Cold-Brew Dashi (Mizudashi)

Steep kombu in cold water overnight in the fridge. No stove needed.

Difficulty: 1
Heat: none

Key Points

Use cold water and a clean jar. Keep it in the fridge the whole time. Remove the kombu after 10 hours.

Common Failures

Leaving it on the counter lets bacteria grow. Steeping for two days makes it slimy and bitter.

Do this

Put 10 g of kombu in 1 liter of cold water. Cover it. Leave it in the fridge for 8 to 10 hours. Lift out the kombu.

Why it works

Umami slips out even in cold water. The slimy fiber needs heat to melt. So a cold soak gives a clean, clear stock.

When to skip it

Skip it when you need dashi within the hour. Use the 60C method instead.