Steaming Glutinous Rice: A Rice Cooker's Guide

Glutinous rice, also known as sweet rice or sticky rice, is a versatile ingredient used in many forms of Asian cooking. It is often used in savoury dishes like zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) or shumai, but it is also used in dessert recipes.

While glutinous rice is usually steamed, it can also be cooked in a rice cooker. This method cuts down on steps and is quick and easy. However, it is important to note that the rice will not be as sticky as it would be if it were steamed.

To cook glutinous rice in a rice cooker, simply add the rice and water to the cooker, ensuring that the water barely covers the rice. Then, cover the cooker and press the cook or start button. If the rice is undercooked, add a bit more water and turn the cooker back on. It is important to avoid adding too much water, as this can make the rice too soft.

For best results, use a rice cooker with a special setting for sticky rice. If your rice cooker does not have this function, the standard setting should work, but you may need to experiment with the timing and water levels to get the desired results.

Rinse the rice in a sieve until the water runs clear

Rinsing the rice is an important step in preparing glutinous rice, as it removes any dirt or impurities that may be present. To do this, place the rice in a sieve and run it under the kitchen faucet, rinsing and agitating the rice with your hands until the water that runs off is clear. This may take several rinses, and you don't need to be too concerned if it's not crystal clear.

Rinsing the rice also helps to remove some of the excess starch, which can make the rice too sticky. This is especially important if you don't plan on soaking the rice before cooking, as the starch can cause the rice to become clumpy and mushy.

Once the rice has been thoroughly rinsed and is free of debris, it is ready to be cooked. You can either steam the rice or use a rice cooker, depending on your preference and the equipment you have available.

If you choose to steam the rice, you will need to soak it first. Place the rinsed rice in a large mixing bowl and cover it with room-temperature water. Let it soak for at least 3 hours, or even overnight, before draining the water and steaming the rice.

If you are using a rice cooker, you can skip the soaking step. Simply add the rinsed rice and the appropriate amount of water to your rice cooker, and cook according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Soak the rice for at least 2 hours, but ideally 6-24 hours

To steam glutinous rice in a rice cooker, it is recommended that you soak the rice for at least 2 hours, but ideally 6-24 hours. This is because glutinous rice has a hard outer shell that needs to be softened before cooking to achieve the best texture. The longer you soak the rice, the softer and stickier it will become. If you want your rice to have a softer texture, you can soak it for longer than 24 hours.

To prepare the rice for soaking, start by adding the rice to a mixing bowl or another deep container. Then, fill the container with water so that the water level is at least 3 inches above the rice. This is because the rice will expand as it soaks.

After soaking the rice for the desired amount of time, you will need to drain the water. There is no need to shake off the excess water. Then, you can add the rice to your rice cooker, along with the appropriate amount of water, and start the cooking process.

Drain the rice and add it to the rice cooker

Now that you've soaked your glutinous rice for at least 2 hours (but ideally 6-24 hours for a softer texture), it's time to drain the rice and add it to your rice cooker.

Draining the Rice

First, drain the rice. There's no need to shake off the excess water.

Adding the Rice to the Rice Cooker

Add the drained rice to your rice cooker pot. Add water so that it barely covers the rice. The water level should be about the same as the height of the rice in the pot.

If your rice cooker has a steamer basket, you may want to use that instead of adding the rice directly to the rice cooker pot. This will help to ensure that your rice is cooked by steam and not by boiling.

Additional Tips

• If you find that the rice is undercooked after the rice cooker finishes, sprinkle in a bit more water and turn it back on.
• If your rice cooker has a "keep warm" setting, you can leave the rice on this setting for a while to make it even stickier.
• For best results, use weighted measurements. Not all measuring cups are made equal, and this will eliminate confusion caused by differences between measuring tools for dry food and liquid.
• Use clean hands to spread out the rice so that it cooks evenly.
• Follow the instructions for your specific rice cooker. Most rice cookers will take about 20-25 minutes to finish cooking.
• Use a paddle to fluff up the rice and remove excess moisture. Then, let it sit with the lid open for about 2 minutes. This will help to remove excess moisture and make the rice plump.
• Serve the rice fresh and steaming. It can be used to make mango sticky rice, Chinese sausage fried rice, or eaten plain with a side dish of your choice.

Enjoy your delicious, freshly cooked glutinous rice!

Add water so it barely covers the rice

When cooking glutinous rice in a rice cooker, it's important to get the right ratio of rice to water. In this case, you want to add water so that it barely covers the rice. This means that the water level should be about the same height as the rice in the pot.

First, you'll want to rinse the rice. Place the rice in a strainer and run it under the kitchen faucet, rinsing until the water runs clear. This will remove any dirt from the rice.

Next, add the rice to your rice cooker and level it out so that it's flat. Then, add just enough water to cover the rice.

At this point, you can also add a bit of salt to the rice cooker. This will help to enhance the flavour of the rice.

Now, it's time to turn on your rice cooker. Cover the pot and press the “cook” or “start” button.

Once the rice cooker has finished cooking, it's a good idea to let the rice sit for a bit before opening the lid. This will help to ensure that the rice is fully cooked and will give it a chance to absorb any remaining water.

After about 15 minutes, you can open the lid and use a rice paddle to fluff up the rice and remove any excess moisture. Then, let the rice sit for another 2 minutes with the lid open.

And that's it! Your glutinous rice is now ready to be served and enjoyed. You can use it for mango sticky rice, Chinese sausage fried rice, or any other dish that calls for sticky rice.

Cover and press the cook or start button

Now that you've prepared your rice cooker with the right amount of glutinous rice and water, it's time to start cooking! Cover the rice cooker with its lid and press the "Cook" or "Start" button. The time it takes to cook will depend on your rice cooker and the amount of rice you're preparing. Most rice cookers will automatically switch off once the rice is done, but if yours doesn't, set a timer for 20 to 30 minutes.

If your rice cooker has a glass lid, keep an eye on the water level. If there's still quite a bit of water on top of the rice when the cooker beeps or switches off, let it sit for 15 minutes with the lid on before opening it. This will allow the rice to absorb more water and ensure it's fully cooked.

Once the rice is done, use a rice paddle to fluff it up and remove any excess moisture. Leave the lid off and let the rice sit for about 2 minutes. This will help get rid of any remaining moisture and make your rice nice and plump.

And that's it! Your glutinous rice is now ready to be served and enjoyed. You can eat it plain or use it in a variety of dishes, both savoury and sweet. It's a versatile ingredient that can be used in recipes like mango sticky rice, Chinese sausage fried rice, dumplings, and more.

Remember, glutinous rice dries out and hardens quickly at room temperature, so it's best to serve it hot and fresh. Enjoy your delicious, freshly cooked glutinous rice!

Frequently asked questions