noun
steaming basket; traditional steamer
A traditional steaming vessel, historically made of clay or wood, used to steam food over a pot. Often seen in historical or culinary contexts.
See also: 蒸篭
昔の台所では、甑でご飯を蒸していた。
In old kitchens, they steamed rice using a koshiki.
noun
steaming vat (for sake rice)
Only with reading こしき
Specifically a large steaming vat used in sake brewing to steam rice. Reading is restricted to こしき.
酒造りでは、甑で米を蒸す工程が重要だ。
In sake brewing, the step of steaming rice in a koshiki is crucial.
蒸篭 is a more common word for a bamboo steaming basket used in everyday cooking, while 甑 is a traditional or specialized vessel, often larger and used in sake production.
The kanji 甑 is a traditional character for a steaming vessel. The reading こしき is native Japanese, while そう is the Sino-Japanese reading. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.