Is the onigiri eaten hot or cold?
Nowadays, people eat onigiri hot or cold. But, what is the right temperature to enjoy it fully? As we have seen in the previous article, we can find traces of onigiri in the samurai era. No need to remind you that at that time, microwaves did not exist. Onigiri can be eaten cold, at room temperature, but it all depends on the filling.
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Do Japanese people eat onigiri at room temperature or do they heat them?
Onigiri is the Japanese sandwich. It is eaten cold, with the hands and is easily transportable thanks to its shape. Like the sandwich, it must be eaten quickly, because the rice oxidizes quickly and hardens, hence the need to pack it well or put it in a tupperware. During my travels in Japan, I noticed that the onigiri sold in konbini were stored in refrigerators, so everything suggests that onigiri is better cold.
In terms of taste, at what temperature is it best to eat an onigir?
If we ask the question of hot or cold today, it is because we know that it is possible to eat hot onigiri, since we regularly eat hot rice. The answer is quite simple. It all depends on the size of the onigiri. Cold onigiri is softer and does not have that appetizing crunch. But, if you have tuna inside, the taste of the onigiri is more powerful when it is cold. However, meat eaters usually prefer to eat hot onigiri, because the fat of the pork and beef spreads into the rice. Cold, the texture is more like hard butter, rather unpleasant in the mouth.
How do I heat my onigiri?
If the surface becomes relatively dry (after 1-2 days in the refrigerator), you can reheat your onigiri in the microwave (for about 20-30 seconds) or toast it with soy sauce. Another technique is to pour hot green tea on the onigiri, which will give it a second life. Adding a little wasabi, soy sauce and a fresh onion will work wonders.
That's it for today, I hope you enjoyed this article and learned a lot. Feel free to ask me questions in comments, I'll be happy to answer them and update the article if necessary. See you soon!
