I encountered many words and situations that could not be translated word to word from Japanese to English, and vice versa. "Washing rice" is one of them. We don't use word "wash" to wash rice in Japan. We say 研ぐ (to-gu), which literary means " polish". I noticed that many people here just wash rice for a few second and put them in a rice cooker. No, wait! We don't just 'wash' rice, but we are supposed to take time and 研ぐ before cooking.
I know, I will grow old to become an annoying Asian old lady who corrects white kids on how to correctly cook rice. And this is me, starting this process already .
So here are the steps :)
1. Rinse rice 2-3 times very quickly. The initial rinsing should be very quick, because the white water will leave the weird smell and taste to the rice. A little side note....This white water you get when you wash is called "kome-nuka "「米ぬか」and it is very good for the skin. Asian cosmetics often use this essence in their moisturizing lotion.
2. Now, we are ready to take some time to really wash (or polish) the rice.
Put the heel of your hand then slide it to the middle. You almost feel like you are grinding the rice with your hand. Change water 2-3 times and repeat this step. At the end, the water should not be as white as the initial round anymore, but it does not need to be transparent.
3. This third step makes your rice sticky, rich and soft. Say bye to your dry, hard, old rice you used to have.
First, soak the rice in the water for about 30 min. You can leave in the room temp.
If you live in Texas like me, where everything melts in a few seconds, then go ahead and leave it in the fridge.
Now drain the water and dry the rice for 10 min. This step makes the rice to absorb the water very good when you cook.
4. Put the rice in your cute little rice cooker, add water, and switch-on!
5. When the rice is done, gently stir the rice from the bottom to the top. This easy one last touch makes the rice fluffier.
Next time you cook rice, remember these steps please. You will notice the difference.
Btw I am not going to do recipe blogs, like all other Japanese moms in the US are already doing. This was something I needed to share with y'all simply because rice is so stereotypically Japanese!
Perfect for my secret plan here, Japanizing Americans. (- _ -)!!
First, soak the rice in the water for about 30 min. You can leave in the room temp.
If you live in Texas like me, where everything melts in a few seconds, then go ahead and leave it in the fridge.
Now drain the water and dry the rice for 10 min. This step makes the rice to absorb the water very good when you cook.
4. Put the rice in your cute little rice cooker, add water, and switch-on!
5. When the rice is done, gently stir the rice from the bottom to the top. This easy one last touch makes the rice fluffier.
Next time you cook rice, remember these steps please. You will notice the difference.
Btw I am not going to do recipe blogs, like all other Japanese moms in the US are already doing. This was something I needed to share with y'all simply because rice is so stereotypically Japanese!
Perfect for my secret plan here, Japanizing Americans. (- _ -)!!
Great article Reiko - I tried your techniques last night with excellent success - you've just helped a half-Japanese make even better rice! :)
ReplyDeletethank you I am glad :)! I am fully Japanese and started cooking 'right' like this recently too , haha!
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