Yamanashi Minamitsuru-gun "Yamanakako Campsite" Video introduction of how to cook rice using a rice cooker

This video, titled “Cooking Rice with a Mess Kit” (飯ごうでご飯を炊こう), was uploaded by “Yamanakako Village Tourism Division” (山中湖村観光課).
The camp ground introduced in the video is Sonei Yamanakako Camping Ground, located at the foot of Mt. Fuji.

The video shows how to cook rice in a mess kit using meltwater from Mt. Fuji.
When going camping, try bringing a mess kit to make your own camping meals.

How to Cook Rice With a Mess Kit

Mess kits are aluminum cookware often used by soldiers or when camping to cook food. As you can see in the video, they can also be used to cook rice!
A typical mess kit in Japan has an outer lid and an inner lid which can be used to measure rice.

First, wash the rice and add an appropriate amount of water to the mess kit.
Wash-free rice is useful when you don’t have enough water to wash the rice (or just don’t feel like washing it).
The correct way to cook rice is to let it soak up water for about 30 minutes and then put it over the fire.
Cook the rice over low to medium heat until it comes to a boil, and then reduce the heat to low.
Make sure to pay attention to time and heat level.

After cooking the rice, turn the mess kit upside down and let it steam for 10 minutes.
This can be seen at 3:11 in the video.

Tips to Make the Most of Your Mess Kit While Camping

In Japan, basic camping goods can be purchased at 100-yen shops such as Daiso all across the country.
A digital scale or measuring cup are useful for measuring rice, water, and other ingredients precisely.
Also, be sure to prepare ample food and necessary tools, including tinder and plates.
If you want to reduce the aluminum smell of the mess kit, you can cook the rice using the water you used to wash it.
There are many different types of cookware that you can use when camping, so be sure to look for what suits your needs best.

Summary of Cooking Rice With a Mess Kit

If you remember the steps shown in the video, you can enjoy delicious rice when camping.
Mess kits are also useful for making arranged recipes, such as jambalaya and oden.

You can rent a mess kit at the Sonei Yamanakako Camping Ground shown in the video, so be sure to make a reservation if you want to enjoy a fun camping experience.