Bento boxes have been a staple of Japanese culture since the 13th century. A bento box is a reusable Japanese lunch box that usually contains a single serving consisting of the main course and some noodles. These boxes or trays are designed with several compartments, each assigned to a different part of the arrangement. They come in a variety of sizes and many of them are suitable for children.
In a traditional Japanese bento box, there are spring rolls, jiaozi, jiaozi, and hand rolls. Then season with ginger and mustard, and serve with salad and rice. But today, bento boxes are used all over the world to hold anything that can fit in a box!
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What Is Bento?
Simply put, Bento is a kind of packaged food, which is delivered by assembled diners and can be tasted at any time. Like the American lunch box, that’s all.
No matter what is in the bento box, all the parts are neatly stuffed into the containers. These containers are often located on the deeper side, more like rectangular bowls than flat plates, and look as satisfactory as eating.
It is based on rice or noodles, followed by meat, fish, eggs, and cooked or pickled vegetables. The contents of the Bento Box balanced nutrition and convenience.
Essentially, the definition of a bento box lies not in what it contains, but in the way it is presented. The goal is to put each different element into a deep container or tray in a neat compartment.
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How to Make Bento- Rules and Easy Tips
Why Use a Bento Box?
Eat healthier: The limited size of the bento box helps to control the number of meals, while the movable separator and accessories help to pack a balanced diet composed of different food groups.
Save money: Did you know that the average American family spends more than $3000 a year on restaurants and takeout? In Australia, millennials spend an average of more than $5000 a year eating out. Preparing a bento box during work or school breaks, or even several times a week can save you hundreds of dollars a year in food expenses.
Reduce environmental impact: Using Bento boxes is a good way to reduce your impact on the environment. Using a fully functional and fashionable lunch box to replace disposable plastic and paper products can hold your beautiful homemade meals day after day!
The bento box is very interesting! With a seemingly infinite combination of boxes, tableware and accessories are available, and Bento boxes help ensure that you will never have another boring lunch.
What are the Different Bento Styles?
There are a few different styles of bento available.
Kyaraben
Kyraben is a bento, originally intended for children. The purpose of such a box is to encourage children to broaden their eating habits and color palette and eat more food choices.
The theme of the box is either animal-inspired or revolves around a well-known role in the media. Although kyraben Bento boxes may add some fun to lunchtime, their production is quite time-consuming and requires a lot of planning to achieve this idea.
Makunouchi
Perhaps the most popular Bento is makunouchi. This is a term used to describe a two-part box.
One side of the box is filled with rice, and the other side is filled with assorted dishes. These side dishes are usually brightly colored, including eggs, meat, fish, vegetables, and some salads.
Typical Japanese lunch box (Bento)
Railway Bento, also known as “railway Bento”, refers to a series of boxed lunches specially provided at the railway station or on the train.
These boxes are designed to make it easy to eat while walking. They are made of ceramic, plastic or wood. Chopsticks can also be provided according to what is in the box.
Aisai Bento
Aisai Bento refers to a box specially made by young women in love with their other half or husbands of married women.
The contents are usually sweet varieties. Some people even choose to add a sentimental note before packaging.
Shikaeshi Bento
Shikaeshi Bento doesn’t have a better meaning than the other bentos we listed. This box, also known as the “revenge lunch box”, was given to her husband by an angry or unhappy wife.
The food inside is not very attractive. In some cases, it may even be considered inedible.
How To Assemble a Bento?
It is recommended that you add dishes in a 4-3-2-1 ratio. Simply put, you need to add 4 portions of rice and 3 portions of protein. Then add 2 parts vegetables and 1 part jam.
The dish could be pickles or dessert, depending on who you make the box for.
You may find that your bento boxes need to use some ingredients but in small quantities.
Of course, the ingredients you need will depend on your creative inspiration for the box and the theme you are trying to emulate.
When you put the plate in the box, you may find it useful to use the separator. This is because some foods are easy to get away, while others are at risk of sticking together. Using separators can help you preserve the taste of each item.
If possible, you should also try to add color to the lunch box. You can make sure that the food added to each category is a different color.
Although rice is white rice, the main course is usually brown, so you can add some green, yellow, orange, or red vegetables, and other dishes. Ideally, you should try to include at least five colors.
The food should be packed tightly. If there is too much space left, there is a risk of food moving around.
When the recipient opens your box, they are greeted by a mess of food that you have spent a lot of time and energy preparing.
Make sure you choose the right size lunch box. If you make it for children, you can buy a smaller one. Similarly, there is also a urinal box suitable for adults, which is an ideal choice for a light lunch.
Where Can I Buy a Bento Box?
Bento boxes can be bought from various online retailers. Most Bento boxes are made in Japan. In fact, they produce about 5 billion Bento boxes every year. Now, most of them are made in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.
Final Words
As we mentioned, these boxes come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Therefore, you can guarantee that you can get any box in the shape you want. Although molds are often used to make boxes, they become more unique due to their original design.
Of course, the size of the box you need will depend on when you will use it. If you need a box that can fit into a backpack or handbag, the rectangular box will be easier to carry.
If you have children, they will like shopping. Through an exciting container for choosing interesting topics, they can take them to school or outings.
