Bento for Beginners
VinVenture
Posts: 290
Tips and tricks for beginners
-How big a box?-
Bento boxes are usually referred to by their volume in ml. Usually, it's assumed that unless you pack it incredibly low cal/high cal, it'll be roughly the amount of calories in it equal to volume in ml. Which is to say, if the volume is 400 ml, it will contain about 400 kcal. Now if you're a big fan of salads or fried things, you'll want to count those calories on your own and not rely on the box.
Make it fit your lunch. The suggested box size for women in between 18-60, is 600 ml. Men between 18-50 - 900 ml. Of course, select a box that's suitable for your own calorie needs. It can be a simple tupperware or similar box, or a fancy, cute Japanese one with chopsticks built into the lid. (Chopsticks are a bonus, 'cause you'll eat slower
)
-What type of box?-
One that fits your lunch size and goes within your budget. It should be leak proof and about the right size. More than that, is not necessary. However, if you're going out to buy a bento box, take into consideration tiers, design and practicality, such as microwave and dishwasher compliant and if it can keep warm things warm.
Two tiers are good for beginners, if you get a slightly big one. You don't know the day when you won't have time for breakfast, and one tier can serve for that. Or dinner, or just a large lunch if you'll be working hard all day. Or healthy snacks, if you need to snack. What if you'll be starving after the gym but too lazy/hungry/tired to cook? That second tier of bento might be a saviour from quick-fix junk food. And, as you adapt to making bentos, you might make them tighter and more compact, and not need the extra tier, but still have a perfectly good box.
You might also want something incognito for work, if your office is of the sort that frowns upon different things. Cute or stylish, cheap, practical and delicious might not be enough to waiver the opinions of the other co-workers that this is, in fact, weeabooean or japanophilic. (Which it of course can be, if you want it to. Or not, if you so choose.)
-Ingredients and food safety-
Don't do anything that goes against common sense. Don't add week-old leftovers near the very perishable fruit in a warm room for hours and expect all is well. If you're using leftovers - reheat thoroughly and let cool (to take the worst bacteria off.) before adding to the box. Think about how you place the ingredients, for taste exposure as well as bacteria. You may want to use salad or baran (typical fake grass you get with take-out sushi) to seperate foods. Some bento come with a seperator, as well.
If your bento contains perishables (seafood, eggs, I don't know), you might want to keep it in the fridge. But beware - most bento are made to be kept in and eaten at room temperature. To keep meat and other things cold, you could have a cooler bag (plastic thing filled with gel, usually kept in the freezer) you add to keep cool for longer. You could put it somewhere cool or in the office fridge. I still say aim at ingredients that'll hold up in room temperature.
Ingredients! If you want to be able to not worry too much about if your food will go bad, go for food from warmer countries. Spanish, Mexican, Indian, Turkish or Italian food are all spicy, taste-laden foods that keep well without refrigeration. Rule of thumb: if it's salty, very sour or spicy, it'll keep in room temperature. So consider placing a few slices of pickle between the meat and veg, if bacteria worry you. (Or just add a lot of chili, garlic, salt and pepper to your food.)
Anything can go in a bento, but use common sense. You don't want to bring sushi with raw fish. Veggie sushi, egg nigiri or with cooked prawn can be very tasty, and is a lot safer than raw fish in room temp. Cooking the food and rinsing the veg are great things to stay healthy and safe.
-Misc-
You can prepare the meal in the evening before you go to bed and stuff it in the fridge, or make the whole thing in the morning. Or something in between, like cut the veggies the night before and soak them in lemony-water and next morning fry two eggs to add. It's your food, do what you want.
-Good places to buy-
Amazon.com - they sell pretty much everything
jbox.com - good selection, fair prices, nice shipping and lots of accessories. Hoarders beware.
bentoandco.com - great selection, lots of accessories and pre-matched packs.
casabento.com - good selection, a lot of everything bento, but rather France-centric.
monbento.com - own brand, good selection and deals (sale items)
Muji (If you can find them) are awesome, they go by cheap, zen Japanese design, and are against brand-name price additions. Which is why they carry their own products at cheap prices.
-How big a box?-
Bento boxes are usually referred to by their volume in ml. Usually, it's assumed that unless you pack it incredibly low cal/high cal, it'll be roughly the amount of calories in it equal to volume in ml. Which is to say, if the volume is 400 ml, it will contain about 400 kcal. Now if you're a big fan of salads or fried things, you'll want to count those calories on your own and not rely on the box.
Make it fit your lunch. The suggested box size for women in between 18-60, is 600 ml. Men between 18-50 - 900 ml. Of course, select a box that's suitable for your own calorie needs. It can be a simple tupperware or similar box, or a fancy, cute Japanese one with chopsticks built into the lid. (Chopsticks are a bonus, 'cause you'll eat slower
)-What type of box?-
One that fits your lunch size and goes within your budget. It should be leak proof and about the right size. More than that, is not necessary. However, if you're going out to buy a bento box, take into consideration tiers, design and practicality, such as microwave and dishwasher compliant and if it can keep warm things warm.
Two tiers are good for beginners, if you get a slightly big one. You don't know the day when you won't have time for breakfast, and one tier can serve for that. Or dinner, or just a large lunch if you'll be working hard all day. Or healthy snacks, if you need to snack. What if you'll be starving after the gym but too lazy/hungry/tired to cook? That second tier of bento might be a saviour from quick-fix junk food. And, as you adapt to making bentos, you might make them tighter and more compact, and not need the extra tier, but still have a perfectly good box.
You might also want something incognito for work, if your office is of the sort that frowns upon different things. Cute or stylish, cheap, practical and delicious might not be enough to waiver the opinions of the other co-workers that this is, in fact, weeabooean or japanophilic. (Which it of course can be, if you want it to. Or not, if you so choose.)
-Ingredients and food safety-
Don't do anything that goes against common sense. Don't add week-old leftovers near the very perishable fruit in a warm room for hours and expect all is well. If you're using leftovers - reheat thoroughly and let cool (to take the worst bacteria off.) before adding to the box. Think about how you place the ingredients, for taste exposure as well as bacteria. You may want to use salad or baran (typical fake grass you get with take-out sushi) to seperate foods. Some bento come with a seperator, as well.
If your bento contains perishables (seafood, eggs, I don't know), you might want to keep it in the fridge. But beware - most bento are made to be kept in and eaten at room temperature. To keep meat and other things cold, you could have a cooler bag (plastic thing filled with gel, usually kept in the freezer) you add to keep cool for longer. You could put it somewhere cool or in the office fridge. I still say aim at ingredients that'll hold up in room temperature.
Ingredients! If you want to be able to not worry too much about if your food will go bad, go for food from warmer countries. Spanish, Mexican, Indian, Turkish or Italian food are all spicy, taste-laden foods that keep well without refrigeration. Rule of thumb: if it's salty, very sour or spicy, it'll keep in room temperature. So consider placing a few slices of pickle between the meat and veg, if bacteria worry you. (Or just add a lot of chili, garlic, salt and pepper to your food.)
Anything can go in a bento, but use common sense. You don't want to bring sushi with raw fish. Veggie sushi, egg nigiri or with cooked prawn can be very tasty, and is a lot safer than raw fish in room temp. Cooking the food and rinsing the veg are great things to stay healthy and safe.
-Misc-
You can prepare the meal in the evening before you go to bed and stuff it in the fridge, or make the whole thing in the morning. Or something in between, like cut the veggies the night before and soak them in lemony-water and next morning fry two eggs to add. It's your food, do what you want.
-Good places to buy-
Amazon.com - they sell pretty much everything
jbox.com - good selection, fair prices, nice shipping and lots of accessories. Hoarders beware.
bentoandco.com - great selection, lots of accessories and pre-matched packs.
casabento.com - good selection, a lot of everything bento, but rather France-centric.
monbento.com - own brand, good selection and deals (sale items)
Muji (If you can find them) are awesome, they go by cheap, zen Japanese design, and are against brand-name price additions. Which is why they carry their own products at cheap prices.
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Replies
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Aswome Post. Ebay is another great place for Bento boxes and Accessories. Think outside the box, literally when preparing dinners etc. For Instance a vegetable stir-Fry could last quite well in a bento box at room temperature. A great way to keep items cold is to use a two teired Bento Box and place a freezable substance in the bottom teir (Eg : Freezing some yougurt or Mousse ).
Similarly there are a lot of foods that can be frozen and placed into a bento box for instance, grapes, Cherries, olives, etc that can be used for cooling.
Always remember!!!
IF IN DOUBT, LEAVE IT OUT.0
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