heat, which sounds difficult.

Even small things like these can make you hesitate to incorporate them into your daily life. That's why we're introducinga rice pot that lets you casually enjoy authentic rice using a microwave. Cooking can be tiring if you're always on high alert, so this is a great item for anyone who wants to cook delicious rice while cutting themselves a little slack.

The basics of TOJIKI TONYA's rice pot

The item we're featuring this time is a rice pot from TOJIKI TONYA, a ceramics brand from Mie Prefecture, known as a production area for banko-yaki (Banko ware). With its all-black or all-white modern and refined look, it's a piece of cookware that brings out the true, natural flavor of ingredients. Let's take a closer look at this plump, rounded rice pot, which ZUTTO staff members have also come to love and use themselves.

Why can you make donabe-style rice in the microwave?

The reason TOJIKI TONYA's rice pot can cook rice in the microwave lies in the glaze applied to the inside of the pot to heat it: a glaze that reacts to the microwaves emitted by the oven and reaches high temperatures. Thanks to this unique innovation, the rice ends up with the same natural sweetness as rice cooked over an open flame.

The pot itself is a smooth, heat-resistant piece of pottery. It doesn't take up too much space, and its simple, modern design blends easily with any interior. Now, let's actually try cooking rice in the microwave.

Trying out donabe-style rice cooked in the microwave

◇How to cook white rice

Ingredients: white rice, water

The proportions of rice and water are the same as usual. For every one gō (180cc) of rice, you'll need 200cc of water.

Just as you would when cooking with a rice cooker or a pot, start by washing the rice. (If using pre-washed rice, you can skip this step.) After that, to let the rice fully absorb water, soak it until the water turns cloudy white. About 30 minutes to 1 hour in summer, and 1 to 2 hours in winter. This step is essential for achieving plump, glossy rice with no hard core. This time, we'll cover it with the outer lid and let it sit for an hour.

Once the rice has soaked sufficiently, place the inner lid, then the outer lid, on the pot and put it in the microwave.

The approximate cooking time is12 minutes for one gō and 14 minutes for two gō at 500 watts. As the rice heats slowly, the inside of the pot reaches a high temperature and the lid begins to rattle. Occasionally, when cooking two gō, the pot may boil over, so if this concerns you, try heating for 10 minutes, letting it rest for 2 minutes, then heating again for 5 minutes.

Once the microwave has finished heating, leave it as is and let it steam for 20 minutes. And that's it, it's done.

When you open the lid, a soft, sweet aroma of rice fills the air. Compared to rice cooked in a rice cooker, each individual grain stands up plump and full!

You might want to just keep gazing at it, but go ahead and mix it with a rice paddle to let excess moisture escape, and it's ready. Enjoy your meal.

Our impression after tasting it was, "Each and every grain of rice is firm and so delicious!" We were also impressed that even leftover rice, whether kept in the fridge or frozen, didn't turn mushy when reheated. That's the kind of deliciousness that comes from slowly cooking rice at a high temperature inside the pot.

Now, here are the key points for cooking delicious rice with this rice pot. These are actually details that many people overlook and fail at the first time they try it, but since the process is simple, you'll get the hang of it after a few tries. Feel free to adjust the amount of water or cooking time to your liking.

!! Key Points !!

・Soak the rice in water until it turns completely cloudy white

・Let it steam for 20 minutes after microwaving

Why does the microwave cook it so well?

There's a reason why rice cookers designed for microwave use often produce rice that tastes somewhat bland or turns out too firm. The cause is that 【microwaves have a limit to how high they can raise the temperature】. Because the rice can't be heated sufficiently, a hard core remains in the grains, and the starch in the rice can't be transformed into that sweet, delicious state. With this rice pot, the temperature inside the pot can be kept above 100 degrees Celsius, allowing you to cook plump, sweet rice with no hard core left. As we saw earlier, the double-lid structure applies just the right amount of pressure, resulting in rice that's fluffy and pleasantly chewy.

Not just a tool for cooking white rice

Way to use it #1: As an ohitsu (rice storage container)

Cooking delicious white rice is just the beginning of what this rice pot can do. Once the rice is cooked, you can place it—pot and all—directly into the refrigerator, using it as an "ohitsu."

(Be sure to let the pot cool down thoroughly before placing it in the fridge.)

What's more, you can reheat the rice while it's still in the pot, meaning less washing up. Since this is an item that lets you cook small amounts frequently, it's perfect even during busy mornings—you can casually cook rice in the microwave, store any leftovers in the pot in the fridge, and reheat it as soon as you get home in the evening. (And since it's reheated in the pot, it comes out fluffy and delicious.) Using the "keep warm" function on a rice cooker causes the rice to deteriorate, but with this rice pot, you can cook small batches as needed and store leftovers in the fridge → reheat in the microwave.

Way to use it #2: As a steamer

You can also use it as a simple microwave steamer. Steam leftover vegetables for a healthy meal. Sweet potatoes and kabocha squash can be easily steamed just by adding water and microwaving. It's also perfect for saving time when making potato salad, sweet potato treats, and other dishes.

Way to use it #3: As a ceramic pot

Since it's safe both for microwaves and direct flame, you can of course also use it simply as a ceramic pot. It's capable of cooking main dishes too—meatloaf, nikujaga (meat and potato stew), rolled cabbage, and more can all be made in the microwave with this single rice pot.

More things you can do with the rice pot

This rice pot can actually bake main dishes and bread as well. Here are some applied recipes using ingredients perfect for autumn, made simply and deliciously.

Enjoy the flavors of autumn to the fullest with easy steamed sweet potato

Just cut sweet potatoes, soak them in water, and place them in the microwave—that's all it takes to easily make plump, sweet steamed sweet potatoes.

◇How to make steamed sweet potato

Ingredients: 2 medium-sized sweet potatoes, water (half a cup)

What you'll need: A heat-resistant small plate

Wash the sweet potatoes and cut them into 2-3 pieces each. Place a small plate upside down at the bottom of the rice pot, and set the sweet potatoes on top of it. Slowly add the water, and you're ready to go. Microwave at 【500 watts, 13 minutes, then let steam for 5-10 minutes】 and it's done. Depending on the thickness and size of the potatoes, you may need to adjust the time, but the result was thoroughly steamed! It's perfect as a light snack for kids, too.

Just add the flavors of autumn. Takikomi gohan (mixed rice)

We tried making takikomi gohan based on the included recipe.

◇How to make chicken and maitake mushroom takikomi gohan

Ingredients: 1 gō (rice cup) of white rice, 180cc water, 120g chicken thigh, maitake mushroom to taste, 2 tsp mentsuyu (noodle soup base), 2 tsp soy sauce, 2 tsp mirin, 1/2 tsp sugar

Mushroom and chicken takikomi gohan. Just add the ingredients and microwave.

Wash the rice and let it soak in water. For the ingredients, cut the chicken into 1cm cubes and cut the maitake mushroom into pieces of your preferred size. Soak the chicken in the soy sauce, mirin, and sugar. Pour this soaking liquid along with the mentsuyu into the pot, mix it with the rice, then place the ingredients on top and put it in the microwave. (500 watts for 15 minutes, then let steam for 20 minutes) Mix the contents to let excess moisture evaporate, and it's done.

Things to know before getting a rice pot

Now, this rice pot fits into many different lifestyles through various uses, but it will put your mind even more at ease to know how to use it and what precautions to take before getting one.

What kinds of uses does it have?

For those who live alone, we recommend using it as your main way of cooking rice. For example, when you feel like eating rice with dinner, you can quickly cook rice in the microwave while you're preparing your main dish. Since the microwave is only in use for a little over 10 minutes, it won't get in the way of your cooking, and you can always make freshly cooked rice in small amounts.

For households with family, it can be used to cook extra rice when you don't have enough. It's convenient for households with growing children when, say, you find you're a bit short on rice for curry. It's also useful because you can adjust the amount of water, making it handy for those who prefer softer rice, households with elderly family members, or when someone has a cold. It also makes a wonderful gift, and many people choose it for wedding celebrations, housewarming gifts, and return gifts.

Black or white—which should you choose?

We offer this item in a modern black and white color lineup, and by far the more popular choice is "black". It may be popular partly because stains are less noticeable, and scorch marks don't stand out as much even when used over a flame. Unlike the white commonly seen in rice cookers, the black gives off a chic sense of depth, which is another distinctive feature. However, this time, the staff member who uses this item happily chose "white."That's the reason. When we asked about it, they said things like, "Since our home has a natural color scheme based on wood, I felt that white's cute charm suited it better than black's heavy, solid feel," and "It's true that it scorches a little when placed on the stove, but it doesn't turn completely black right away, so I've come to accept it as a natural change over time, which only makes me love it more." Please choose the design that fits your lifestyle.

Does it boil over when cooking two go?

This rice pot is designed to cook up to two go of rice, but boiling over can occur depending on your microwave and other conditions. That said, this is unavoidable with any pot that cooks rice at high internal temperatures, such as donabe (earthenware pot) rice cooking—and being able to cook at such high temperatures is actually what makes the rice taste so good. Still, wiping up the mess afterward is a hassle. In that case, try stopping the microwave once after about 10 minutes of cooking (for about 2 minutes), then reheating. Also, it seems that boiling over has never happened when cooking just one go. (According to staff)

Any other points to keep in mind?

It has a compact design, but depending on the size of your microwave, it may not fit inside. Since it's about 12cm tall, please check beforehand just in case.

The TOJIKI TONYA rice pot for two go, introduced here today, seems to remind us that cherishing "food" even amid busy daily life can bring a sense of richness to our feelings. Even if something unpleasant happens outside the home, simmering a stew can offer a moment of relief; while focusing on cutting vegetables into perfectly fine, even pieces, you might forget about a mistake you made; and when you take a bite of freshly cooked, fluffy rice, a gentle sweetness spreads through your mouth, and before you know it, a smile creeps across your face. Why not let this rice pot become part of such everyday moments?

▽The item introduced today: "Rice Pot, Two-Go Capacity"