Hi CHers, I am a novice in sake drinking, and even more so for using it in cooking. You can also use cooking sake (ryorishu 料理酒). Other ingredients that many people consider using as substitutes for cooking sake are rice vinegar and white wine. The total energy for this portion is 446kJ/106kcal. Hi CHers, I am a novice in sake drinking, and even more so for using it in cooking. Yutaka Cooking Sake is genuine sake that brings the flavour of Japan to your cooking. Blue Cheese Macarons. If for whatever reason you can’t find sake or cooking sake, however, you can replace it with dry sherry or Chinese rice wine. Therefore, it … Joost Nusselder, the founder of Bite My Bun is a content marketer, dad and loves trying out new food with Japanese food at the heart of his passion, and together with his team he's been creating in-depth blog articles since 2016 to help loyal readers with recipes and cooking tips. If you cannot consume alcohol in your cooking, you can simply omit sake, or replace it with water or broth when a recipe calls for sake for steaming or making a sauce. The shelf life of unopened sake, in general, is about one year after the brewery process. Sake comes in many variations based on its quality, process, and ingredients. I love creating free content full of tips for my readers, you. Ginjo sake uses 60% or less of unpolished rice in the production. Q: I had an Asian-themed potluck dinner and a friend brought a large bottle of sake. Baking Cake Dessert Sweet. What Does Watercress Taste Like? You can cook with drinking sake if you want to, but most Japanese people use cooking sake. Per a portion of 100 ml, this liquid contains 347kj/83kcal of energy. Cooking sake is used to tenderise meat, and also to remove unwanted smells and flavours. Hinode Ryorishu has an ABV of 13-14%, which is similar to other cooking sake brands. You can also find them from Japanese grocery store or Asian grocery store that have alcohol license. This Japan company is an expert in delivering many kinds of high-quality Mirin and Sake, including cooking sake. For sake, rice starch is converted to sugar, then that sugar is converted to alcohol by yeast. Not only Japanese food. Flaky tilapia, earthy mushrooms and a bright sake pan … You can adjust the … It may be found at US grocery stores in a liquor aisle, or Asian ingredients aisle. Futsushu is the most common type of sake, where people buy and drink it casually. 4.5 out of 5 stars 3. Wine is often used in cooking for the purpose of eliminating or softening the smell of meat and fish, but it is also used in combination with chocolate, jelly, and sweets. I suggest having at least four of them to make rotating through them easier. While cooking sake doesn’t have any alcoholic content, most recipes will call for the alcoholic kind. And I will make my tepakyaki only a number of times a year. A refrigerator can be your best bet for it. This dry cooking wine comes in a variety of grades and is easy to find in Asian markets, as well as online shops and some Asian food sections in traditional grocery stores. There are many varieties of sake available, similar to white wine, where they can be classified from dry to sweet, and from delicate to robust.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'bitemybun_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_12',122,'0','0'])); You can find cheap bottles, such as Gekkeikan, Sho Chiku Bai or Ozeki, at Japanese or Asian grocery stores. We explore the difference between drinking sake and cooking sake. Serve the clams and broth into medium-sized bowls and top them with butter, then garnish with the scallions and (optional) togarashi. Instead of shrimp, you can also use chicken or beef for this dish. Adding sake to food has the following effects and roles. Oven baked trout. If you’re in the US, you’ll be able to find a well stocked liquor store with drinking sake. Gatorade and Caffeine. It also adds umami and natural sweet flavor (from rice – the ingredient for sake), so we usually add sake to the soup stock, sauces, nimono (simmered dishes like Nikujaga) and yakimono (grilled dishes like Teriyaki Chicken). Does it matter how much you spend or which type you choose? The brand is popular worldwide, so it must be easy to find in the US. Hinode Cooking Sake, 1.8 Litre. Even the alcohol content is the same. Sake is a unique Japanese drink that's made from fermented rice. Cooking sake often has a lower alcohol content and it has the added ingredient of salt. Only 4 left in stock (more on the way). This device, while not required, will make pressing sake from the rice lees later on much easier. Besides that, some other ingredients might work as well. 95 ($0.78/Ounce) Get it as soon as Thu, May 14. 5L | California. £19.99 £ 19. Meanwhile, white wine has too wide of ABV ranges, from 5-23%, making it hard to get the right measurement. The total energy contained in 100 grams of this liquid is only 91kJ/ 21kcal. By adding dome salt, we can't drink it, so it won't be taxed in Japan as alcohol and called cooking sake. However, sake can also be part of many dishes, so cooking with it is common in Japanese cuisine. But the main reason why people love pouring sake in at the middle of the cooking process is that the traditional rice wine strengthens the umami flavor. Kikkoman Cooking Sake has an alcohol content of 13%. There are plenty of cooking sake substitutes, that make it hard to justify extra space in your pantry. I come across a few recipes that call for sake (at least 1 cup), and am not sure where will be a good place to get sake … The basic ratio of sake to sugar to use is 3 to 1, and a good guide is 1 tablespoon of sake mixed with 1 teaspoon of sugar equals 1 tablespoon of mirin. Sake that we carry at Tippsy are for drinking. Depending on how you might want to spice things up on your meal, you could use the Takara Masamune Sake:eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'bitemybun_com-portrait-2','ezslot_19',125,'0','0'])); For more flavor you could use this flavored Takara Hana Apple Sake: You also can’t go wrong with the Tozai Sake Well Of Wisdom: eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'bitemybun_com-sky-1','ezslot_20',126,'0','0'])); However, the absolute best cooking sake in our opinion is the Sho Chiku Bai Sake: You can get the 750ml version or the small version. I simply have a huge passion for cooking and wanted to share some my dishes, videos and food experiences, in hope that it might encourage others to swap ready meals and supermarket desserts for real cooking! It’s perfect for chicken, pasta, seafood and even pork. Both have low umami kicks. And as for the grape juice, a white one would be a better fit than the purple one. If you want to explore more about cooking sake, try using these ingredients when cooking dishes from other countries. Sake is often used in marinades for meat and fish to tenderize and to remove their smell. Fatty meals like yakitori can be paired with dry Junmai Ginjo. When it is used for cooking, it tenderizes meat, cuts odor such as fish smell, and gives deeper flavor to dishes. To learn more about the difference between sake and mirin, click here. California. A good sake quality lies in the quality of the rice and the water used for brewing. By marinating it with sake, you will elevate the savory taste of the flavor with an ultimate umami kick. And you don’t even have to spend a lot of money to get the best cooking sake as any kind of sake will do. The only difference is that cooking sake contains salt, making it taste less sweet. 99 (£11.11/l) Get it Wednesday, Jul 8 - Friday, Jul 10. It … Some people are not able to consume alcohol in any way, either it is for religious or health reasons. Spoon the rice into 4 bowls. Once it boils, add in the meat and vegetables gradually, starting from ones that take longer to cook. However, these two are not the best fit to replace a splash of Ryorishi. I would second this, sake adds a deep flavor but not the acidity. Cooking sake is commonly used to give Japanese cuisine its unique and complex flavor. Although sake is referred to in English as a type of rice wine, which alcohol is produced by fermenting the sugars naturally presented in fruit, sake is made through a brewing process like beer. Our original recipe in Sake (USA) used very traditional methods to start the shubo. Sake, pronounced SAH-keh, is made from rice and water. Cooking sake contains salt so it adds some flavour to the meat. The key for using cooking sake is: Use half the amount of the regular sake amount you use because it fs rich. If in your cooking you can not consume alcohol, you can easily omit sake, or substitute it with water or broth when a recipe calls for sake to steam or creating a sauce. Alcohol evaporates with the meat/fish odor. The alcoholic content of the Yutaka Cooking Sake is about 13.5%. She compares the process to cooking and says, “[Adding spirits to sake] is like using alcohol when you’re making a sauce in the kitchen. Health . Drain the ribs. Mirin has a high sugar content and low alcohol content, while Sake, on the other hand, has a high alcohol content and low sugar content. Rice Wine Vinegar. The reason why salt is contained in cooking sake is to make a difference from drinking sake. (Fructose sugar and cooking sake will not produce the same effect.) But if you need to replace cooking sake with Mirin, you need to anticipate the extra sweetness in your food. The best way to store Sake = Wrap with newspaper + Fridge. I come across a few recipes that call for sake (at least 1 cup), and am not sure where will be a good place to get sake at a reasonable price. Stir in the soy sauce and mascarpone. Rice starch is converted to sugar for sake, then yeast converts sugar into alcohol. The key for using cooking sake is: Use half the amount of the regular sake amount you use because it fs rich. Get that authentic Japanese flavour with Obento cooking sake. What’s the difference between Cooking and drinkable Sake? But this step was not merely aesthetic, it was to cover up the poor sake quality that was being served. In the same way, Japanese food uses sake for cooking. Almost any type of sake can pair well with any kind of food. The cheap sake usually contains added sugar and organic acids to create a tasty flavor. Cooking sake has a lot of amino acids compared to sake so just a little amount will give cooked dishes Umami (the fifth taste sensation) and a rich taste in flavours. Dry sherry might be the easiest substitute for cooking sake if you live in the US because the product is much easier to find. Continue reading to know more about cooking sake and how we decided on the best one. Newspaper can be substituted with anything that wraps a Sake bottle and blocks out light. Similar to mirin but a lot less sweet, this cooking sake is particularly useful in boiled dishes, as it prevents other ingredients from disintegrating and removing unpleasant fish and meat odours. Take a large, deep skillet and combine the measured sake and water and bring them to a boil. But if you store it well, a good quality sake might even last up to two years. With so many similarities to share, Chinese rice wine becomes the most perfect substitute for the Japanese cooking sake. For cooking sake, you may be able to find them at the Asian aisle in your local grocery store or online at Amazon. You might be surprised to discover that you can find great sake in Walmart! Instagram. For years, sake was identified by most Americans with the teapots used to heat it up and the small ceramic glasses into which the steaming liquid was poured. The closest match is Chinese Rice Wine also called Shao Xing Cooking Wine. Beef And Onion Donburi With Edamame And Fried Egg SCMPLifestyle. 44 ($0.52/Fl Oz) Get it as soon as Thu, May 14. Gekkeikan Sake. Most brands offer cooking sake with only 13-14% of ABV. Pretty good Sake for cooking purposes. Cooking sake is a kind of sake especially crafted for cooking. To make it taste even more perfect, you can add some spices to the dish. This cooking sake is sure to meet your culinary needs! Traditionally, there was no such thing as a cooking sake in the world of authentic Japanese cuisine. Sake is often present as an appetizer, and with light meals, like fish. There is no right or wrong answer here, but it will change depending on your particular situation.eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'bitemybun_com-box-3','ezslot_8',112,'0','0'])); So we will share our best picks and the best budget cooking sake depending on what you might want to use it for. Drain the rice and return it to the saucepan. I'm Nami, a Japanese home cook based in San Francisco. Somehow, many kinds of dishes will taste even better if you eat it alongside drinking sake. PG. 4.0 / 5 stars (13 Reviews) Herbaceous with hints of grapefruit, mellow flavor with a clean, medium finish. While delicious to sip with a meal, sake is often used in marinades, sauces, soups, and other recipes to add delicate flavor depth and tenderize meats. Cooking with sake can be a pleasure and an enhancement to good food and a fine meal! Browse the top-ranked list of Cooking Sake below along with associated reviews and opinions. Food. You can also use mirin in some cases, so in the next section we’ll discuss the differences between these two. Contrary to sake which is added at the beginning of the cooking process most of the time to let some of that alcohol evaporate. In most dishes, when using cooking sake, you would only need about ½ the amount of regular sake. With its strong characteristic that can intensify and accent the flavor of food, sake, when paired with simple seasonings, is wonderful for seafood, chicken, pasta, or pork dishes. Cooking Sake and Mirin can replace each other in a cooking recipe as these two can serve similar purposes. Japanese use sake to cook, much like how you’d cook with wine. Food . Needless to say, sake has no salt and should not be bitter. You’ll taste flavors similar to some of the aromas you’ve encountered, but not necessarily all. Chicken wings are easily lovable by a lot of people. For example, sushi and sashimi will go perfectly with Junmai Daiginjo sake. The starch from the rice will turn into sugar, which will eventually ferment into alcohol. Please read my disclosure policy for details. Spread the ribs in an even layer in a large glass or ceramic baking dish. Sometimes, sake is also served alongside food in a restaurant or at a dinner.eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'bitemybun_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_7',120,'0','0'])); But people also use sake for cooking a lot. Dry Vermouth. Here are some delicious recipes to cook with sake: Buy our best-selling e-cookbook for 33 more easy and simple recipes! Try it by smelling the sake before swirling, then swirl it and sniff again. It does provide umami and a naturally sweet flavor (from rice – sake’s main ingredient), so Japanese cuisine usually adds sake toeval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'bitemybun_com-leader-2','ezslot_9',121,'0','0'])); Historically, sake has been around for more than a century. Rice wines can be distilled or fermented, but sake is only fermented. Cooking sake is a type of sake made especially for cooking. I don't accept paid sponsorships, my opinion is my own, but if you find my recommendations helpful and you end up buying something you like through one of my links, I could earn a commission at no extra cost to you. When making recipes such as teriyaki sauce or Japanese Fried Chicken Thighs (Karaage), does it matter how much you spend or which type you use? With similar features and 17% of ABV, you can consider dry sherry to fill in the call of cooking sake in a recipe. The Bai Drink Ingredients. Also, it is important to notice that some ingredients can seem very much alike to cooking’s sake that people can get confused. Add a spash to any meat or fish dish or stir-fry for an exotic Yutaka taste and … I love to make a delicious beef or chicken tepanyaki, however next to soy sauce and brown sugar, it requires a decent amount of sake. Sake is a traditional Japanese beverage made from fermented rice. YouTube. Here is what we recommend: An old Japanese company, Kikkoman, has been famous for its distinct products of Japanese condiments and cooking ingredients such as soy sauce and tempura batter.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'bitemybun_com-netboard-2','ezslot_17',128,'0','0'])); Undoubtedly, they also provide high-quality Ryorishi. Ideally, the taste will linger. After that, the sake would still be consumable. The alcohol by volume (ABV) content of sake is around 15-20%.eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'bitemybun_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_6',119,'0','0'])); Japanese have their own rules and ethics in drinking sake, especially on formal occasions. Ship wine today. Let the clams stand in this salted water for 1 hour. The key to its health benefits is in the process of fermentation which it goes through. The easiest substitute for cooking sake is obviously drinkable sake. still pretty nice and perhaps a little more refreshing if served chilled. Will I use up the 3-pack I bought? At Japanese or Asian grocery stores, you can find inexpensive bottles like Gekkeikan, Sho Chiku Bai, or Ozeki shown above. The difference between these two is that Mirin can have lower alcohol content, around 1-14% of ABV. When it is used for cooking, it tenderizes meat, cuts odor such as fish smell, and gives deeper flavor to dishes. This product is also easier to find in the US and other countries. ©2020 Just One Cookbook, All Rights Reserved. • One-gallon glass jugs. Good cooking sake won't have corn syrup as the sweetener. Mirin is also a Japanese cooking wine made from rice, but it is much sweeter than sake and cooking sake. Here are the variations of sake, starting from the highest class: The finest type of sake is Daiginjo with 50% or less of the rice remaining unpolished. Find Sake ideas, recipes & cooking techniques for all levels from Bon Appétit, where food and culture meet. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Keep the bottle in a cool and dark place. Food . Cooking with Sake. That being the case, I usually use ginjo or junmai sake to cook with, since it's what I would serve as a hot sake. 2 years ago. Below we’ll share a couple of recipes that are delicious with sake. Traditional yakitori requires a special grilling device. Sake is a great ingredient for cooking, but which type of sake is best? For cooking purposes sake can be kept in a cold, dark place for two to three months, or even half a year. It may be found at US grocery stores in a liquor aisle, or Asian ingredients aisle. Food . By adding salt in the liquid, the sake becomes no longer fit for drinking. Sake (SAH-keh, not saki) is made from rice and water. Food . level 1. The intensity difference should be considerable. After you open it, unlike wine, you don’t have to finish the whole bottle of sake in one go. As long as you seal the bottle properly, Ryorishi can last longer, up to 2-3 months or even half a year.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'bitemybun_com-small-rectangle-1','ezslot_25',138,'0','0'])); Without a refrigerator and proper sealant, sake can only last for no more than three days before losing its best taste. The Bai Drink Ingredients. It just won’t taste as good as it used to be. Chinese Rice Wine (Michiu). Takara Sake USA does not make “cooking sake (except for industrial brand,” however, our premium Junmai type sake, Sho Chiku Bai Classic Junmai would be the best recommended sake to cook with at home, for exceptional results. Another important health benefit is that it helps to maintain our digestive systems because of the good bacterias in it. Top quality sake (Ginjo grade or higher) is best if drunk between chilled and at room temperature. Swirl the sake in the glass. Maybe the basement or a wine cellar. … History Of Sake. Fortified sakes like honjozu, because of their higher alcohol content and stronger flavours, last longer- up to a month in the refrigerator. $14.95 $ 14. While both drinking quality sake and cooking sake may be used as an ingredient for cooking, I recommend using a sake with a decent quality flavor (in other words simply don't use the cheapest drinking sake), so that it imparts good flavor to food. Michiu is like a Chinese version of sake. Nope. Gekkeikan Sake Sake & Plum Wine | 1. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'bitemybun_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_1',113,'0','0'])); However, any kind of sake can work for cooking purposes, and I prefer using drinkable sake, because the cooking sake has added salt in it (more on that later in the post). Japanese use sake for cooking, just like how you would use wine for cooking. The brand is notable for various foods and ingredients of Japanese cuisine. The terms rice wine and sake are used interchangeably at times. Manufacturers are required by law to add salt (2-3%) to cooking wine to make it unfit for drinking, so that shops without alcohol license can carry the products. Sakes infused with fruit should have aromas and flavors which are true to their particular infusion. This dry cooking wine comes in a variety of grades and is easy to find in Asian markets, as well as online shops and some Asian food sections in traditional grocery stores. For even cooking, don’t try to steam more than two tiers of rice at a time. From my experience, I can say it will keep for at least two or three months and probably for six months or longer, provided it's kept in a cool, dark place. It should be clear, but occasionally it can look a bit yellow.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'bitemybun_com-narrow-sky-2','ezslot_15',132,'0','0'])); Swirling the sake releases tiny droplets in the glass that let us smell the sake more easily. Sake is fermented from four basic ingredients: water, rice, a microbe called koji and yeast. The dry but sweet sake marinade calls for a soft, generous red wine without too much tannin. The reason why salt is contained in cooking sake is to make a difference from drinking sake. Cooking sake contains salt so it adds some flavour to the meat. You can close it tight and store it back to the refrigerator. The first and most important … In most dishes, when using cooking sake, you would only need about ½ the amount of regular sake. This was a modification of the original ancient, and traditional, method for preparing the yeast mash called yamahai moto, it is still used by some Japanese sake brewers to this day. Start cooking them until most of the clams have opened. The production method is more complicated, resulting in the richest complexity of the taste and aroma of the beverage. So you don’t even need to visit a Japanese market to get it, although we do recommend it to get the best sake you’ll ever taste. You may be able to find cooking sake in your local grocery store in the Asian aisle or online at Amazon. Starts grilling. dark sesame oil, flank steak, cooking spray, sake, freshly ground pepper and 3 more. … Moreover, sake can also eliminate the fishy odor from seafood due to its alcohol content. Mirin can be used untreated in a dish, whereas sake is often added earlier in the cooking process to allow some of the alcohol to evaporate. Cooking Sake: Kakushi-aji Ryorishu from Uehara Sake Brewery The label reads, from right to left; 本格 authentic, かくし味 ‘hidden’ taste, 料理酒 cooking sake. Sake is a traditional Japanese beverage made from fermented rice. Benefits of Cooking with Sake. Rice vinegar is also too acidic to create a flavor balance. Manufacturers are required by law to add salt (2-3%) to cooking wine to make it unfit for drinking, so that shops without alcohol license can carry the products. Mirin is also a Japanese cooking wine made from rice, but it is much sweeter than sake and cooking sake. This type of sake is similar to what westerns usually call “table wine”.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'bitemybun_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_13',124,'0','0'])); Cooking sake (Ryorishu) can also be used. How to Pick the Best Sake for Cooking? Sake is Japanese rice wine that is an essential ingredient for Japanese cooking. If Japanese markets are available near you, you might be able to find cooking sake (ryourishu) too. ... Top 1 Best Infrared Thermometer for Cooking 2021. Yoshi Mirin Sweet Rice Cooking Wine Seasoning - 1 L (34 oz) | Authentic Japanese Seasoning For Ya… Sake Glazed Tilapia with Enoki Mushrooms. The fermentation process goes at a colder temperature and for a longer time. Check the latest prices and availability here. Japanese people use their Futsushu (I’ll get into the types of sake next) sake to cook, although they sometimes use the premium one for cooking a fancier meal. Shao Xing Cooking Wine. Cooking sake has a lot of amino acids compared to sake so just a little amount will give cooked dishes Umami (the fifth taste sensation) and a rich taste in flavours. These can also be found in any Japanese grocery store or Asian grocery store that have an alcohol license. Sake, whether drinking or cooking sake, won't go bad in a few days. For example, pizza would go well with Honjozo or even Futsushu sake. Also in Education. Brewing just the right batch of sake takes skill, precision, and patience. 4.6 out of 5 stars 61. For sake, rice starch is converted to sugar, then that sugar is converted to alcohol by yeast. Unopen pasteurized Sake (most types of Sake like Ginjo and Junmai) can be stored in a cool, dark place. But some pairs are much more enjoyable and popular. The booze has a salty and sweet aroma, as well as a slightly nutty flavor. Note: Many cooking sake contain about 2% salt to avoid taxes under the Liquor Tax Law. and yakimono (grilled dishes like Teriyaki Chicken). We recommend serving the beef ribs cut across the bone, since they are more manageable pieces that way. Throughout Japanese cuisine, sake & mirin are often used hand in hand in a recipe. Cover with foil and roast, turning the ribs halfway through cooking, for about 3 hours, or until the meat is very tender; skim the fat occasionally. The sake degustation procedure is exactly the same as you would a wine, tossing the sake around the mouth to ensure that it also touches the taste buds underneath the tongue. Pour in dashi, sake, soy sauce, and salt in a hot pot to make the broth. These will serve as secondary fermenters and clarifying vessels. Twitter . Understanding the difference between drinkable and cooking sake, it would be better to just opt for a cooking sake if you only plan to use a little, and want to spend less.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'bitemybun_com-netboard-1','ezslot_16',127,'0','0'])); But which brand of Ryorishi is best to try? Aji-Mirin, Japanese sweet cooking rice wine - 10 oz x 2 bottles. This type of sake tastes light and fruity. Hot pot soup (nabe) is the best comfort food in cold weather to enjoy in a group, either with friends or family. Beefsteak and any other fatty meals, like yakitori, can pair perfectly with Junmao Ginjo. Consider the Rosemount Estate South Eastern Cabernet Sauvignon from Australia or the Markham Napa Valley Merlot. You can also use less grape juice and add more plain water to create a lighter taste. Mirin Seasoning Sake Takara has been making mirin for over 170 years and is widely known as the number one mirin brand in Japan. As it contains salt and other ingredients, I use regular drinking sake (one of 3 brands above), but I think small amount of cooking sake should be okay. In a large roasting pan, toss the ribs with the onions, carrots, celery, olives, coriander, garlic, ginger, turmeric, curry powder, cayenne, saffron and the remaining 1 cup of sake; season with salt and white pepper. How to Pick the Right Foods for Your… Food . Dry vermouth is another fortified wine that is originally from Spain. Sake, the Japanese brew made from fermented polished rice, is generally faintly sweet, but, like wine or beer, it can vary significantly in aroma and flavor. Afterwards, drain them and rinse well. A long finish is a good indication of high-quality sake.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'bitemybun_com-sky-2','ezslot_21',134,'0','0'])); A cooking sake, also known as Ryorishi, is not much different from regular sake for drinking. If I need Mirin, I simply add some sugar to this, or I use it as a sub for Sake and save the good stuff to 'finish' the food at the end. Buy sake online in the UK, from well known Japanese sake brands like Ozeki and even sparkling sake for special occasions. In cooking, sake is a good way to heighten the umami of dishes when light cooking methods that do not generate any umami are used, such as blanching, poaching, steaming, and boiling foods. This is also where you'll find Japanese sake for cooking to use in dishes like ramen and yakitori.