View source for Zaru

{{short description|Japanese kitchen utensil}}
{{Italic title|reason=[[:Category:Japanese words and phrases]]}}
{{One source|date=August 2007}}
A {{nihongo|'''''zaru'''''|[[wikt:笊|笊, ざる]]}} is generally a flat or shallow basket made from bamboo used in the preparation and presentation of [[Cuisine of Japan|Japanese cuisine]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Bourdain |first=Anthony |author-link=Anthony Bourdain |title=[[A Cook's Tour: Global Adventures in Extreme Cuisines]] |year=2001 |publisher=[[Ecco Press|Ecco]] |location=New York, NY |isbn=0-06-001278-1}}</ref> It also has variations made of plastic or metal similar to a strainer, [[sieve]] or [[colander]]. 

''Zaru'' are air dried after use to prevent the growth of [[bacteria]] or [[Fungus|fungi]] on the mat and extend their lifespan. However, drying in harsh sunlight can cause the bamboo of the ''zaru'' to crack.

Reflecting the zaru's capacity to soak up liquid, this term is also used as slang for a person who can drink a lot of alcohol without showing signs of inebriation.

<gallery widths="200px" heights="160px">
File:Zaru.jpg|''Zaru'' made from [[bamboo]]
File:Seiro_soba_at_Takasho_in_Nezu,_Tokyo.jpg|''[[Soba]]'' served on a ''zaru''
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[List of Japanese cooking utensils]]
* [[Chinois]]
* [[Filter (chemistry)|Filter]]
* [[Sieve]]
* [[Sokuri]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline|Zaru}}

{{Japanese food and drink}}

[[Category:Japanese food preparation utensils]]

{{Japan-cuisine-stub}}
{{cooking-tool-stub}}