September 1st is "Disaster Prevention Day". Enuchi will continue to introduce goods and topics related to disaster prevention this year for Disaster Prevention Day.
At supermarkets and general stores during this period, disaster prevention emergency food corners stand out, but the mainstream ones are "alpha rice" and "freeze-dried rice." Both are rice that is eaten by pouring hot water or water, but what is the difference? I actually ate it and compared it.
Speaking of emergency food, after all rice
This time, we prepared "Freeze-dried rice" from Nagatanien, which is familiar with "portable rice balls that can be made without nigiri" from Onishi Foods, a long-established manufacturer of alpha rice. Both can be stored for a long period of about 5 years at room temperature.
Onishi Foods "Mobile rice balls that can be made without nigiri" 216 yen each
Nagatanien "Freeze-dried rice" around 500 yen
Both support long-term storage
The "portable rice balls that can be made without nigiri" released last year are rice balls made by pouring hot water or water. It is an interesting product that you can make "triangular rice balls without getting your hands dirty" by packaging with a special shape.
Take out the oxygen scavenger
Just pour hot water (or water) and wait
When I tried both, I completed a rice ball with rice grains firmly attached to each other. The fluffy and chewy texture makes you feel the sweetness of rice, and it's usually delicious!
Triangle without doing anything
A level that you can believe even if you say "I just grabbed it"
Even if you make it with water
Nagatanien's freeze-dried rice is also made by pouring hot or cold water directly into the package. The feature of this is
that it is speedy, 3 minutes with hot water and 5 minutes with water. A spoon is also included to make it easy to eat outdoors and in evacuation areas.
Take out the oxygen scavenger
Pour hot water (or water)
It is possible to finish it with a "normal" and "soft" texture by adjusting the amount of water, but even if it was made normally, it was as soft as porridge or risotto. The flavor of curry and meat extract is strong, but the seasoning is rather modest. It has a gentle taste that is easy for anyone to eat.
On the other hand, white rice made with water has a distinctive texture of rice, which gives a slightly harsh impression to eat without seasoning. I managed to eat it by adding the tea and water that came with it as a bonus.
Soft but subtle to the touch
It might be good to eat it with ochazuke or curry rice
Taste or speed
Alpha rice is a manufacturing method that maintains the state (pregelatinized starch) when the rice is cooked by removing the water and drying it. Freeze-drying, on the other hand, has the characteristic that when cooked rice is frozen and dried, the moisture inside becomes a gap and the absorption speed of moisture is accelerated.
If you want a chewy texture that is close to that of regular rice, then alpha rice is definitely the way to go. You can also get a sense of security that you can eat the same taste as usual in a small emergency. However, in the event of a disaster, it is not always possible to wait 15 minutes to an hour before eating. In such a case, freeze-dried rice has the advantage that it not only has a short cooking time but can be eaten as it is.
Freeze-dried rice can be eaten as it is
Two types of long-term storage rice with different characteristics. Personally, I felt that it was a good idea to use different backpacks for taking out and stockpile for home use depending on the situation. Don't forget to
prepare drinking water at the same time! * Price includes tax, at the time of purchase