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In our previous article, we introduced everything you need to know about the wonderful ingredient of dashi. In case you’re unfamiliar with dashi, it is essentially one of the most fundamental seasonings in Japanese cuisine. It is an umami-packed broth that is used in many different Japanese soups, stews, sauces, and more.
While dashi can easily be made at home with the right ingredients, it does take a bit of time to prepare. Luckily, there are many types of instant dashi products on the market that can replicate the taste of homemade dashi.
If you’re low on time or do not have the right ingredients to make dashi but still want to enjoy cooking Japanese cuisine, don’t fret! We’ve got you covered. In this article, we’re going to share the best instant dashi products and ready-made dashi stocks that you can purchase if you don’t have time to make your own.
Why Instant Dashi?
Many Japanese recipes include dashi in the recipes list. However sometimes, the recipe may only call for a small amount of dashi. (Maybe as little as only a teaspoon!) In these cases, instant dashi comes in quite handy. Instead of going through the trouble of making a pot of dashi broth, it is much faster to whip out instant dashi.
The more you get used to using instant dashi, you may also find ways to incorporate it into other dishes outside of Japanese cuisine as well. In fact, instant dashi makes a great secret ingredient for pasta sauces, salad dressings, and even dips.
If you want to include instant dashi as one of your pantry staples but don't know which recipes to use it in, check out our selection of authentic Japanese recipes.
Top Instant Dashi Products
Now, let's get onto our top 8 instant dashi product recommendations! As every type of instant dashi is different, there may be a particular product that suits your needs better than another product. For that reason, we would like to point out the best quality of each instant dashi.
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Tokiwa Concentrated Dashi Stock Umami Rich Seafood Based Dashi
This versatile stock combines the natural umami of bonito, dried scallops, and kelp with soy sauce, sugar, and mirin to create an authentically Japanese flavor profile that will take all your dishes to the next level.
Pros
- Rich, savory umami flavor in dishes
- Versatile for soups, stews, sauces
- Made with premium seafood ingredients
Cons
- Strong aroma may overwhelm some
- Slightly salty for sensitive palates
- Requires careful measuring for balance
Kayanoya Original Dashi Stock Powder
This highly-rated dashi powder adds authentic Japanese flavor to any dish in just two minutes. It’s made from premium ingredients including roasted ago (flying fish), iwashi (sardine), kombu (dried kelp), and katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes). It is also pre-seasoned with sea salt and soy sauce for maximum flavor.
Kayanoya also sells dashi stock powder in other varieties such as sardine and vegetable. Everyone can find their favorite flavor of dashi in Kayanoya’s lineup!
Pros
- Ready in just two minutes
- Authentic Japanese flavor
- Multiple flavor varieties
Cons
- Powder may clump easily
- Strong taste for some
- Slightly pricey than refular dashi
Mizkan Shiro Dashi Sauce Professional Taste
This light-colored Japanese dashi is made only with high-quality ingredients such as bonito flakes and kombu seaweed, and unlike most dashi also contains chicken broth too for added depth of flavor. The Mizkan Shiro Dashi adds umami flavor and saltiness to any dish without changing the color of the food or ingredients.
Pros
- Light color preserved in dishes
- Deep umami flavor enhances recipes
- Includes chicken broth for depth
Cons
- May be too salty if not properly diluted
- Limited to Japanese-style dishes
- Not suitable for vegetarians or vegans
Teraoka Dashi Shoyu Japanese Oyster Soy Sauce
While this product is actually a soy sauce, it can also be used as a dashi soup base for hot pot, soups, and stews. Teraoka, a Japanese shoyu producer based in Hiroshima, has created a dashi soy sauce soup base that is not too salty and can be used as a multi-purpose seasoning.
Flavored with bonito flakes, kombu seaweed, and oyster extract, this multi-purpose dashi shoyu sauce will add a depth of umami and subtle dashi flavor to stir-fries, Japanese cold vegetable dishes, simmered dishes, and more! You will be able to recreate all of your favorite Japanese dishes at home with this special dashi shoyu sauce.
Pros
- Adds rich umami depth to dishes
- Works well as soup or seasoning
- Unique oyster flavor for variety
Cons
- Unique blend may surprise traditionalists
- Strong taste may overwhelm beginners
- Slightly salty for some dishes
Daihoku Golden Kombu Dashi Sauce Concentrated Soup Base
Kombu seaweed lovers should not miss out on this Kombu Dashi Sauce from Daihoku! Kombu seaweed is full of umami and savory flavor that cannot be found in seafood. It is also packed with nutrients like vitamins A & C, and calcium. Daihoku only uses high-quality kombu seaweed harvested in Hokkaido, so you can rest assured that this kombu dashi concentrated soup base will make anything you add it to instantly delicious.
Pros
- Rich kombu umami flavor
- Nutrient-packed ingredients
- Hokkaido-sourced high-quality kombu
Cons
- Limited flavor variety
- Can taste vegetal to some
- Less versatile in non-Japanese dishes
Adachi No Salt Added Fish Based Dashi Stock Powder 20 ct.
This stock powder has a natural, rich taste of traditional Japanese dashi. Crafted with only the highest quality domestic ingredients, this low-sodium dashi blends bonito flakes, sardines, mackerel, and kombu to create a perfectly balanced, umami-rich broth without any chemical seasonings or added salt.
Ideal for those seeking a healthy, all-purpose soup stock, this dashi pack delivers pure, natural flavors suitable for all ages. Each packet contains essential nutrients like calcium, minerals, proteins, and dietary fiber, making it a nourishing addition to any meal. Use it in miso soup, udon broth, stir-fried vegetables, or any dish that benefits from authentic Japanese umami.
Pros
- Natural, no added salt or chemicals
- Balanced umami from multiple fish and kombu
- Rich in nutrients: calcium, protein, minerals
Cons
- Subtle flavor may need boosting
- Longer simmering may be required
- Limited seasoning variety
Yamaki Low Sodium Udon Shiro Dashi Stock
Did you know that dashi stock is the base ingredient for udon broth? If you want to make a bowl of hot udon noodle soup at home, you can do so with this Udon Shiro Dashi Stock from Yamaki easily. However, you can also use this dashi stock to flavor any of your other favorite dishes too!
This dashi stock is lower and sodium compared with other instant dashi stocks, containing 30% less salt. It is also flavored with high-quality bonito and kombu seaweed meaning that it will pack the perfect umami punch. Just dissolve this dashi powder with hot water and you’ve got yourself some tasty dashi.
Pros
- 30% less salt than normal
- High umami punch for soups
- Perfect for udon noodle broth
Cons
- Milder flavor compared to others
- Slightly more expensive than average
- Limited use outside udon dishes
If you’d like to check out more products that contain dashi or other Japanese soups, you can find them here.
Are you a fan of dashi? Have you included it in your recipes before? Let us know in the comments below!
