The Art of Bento: Delicious On-the- Meals with Zojirushi Lunch Jars

Posted on August 14, 2023 by Zojirushi America Corporation

Hey, Zo Fans!

Picture this: delectable meals, fresh and flavorful, no matter where your day takes you. Whether you’re packing lunch for work or school, Zojirushi’s vacuum-insulated lunch jars are the perfect way to keep your food fresh and delicious all day. In today’s blog, we’ll give you a closer look at our entire lineup of lunch jars, so you can choose the perfect one to fit your lifestyle.

Meet the Lunch Jars

Our lunch jars are designed with advanced vacuum insulation technology to ensure your food stays hot or cold for hours. Crafted with a durable 18/8 stainless steel inner jar, these bento lunch jars offer superior durability and reliability while tight-fitting gasket seals in freshness. Get to know each of our lunch jars and the unique features that make them stand out:

Classic Stainless Lunch Jar SL-XE20

Enjoy generous meal portions with the spacious main container and two side containers.
Conveniently reheat your food with microwave-safe containers (except the lids).
It also includes chopsticks, a chopsticks holder, and a convenient carry strap for easy transport!

Mr. Bento® Stainless Lunch Jar SL-JBE14

Indulge in multi-course meals with the main bowl, soup bowl, and two side bowls.
Stay organized and complete with the included carrying bag and forked spoon, creating a comprehensive on-the-go meal solution.
Choose from four available colors: Plum (-VZ), Blueberry (-AZ), Carbon Black (-BZ), Stainless (-XA).

Ms. Bento® Stainless Lunch Jar SL-MEE07

Embrace portion control and versatility with the soup bowl and two side bowls
Keep your different food items separate with the practical partition in the side bowl.

Travel confidently and enjoy your meal anywhere with the included tote that is large enough to accommodate a small drink and snacks.

Ms. Bento® Stainless Lunch Jar SL-NCE09

Experience simplicity and portability with a compact design, perfect for single-serve meals or snacks.
The large, washable carrying tote bag can also fit a beverage and snacks
Includes forked spoon with cover.

Classic Bento® Stainless Lunch Jar SL-GRE18

Take a complete meal with you with the help of the Classic Bento®. Not only does it include a pair of chopsticks with a protective cover but it also comes with a forked spoon.
The convenient carry strap and protective cover makes taking it with you a cinch.
3 microwaveable inner bowls, which also includes a bowl specially designed for soups.

Now that you’ve gotten to know our lunch jars, what do you plan on making for lunch?

Bento Recipes

Here are some school and work lunch ideas you can prepare for your Zojirushi bento sets, mix and match them as you like!

Soups
- Rich and Creamy Irish Potato Soup
- Spicy Ginger Carrot Soup

Noodles & Pasta
- Shiitake Mushroom and Tofu Noodle Soup
- Stacked Pasta Salad

Mains
- Creative Curry Quinoa
- Peppery Mapo Tofu

Not only will Zojirushi lunch jars keep it fresh and delicious all day long, but they’re also a great way to reduce your environmental impact by reducing the amount of waste produced from single-use plastic containers. If you’re looking for a healthy, convenient, and environmentally friendly way to pack your lunch, a Zojirushi lunch jar is the perfect solution. What will you be putting in your lunch jar? Share your comments and lunch ideas for work or school with us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram! #ZojirushiUSA #ZoFan

Healthy Lunch Ideas for Earth Day, with Zojirushi’s New Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Food Jars

Posted on April 17, 2023 by Zojirushi America Corporation

Happy April, Zo Fans!

Spring is in the air, and we’re celebrating with some seasonal lunch ideas that you can enjoy at your next outdoor adventure, just in time for Earth Day. Looking for the perfect travel companion? Our Stainless Steel Food Jars SW-KA30/40/52 and SW-KA52H/75H feature vacuum insulation technology with the highest heat retention in Zojirushi history. This means you can enjoy your hot or cold meals longer than ever! So, whether you’re planning a picnic or having a work day outside, let’s enjoy Earth Day the most delicious way.

Meet the Zojirushi Stainless Steel Food Jar SW-KA30/40/52 and SW-KA52H/75H

Line up of stainless steel food jars in three different sizes and in beige, green, and blue colors

Stainless Steel Food Jar SW-KA30/40/52

We’re incredibly excited to introduce the new Stainless Steel Food Jar SW-KA30/40/52 and SW-KA52H/75H because of their unique design, technology features, and their sleek, modern design with a matte finish. Four sizes are available, perfect for taking a quick snack to a sharable meal, and with six fun and unique pastel colors, you will want them all!

The Stainless Steel Food Jar SW-KA30/40/52 comes in 10 oz,14 oz, and 18 oz capacities and in an earthy Matte Green (-GM), cool Ice Gray (-HL), and in a warm Beige (CM).

Line up of stainless steel food jars in two different sizes and in pink, blue, and brown colors

Stainless Steel Food Jar SW-KA52H/75H

The Stainless Steel Food Jar SW-KA52H/75H comes in the larger 18 oz and 25 oz sizes; they are ideal for taking a full meal or a shareable dish with you. It comes in 3 lovely colors, Vintage Rose, Ice gray, and Medium Gray.

Now, let’s dive into the features:

3D rendering of the lid design with small inner compartments and another showing heat movement through the lid

Therma chamber lid designed with small chamber structure inside the lid improves heat retention

We put a lot of effort and thought into the lid design, which is jam-packed with features that improve its performance and make it super easy to use. The revolutionary Therma Chamber lid has small internal chambers that reduce heat loss through conduction. Thanks to this new design, the Stainless Steel Food Jars achieve the highest heat retention in Zojirushi history.

New lid design made with fewer parts for easy cleaning

Ease of use is vital to us and is reflected in the lid’s design. The lid has a new leak-proof* one-piece stopper with integrated gasket (*when used properly according to the instruction manual). It has wider grooves making it super easy to clean every nook and cranny. What’s best is that it is made of only two pieces, so you will never misplace small parts anymore!

Hand unscrewing the lid from a blue food jar

The lid is designed to relieve pressure created by hot foods as it’s opened

Lastly, this lid features a unique design that allows it to relieve pressure created by hot foods as it’s opened.

Blue food jar with the left side filled with fruit and the left side filled with chicken noodle soup

Perfect for taking cold or hot foods with you anywhere

The food jar has a 2-7/8-inch wide opening that makes it easy to fill and eat directly out of it and makes cleaning a breeze.

Blue stainless steel food jar open with a clear view of the stainless interior

Lightweight & compact design takes minimal space while maximizing capacity

As always, our vacuum-insulated food jars are made with durable and sanitary 18/8 stainless steel and a SlickSteel® interior finish that resists corrosion and repels stains. All surfaces that come into contact with food and beverage are BPA-free.

Watch the full product video here to see the food jars in action:

Earth Day Food Jar Recipes

What do you have planned for this Earth Day? Whatever you do, don’t forget to stay energized by packing a portable lunch or snack in your Zojirushi food jar! Here are some of our top lunch ideas for Earth Day (and spring!) that we think you’ll love:

Adventurous Couscous Medley: With quickly heated onions, carrots, mushrooms, green peas, and seasonings with chicken broth, all combined with couscous, this dish boasts the rich flavor of morel mushrooms with white wine vinegar will leave you wanting more.
Shiitake Mushroom and Tofu Noodle Soup: The great thing about tofu noodles is that they don’t get soft like pasta when left in liquid for a long time, so they are perfect for soups!

Steel Cut Oatmeal To-Go in Your Food Jar: looking for a sweet pick-me-up? Oatmeal gives you the carbs and nutrients you need, with the satisfying crunch of your favorite fruits
Bean Medley Soup: Warm, flavorful, and hits the spot! Make sure to soak your beans overnight before preparing this savory meal.

What are you looking forward to making and taking in your Zojirushi food jar? For more healthy lunch ideas or lunch ideas for work, visit our recipe database at Zojirushi.com. Share your thoughts, comments, and questions with us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram! #Zojirushi #ZoFan

Foreign Foods in Japan –
Piroshiki!

Posted on November 18, 2019 by Zojirushi America Corporation

So many of our Foreign Foods in Japan have come from Europe, the US and China, so this month we’re finally focusing on Japan’s neighbor to the north…Russia!

Piroshiki are hand-held dough pockets filled with various types of fillings. The original dish from Russia is spelled as pirozhki, piroshki or when plural, pirogi or pierogi. In Russia, pirozhki can be found all over the place, made at home, in restaurants and at street food stalls. The Russian version is commonly filled with meat, vegetables, cheese and infrequently fish, when savory, or with fruit and jam when sweet. The dough is typically a yeast dough, leavened and brushed with egg wash, and the entire pocket is baked in a hot oven…perfect for the cold Russian climate!

Pierogi

In Japan, pirozhki were adapted to Japanese taste and cooking methods. One account states that this dish was introduced to Japan after WWII, and the original Japanese piroshiki were filled with minced onions, boiled eggs and ground beef and deep-fried, instead of baked. Another states that Miyo Nagaya, a Japanese chef from Tokyo, became interested in the cuisine of Russia and Central Asia, and opened a restaurant in Tokyo in 1951, where she modified the Russian dish to Japanese tastes.

Piroshiki

Today, piroshiki can be found at bakeries and restaurants in Japan and frying is still the most common way of preparing the dish. Typical fillings range from ground meat, fish and vegetables such as onions, carrots and shiitake mushrooms. One delicious and unique Japanese-centric filling is cooked and chopped up harusame glass noodles, which add incredible texture and umami to the piroshiki. Some believe that piroshiki were the inspiration for kare-pan or curry pan, which is a beloved Japanese deep-fried dough pocket filled with curry flavored ingredients.

Kare-pan

No matter where you get your piroshiki in Japan, you’re sure to enjoy this hot pocket. Have you had it? Have you made it? Share your favorite recipe with us below!

Foreign Foods in Japan –
Doria!

Posted on October 21, 2019 by Zojirushi America Corporation

Dorias are so quintessentially Japanese that we sometimes forget they were once a foreign food introduced into Japanese cuisine!

Many foreign foods were introduced to Japan during the Meiji Era, from 1868-1912, as Japan began its journey towards global modernization. After the First World War, even more foreign influence permeated the country, and foreign-born and trained chefs began introducing new dishes inspired by their homelands yet catering to Japanese tastes. One such dish is the doria. It is said that Saly Weil, a Swiss master chef at the New Grand Hotel in Yokohama, developed the dish in the 1930s. The dish was inspired by classic French gratins and baked Italian casseroles, with signature components including a creamy béchamel sauce and melted cheese.

Instead of being made with potatoes, similar to pommes de terre gratinees, the Japanese doria was made with the local staple: rice. And while European gratins often featured beef or ham, the Japanese version most commonly used seafood. Today, numerous variations exist among Japanese dorias, including ones with vegetables, chicken, mushrooms and a host of other ingredients!

The classic Japanese doria starts with cooked white rice. The rice is typically buttered, and depending on taste seasoned with aromatics such as garlic or herbs such as parsley. To the buttered rice is added seafood such as shrimp, scallops or fish, or chicken or vegetables, such as broccoli and mushrooms. And the entire mixture is then folded into a classic French béchamel sauce, made of butter, flour and milk. The combined ingredients are layered into a baking dish and topped with meltable, creamy cheese, such as parmesan or gruyere. The dish is then baked until the cheese is golden on top.

Dorias are served at Yoshoku restaurants throughout Japan but are also frequently prepared at home for lunch or dinner. Our classic recipe is the Green Peas and Asparagus Doria, which is made using rice cooked in our rice cookers.

Have you made this comforting dish? Try it out…it’ll be great for the coming winter months!

Foreign Foods in Japan –
Hanbāgu!

Posted on September 16, 2019 by Zojirushi America Corporation

“Haan-baa-ghu”.

It’s delicious. It’s uniquely Japanese. And it’s not a hamburger!

Hanbāgu!

Our Foreign Food this month is a delicious Japanized version of steak, with similarities to Salisbury Steak, Steak Tartare and the Hamburg steak from Germany. Hanbāgu is a ground meat patty made from beef and pork, served like a steak, topped with a sauce and typically accompanied by rice and vegetables. This type of chopped meat steak became popular in the United States in the late 1800s, when German immigrants from Hamburg came to live in American cities like Chicago and New York. They made a “steak” with chopped beef mixed with onions, garlic, salt and pepper and cooked until tender and juicy.

Eventually, these steak patties were adapted to be eaten between two pieces of bread, creating the modern American hamburger, and both the chopped beef steak and hamburger were brought to Japan during World War II with the influx of foreign soldiers into the country.

Hanbāgu patties

Hanbāgā evolved to become Japanese hamburgers – beef patties served with various toppings served in a bun. Hanbāgu evolved as a rich and savory steak dish, cooked by countless Japanese home cooks, becoming a favorite dish among children and adults.

Hanbāgu is made with a blend of beef and pork called aibiki. This mixture is commonly mixed at a ratio of 7:3 and is typically found prepackaged at Japanese stores. Into the meat are added sautéed onions, egg, panko breadcrumbs, milk, salt, pepper and nutmeg. The mixture is mixed by hand into a gruel-like consistency and formed into patties. The Japanese technique of forming the patties adds a special touch to the meat. The patties are tossed back and forth in the hands, removing air pockets and then indented on the middle to foster even cooking. The patties are also rested in the refrigerator prior to cooking, allowing the slow absorption of flavor from the seasonings.

Pan frying some Hanbāgu!

Once the patties are ready to cook, they are pan fried, instead of grilled, similar to a steak. Red wine or another liquid can be added to the par-cooked patties, and they’re finished covered, having absorbed the liquid for extra flavor.

Traditionally, hanbāgu is served topped with a demi-glace sauce, but a red wine reduction or other savory sauce is also commonly served along with rice and vegetable accompaniments.

Mini Hanbāgu are perfect for bento!

Hanbāgu is such a cultural staple and easy to make using our electric skillets. Try our Mini Hamburger recipe for your bentos, and share your favorite way of enjoying hanbāgu!