In Japanese restaurants, chefs reveal that the rice they use is mainly used to make sushi and the cooking method is very special, making the rice soft, sticky, and delicious. And here are their secrets:
Add a few ice cubes
After washing the rice, they let it drain and then add water to the pot and add 2-3 ice cubes, let it sit for about 15 minutes before cooking. Adding ice cubes to the pot helps delay the rice’s water absorption, making the rice more soft and fragrant. The ice cubes help increase the amount of amino acids, prevent the breakdown of sweetness in the rice grains, and bring a much better flavor.
Add a few drops of oil (sesame oil, olive oil, peanut oil)
Adding a little vegetable oil to cook rice helps make the rice softer, rounder, and shinier when cooked. Moreover, adding a little oil to cook rice makes the grains soft but not sticky together, preventing them from becoming mushy when stirring the rice.
Add a few drops of vinegar
Adding a few drops of vinegar when cooking rice helps make the rice whiter and more fragrant. In particular, vinegar helps prevent the growth of bacteria, so it helps the rice stay fresh for longer, which is very beneficial for making sushi rolls. You can buy Japanese white vinegar or use regular vinegar as well.
Add a little honey
Cooking rice with a little honey, just a little bit, not too much. Honey has enzymes that help convert starch in rice and help coat the rice grains, making the rice soft, fragrant, and delicious, without the bitter taste of rice.
Add a few drops of beer
Beer is also a common cooking condiment. Beer yeast is very good for food digestion. Adding a spoonful of beer when cooking rice helps make the rice fragrant, soft, and sweet.
Add soy sauce
For those who like rice with color and are soy sauce enthusiasts, you can add a spoonful of soy sauce when cooking rice. This soy sauce rice dish has a brown color, and if cooked with various grains, it can become a mixed rice dish.
In addition to having these rice cooking tips, the Japanese also often eat cold rice instead of hot rice like the Vietnamese and Chinese. Cold rice has a higher resistant starch content than hot rice. This helps slow down the rise in blood sugar levels, making it safer for health.