The length of glass noodles that might coexist with a culture that does not reconcile with rationalism

Introduction

In our daily lives, we encounter various situations where we think something is a hassle or could be done better. These are not all high-minded matters. Some are things that would likely be fine if changed.

Today is a story about such things.

Boiling glass noodles

There are several foods that compensate for the calorie deficiency associated with CKD dietary restrictions. Among them, glass noodles, which are made from starch, are useful. However, they are usually sold in stores as dried goods. They are almost always used after being rehydrated in water. I feel that this in itself requires extra effort.

Moreover, their size does not match the size of the pots I have as someone living alone. They are clearly too long. There are probably various ways to manage this. Being lazy, I cut them in two with kitchen scissors while they are still in the bag. This is because if I take them out and snip them with scissors, they will scatter everywhere.

While looking for the glass noodles that flew away, I tend to lose the motivation to use them. Because it is a hassle, I find myself reaching for the slightly more expensive, compact-sized glass noodles at the store.

Pasta too

The same thing happens with pasta. The length is usually over 25 centimeters. Of course, like the glass noodles mentioned above, I fold them in half and put them in the pot. The remainder does not fit in the size of the storage containers, such as Tupperware, that I use daily. For that reason, I make use of 2L plastic bottles or look for them at 100-yen shops.

I feel like I saw pasta that was about half the length at a store once, but I haven't seen it since. If the price were the same, that would require less effort, and I would definitely buy it.

Cooking and storage methods

Of course, I used to use the method of swirling them into boiling water while they were still their original size. However, before they soften and the whole thing is submerged in the water, the parts sticking out of the edge of the pot get scorched by the stove's flame. This often happens with somen noodles and the like.

In a rental apartment for someone living alone, I don't use such large pots for daily cooking. Even though I tend to cook in batches to some extent, I don't own pots that are larger than necessary. As a result, these types of noodles are all too long, and unless I come up with some kind of solution, they won't fit, and storage is also difficult.

What is culture?

Regardless of East or West, that length seems to be common for noodles. They are just a little longer than the pots I have on hand. For some reason, it is also about the same as the length of a human arm or the size of a head. The reason they settled on that size might simply be because of ease of production or transportation. Nevertheless, they have surely been adjusted to that size and used for thousands of years.

It could be said that they sufficiently embody traditional culture. I have heard of the existence of a customary practice that does not approve of "breaking pasta." That, too, is likely a tradition, and it may have been passed down continuously.

Being a contrarian, if it doesn't cause any harm, I will do it anyway. Noodles that are too long are hard to eat, and if you compare them, you can eat them just as deliciously even at half the size. I respect "culture" and have no intention of denying it, but if I can change it personally without causing trouble for anyone else, I am the type to change it immediately. If I can eat it deliciously, that is enough.

Conclusion

In the end, what is traditional culture? There seem to be many things there that are not just rational and cannot be explained. Is it something that arises from the "leisure" of the heart and mind? There is something to be said for things that have been passed down continuously.

There are also cultures I want to protect and maintain. There are various things not only in food but also in clothing, shelter, daily life, and behavior. For example, kimonos (Japanese clothing), which have fewer opportunities to be worn, are a kind of longing.

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