What Does an Ohitsu Do?

There are two kinds of ohitsu: edobitsu and nosebitsu (pronounced no-se-beetsoo). The difference is aesthetic, like the difference between oiling or not oiling your hair before a date with that special lady you met at the local seven eleven. An edobitsu uses a lid with a lip around the circumference. A nosebitsu has a flat lid. Edobitsu are a bit fancier, while nosebitsu are simple. Otherwise, they are functionally equivalent.

There are two kinds of ohitsu: edobitsu and nosebitsu (pronounced no-se-beetsoo).

The difference is aesthetic, like the difference between oiling or not oiling your hair before a date with that special lady you met at the local seven eleven. An edobitsu uses a lid with a lip around the circumference.

A nosebitsu has a flat lid. Edobitsu are a bit fancier, while nosebitsu are simple. Otherwise, they are functionally equivalent.

Using ohitsu is simple. Cook some rice using your
preferred method. When the rice is finished cooking, immediately put the rice
in the ohitsu, cover with a thin cloth like a sarashi, and then place the lid on top for 5
to 15 minutes.

One Thing to Keep in Mind

While preparing the photographs for this article,
my lovely wife was caught off guard by the amount of water released from the
rice while it sat in the ohitsu. She left the rice in the ohitsu and came back
to find a rather large puddle of water under the ohitsu. She recommends placing
a pan under the ohitsu to catch the water.

What Happens While the Rice is in the Ohitsu?

While the rice is setting in the ohitsu, a few
things are happening.

1. During the process of transferring the
   rice, excess heat and moisture rapidly escaped. This means your rice won't
   overcook or get mushy.
2. Because excess heat and moisture escaped
   rapidly, a layer of starch will form on the outside of the rice. The
   starch will help keep the rice moist.
3. In your ohitsu, the rice is still
   cooking, but the excess moisture in the rice is being soaked up by the
   thick wood walls of the ohitsu. That moisture will protect the rice from
   drying out for an extended period of time.
4. The most handsome of rice-enjoyers will
   tell you that rice cooled in an ohitsu will have a slightly sweet aroma.

Washing your ohitsu is easy. Just scrub with a
somewhat stiff brush (like a tawashi) under running water. No need for soap.
Just don't use metal on it or you're going to have a bad day.

Make sure to dry it out thoroughly after cleaning
and store in a dry, cool place. If your ohitsu develops mold, you can use
sandpaper to scrub it off.