How to Prepare Sushi Rice

Rice is the most important element in sushi. Its quality, preparation and cooking will make or break any sushi dish you attempt.

The sushi rice must be cooled and seasoned in an unvarnished wooden vessel or a sushi barrel (known as hangiri or handai in Japanese). If you do not have one, you can use a large wooden chopping (cutting) board instead. It should not be placed in glass, stainless steel or ceramics as these will ruin the texture of the rice making it too wet and sticky.