Heat Control
Boiling Off Mirin and Sake (Nikiri)
Boil mirin or sake for one minute before using it raw. The sting goes. The sweetness stays.
Key Points
Use a small, wide pot. Smell the steam at 1 minute. Stop when it no longer stings.
Common Failures
Boiling for 5 minutes turns mirin sticky and bitter. A gas flame can light the vapor. Keep your face back.
Do this
Pour the mirin into a small pot. Add sake if the recipe uses it. Boil for 1 minute over medium heat.
Why it works
Alcohol leaves liquid well below the boiling point of water. One minute at a boil clears most of it. The sugars in mirin stay behind.
When to skip it
Skip it for stews and teriyaki. Long cooking in the pan does the same job.
