Food Cooking Tips & Techniques Cooking How to Make Sticky Rice in 4 Easy Steps The secrets to restaurant-quality sticky rice revealed. By Lacey Muinos Published on May 08, 2024 Close Photo: insjoy/Getty Images Project Overview Total Time: 3 hours, 30 minutes Skill Level: Beginner Sticky rice is up there among the most common rice varieties, but it can be misunderstood. Yes, it’s sticky in consistency (hence the name), but it’s also made with a distinct type of short-grain rice native to Southeast Asia called glutinous rice. It’s particularly popular in Thai cuisine, and in certain dessert recipes. What makes it sticky is the combination of how it’s prepared and the type of starch it contains. Is White Rice Healthy? We Asked RDNs About This Staple Starch If you’re looking for a way to venture outside of brown and white rice, sticky rice offers a unique texture, though it’s just as versatile. It’s commonly used to make sweet rice, but it can also be used in savory recipes. In some places, it’s a common breakfast food. Making sticky rice at home can be tricky to master at first, but it’s worth it because of its versatility and flavor. Here’s how to make restaurant-quality sticky rice at home. Plan ahead: You’ll need to soak sticky rice for at least three hours.To make sticky rice, use glutinous rice instead of regular white rice.Rinse your rice thoroughly to prevent a gummy consistency. What You'll Need Equipment / Tools Mesh strainer Large bowl Cheesecloth Basket steamer with lid Pot for boiling water Materials Glutinous rice Water Instructions Choose the Right Type of Rice If you search for sticky rice recipes, you’ll come across methods on how to make sticky rice from regular rice. You can give it a try, but if it doesn’t come out the way you expect (aka like in your favorite Thai restaurant), it could be because the type of rice does matter. Instead of using what you have on hand, seek out a specific type of rice to make sticky rice. Look for “glutinous rice” or “sweet rice” written on the bag. This type of short-grain, opaque rice is perfect for sticky rice because of its breakdown of starches. It contains more amylopectin than amylose, which makes it sticky when cooked. 7 Genius Tips for Making Perfect Fried Rice—No Recipe Required Rinse the Dry Rice Under Running Water Do you rinse your rice before cooking it? This can be pretty controversial, but in many Asian-style cuisines, washing your rice first is non-negotiable. It’s a step you don’t want to skip in this recipe because it prevents that unwanted gummy texture caused by excess starch.The fastest way to rinse your rice is to pop it in a fine-mesh strainer and give it a few passes under running water. The preferred method requires a little more effort: Dump the rice into a bowl, fill it with water, swish the rice around with your hand to loosen the starch, and dump out the water. You might have to repeat this process three to four times until the water runs mostly clear. Soak the Rice in Water The key to making sticky rice is letting it soak, allowing it to slowly absorb water. Pour the washed rice into a large bowl and fill it with room temperature water so that the rice is completely submerged. Let it soak on the counter for at least three hours, but ideally overnight. This helps yield softer sticky rice. Right before it’s time to cook the rice, drain out the excess water.This step is optional but ensures your sticky rice comes out extra soft: Pour some boiling water over the rice. Let that sit for about 10 minutes before draining the water and continuing to the next step. Steam the Rice in a Basket Steamer The traditional way to make sticky rice is to soak and steam it. You don’t need to boil sticky rice, so you don’t need a rice cooker. You will, however, need a steamer. A simple bamboo steamer will do, though you can also use a stainless steel steamer rack. Some rice cookers also have a steam functionality you could use. If your rice cooker has a “sweet rice” button, you can likely make sticky rice in it. It’s not a foolproof method, however, because it can come out crispy on the bottom and results can vary depending on the model. 8 Simply Delicious Rice Recipes You'll Want to Make Tonight Don’t feel like risking it with a rice cooker or don't have one? Here’s how to steam sticky rice on the stovetop: Line your steamer basket with a wet cheesecloth to prevent the rice from sticking to it.Dump the rice into the middle of the cheesecloth then fold over the edges so the rice is covered. (Pro tip: Create a hole in the middle of the rice to prevent an undercooked center.)Cover the steamer basket with the lid.Fill a separate pot with water.Place the pot on the stovetop and bring the water to a boil.Place the steamer basket over the boiling water and let it steam for about 25 minutes. That’s it! Once the rice is steaming, you don’t have to flip or stir it, which gives you time to prepare the rest of the meal. Just remember that steamed rice will be very hot. Once it’s cooled a bit, it should be soft yet sticky enough to eat with your hands because, yes, sticky rice is finger food.