Old Kikkoman dispenser - do I really need the foam gasket?

[y_p_w]

Hadn't used it them a while and didn't want to throw it away. Bought a couple of these and reused them many times. Hadn't used them in a while but decided to clean them up. The hard part was inside, but I was able to clean that with some paper towels and the end of a thin fork to scrub the inside surface. Seems really clean now. The only issue was that the old foam (polyethylene or polypropylene?) was really nasty. Didn't look moldy or anything, but definitely stained with years of dried soy sauce that will never clean out. So I tossed them. There are places that sell replacement caps complete with gaskets. I guess this would be for restaurants that have them tableside, especially where they might crack or just get dirty. But I've found they're pretty sturdy although the gasket gets nasty over time. And the place I mostly see them is at Chinese restaurants. I played around with it and I don't really see it leaking even without the gasket, but fairly tight.

https://allstaterec.com/product/soy-sauce-bottle-replacement-cap-only/
https://fsiseattle.com/product/kikkoman-caps-for-empty-dispensers/
https://www.jfc.com/product/item/22013

I've occasionally seen the lower sodium version dispenser that comes with a green cap. I don't think Kikkoman sells these bottles unless they're filled.

It's this bottle other than an older version with an older label. I guess they stopped using sodium benzoate. I know the Japanese PET bottled version says that it uses alcohol as a preservative, although soy sauce naturally contains alcohol produced in the brewing process.

I wasn't aware that the two holes also allows for control. One can place a finger to cover the top hole to stop the flow by closing off the venting.

https://www.kikkoman.co.uk/food-stories/detail/kikkoman-control-hole

 

[Kira]

All those people's hands and fingers on either of the two holes, either of which becomes your food dispensing hole.
Sounds way viler than the gasket ever could be.

Did you measure or trace the old gasket before tossing it?

 

[B1974]

This is the farthest thing in terms of problems that I'd ever think I'd give thought to. Best of luck.

 

[JohnnyG]

When I need to replace a gasket like that, I usually just cut one myself from the top of any food grade snap on lid. You know the kind, like on top of peanut cans and such.

 

[JRay’07]

This is the farthest thing in terms of problems that I'd ever think I'd give thought to. Best of luck.

The real problems start when people ignore the fine print written on some of these bottles. Refill only with Kikkoman.

 

[y_p_w]

The real problems start when people ignore the fine print written on some of these bottles. Refill only with Kikkoman.

Are the consequences similar to removing the tag from furniture or pillows?

 

[JRay’07]

Are the consequences similar to removing the tag from furniture or pillows?

I don’t want to find out.

 

[Carmudgeon]

All those people's hands and fingers on either of the two holes, either of which becomes your food dispensing hole.
Sounds way viler than the gasket ever could be.

For many Asians, the bigger faux pas is dousing white rice with soy sauce from a table dispenser.

Soy sauce can used when cooking rice, or with rice dishes that have specific, complementary forms of it. Like a chicken that was prepared with soy, which is also used to flavor the rice during eating.

But as a standard table condiment on white rice? That will garner some strange looks.

Their version of putting ketchup on a hot dog, or a steak, to some.

 

[Sumboodie]

For many Asians, the bigger faux pas is dousing white rice with soy sauce from a table dispenser.

Soy sauce can used when cooking rice, or with rice dishes that have specific, complementary forms of it. Like a chicken that was prepared with soy, which is also used to flavor the rice during eating.

But as a standard table condiment on white rice? That will garner some strange looks.

Their version of putting ketchup on a hot dog, or a steak, to some.

What goes on a hot dog if it's not ketchup?

 

[Carmudgeon]

What goes on a hot dog if it's not ketchup?

I do, so a Chicagoan would be better prepared to provide the rationale for that belief. It was a similar example of a food custom that came to mind.

In broader terms, the joy in a good steak is enjoying the flavor of the beef, and the quality of the meat. So, prepared well done, and/or with ketchup is going to raise similar questions for some.