Rinse the rice: Place the sticky rice in a strainer or colander and rinse it under cold water until the water runs clear. This step removes excess starch from the rice.
Soak the rice: Transfer the rinsed rice to a bowl and soak it in water for at least 30 minutes. Soaking helps the rice cook evenly and achieve that signature sticky texture.
Add rice to rice cooker: Once soaked, drain the rice and add it to the rice cooker. Add 2 ½ cups of water (adjust if necessary based on your rice cooker’s instructions). If you want to enhance the flavor, add 1 tablespoon of coconut milk.
Cook the rice: Close the rice cooker and set it to cook. Depending on your rice cooker, cooking time can range from 20-30 minutes. Once the rice cooker finishes, let it rest for 10 minutes to steam in its own heat.
Fluff the rice: After the rice has rested, open the rice cooker and fluff the rice gently with a fork to separate the grains.
Serve: Serve your perfectly cooked sticky rice alongside your favorite dishes or enjoy it as a sweet treat like mango sticky rice.
