More kitchenware today.
Nobilta food storage containers! They are hand-made, hand-painted stoneware containers with plastic lids with a little hole on top you can open and close, so you can microwave with the lid on. What's unique about the Nobilta is that you can actually cook food in it, instead of merely reheat!
I didn't buy them to cook with them, actually. I bought them because they are so cute and will look pretty on the table. And because they are stoneware, they won't transfer weird molecules and hormones into the food like plastic allegedly does, and now everyone is scared. (So all that Tupperware I've been eating off of the last 20 years has been leaching toxins into my body. Great, thanks for telling me.)
Anyway, I usually avoid microwaving anything if I can help it. Microwaving is fast and convenient, but the food always tastes a little weird - soggy and rubbery in all the wrong ways. But recently I microwaved some leftover dumplings in my new Noblita, and ... wow! The dumplings were nicely warmed as if I'd re-steamed them.
The reason it works so well is because the Noblita is stoneware that gets very hot in the microwave - much like a dutch oven on your stove. And the lid helps seal in the heat. The Nobilta does get hot, though, so you may need oven mitts, but it's worth it.
So the Nobilta is my new favorite thing in the kitchen. I've cooked Korean-style egg custard in it - and after 4 minutes on high, it came out delicious. It normally takes about 20 minutes in a donabe over the stove. Egg custard is a great little side dish or snack, and now I can make it really fast. Happy!
A big Nobilta costs about $8-12, a medium one about $6-8, and a little one about $4-6. Even if you don't cook with it, it's still a pretty and useful container.
Speaking of replacing Tupperware, Glass Lock bears mentioning:
They are glass food storage containers with plastic snap-on lids. They are similar to Lock-n-lock containers which are really popular now in the U.S., and sold everywhere from Target to QVC. But I've only seen the Glass Lock containers in Asian shops. Glass is great because it doesn't stain, retain odors, and you don't have to worry about anything leaching into your food. Also, the silicone seal on these "lock" containers is very airtight. I just love these things.
Koreans do love their many side dishes with the intense flavors and colors, so leave it to them to come up with the best food storage receptacle.
Nobilta food storage containers! They are hand-made, hand-painted stoneware containers with plastic lids with a little hole on top you can open and close, so you can microwave with the lid on. What's unique about the Nobilta is that you can actually cook food in it, instead of merely reheat!
I didn't buy them to cook with them, actually. I bought them because they are so cute and will look pretty on the table. And because they are stoneware, they won't transfer weird molecules and hormones into the food like plastic allegedly does, and now everyone is scared. (So all that Tupperware I've been eating off of the last 20 years has been leaching toxins into my body. Great, thanks for telling me.)Anyway, I usually avoid microwaving anything if I can help it. Microwaving is fast and convenient, but the food always tastes a little weird - soggy and rubbery in all the wrong ways. But recently I microwaved some leftover dumplings in my new Noblita, and ... wow! The dumplings were nicely warmed as if I'd re-steamed them.
The reason it works so well is because the Noblita is stoneware that gets very hot in the microwave - much like a dutch oven on your stove. And the lid helps seal in the heat. The Nobilta does get hot, though, so you may need oven mitts, but it's worth it.
So the Nobilta is my new favorite thing in the kitchen. I've cooked Korean-style egg custard in it - and after 4 minutes on high, it came out delicious. It normally takes about 20 minutes in a donabe over the stove. Egg custard is a great little side dish or snack, and now I can make it really fast. Happy!
A big Nobilta costs about $8-12, a medium one about $6-8, and a little one about $4-6. Even if you don't cook with it, it's still a pretty and useful container.
Speaking of replacing Tupperware, Glass Lock bears mentioning:
They are glass food storage containers with plastic snap-on lids. They are similar to Lock-n-lock containers which are really popular now in the U.S., and sold everywhere from Target to QVC. But I've only seen the Glass Lock containers in Asian shops. Glass is great because it doesn't stain, retain odors, and you don't have to worry about anything leaching into your food. Also, the silicone seal on these "lock" containers is very airtight. I just love these things.Koreans do love their many side dishes with the intense flavors and colors, so leave it to them to come up with the best food storage receptacle.
