Perfect Japanese Short Grain Rice How To Cook Japanese Rice

Why This Recipe Works?

The milling process leaves some powdered starch on the surface of the rice. If you don’t rinse this off, the water will quickly thicken when heated, making it harder for the rice to absorb. Because short-grain rice is not boiled like pasta, the ratio of rice to water is extremely important. I recommend measuring the rice and water using either cups or a scale. Like most dried foods, rice cooks through more evenly if you soak it in water first to rehydrate it. In this short grain rice recipe I recommend soaking it for at least 30 minutes before cooking it. By simmering the rice over low heat for 10 minutes and then letting it steam off the heat for 10 minutes, you will end up with perfectly cooked rice.

Common Mistakes

Please don’t use your finger to measure the water. Many Asian grandmas will tell you to measure the amount of water you cook the rice in with your finger, but I do not recommend this method. Someone who’s been cooking rice for years in the same pot using the same finger has figured out exactly where on their finger to measure the rice and water to. But the length of everyone’s finger is different, and since a pot’s diameter affects the depth of the same amount of water, this is not a good method to start out with. Using a measuring cup or scale ensures you have the right rice to water ratio so your rice cooks up consistently every time, no matter what pot or whose finger is involved. Don’t open the lid. Once you start cooking the rice, you don’t want to open the lid until it’s done steaming. Opening the pot allows the gathered steam to escape. This lowers the temperature and reduces the amount of water for the rice to absorb as it cooks. I recommend using a glass lid so that you can see what’s going on inside the pot. If you don’t have a glass lid, use cues such as steam escaping from the lid to decide when to turn the heat down. Fluff the rice, don’t mash it. When the rice is done, you need to fluff it up. You want to use a folding and sideways cutting motion with a spatula or rice paddle to separate the individual grains of rice. Do not mix the rice aggressively or mash it against the sides or bottom of the pot or you’ll break the grains and end up with mochi.

Guide to Buy Japanese Rice

In a country where the average person eats one-hundred and twelve pounds of rice per year, it’s not too surprising that Japan has many types, cultivars, and brands of short grain rice. This can make the labeling a little confusing. Some brands of rice also include labels that can be misleading. In this guide to Japanese rice, I’ll break down everything you need to know about choosing the right Japanese rice that will match the dish you’re making, and I’ll show you all the secrets to cooking short grain rice perfectly every time.

Amylose vs. Amylopectin in Rice

There are two forms of starch, amylose and amylopectin. Amylose is the linear form, while amylopectin has a branched structure. It’s important to understand this because the ratio of starches in rice affects its texture. As a general rule, the longer the grain of rice (such as basmati or jasmine rice), the more amylose it contains, giving the rice a crumbly fluffy texture. On the flip side, shorter rice grains will have a higher percentage of amylopectin, giving them a more sticky chewy texture.

Types of Japanese Rice

Japanese food culture values the moist, sticky texture of short-grain rice. The two most common types of rice eaten in Japan are short-grain non-glutinous rice (粳米 - uruchimai) and short-grain glutinous rice (もち米 - mochi gomé).

short-grain (non-glutinous) - Short grain rice (a.k.a. japonica rice) is by far the most common type of rice consumed in Japan. Whether it’s onigiri, takikomi gohan, or plain white rice served with a Japanese breakfast, if you see rice on the table in Japan, it’s more than likely to be short-grain rice. The texture of the rice not only compliments Japanese dishes, its stickiness makes it possible to shape into rice balls or roll into sushi. There are dozens of different cultivars of short-grain rice, each with subtle differences in texture and flavor. The most common one is Koshihikari (こしひかり), but there are also many others such as Hitomebore, Yumepirika, and Tamanishiki. I like my rice on the firm, sticky side, and some of my personal favorites are Akita Komachi and Fukkurinko. Honestly, if you find Japanese short-grain rice, you’re already 95% there, so you don’t need to sweat the different brands and cultivars of rice. In Japan rice is usually milled to remove the bran and germ, but it’s also possible to get brown rice or partially milled rice, often referred to as haiga rice, that still contains the germ. short-grain glutinous rice - Short-grain glutinous rice, commonly known as “mochi rice,” is exceptionally sticky due to its starch content being almost 100% amylopectin. Mochi rice is most commonly pounded into a paste and used for rice cakes, but it can sometimes be cooked with other ingredients to make dishes such as sekihan and okowa. You can learn more about mochi rice and how to cook it in my Ohagi recipe. Medium medium-grain rice - Medium grain rice cultivars such as Calrose, New Variety, and Kokuho Rose are hybrids developed to be suitable for cultivation in the US. They are not very common in Japan. While they are closer in texture to short-grain rice than long grain rice, I recommend looking for true short-grain rice for a more traditional taste and texture.

Other Labels on Japanese-style Rice

Sushi Rice - Sushi Rice or sushimeshi (寿司米) is Japanese short-grain rice that has been cooked and mixed with seasoned sushi vinegar. Unfortunately, many brands label their plain uncooked short or medium grain rice as “sushi rice.” This is confusing, and you should try and look for other names on the label that might indicate the type or cultivar of rice. Sticky Rice - while it’s true that Japanese short-grain rice is stickier than long-grain rice, “sticky rice” is technically a more appropriate description for mochi rice, which is used for sweets and desserts in Japan. Unfortunately, some brands have labeled their Japanese-style rice “sticky rice.” I recommend ignoring this label and looking for other ways to identify the rice, such as the type or cultivar of rice. “New Crop” or “New Harvest” rice - In autumn, when rice is harvested, the first crop of the year is called shinmai (新米), which literally means “new rice.” This newly harvested rice tends to be more fragrant and sweet, so it’s valued as a special seasonal treat in Japan. Outside of Japan, shinmai is usually labeled “new crop” or “new harvest.” Keep in mind that shinmai has higher water content, so you’ll want to slightly reduce the amount of water you add when you cook it.

How to Cook Short Grain Rice

This foolproof method for cooking short grain rice works for short-grain and medium-grain rice. A good way to remember the process is the three S’s: Soak, Simmer, and Steam. You first want to wash your rice by rinsing it under cold water until the water runs mostly clear. This isn’t because the rice is dirty, but because you want to rinse off any bran or excess starch left over from the milling process. Then you can dump the rice into a pot. I recommend using a heavy-bottomed pot with high sides and a glass lid. Measure in the water, cover the pot with a lid, and let the rice soak for 30 minutes. This allows the rice to rehydrate, ensuring it cooks quickly and evenly. If you are in a rush, you can cook the rice right away, but you’ll need to let it steam for longer, and the texture will not be nice as rice that’s been soaked. To cook the rice, turn the stove on to high heat to bring the water to a boil. Once the water is at a full boil, set a timer for ten minutes and turn the heat down as low as it will go to let it simmer. Don’t open the lid at any point during the cooking or steaming process. This is why I recommend using a glass lid. You can also look for steam escaping from the lid if you don’t have one. Once the timer goes off, turn off the heat and let the rice continue to steam for an additional ten minutes. Now you can open up the lid and fluff the rice with a wet spatula or rice paddle. Use a gentle folding motion (like you’re folding pancake batter) and a horizontal slicing motion to break up any big clumps of rice. Serve the rice in small rice bowls.