Japanese steamed rice is very moist and very glutinous.
See tips for making sushi rice
1. Measure the rice properly
Measure the rice with a measuring cup. Fill the cup with rice until it’s flush with the top of the cup and measure it properly.
The taste of rice varies considerably depending on the amount of rice cooked. Ideally, it is best to cook a large pot full of rice if possible.
2. Wash the rice
The purpose of washing rice is to remove bran from the surface of the rice. If you wash the rice slowly, the rice will also smell like bran, so wash it quickly with plenty of water, mixing it lightly several times, and then strain the water immediately after. Then, wash the rice again after changing the water, do this two or three times and strain the water thoroughly at the end.
3. Adjust the amount of water
The amount of water added is critical to how the rice tastes. The scale on the rice cooker is only a guide. Measure the amount of water exactly as you measured the rice in the cup. For white rice, the standard amount of water to cook tasty rice is 20% more than the amount of rice before washing. (The standard amount of water is 1.2 times the weight of the rice.)
4. Allow the rice to absorb enough water
The key to cooking fluffy rice is to soak the rice in water before cooking to allow the rice to absorb some moisture. The amount of time to soak the rice in water depends on the temperature of the water. In summer, about 30 minutes is recommended, and in winter, about 2 hours. If you are in a hurry, it is recommended to soak the rice in warm water (40-50°C) for 15-20 minutes before cooking it in a rice cooker.
Move to 6 if you’re using a rice cooker, or 5 if you’re using an earthen pot.
5. When cooking in an earthenware pot
If you are cooking 2 to 3 go (cups) of rice, bring the pot to a boil for about 10 minutes over medium heat, then reduce the heat to low and cook for another 15 minutes. After that, turn off the heat and let the rice steam for 10 minutes, then remove the lid and stir the whole mixture to remove excess water, the rice will be fluffy and tasty.
6. Steam rice
Steaming helps to equalize the moisture content of the rice grains. Insufficient steaming will result in watery rice. If your rice cooker does not have a steaming function, leave the rice for 10-15 minutes after it has been turned off. Do not open the lid while it is steaming.
7. Stir rice
Stir with a rice scooper for the final touch.
If rice is left to cook, it will get even more steamed and harden up. After steaming, stir the rice as soon as possible. This will let excess water out and make the rice fluffy. Stir the rice softly with a rice scoop, as if digging up the rice from the bottom of the pot. Be careful not to crush grains of rice.
How to make delicious sushi rice (vinegar rice)
The key to making glossy, delicious sushi rice is to combine freshly cooked, hot rice with sushi vinegar.
To do so, first wash the rice and set it in the rice cooker. The rice should be cooked to a slightly firm consistency because the vinegar will be added later.
