Steaming Cloth
Steaming cloth
Japanese: 蒸し布（むしぬの）
Cloth used when steaming soybeans or rice. Prevents food from directly contacting metal.
A cotton or linen cloth placed over the steamer, preventing food from contacting metal surfaces and distributing steam evenly. Convenient for lifting out steamed soybeans or rice.
Wetting before use prevents sticking. Wash thoroughly and dry after use. Sarashi and dedicated steaming cloths are commercially available. A modest tool, but it influences steaming quality. Hemp is durable and reusable; cotton sarashi is soft and easy to handle. Either way, thorough dampening before use is fundamental. The satisfying moment when steamed soybeans release cleanly from cloth.