Contemporary
A typical modern Japanese kitchen includes the following:
- Counter: Countertop is usually made of cultured marble, but wood or natural stone is used for higher-end kitchens and stainless steel are used for commercial or lower-end kitchens.
- Large sink
- Cabinets
- Refrigerator and freezer: Especially in smaller kitchens for apartments, the top is usually low enough to use as an additional surface, particularly for appliances, similar to Western dormitory-sized refrigerator/freezers. In larger kitchens, full height refrigerators are common.
- Gas or induction stove: In smaller kitchens, there are only one or two burners, while more often it is three to four burners, with a narrow grill underneath for fish or vegetables. In the low-end apartments, stoves are often not built-in but rather a counter-top appliance, which is attached with a hose to a gas or power outlet. In case of earthquakes, the gas tap is to be turned off to prevent fires.
- Electric rice cooker: Over 95% of Japanese houses have one.
- Electric water boiler or kettle, particularly for making tea, but also instant ramen
- Toaster oven
- Microwave oven or convection microwave
- Extractor hood or fan
Notably absent are a large oven and dishwasher. Large gas ovens are found in some kitchens, particularly in the higher-end dwellings, but in the most kitchens, convection microwave are used instead. Dishwashers can be found in the kitchens for house and condominium, but rarely found in the apartments.
Portable vacuum flasks are popular for carrying home-brewed tea, particularly hot tea in the winter and cold tea in the summer, particularly cold oolong tea.
Read more about this topic: Japanese Kitchen
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