10 Common Indonesian Traditional Kitchen Tools

Most Indonesian love cooking traditionally complete with their kitchen tools. They believe that their cooking will taste more authentic than the food that cooks with modern kitchen tools.

That is why even though the modern eras come to through Indonesia, people still using the traditional kitchen tools for cooking. Whether for daily cooking, party, or custom culture events, most Indonesian prefer cooking traditionally with their traditional kitchen tools.

This time, we will bring you to the most popular Indonesian traditional kitchen tools that commonly still exist now. Check them out below!

1. Tungku Api

Tungku Api exists in most Indonesian traditional kitchen tools. It has different names in a different region, such as most Javanese call it Pawon. Tungku Api is a traditional way of the stove that is made of stone or brick. The fire is made from the woods, bamboo, or coconut leaf that burn properly with the lighter.

Indonesian loves their cooking way traditionally using the Tungku Api such as for cooking the Indonesian traditional Christmas food. Even though there are so many types of gas and electric stoves, most of them prefer using Tungku Api. They believe their cooking will come deliciously rather than using the gas stove.

2. Anglo

Anglo is another form of a traditional stove that similar to the Tungku Api but it has a removable type. Besides, you can be using charcoal to make the fire from this kind of stove. It is made by clays that form as the traditional Anglo in Javanese type of traditional stove.

The food that cooks by Anglo has a specific taste that so much different from the gas or electric stove. People believe that the charcoal smoke makes it different and gives a unique taste to the food as the most delicious Indonesian famous main dish.

3. Dandang

Dandang is a traditional rice cooker that usually uses for cooking rice. It is made of good material of copper. That makes it can be used for so many years without any breakdown or such things. Commonly, people cook rice using the Kukusan that is made of bamboo.

Dandang is the best combination of kitchen tools while you are cooking with the Tungku Api. The taste of the rice will come deliciously rather than when you are cooking with the rice cooker.

4. Kukusan

Kukusan is one of the Indonesian traditional kitchen tools made from bamboo. Usually, it is using for cooking the rice and put it on the Dandang. Both of them have a great combination that can’t be separated no matter the condition.

Kukusan has a larger size than you think so that it is suitable for the Dandang. If you are not using the Dandang, then the Kukusan is made in a smaller way. Commonly, people that cook traditionally have a big family so that they prefer using the Kukusan in a larger size.

5. Kastrol

Kastrol is one of the Indonesian traditional kitchen tools that have a similar function as the rice cooker. It has a different size from Dandang and has a smaller size. Usually, people using it for cooking Nasi Liwet, porridge, or the usual rice as one of the most delicious Indonesian staple food.

Cooking the rice using Kastrol will give a different taste than using the Kukusan in Dandang. It will give softer rice than you think so it is perfect to use if you love the softer rice.

6. Cobek

Cobek is one of the Indonesian traditional kitchen tools with a similar function as the blender or mixer. People usually using this kitchen tool for smooth the spices so that it has a delicious taste. You should slowly smooth it with the Ulekan as the one package of the Cobek.

Cobek exists in most Indonesian regions since they love the spice the most to put on their cook. It will make the food taste better with a strong spice inside their cooking. Whether it tastes chilly spice or not, Indonesian will use the Cobek to smooth them all such as in the traditional food of Minangkabau.

7. Cething

Cething is one of the Indonesian traditional kitchen tools made from bamboo. People prefer to using it for rice storage after cook rather than using the rice cooker. It has so many different sizes, and you can choose the one that suitable for your family.

Cething has evolved material as the modern come through Indonesia. The traditional one is made of bamboo, and today you can find it made by stainless steel, hard plastic, and many more.

8. Irus

Irus is one of the Indonesian traditional kitchen tools made of good wood material. People using it as a spoon while cooking some soup or other foods. Some people also using these tools while picking the rice from the Cething.

Both of them are a great combination while you are using the traditional kitchen tools.

9. Parutan Kayu

Parutan Kayu is one of the Indonesian traditional kitchen tools made from the chosen wood. People using it for grating the coconut so that you can use it for the coconut milk.

Grating using Parutan Kayu tools has a challenging way because you should be careful of the sharp side of it.

10. Tampah

Tampah is one of the Indonesian traditional kitchen tools made from bamboo. People using it for winnowing the rice before cooking it properly. The basic function is to make sure that the rice comes clean without any trash on it.

Nowadays, Tampah has different functions to put some Jajanan Pasar or traditional popular food in Yogyakarta, and Tumpeng. Whether for put the food to eat or worship in a ritual, Tampah still popular now.

So, there are some glances about Indonesian traditional kitchen tools that commonly existed until now. Are you still using one of them?