Dried Vegetables

Japanese Bamboo Basket by UmezawaA 36 cm Zaru, Just Right for Drying Vegetables

Carrots, sweet potato, cherry tomatoes, lemon, shimeji and other vegetables on a bamboo basket

This is a Japanese-made bamboo basket (zaru) from Umezawa Mokuzai Kogeisha, a company in Mie Prefecture. When we were choosing a basket for drying vegetables, we wanted one made in Japan by a Japanese company, so we picked this one.

Most of the dried vegetable photos on this site were taken on this basket.

It’s sold mainly in Japan. Outside Japan, look for a flat, shallow bamboo basket of a similar size; Japanese kitchen shops and online stores carry them.

Choosing a size

The weave of the Umezawa bamboo basket

Ours is 36 cm (14 in) across. Umezawa makes many sizes and types, so you can choose by how much you dry and where you’ll put it.

  • About 30 cm (12 in): For drying small amounts, such as garnishes and herbs.
  • About 36 cm (14 in): Holds one or two vegetables’ worth, the easiest size to use. The photos on this site use this size.
  • 40 cm (16 in) or more: For big batches, such as dried daikon strips.

We often put it on a balcony railing or a windowsill, so measure the space before you choose.

Other uses

The rim of the bamboo basket seen from the side
  • Draining vegetables and fish during prep
  • Serving ingredients for hot pot or tabletop grilling
  • Draining and serving cold soba or somen noodles
  • Sun-drying umeboshi (pickled plums) in summer

Care, so it lasts

A close-up of the bamboo weave
  • After use, scrub it with a brush under water. Avoid detergent if you can.
  • After washing, let it dry completely in a breezy, shady spot before putting it away. If you store it damp, the basket itself can go moldy.
  • Leaving it in direct sun for long periods can make the bamboo crack. When you’re not drying vegetables, keep it in the shade.

Official site (Japanese): Umezawa Mokuzai Kogeisha

Other tools are covered in Tools for Drying Vegetables.

What to dry next