How to know if Konbini food is cooked?

I arrived in Japan the day before yesterday. I'm staying for one year and I have very little culinary skill so have been buying food from 7-11 for the time being. I can read some Japanese but far from fluent so its quite daunting seeing all of the food and not knowing what it is. I'll eat pretty much anything but my question is of there is some way to determine if the food in the pack needs to be cooked or not?

Hi,

How about using smartphone app "google translate" to get the instruction on package translated on site ?

As just an idea any instruction like "500W - 3分"　means to be cooked by microwave 3minutes by 500W.

Cheers

The best way is to look it up on a dictionary. Eating is the biggest motivation to studying. You can also ask the clerk, "Konomama tabe-ra-re masuka? (Can I eat this as it is?)" or "Chouri ga hitsuyou desuka? (Does this need to be cooked?)"

That said, as it is in any country, stores usually have a section for prepared food and non-prepared food. So if you go to the same 7-11 all the time, all you have to do is to remember which sections represent what, and soon enough you will be able to adapt that knowledge to most stores you visit.

Bento are all prepared food, so if you know what a bento looks like you'll know where to find them. The warm food near the cashier is, of course, also prepared food. Canned food is prepared, just as it is in most countries.

Meanwhile, frozen food and retort pouch food tend to be non-prepared.

Perhaps you'd like to post a photo here so that someone can take a look at what you've already bought.

Combini food is very expensive per calorie, you'd better look for cheap restaurants like Matsuya in your area. (I never cook either.)

All combini foods in fridge are pre cooked and can be heated with microwave. Some frozen foods in freezer also can be heated with microwave.

You can also ask the clerk

Before doing that OP should realize that not all combini clerks speak Japanese as their native language (although it might not be immediately obvious looking at them). In my neighborhood at least, most convenience-store clerks are foreigners.

retort pouch food tend to be non-prepared.

Hmm, I would have said the exact opposite - there are lots and lots of prepared and ready-to-heat dishes in retort pouches in my local 7-Eleven, for example - everything from curry to meatballs and stuffed cabbage - but I can't think of anything that's uncooked.

Okay, I guess my post was misleading.

I figured that the OP is looking for foods that (s)he can "eat right away without doing anything to it".

Most if not all foods sold at convenience stores are "pre-cooked". But many "pre-cooked" foods need to be microwaved, or put in boiled water for a while, or partially opened and microwaved etc. I was talking about foods that don't require that.

On a related note, when I traveled to Korea I bought something that looked like a burito at a local convenience store. The clerk asked me something in Korean, which I didn't understand, so I just smiled, paid the money and left. The food turned out to be edible but a bit too hard.

Ah that's true, pretty much anything in a retort pouch should be heated up before you eat it.

A microwave oven is a wise investment if you're going to eat convenience-store foods regularly.

Thanks for your answers everyone! I don't have a phone yet, will hopefully get one today along with setting up a bank account. I will definitely try the app.

I have another question, on labels and such two prices are always listed with a higher one in smaller writing. Why are there two? Is it because foreigners are charged the higher amount?

Is it because foreigners are charged the higher amount?

No, no, never heard of in Japan. It's natural to assume that the higher price includes the 8% consumption tax (due to rise to 10% a year later from now).

The other reason can be that many prices have risen since this April due to the rise of it's materials. For example, the long-selling popsicle called Garigari-kun has risen for the first time in 25 years, from 60 yen to 70 yen.

But like the other poster said, convenience stores don't necessarily carry the cheapest prices. You should start looking for a supermarket or shopping archade if you're going to live for a year.

I have another question, on labels and such two prices are always listed with a higher one in smaller writing. Why are there two? Is it because foreigners are charged the higher amount?

As Uco mentioned, the higher price is the after-tax price. All residents pay the after-tax price; however, foreigners on tourist visas (which unfortunately does not describe your situation) might actually pay the lower, pre-tax price if their purchases qualify for the tax exemption. More info here:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2450_how.html

Like this?
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdebkDjUUAAGtvU.jpg
(This is latest "conveni sweets" found at twitter in this morning)
No such foreigner price in Japan as business custom in daily life.

If so 本体価格(honn-tai ka-kaku) is base price(= without sales tax)
but also in Japan any customers must pay "sales tax" 8% plus(x1.08)
for any daily life shopping together (already answered by above posters)
税込/税込み(zei-komi/include sales tax) price is so.
"税(zei)" means just "tax" using for any kinds diffrerent rate very widely.
But price label's 税 means short of 消費税(shou-hi-zei/sales tax).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Value-added_tax
(wiki using another word "consumption tax")

If written 税抜/税抜き(zei-nuki) means "without tax"
but need sales tax 8% plus when paying same.
価格(ka-kaku) means just "price".
本体(hon-tai) means "base/original body" but this body means just "product".

If label prices are not matched 8% tell us written price both also what product bought.
Especially conveni foods/drinks price down
also discount campain frequently for increase sales numbers usual.
This is 50円引(-Yen biki/off) product label.
http://img01.ashita-sanuki.jp/usr/y/u/b/yubayuba/sp-030995000s14479047...
Maybe you said just about sales tax price I guess.

A lot of written include sales tax price larger exist
http://img03.ti-da.net/usr/s/h/o/shopisland/IMG_6475.JPG
but base price make larger means just "cheap!" appeal/showcasing when first look.

If found only single price(without notes/explaining) means include sales tax no worry.
Single price (not only as label) also usual train/bus/taxi fare,restaurant menu and more.
http://iks.at-ninja.jp/masuda/masuda_0008b.jpg
http://www.chikuwachan.com/ramen/image/ramen/1140/02_972.jpg
If still wondering ask "これは、税込み(価格)ですか？" in easy Japanese phrases.
: Kore-wa zei-komi(kakaku) desuka?/Is this (price) sales tax include?

And back to first Q:
Can you find same/similar product pics
by google images search or at 7-11/similar conveni web?
http://www.sej.co.jp/products/men.html
No camera on your PC if Laptop/mobile or tablet(iPad,)?

Take cooking classes.

Don't forget there is also Family Mart, etc.
I find the clerk will ask if you want to warmed up items like bento and most I run into has no problem with a little English.

You can also go to pretty good restaurants at lunch time for best deals. It can be as cheap as 500 yen full lunch.

But yes, for long stay, probably best to get your food at the supa.

Hope this helps!!
Have Fun!!

Okay so I have found a supermarket now and am finding my way around the foods more lol
http://imgur.com/1qLV4qv
http://imgur.com/y6FnHFn

I just bought this and I believe it's already cooked, am I correct? Haha

So, you bought kimchi. You can eat it without any cooking.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimchi

Oh! that is キムチ(ki-mu-ti/Kimchi) very famous food of "KOREA"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimchi
one of "漬物(tsuke-mono)" also belonging "発酵食品(ha-kkou syoku-hin)".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsukemono
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermentation_in_food_processing

But that is not import one made in Japan also Japanese vegetables using.
国産(koku-sann) means "made in Japan"
大根(dai-konn) is one of very famous traditional Japanese vegetable. (just origin is not)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daikon
https://youtu.be/UMX2XlkJ-gk
https://youtu.be/z-8j-mcxG-4
http://cookinghealthyclip.up.n.seesaa.net/cookinghealthyclip/image/201...
甘い(ama-i/sweet)/中辛(cyuu-kara/a bit spicy)/辛い(kara-i/spicy)

Basically 漬物 are no need re-cook best match is mainly hot Rice(ご飯 go-han/白米 haku-mai)
http://www.e-pickles.jp/img/dish/su_kim200.jpg
http://uds.gnst.jp/rest/img/74vwv3ux0000/s_00vl.jpg
also おにぎり(onigiri/rice ball) as おかず(o-ka-zu).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onigiri
https://youtu.be/nIaeUUEwyko
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okazu
But possible re-cook also usual like this.
http://cookpad.com/search/%E3%82%AD%E3%83%A0%E3%83%81
キムチチャーハン,キムチ餃子,キムチ鍋 and more rearranged one a lot.
キムチサンド(sandwich) is simple and easiest as instead Rice.
http://cookpad.com/search/%E3%82%AD%E3%83%A0%E3%83%81%20%E3%82%B5%E3%8...
https://youtu.be/dZ2a2K4zjc4
"CookPad" is most famous cooking recipe web in Japan also a lot of vids on YouTube.
https://youtu.be/qfmSpINZCT4
https://youtu.be/3HeTUjKd8pQ

キムチ is very spicy taste so blood circulation will be better(blood vessel wider) than Japanese one.
But smell is stronger no good eating so many for meeting someone before.

漬物 making need a lot of solt at first step for drain water from vegetables.
So basically taste "salty"and too much eating no good easily get adult diseases.
塩分過多(enn-bunn ka-ta/overabundance of salt) won't be life long.
http://park.ajinomoto.co.jp/kenko/feature/genen/know/vol1.html
Especially "Cup noodle(カップ麺/cup-menn)",too. (NOT all kind of noodle)


More label infomation
消費期限(syou-hi ki-gen)： consumption expiration date
賞味期限(syou-mi ki-gen)： appreciation expiration date
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5fG5lFckrMk/T370QsDD-vI/AAAAAAAADz0/ttw6iCuk...
http://www.survivingnjapan.com/2012/04/ultimate-guide-to-reading-food-...

BTW, you should already know this.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etiquette_in_Japan#Eating_and_drinking
https://youtu.be/uZBPNiFl50M