Saucepan - Yukihira - Stainless Steel
The yukihira nabe (行平鍋) is the everyday saucepan of the Japanese kitchen. It is the pot used for making dashi and miso soup, for simmered dishes (nimono), blanching vegetables, boiling noodles and reheating - the kind of daily tasks that make up most of what happens on a stove. Its light weight and thin walls mean it heats quickly and responds to changes in temperature, and it is easy to lift and pour from with one hand.
Two pouring spouts, one on each side, make it practical for right-handed and left-handed cooks, and allow broth or soup to be poured directly into bowls. The natural wood handle stays cool during cooking. The hammered tsuchime (槌目) surface increases the heating area and helps reduce sticking. An interior graduated scale gives a quick reference for water volume.
This yukihira is made by Maruyama Giken in Tsubame City, Niigata, a region with a metalworking tradition dating to the 17th century and known today for its steel tools, knives and kitchenware. The pan is formed from 18-8 stainless steel (SUS304) and works on gas, induction (IH) and conventional electric hobs. Not suitable for oven, microwave or steam oven use.
Two sizes are available:
- 18cm - 1.8L capacity. Suited to miso soup for two, a single serving of noodles, blanching, sauces and dashi;
- 20cm - 2.2L capacity. Suited to simmered dishes, curries, soups and stews for three to four.
Care instructions
- Wash with a soft sponge and neutral detergent after each use.
- Dry thoroughly before storing.
- Do not leave salt or food residue on the surface, and do not use chlorine bleach.
- Hand wash only, as the dishwasher will damage the wooden handle.
- For stubborn residue, simmer water in the pan until it lifts, then clean with a sponge.
- The handle is natural wood and may loosen slightly with use - retighten the screws periodically.
Note: Do not use for deep frying, stir-frying or dry roasting. Do not dry-heat the pan. When adding salt or miso, stir immediately rather than allowing it to settle on the base.
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KOURIKKA (煌六花) is a cookware brand of Maruyama Giken Co., Ltd., established in 1955 in Tsubame City, Niigata Prefecture. The company began as a manufacturer of steel goods and has since expanded into a range of cooking pots, saucepans and kitchen tools. Now in its fourth generation under president Daisuke Maruyama, Maruyama Giken produces cookware that draws on the accumulated skill of the Tsubame-Sanjo metalworking region.