How to Cook Rice ごはんの炊き方

Here you will find instructions on how to cook Japan Rice in a pot or rice cooker. The three key points to making delicious rice are washing, soaking, and stirring. The taste of the rice changes dramatically when you master these steps. It is also essential to use soft water. At the very least, you should use soft water in step 2, where water is readily absorbed, and step 4, cooking the rice. If you do not have soft water, you can use distilled water.

鍋と炊飯器を使った日本産米の炊き方を紹介します。ごはんをおいしく炊くポイントは「研ぐ」「浸漬」「ほぐす」の3つ。これらの工程をマスターすることで、ごはんの味わいがぐっと変わります。また、使う水は軟水がおすすめ。最低でも、水を吸収しやすい2の工程と米を炊く4の工程では軟水を使いましょう。軟水の代わりに蒸留水を使っていただくこともできます。

Supervision: Marie Akizawa, 5-star Okome Master, rice and palatability appraiser, sixth generation of YAMADAYA HONTEN CO., LTD

監修：秋沢毬衣（五つ星お米マイスター、米・食味鑑定士、株式会社山田屋本店 6代目）

Ingredients 2 servings(50 – 80 minutes)

150g
(5.3 oz)
Uncooked rice
180g
(6.3 fl oz)
water

*The volume of water should be around 1.2 times the volume of rice.

Cook in a Pot

Measure

Measure the rice.

Soak the rice in water and stir it gently

Place the measured rice in a bowl and add enough water to cover all the rice. Use your hand to stir it two or three times, and then quickly drain the water. You should use soft or distilled water for this step.

Wash the rice

Pour water into the bowl with the rice and stir it gently with your hand, then drain the water again. Next, curl your hand lightly and vigorously, making a circle through the rice 20 times. Add water again, and then drain the water. Repeat this two or three times.

Soak

Soak the washed rice in the measured amount of water. Soaking time differs by water temperature and should generally be 30 minutes in summer (water temperature of around 25°C) and 1 hour in winter (water temperature of around 5°C). You should use soft or distilled water for this step.

Heat the pot and let the water boil

Place the lid on the pot and heat it on medium until the water boils. If you are using hard water, use medium-low heat and let the water boil more slowly.

Heat on low

Once it is boiling, turn the heat to low and cook it for 12 minutes. Finish with 5 seconds of high heat, and then turn off the heat. That allows excess steam to escape.

Steam

Leave the lid on for 5 to 10 minutes to steam the rice.

Stir

Open the lid and stir the rice. After stirring it sufficiently, fold it over from the bottom, a quarter at a time. Stir it gently to mix in air and let the steam escape, without mashing the rice grains.

How-to movie

We also have a video showing how to cook rice.

Cook in Rice Cooker

Measure

Measure the rice.

Soak the rice in water and stir it gently

Place the measured rice in a bowl and add enough water to cover all the rice. Use your hand to stir it two or three times, and then quickly drain the water. You should use soft or distilled water for this step.

Wash the rice

Pour water into the bowl with the rice and stir it gently with your hand, then drain the water again. Next, curl your hand lightly and vigorously, making a circle through the rice 20 times. Add water again, and then drain the water. Repeat this two or three times.

Soak

Soak the washed rice in the measured amount of water. Soaking time differs by water temperature and should generally be 30 minutes in summer (water temperature of around 25°C) and 1 hour in winter (water temperature of around 5°C). You should use soft or distilled water for this step.

Cook in a rice cooker

Put the soaked in a rice cooker pot, close the lid, and press start.

Stir

Stir immediately when it is done. After stirring it sufficiently, fold it over from the bottom, a quarter at a time. Stir it gently to mix in air and let the steam escape, without mashing the rice grains. If you do not stir it right away, the excess moisture on the lid will fall onto the rice and make the rice soggy.

You can also use packaged pre-cooked rice.

Packaged pre-cooked rice from Japan is made using carefully selected Japan Rice with the pure water of Japan, sterilized and packaged in single servings. Just heat in the microwave for about 2 minutes or in hot water for 10-15 minutes.