Glossary - Kitchen Tools

Soba Seiro

A piece of tableware made specifically for soba noodles that drains well

What is soba seiro?

Soba seiro (そばせいろ in Japanese) is a tool for serving soba noodles, with a wooden slatted base on the bottom of a square or round wooden frame. During the Edo period (1603-1868), soba noodles were made from 100% buckwheat flour and were easy to break, so they were steamed in a seiro without being boiled, and served in the seiro without being re-arranged. Nowadays, nihachi soba (soba made from 20% wheat flour and 80% buckwheat flour) is common, and as this makes the noodles less likely to break, soba is no longer steamed in a seiro. However, as a vestige of the Edo period, many soba restaurants still serve soba in a soba seiro.

Soba served in a seiro

How to use

Rinse with water and wipe off any excess water before use. Soba seiro can be used not only for soba noodles, but also for udon noodles and Chinese noodles that are eaten with dipping sauce. It can also be used in a variety of ways as a dish, such as for serving rice balls and sandwiches.

Substitute for soba seiro: when you don’t have it

A bamboo sieve is commonly used as a substitute for a soba seiro, and soba served on a bamboo sieve may be called "seiro soba" at soba restaurants. If you don't have a seiro or a bamboo sieve, soba can be served on a plate as well.