Cooking sticky rice (glutinous rice) is different from cooking jasmine rice or basmati rice, because of its sticky feature. The key points for perfect cooked sticky rice are the soaking time and the amount of water added in. More than that, different cooking methods require different soaking time and the ratio between rice and water. Let’s learn how to cook sticky rice in steamer and rice cooker to achieve the best result.
What is Glutinous Rice (Sticky Rice)?
Sticky rice, also known as glutinous rice or sweet rice, is a type of rice that is particularly sticky when cooked due to its high starch content. Despite its name, sticky rice does not contain gluten. The “glutinous” in its name refers to its glue-like, sticky texture when cooked. Sticky rice is commonly grown and consumed in many Asian countries, particularly in East and Southeast Asia. It has a sweet and slightly nutty flavor and a chewy, sticky texture that makes it suitable for a variety of dishes.
It is often used in both sweet and savory dishes, such as Chinese Zongzi and Lo Mai Gai, Pilipino bibingka and biko, Vietnamese Grilled banana wrapped in sticky rice (Chuoi Nep Nuong), a variety of cooked sticky rice dishes from Thai mango sticky rice, Vietnamese Black Bean Sticky Rice, Savory Sticky Rice, etc…In Vietnam, we can’t live without sticky rice as it’s a compulsory ingredient in our traditional Sticky Rice Cake, served during every Lunar New Year festival.
From Glutinous rice, people make glutinous rice flour by grinding it into a fine powder. There are also plenty of dishes made of glutinous rice flour, such as glutinous rice balls , Japanese mochi, Korean tteok, Thai khao tom mat or snow skin mooncake.
How to cook Sticky Rice in Steamer?
Cooking sticky rice in a steamer is a common method used in Asian cuisines. In my opinion, among several cooking methods, sticky rice cooked by steaming can achieve the best softness and texture. It’s not too wet or mushy and sticky enough. However, to cook sticky rice in steamer, you need to prepare the rice one day in advance or at least 6 hours. Follow these steps:
- Preparation: Rinse the sticky rice 2-3 times until the water comes clear. It’s to remove impurities and part of rice starch so that the cooked sticky rice would be whiter.
- Soaking: Soak sticky rice in at least 6 hours, ideally overnight to let the rice absorb water fully before steaming.
- Steaming by regular steamer: Boil a large amount of water in a steamer. While waiting for the water to boil, cover one steamer basket with cheesecloth, then spread soaked rice on evenly. Once the water starts to boil, place the steamer basket on and close the lid. The steaming time varies from 30 minutes to 1 hour, depend on the amount of sticky rice you are steaming. After 30 minutes, check it the first time by try biting a grain. If it’s totally soft and sticky, your sticky rice is good to go. If it’s still hard, continue to steam and try again every 10 minutes.
How to Cook Sticky Rice in Rice Cooker/Instant Pot
With a rice cooker or instant pot, cooking sticky rice becomes much easier, although the texture would be a bit worse than sticky rice cooked by steaming. However, the convenience it brings makes me always choose it instead of steaming when I’m busy. It’s a great option to make sticky rice for breakfast. You won’t need to soak it in advance or spend a long time waiting for it to be cooked.
- Preparation. Similar to steaming, in the cooking pot, rinse the sticky rice 2-3 times until the water comes clear. No soaking is needed.
- Add water to the cooking pot. Not like cooking jasmine rice, the amount of water required to cook sticky rice is very little. Add water until it JUST covers the rice. The level of water should be higher than the level of sticky rice a fingertip.
- Return the cooking pot to rice cooker/instant pot.
- With rice cooker, turn on cooking function. After 10 minutes, stir it one time for evener cooking (optional). Leave it until the light turns to “warm” function, then wait for 10 minutes more before opening and stiring the cooked rice. With instant pot, select the high-pressure cooking mode for 15 minutes and allow it to naturally release pressure for about 5 minutes; or for 18 minutes and release pressure quickly by moving the pressure release valve to the open position.
After following these steps, you’ll get soft, fully cooked sticky rice to enjoy. It can become Vietnamese Xoi Man (Savory Sticky Rice) when you add Chinese sausage, Vietnamese pork Sausage, Pork Floss, Spring Onion Oil… on top. Thai Mango Sticky Rice is when you eat cooked sticky rice with a special coconut milk and ripe mango. Simpler, you can just eat sticky rice with sugar, roasted peanut & sesame. Otherwise, use the cooked sticky rice to wrap around a peeled banana and grill it to get chuoi nep nuong, one of the most delicious desserts ranked by CNN.
How to cook sticky rice in Steamer and Rice Cooker
The key points for perfect cooked sticky rice are the soaking time and the amount of water. Let’s learn how to cook sticky rice in steamer and rice cooker.
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Sticky Rice
- Water
Instructions
How to cook Sticky Rice in Steamer?
Cooking sticky rice in a steamer is a common method used in Asian cuisines. In my opinion, among several cooking methods, sticky rice cooked by steaming can achieve the best softness and texture. It’s not too wet or mushy and sticky enough. However, to cook sticky rice in steamer, you need to prepare the rice one day in advance or at least 6 hours. Follow these steps:
- Preparation: Rinse the sticky rice 2-3 times until the water comes clear. It’s to remove impurities and part of rice starch so that the cooked sticky rice would be whiter.
- Soaking: Soak sticky rice in at least 6 hours, ideally overnight to let the rice absorb water fully before steaming.
Sticky rice after soaking in 6 hours. - Set up the steamer: Boil a large amount of water in a steamer. While waiting for the water to boil, cover one steamer basket with cheesecloth, then spread soaked rice on evenly.
- Steaming: Once the water starts to boil, place the steamer basket on and close the lid. The steaming time varies from 30 minutes to 1 hour, depend on the amount of sticky rice you are steaming. After 30 minutes, check it the first time by try biting a grain. If it's totally soft and sticky, your sticky rice is good to go. If it’s still hard, continue to steam and try again every 10 minutes.
How to Cook Sticky Rice in Rice Cooker/Instant Pot
With a rice cooker or instant pot, cooking sticky rice becomes much easier, although the texture would be a bit worse than sticky rice cooked by steaming. However, the convenience it brings makes me always choose it instead of steaming when I’m busy. It’s a great option to make sticky rice for breakfast. You won’t need to soak it in advance or spend a long time waiting for it to be cooked.
- Preparation. Similar to steaming, in the cooking pot, rinse the sticky rice 2-3 times until the water comes clear. No soaking is needed.
- Add water to the cooking pot. Not like cooking jasmine rice, the amount of water required to cook sticky rice is very little. Add water until it JUST covers the rice. The level of water should be higher than the level of sticky rice a fingertip.
- Cooking in Rice cooker: With rice cooker, turn on cooking function. After 10 minutes, stir it one time for evener cooking (optional). Leave it until the light turns to “warm” function, then wait for 10 minutes more before opening and stiring the cooked rice.
- With instant pot, select the high-pressure cooking mode for 15 minutes and allow it to naturally release pressure for about 5 minutes; or for 18 minutes and release pressure quickly by moving the pressure release valve to the open position.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 200gAmount Per Serving: Calories: 195
