[Instant Pot] How To Make Fluffy Sticky Rice Like You’re The Japanese

The Japanese-proof-best white rice is cooked in the pressure-cook mode in the instant pot.

Fluffy, sticky, sweet, savory rice.

If you love just plain white rice, you need to try my recipe.

No more headaches thinking about the water ratio.

Simple tips from the Japanese, the local in the home of sticky rice, you’ll make perfect rice every time.

Besides, you can get freshly cooked rice any time after I’ll tell you Japanese freezing rice hacks.

I tried and repeated to cook perfect white rice in several ways without a rice cooker,

and today, I am going to tell you how to cook white rice properly and perfectly in the instant pot in the Japanese way.

You can use this recipe for any kind of white rice!

Why You Should Cook White Rice With My Recipe

• You can cook perfectly ANY KIND OF WHITE RICE from short to long grain in this recipe
• It is the quickest and easiest to cook white rice among the Japanese ways
• No Soaking of the rice in this recipe (because of pressure-cooking)
• No More Worries about the amount of water.
• The rice will be sweet and more delicious rather than using a rice cooker (since it is pressure-cooked.)
• You can have freshly cooked rice any time when using Japanese freezing hacks.

How Much Water You Need To Cook White Rice In Instant Pot

I talk about the amount of water to cook rice when cooking the rice on the stovetop, and it is the same theory.

Add water to the same amount of rice.

When you cook 2 cups of rice, you just need 2 cups of water.

Read this post if you want to share it with someone who doesn’t have an instant pot or a rice cooker.

How To Cook Rice Perfectly Like You're The Japanese On Stove Top Without A Rice Cooker

The best guide for how to make white rice on the stovetop without a rice cooker. Do you want to know how the Japanese make fluffy and delicious rice without a rice cooker? Rinse the rice? Yes. Soak the rice? Yes. What's the water ratio for 2 cups of rice? Why do you need to leave the cover on after the rice is done? All about how to cook white rice without a rice cooker is in this post.

japanmcconnell.com

Why Does The Rice Become Sweeter When Cooking In The Instant Pot

Indeed, the rice cooked in an instant pot becomes very delicious and sweet rather to when it is cooked in a rice cooker.

In the case of Japanese rice, it is sticky (in a positive way) and rich taste even without soaking.

The reason why the cooked rice becomes better is because of the rice gelatinization phenomenon effectively by high-temperature cooking in the instant pot.

In pressure cooking, rice can be cooked at a high temperature, which promotes the gelatinization of rice and makes it possible to cook delicious rice faster than a rice cooker.

Talking about rice gelatinization is not my capacity, simply saying here, uncooked rice becomes cooked rice.

Turn Off the “Keep Warm” Function

The “Keep Warm” function in the instant pot doesn’t work as a rice cooker has. (and also, the difference in the material of the inner pot.)

When you transfer the cooked rice as soon as “natural release” is done, it should not be a problem, however, I recommend turning off the “keep warm” function just in case you need to leave the cooked rice in the instant pot.

What’ll happen if you don’t turn off it?

The cooked rice will be dry and unable to eat.

A Japanese Traditional Rice Keeper: Ohitsu

You can use a traditional Japanese rice keeper called Ohitsu.

Ohitsu is a special container to keep the cooked rice warm and delicious.

It can keep effectively foods warm and moderately moist.
Not only cooked rice, but it’s also suitable for meat, seafood, veggies, and, steamed dishes without getting cold and watery them.

The cool side is about this product is Microwave and Oven-safe.

• Japanese Ohitsu Ceramic Kitchen Pot Clay, Rice Serving Container with Lid, for Steamed vegetables, Oven Microwave Safe 

[Instant Pot/ Pressure Cook Recipe] How To Make Fluffy Sticky Rice Like You’re The Japanese

Rico McConnell

Learn how to cook white rice (short, medium, and long grain rice) perfectly every time in easy few steps. It's the absolutely foolproof rice-cooking way and I'll never back to the rice cooker! Fluffy, sweet, delicious, easy, and quick. You can use your instant pot or your pressure cooker. If you've considered buying a rice cooker, get an Instant pot rather than it.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 3 mins

Cook Time 2 mins

Natural Release 15 mins

Total Time 20 mins

Course Side Dish

Servings 6 servings

Equipment

• 1 Instant pot/pressure cooker

Ingredients  

• 2 cups Any kind of white rice
• 2 cups water

Instructions 

• Place 2 cups of rice in an inner pot.

Rinse The Rice Twice

• Add enough water to cover.

  *When using purified water for the initial rinse, the rice will be more delicious since the rice absorbs more water at this moment.
• Drain the first water, and rinse the rice again.

  *You can use a mesh strainer if desired.

Wash The Rice

• Make a claw and agitate the rice drawing a large circle. (about 10-20 times)
• Add new water and rinse.
• Repeat this washing process until the water becomes ALMOST clear.

  *As a guide, 2-3 times should be fine. Besides, avoid over-washing since the rice grain will be damaged.
• Drain the water.
• In this recipe of using a pressure cooker, don't let the rice soak in water even if using Japanese rice.

Cook The Rice

• Add 2 cups of water. (The same amount of rice.)
• Place the inner pot in the instant pot and lid on.
• Close the lid and make sure that the steam release handle is pointing to “Sealing”.
• Use manual "pressure cook" mode, not "rice" mode.
• Turn off "keep warm".
• Cook the rice on high pressure for 2 minutes.
• "Natural Release". Wait for releasing air naturally. Do not use "Quick release".

  "It's the important process to make the fluffy, sticky, yummy rice.
• After about 15-20 minutes, you can open the lid.
• Fluff the rice with a wet spatula.

Video

Notes

©Japanmcconnell/Rico McConnell- Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.

Keyword Bento, Easy, Instantpot, Kid-friendly, Party, pressure cook, Rice

The Tip To Clean The Inner Pot Easily

Cleaning the inner pot is a pain every time you cook the rice in the instant pot.

Just fill the inner pot with water and leave it for hours.

Use your hand and remove sticky slurry stuff from the inner pot.

I use my hand rather than using a kitchen sponge because the sticky stuff will be stuck on the sponge.

How to Store and Freeze Cooked Rice

The best way to store cooked rice is “freezing”.

Yes, even if you will consume it within days, it’s better to freeze cooked rice.

Since the cooked rice will easily dry and hard, it’s better to transfer to a container or wrap it with plastic wrap while the rice is still hot. (Don’t let it cool down.)

Putting the rice in the container or wrapping it with plastic wrap while the rice is still hot, the steam protects the rice from drying.

Then, you can let it cool down for storing in a freezer.

In this way, you can enjoy freshly cooked rice at any time.

How To Freeze Cooked Rice Using A Plastic Wrap

1. Place a sheet of plastic wrap
2. Place *your desired amount of rice in the center of the wrap.
3. *Wrap the rice removing the excess air while making it flat in a square.
4. It’s better to put the rice wrapped with plastic wrap in a freezer bag if you are not going to consume it within a week.
5. Freeze the rice on a baking pan.

*Freeze the cooked rice with a small batch. 2/3 – 3/4 cups of rice are recommended.

*Fold both sides, and then fold the top and bottom.

Making the rice flat helps to freeze and reheat it quickly and evenly.

How To Freeze The Cooked Rice With A Container

Wrapping the cooked rice is the most common way to store it in Japan, however, you may want to use containers for these reasons.

• Plastic wrap may affect the rice flavor.
• There is a risk that A tip of plastic wrap may contain in the rice when reheating it.

Fill up the rice to a top of a container without any space to prevent frosting the rice.

(But, don’t squish the rice.)

Choose a microwave-safe container.

Can You Use A Freezer Bag?

Personally, as a Japanese, I don’t recommend using a freezer bag to store the cooked rice without wrapping it with plastic wrap.

It’s just hard to keep the cooked rice in a better condition using the freezer bag.

• With plastic wrap or a container, you keep the air (fluffy) moderately.
• With a freezer bag, the rice will be too watery.
• It’s hard to take out the rice from the freezer bag.

The container is better rather than using a freezer bag.

How Long Does Last The Cooked Rice In A Freezer?

You can keep rice in the freezer for up to one month.

How To Reheat The Cooked Rice With Microwave

First of all, don’t try to thaw the frozen cooked rice naturally, it’ll never be fluffy and delicious in that way.

I will tell you how to reheat it when you will reheat the frozen 2/3 – 3/4 cups of cooked rice.

The Frozen Cooked Rice Wrapped With Plastic Wrap

Place the frozen cooked rice on a plate, and microwave it without unwrapping it for 2-3 minutes.

You can transfer the rice to a bowl if desired. Cover it with a new plastic wrap sheet.

The heating time varies depending on the microwave and the amount of frozen rice.

Be careful the rice will be really hot.

Use a pair of scissors to unwrap the rice.

Since the rice is wrapped with steam (moisture), you don’t need to add water or to put the wet kitchen paper on.

The Frozen Cooked Rice In A Container

Simply, slide a lid a little bit or cover it with plastic wrap instead of a lid, and microwave the frozen cooked rice in a container for 2-3 minutes.

Since the rice is packed with steam (moisture), you don’t need to add water or to put the wet kitchen paper.