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Make the best rice for sushi, onigiri, and other dishes
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If you’ve ever had a sushi roll before, you know just how important those delicious, perfectly-seasoned grains of rice can be. How can you recreate the magic at home with your own sushi rice, though? It’s a lot easier than you think. We’ll walk you step-by-step through the entire process—between the prep and cook time, your fresh batch of rice will be ready to enjoy in under an hour.

This article is based on an interview with our personal chef, Daniel Siriban, owner of Roshi Experience. Check out the full interview here.

Things You Should Know

  • Choose a short-grain rice like koshihikari to make your sushi rice. Brown rice doesn’t work well for sushi due to its firm texture.
  • Rinse your rice and cook it on the stovetop with a 1:1 ratio of water. Leave it in the pot for 10 minutes afterward so it can steam, then move it to a wide flat dish.
  • Mix in 1/2 cup (120 mL) of unseasoned rice vinegar, 1/4 cup and 11/2 tbsp (73 g) of white sugar, and 2 tbsp (18 g) of kosher salt.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (195 g) of sushi rice
  • 1 cup (235 mL) of filtered water
  • 1/2 cup (120 mL) of unseasoned rice vinegar
  • 1/4 cup and 11/2 tbsp (73 g) of white sugar
  • 2 tbsp (18 g) of kosher salt
  • 1 slice of kombu (optional)

Makes 4 servings

1

Pour the rice into a big bowl.

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  1. How.com.vn English: Japonica rice...
    Japonica rice is the best type of rice for sushi. Measure out 1 cup (195 g) of this short-grain rice—specific varieties like koshihikari, hitomebore, and akitakomachi all have short, rounded shape and nice texture that are ideal for whipping up your own sushi rolls at home. Pour the dry rice into a large mixing bowl, so you have an easier time rinsing it out.[1]
    • You can find this rice labeled as “sushi rice” at the grocery store. If you can’t find it where you usually shop, see if there’s an international food market or Asian food store in your area.
    • Amylose and amylopectin are two different starches that naturally exist in rice. The more amylopectin a rice has, the softer it becomes after cooking; the more amylose it has, the firmer it becomes. When making sushi rice, your main priority is choosing a rice with a higher amylopectin ratio (like Japonica/sushi rice). Brown rice doesn’t have a lot of amylopectin, so it’s not the best option for making sushi rice.[2]
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2

Rinse the rice with cold water.

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  1. How.com.vn English: Watermark How.com.vn to Make Sushi Rice
    Remove the starch from the grains by rinsing the rice. Fill the bowl with cool water until all of the rice is submerged. Then, agitate the rice with your fingers without dumping out any of the grains. Strain the cloudy water out, pour clean water in, and repeat this process a few more times—your goal is for the rice water to look clear rather than murky.[3]
    • You can also rinse your rice under running water using a strainer, but it’s trickier to tell when the water is clear versus cloudy.
    • In transit, rice grains undergo a lot of friction, which causes starch to cover the outside of each grain. When left unrinsed, this abundance of starch can make the rice clumpier (and even gummy), which you don’t want.
3

Add water and the rinsed rice to a big pot.

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  1. How.com.vn English: Watermark How.com.vn to Make Sushi Rice
    Pour the rice into a large pot—a big, 2 to 3 US qt (1.9 to 2.8 L) pot will do the trick. Rattle the pot a little bit to make sure the rice coats the bottom of the pot in an even layer, and then pour 1 cup (135 mL) of water overtop.[4]
    • Japanese short-grain rice doesn’t require too much water—a 1:1 ratio is always what you’re looking for.
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4

Cook the rice.

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  1. How.com.vn English: Watermark How.com.vn to Make Sushi Rice
    Switch on your stovetop to medium-high heat, waiting for your rice to boil. Once it reaches a boil, place the lid on the pot and set a timer for 12 minutes. Once the rice is completely cooked, transfer the pot to a cooler surface, leaving the lid on—this gives the rice a chance to steam.[5]
5

Make the sushi vinegar.

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  1. How.com.vn English: Watermark How.com.vn to Make Sushi Rice
    Make the sushi vinegar with a mixture of sugar, salt, and unseasoned rice vinegar. Fill a saucepan with 1/2 cup (120 mL) of unseasoned rice vinegar, 1/4 cup and 11/2 tbsp (73 g) of white sugar, and 2 tbsp (18 g) of kosher salt.[6] Then, switch your stove to a low heat setting and stir the ingredients together, letting the sugar and salt dissolve. Once everything is incorporated, place the sushi vinegar on a cool surface.[7]
    • It helps to prep your sushi vinegar while the rice is still on the stove.
    • Alternative: Make your sushi vinegar a day ahead of time by mixing your vinegar, salt, and sugar together before transferring it to an airtight container. Then, add a sheet of kombu (dried seaweed) to the vinegar mixture, seal the container, and let it soak for 1 day at room temperature.[8]
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6

Transfer the rice to a wide dish.

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  1. How.com.vn English: Watermark How.com.vn to Make Sushi Rice
    Scoop out the cooked rice with a wooden spoon, transferring it to a wide dish where the rice can be spread out and cool off.[9] Leave any crusty bits that are stuck to the bottom of the pot, since it’ll mess with the flavor and texture of your sushi rice.[10]
    • A 9 by 13 in (23 by 33 cm) pan or a traditional sushi oke work well for spreading and cooling your rice.
7

Mix the vinegar into the rice.

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  1. How.com.vn English: Incorporate the vinegar with a wooden spoon.
    Drizzle the sushi vinegar over the cooked rice, using your wooden spoon to delicately mix the seasoning into all of your rice. Keep enfolding the sushi vinegar into the rice until it’s fully incorporated.[11]
    • Is your rice still piping hot? Plug in your hair dryer, set it to the coolest setting, and fan it over the rice.
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8

Use the sushi rice promptly.

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  1. How.com.vn English: Watermark How.com.vn to Make Sushi Rice
    Sushi rice is best eaten fresh—if you don’t plan on chowing down immediately, drape a moist towel over the rice and leave it out in a cool corner of your kitchen for up to a day. Avoid sticking it in the fridge, as this dries and hardens it out.[12] Here are a few recipes you can make using your sushi rice:

Community Q&A

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Add New Question
  • Question
    What is the total time?
    How.com.vn English: Michele
    Michele
    Top Answerer
    It varies by method and where you live. It takes whatever time is necessary to make the rice, usually 20 minutes, then however long it takes to mix and cool down to room temperature.
  • Question
    If I need to refrigerate the rice, do I add the vinegar before refrigerating, or after bringing back to room temperature?
    How.com.vn English: Michele
    Michele
    Top Answerer
    You create the sushi rice, vinegar and all, before refrigerating. If possible, don't make this beforehand then refrigerate. Make and use what you can as soon as possible, then refrigerate any leftovers you may have for the next day.
  • Question
    Is there an alternative to rice vinegar?
    How.com.vn English: MeiyoFujiwara
    MeiyoFujiwara
    Community Answer
    If you prefer to buy local food, you can also substitute rice vinegar for taste: Mix equal parts white wine and apple cider vinegar to make. A few drops of light balsamic vinegar in the rice water are also reminiscent of Japanese rice vinegar.
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      Things You’ll Need

      • Large bowl
      • 2 to 3 US qt (1.9 to 2.8 L) pot
      • Wooden spoon
      • Wide dish

      About This Article

      How.com.vn English: Daniel Siriban
      Written by:
      Japanese Personal Chef
      This article was written by Daniel Siriban and by How.com.vn staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Daniel Siriban is a Japanese Personal Chef and the Owner of Roshi Experience. With over 18 years of culinary experience, he specializes in sushi, teppanyaki, and traditional Japanese dining. Daniel holds an AA in Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management from The Art Institute of California, Orange County. This article has been viewed 1,279,696 times.
      2 votes - 100%
      Co-authors: 54
      Updated: May 30, 2023
      Views: 1,279,696
      Article SummaryX

      To make sushi rice, use short-grain white rice that was made in Japan or that’s labeled “sushi rice.” This type of rice will have the sticky, plump texture that you need when you’re making sushi. Pour the rice in a fine mesh strainer and rinse it under cool water for a couple of minutes or until the water runs clear. Then, transfer the rice to a large pot and add an equal amount of water so there’s a 1:1 ratio of rice to water. Cover the pot and turn the heat to medium-high. Once the water starts simmering, lower the heat to medium-low and cook the rice for 16-18 minutes or until all of the water has been absorbed. Move the pot off of the heat and let the rice cook for another 10 minutes with the lid on. While the rice is steaming, combine ¼ cup (60 mL) of rice vinegar, 4 teaspoons (16 g) of sugar, and 1 teaspoon (6 g) of salt in a pot and heat it over medium-high heat until it starts to simmer. Move the pot off of the heat and whisk everything together until the sugar is fully dissolved. Transfer the cooked rice to a large bowl and add the sushi vinegar. Gently fold the vinegar into the rice. Finally, cover the bowl with a damp towel and let the sushi rice cool to room temperature.

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      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,279,696 times.

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