What is typically in a bento box?
What is a Bento Box? A bento is a single-portion boxed meal usually composed of
a carb (usually rice or noodles), a protein (usually meat or fish), and an assortment of pickled or cooked vegetables. The world is derived from the Chinese Southern Song slang term Biandang, meaning convenient.
What is bento Sushi?
A bento (弁当, bentō) is
a single-portion take-out or home-packed meal of Japanese origin. ... A traditional bento may contain rice or noodles with fish or meat, often with pickled and cooked vegetables in a box. Containers range from mass-produced disposables to hand-crafted lacquerware.
What is Japanese Ekiben?
Ekiben (駅弁, railway bento) are
a specific type of bento boxed meals, sold on trains and train stations in Japan. ... Ekiben containers can be made from plastic, wood, or ceramic. Many train stations have become famous for their ekiben made from local food specialties (tokusanhin).
Are bentos meant to be eaten cold?
Generally, bento boxes
are not microwaved but enjoyed cold (or rather at room temperature). It's important that whatever you're making for your box should taste good once it has cooled down.
Why are bento boxes so small?
The
low price and volume of pasta has been convenient for filling space in bento boxes, and has become widely used in mass-produced bento boxes sold at supermarkets and the like. Some bento boxes are microwavable, while some are not. Often times the bottom containers of the box are microwavable, while the lids aren't.
What is the point of a bento box?
The bento has been used for centuries in
Japan to carry a delicious, nutritious, and visually appealing meal to eat on the go — kids take their bento boxes to school; employees take their bento boxes to work. Many Japanese restaurants in the United States have bento boxes on their menus.
Are bento boxes healthy?
Bento boxes aren't necessarily healthy because of the food they contain — many contain fried chicken, creamy potato salads, and thick sweet sauces, foods traditionally deemed “unhealthy” — but they are healthy because of the way these foods are balanced together.
What is a train bento?
An ekiben is a type of bento that is sold in train stations across Japan that travelers can eat on the train, particularly during long journeys. The word ekiben is a combination of the Japanese words eki, meaning 'station', and bento, which you may already know as being a Japanese lunch box.
How much does ekiben cost?
Ekiben are very affordable. If you are in the mood for a snack, you can acquire a small box for around ¥300. Most meal sized ekiben cost between ¥700 and ¥1200, or
around $10 USD. Very elaborate boxes, such as meals for two, may cost more than ¥3200 ($30 USD).
How do you keep a bento box fresh?
It's better to take extra safety precaution especially if you live in humid or hot weather. All you need to do is to reheat the food, let it cool down completely before closing the bento box (bacteria grows in warm moist environment), and then keep the bento
cool with ice pack whole time with till lunch time.
Why are bento boxes so good?
A healthy meal The idea behind a
bento box is beyond a simple takeaway
lunch because it is not just about convenience but it is also about being
well-rounded and balanced. ... Packed into one
box, you end up not even eating
that much fried chicken or white rice because there are
so many other side dishes to enjoy
too.
What does it mean if someone gives you a bento box?
A growing number of single working women are now carrying what is popularly called the my-o bento (
personal boxed lunch) — a personal meal they make just for themselves and consume with avid pleasure.
Can you lose weight eating bento?
"Using a
bento box for weight loss is a very good idea,” Fujioka says. “Even when you've reached your goal weight, you won't gain it back if you keep using a bento box filled with nutritious meals.” ... Also, there are kid-size and adult-size bento boxes, so make sure you buy the appropriate one.
What is the boxed lunch called that Japanese people eat on the train?
An ekiben is a type of bento that is sold in large train stations across Japan, ergo the name eki bento, or ekiben for short. These bento boxes are known for their delicious and high quality ingredients, often featuring regional specialties of a particular area.
What is Japanese bento box?
In simple terms, bento is
a single-serving, packed meal, transported by the eater already assembled and ready to be savored. Like an American lunchbox, only so much more. Bento historically stars rice or noodles as the foundational starch, accompanied by a protein or two like fish, eggs, or meat.
How much is a train bento box?
Prices range from around 300-400 yen for snack-size ekiben right through to 3,000 yen and above for the most elaborate and large boxed-meals. However, most ekiben will cost between
700-1200 yen.
Where can I buy ekiben?
Ekiben are available in a variety of places.
Most train stations host kiosks, local vendors, or carts that sell ekiben. Many long distance trains, such as those of the Shinkansen lines, serve ekiben and other items from carts onboard the train.
Can I make bento the night before?
Prepare bento before breakfast, and let it cool down (for food safety) while you eat breakfast. ... However, if you cannot spare 15 minutes in the morning,
you can make bento at night and continue to keep it cool till lunchtime. Right before lunch, reheat the bento using a microwave oven.
Is a bento box healthy?
Bento boxes aren't necessarily healthy because of the food they contain — many contain fried chicken, creamy potato salads, and thick sweet sauces, foods traditionally deemed “unhealthy” — but they are healthy because of the way these foods are balanced together.
Does bento mean lunch?
The word bento literally
means 'convenient'. The reason for this word to describe this type of lunch box is because it is usually nicely packaged and easy to eat on your lap or on a trip.