Which Japanese foods can I use for my short-term stockpile?
“I want to know: what food did disaster survivors eat in Japan?”
“I have never bought any Japanese food… Which types of food are good?”
“Of course! Cup-o-Noodles, right?”
You may be reluctant to prepare your emergency stockpile. That feeling is natural, because no one wants to be in an emergency situation. I understand that. The best types of food for your stockpile are the ones you normally buy, but if a few interesting new foods will give you the spark you need to get motivated, then maybe I can help. Today, I will show you some Japanese emergency foods. I hope you enjoy these foods, even when you’re not in a disaster. You can try these for a regular meal, while camping, on a picnic, or for your lunch at the office or at school. If you’re dealing with a serious emergency, one where you can not cook, these emergency foods will help you through the tough spot.
Try to get Japanese emergency foods when they are on sale. Many of these items go on sale regularly, so try to get in sync with the sale “waves” to save money. You can skip the waves and wait until your stock items are almost used up or are close to expiration. But do not make “ZERO” stock. In other words, don’t let your supply dwindle down to nothing.
Don’t forget, you can customize emergency food to your personal taste. You don’t have to eat it straight out of the box. By changing it up, even a little bit, you can protect yourself against getting bored with the emergency food. The foods on my list are the Japanese emergency foods I sometimes eat when I don’t want to cook a “proper” meal or when I don’t have time for cooking. I will usually add a little extra something, to change up the taste a bit. I enjoy the variety. For example, I’ll drop a raw egg into my instant noodles. Or I will sprinkle parmesan cheese on top of my instant rice. (If you’ve never tried rice with parmesan cheese, you should give it a go. It’s good.) Many Japanese people have their own way to spice up their instant food. You also will be able to find your own way!
One more thing. Emergency food, which can keep for long a time, might contain additives and preservatives. It might not be as healthy for you as food that goes bad in a normal timeframe. When you buy the food, you should check the listed ingredients, and try to make an informed decision about how often you can safely eat it.
✭Instant Rice (Ready-to-eat Rice)
There are many kinds of instant rice at Japanese markets, and you might have seen some for sale on the internet, too. I have two different styles of rice that are my go-to’s. I consider these OK for emergencies, but I don’t want to eat these every day. The taste is tolerable, but it’s not as delicious as freshly-cooked rice. (I am sorry for being a rice snob. I am persnickety about my rice.) It’s only for emergencies or special occasions. This is just my opinion. You can try them out once, and decide for yourself if it suits your tastes or not.
Onisi instant rice ball (*Cooking instructions)
★Instant Miso Soup
I pick up this style of miso soup because I like that the miso paste and dry vegetables are packaged independently. I can use them separately, depending on what I’m cooking. For example, I can use the miso paste for chicken stir-fry and add the dry vegetables to a “cup noodle.”
Shinsyu-ichi Miso: Instant miso soup
★Instant noodle (cup noodles)
In Japan, there are many kinds of cup noodle, and each person has their own favorite. In the U.S., we can find a wide variety of instant pastas and other noodles, too. We are spoilt for choice.
I never get tired of Nissin cup noodle. It has a simple taste and is a good size for me. Moreover, I don’t want to have to go to the bathroom in an emergency, after drinking a lot of soup. That’s why this cup noodle is perfect!!
Also, I love Maruchan Akai Kitsune Udon. I have eaten this since I was kid. It has a very simple taste.
I will continue to introduce more Japanese emergency foods, next post!
See you next time.
Remember, “Protecting your life by yourself“（自分の命は自分で守る). You need to survive first, and then you need your emergency supplies. No matter how well you prepared your emergency supplies, if you die, then it will have been all for nothing. First and foremost, keep your health up all the time, and build your stamina so you can evacuate as quickly as possible, if you need to. Stay healthy.