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The Recipe · No.726 · Sukiyaki

Sukiyaki, and where to source it

Sukiyaki — 5best2buy.com 5BEST2BUY.COM Sukiyaki Japanese 5best2buy.com

It is built around one contrast that only works if the beef is sliced tissue-thin: the hot, sweet-salty warishita cooks the meat in seconds, and then you dip that hot slice into cold beaten raw egg, which cools it and coats it in silk. Thick-cut beef breaks the whole thing; it needs freezer-firmed, deli-thin slices.

By Vince Gonzalez · Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026

Prep25 min
Cook15 min
Makes4 servings
CuisineJapanese
Cost$$$
Gluten-freeDairy-free
Contains  eggs · soy
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Cook for 4 servings
Thin-sliced beef
Ribeye or chuck shaved paper-thin; it cooks in seconds. Well-marbled grass-fed beef is worth it here.
1.5 lb
Napa cabbage and greens
Napa, chrysanthemum greens, and scallion to simmer in the broth. Fresh, bought local.
6 cups
Local / market
Tofu and mushrooms
Firm tofu and shiitake or enoki soak up the warishita. Fresh craft tofu holds together.
1 block, 8 oz
Soy, mirin and sugar
The warishita sauce; balance salty, sweet, and a little sake.
to taste
Eggs
Beaten raw in a cold bowl for dipping. Use very fresh eggs you trust.
4
The Rundown
Greedometer ●●●● Squeaky clean
About as virtuous as dinner gets.
EffortEasy
Cook it with
Stovetop
The Method
  1. Mix the warishitaCombine soy, mirin, sugar, and sake into a sweet-salty simmering sauce.
  2. Start the panIn a hot iron pan, sear a first slice of beef, then pour in some warishita to get it bubbling.
  3. Add in stagesAdd cabbage, tofu, mushrooms, and greens in sections, ladling warishita over and topping up as it cooks down.
  4. Cook and dipEveryone pulls hot beef and vegetables from the pan and dips them in cold beaten egg. Add rice at the end.
The Toolkit

Iron pan · Chopsticks · Ladle

Straight Answers
Can you make Sukiyaki in an air fryer? — Sometimes

Sometimes — if the pieces are small and cooked dry, an air fryer can handle it in a single layer; anything saucy or liquid needs a pan. When in doubt, the stovetop or oven is the safe call.

Can you freeze Sukiyaki? — Yes

Yes — it freezes well. Cool it fully, portion into airtight containers, and it keeps a few months; thaw in the fridge and reheat gently.

Can you make Sukiyaki ahead of time? — Yes

Yes — it keeps in the fridge for a few days; stir or shake it before serving.

Is Sukiyaki gluten-free? — Yes

Yes — nothing in this recipe as written contains gluten. As always, glance at the labels on any packaged items (broth, sauces, chocolate), since brands vary.

Is Sukiyaki vegan? — No

No — it contains meat, so it isn’t vegetarian or vegan.

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