If you love eating sushi, you may want to learn to make your own at home. Perfectly cooked and well seasoned rice is the key to delicious sushi. Using a rice cooker is the fastest and most effective way to cook perfect rice. Washing the rice to remove the powder from the surface is very important so that the rice does not become too sticky. After that, let your rice cooker do the work.
Ingredients
- 3 cups (710 ml) short-grain, medium-grain, or sushi rice
- Cold water
- 1/2 cup (118 ml) rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
Step
Method 1 of 3: Washing Rice
Step 1. Buy short, medium, or sushi rice
Sushi is made from short grain rice because it is stickier than long grain rice. When you buy rice, be sure not to buy long grain rice.
While you can use long grain rice, the end result will not be as good as short grain rice
Step 2. Measure and pour the amount of rice you want to cook into a colander
Use a sieve with holes small enough to prevent the rice from spilling out. Follow the directions on the rice package to measure the amount used for cooking.
- If you are using a measuring cup from a rice cooker, keep in mind that the size differs from the US standard (237 ml).
- Rice sales packages and rice cookers usually have different instructions for measuring cooked rice. Because rice cookers are made specifically for cooking rice, prioritize the instructions from the appliance over the instructions on the rice sales package.
- Keep in mind that rice will expand as it cooks. So, a cup of rice after cooking can become two cups of rice.
Step 3. Place a bowl in the sink, then place the strainer on top
Take any bowl or basin and place it over your kitchen sink. As the water flows from the rice and falls into the bowl, you can measure whether all the rice has been washed.
Step 4. Let the water run through the rice
Use plain water to rinse the rice. This is important, because rice packaging contains a lot of corn flour. The rice should be washed thoroughly before cooking properly and the rice should not be too heavy.
- Cold water is used so that the rice does not accidentally cook when it is washed.
- If you want to save water, just fill the bowl and place the filter on top. The rice won't wash off completely, but this method will remove any sticky powder.
Step 5. Stir the rice with your hands
Use your hands to massage and stir the rice so that each grain is washed off. Do not press or squeeze the rice so that it does not crumble. While washing it, pay attention to the condition of the water that is cloudy due to exposure to flour powder.
While stirring, pay attention to any foreign objects that appear between the rice. Most of the rice sold is clean of all kinds of dirt, but it never hurts to check
Step 6. Stop washing the rice when the water is clear
When the water in the bowl is clear and not cloudy, the rice is completely clean. Turn off the tap water and empty the bowl of the water used to wash the rice.
Step 7. Let the rice sit on a flat surface to dry
Place a parchment paper or wax paper and pour the rice over it. Spread it over your hands so that the rice forms a single layer that doesn't pile up. Let the rice sit for 15 minutes.
If you're in a hurry, you don't have to dry it, but it can make the rice taste better
Method 2 of 3: Cooking Rice
Step 1. Put the rice in the rice cooker
Start scooping the dried rice from the base into the rice cooker. Make sure you don't use more than your rice cooker's maximum limit. If any rice sticks to the sides of the cooker, put it in.
Step 2. Pour the appropriate amount of water into the rice cooker
If you're using the US standard for measuring rice, cooking usually requires you to add the same amount of water as the rice. If you are using a measuring cup from a rice cooker, follow the instructions for using the appliance to find out how much water to add.
- Rice cookers are often equipped with a water line. So, if you put in one measuring cup of rice in the rice cooker, you'll need to add water until you reach the "1" line.
- Do not guess the amount of water used. Follow the instructions on the rice sales package or the cooking instructions on the rice cooker.
Step 3. Plug in the rice cooker, then turn it on
Each brand of rice cooker has different rules. However, you should fill the appliance with water and rice before turning it on. Otherwise the rice can be cooked before it is ready. If your rice cooker has a variety of settings, consult the manual provided. The book may have suggestions for cooking sushi rice.
Be sure to place the rice cooker on a hard surface. Keep this appliance away from other heat-sensitive objects
Step 4. Let the rice cooker run
Put the lid on the rice cooker and let it cook the rice. You don't need to stir it while it cooks, but pay attention to the cooking time. This is usually influenced by the model of rice cooker you have.
Your rice cooker may have a timer or auto-shutdown feature. If not, be sure to set the cooking time according to the instructions on the appliance. The rice will be overcooked if it is cooked too long
Method 3 of 3: Adding Sushi Seasoning
Step 1. Make the seasoning by mixing rice vinegar, sugar and salt
In a small bowl, pour in 118 ml of rice vinegar (you can't use any other vinegar), two tablespoons (30 ml) of sugar, and two teaspoons (10 ml) of salt. Stir well.
- The above measurements are for three cups (710 ml) of rice. Adjust the dose according to the amount of rice cooked. The strength of the spices depends on the taste of each. So, you can reduce or add the above spices.
- If you don't want to make your own, look for a bottle of “sushi vinegar” at the supermarket.
Step 2. Put the rice in a bowl, then add the spices
You should scoop the rice out of the rice cooker, then put it in the bowl. Pour the seasoning evenly over it. You can also add the seasoning a little at a time, stir it in and then taste it. Add spices to taste.
Step 3. Mix the spices into the rice
Gently stir the rice using a rice spoon or spatula so that the vinegar mixture touches each grain. Stir for a few minutes to distribute it. When stirring the sushi rice, do not press it and try not to crush the rice.
