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Japanese culture has an inseparable bonding with rice. It is the primary ingredient in multiple Japanese cuisines, including sushi. The latter is not only popular in Japan but also popular across the globe for its taste.
Due to the availability of Japanese restaurants, you can taste it in almost all countries across the globe. Chefs use two key ingredients - rice and vinegar - to prepare Sashimi.
They pay special attention to the use of these ingredients as it can either make or break the deal with regard to the taste of the dish.
In most cases, Sashimi grain is used for cooking sushi. Other sticky variants, such as arborio may also be used for its preparation of the dish.
However, sushi grain takes preference over the other alternatives to it as most Japanese chefs consider it to be the best for the preparation of the dish. Let’s read how to choose the best sushi rice brand!
Top 10 Best Sushi Rice Brands: Comparison Chart
People's Choice #1 Nishiki
Best Overall - Nishiki Medium Grain Rice Review
Nishiki
- 5 lb. bag
- When flavor and texture of the rice is crucial in cooking, Nishiki is the brand people look to.
- This along with consistent quality has made Nishiki the most popular rice brand today. Sushi experts agree that Nishiki is their number one choice.
- If you have leftover rice, put it away by saran wrapping it and refrigerating until it is time to eat again. When reheating, adding some water to the rice will fluff it up
Grown in USA - Lundberg Sushi Rice Review
Lundberg Family Farms
- CLEAN & CRISP: This classic Japanese-style short grain is grown especially for sushi, but don’t let that limit your imagination! California Sushi Rice has just the right amount of stickiness for rice salads, desserts, & so much more
- THOUGHTFULLY CRAFTED: This rice is as versatile as it is delicious! Use it's perfect stickiness for a savory sushi burger or follow your sweet tooth & incorporate it into some peaches & cream rice pudding pops. The possibilities are endless!
- GOOD FROM THE GRAIN UP: This product is Non-GMO Project Verified, USDA Certified Organic, gluten-free, 100% whole grain, vegan, & Kosher. At Lundberg Family Farms, we strive to make every bite of our grains as healthful as they are delicious
- LEAVE THE LAND BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT: There’s more to food than flavor. Our focus on organic, non-GMO & diverse grains helps create a food system that doesn't drain our earth’s resources, & that puts meals on your table of the highest quality
- CULTIVATING A FAMILY TRADITION: For over four generations, the Lundberg family has produced high-quality organic rice products. Our mission is to honor our family farming legacy by nourishing, conserving, & innovating for a healthier world
Best Taste - Kokuho Sushi Rice Review
Kokuho
- New crop and highest grade
- Easy to prepare, hardly take 15 munutes
- Medium grain
- Plump and nice when steamed
Non-GMO - Botan Musenmai Calrose Rice Review
Botan
- Us #1 extra fancy calrose rice
- Kosher certified
- Great for sushi
- Milled in California
Organic - Lundberg Family Farms Sushi Rice Review
Lundberg Family Farms - Organic California Sushi Rice, Japanese Style Short Grain Rice, Perfectly Sticky, Bulk Rice, Pantry Staple, Non-GMO, Gluten-Free, USDA Certified Organic, Vegan, Kosher (25 lb)
- CLEAN & CRISP: This classic Japanese-style short grain is grown especially for sushi, but don’t let that limit your imagination! California Sushi Rice has just the right amount of stickiness for rice salads, desserts, & so much more.
- THOUGHTFULLY CRAFTED: This rice is as versatile as it is delicious! Use it's perfect stickiness for a savory sushi burger or follow your sweet tooth & incorporate it into some peaches & cream rice pudding pops. The possibilities are endless!
- GOOD FROM THE GRAIN UP: This product is Non-GMO Project Verified, USDA Certified Organic, gluten-free, 100% whole grain, vegan, & Kosher. At Lundberg Family Farms, we strive to make every bite of our grains as healthful as they are delicious.
- LEAVE THE LAND BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT: There’s more to food than flavor. Our focus on organic, non-GMO & diverse grains helps create a food system that doesn't drain our earth’s resources, & that puts meals on your table of the highest quality.
- CULTIVATING A FAMILY TRADITION: For over four generations, the Lundberg family has produced high-quality organic rice products. Our mission is to honor our family farming legacy by nourishing, conserving, & innovating for a healthier world.
Restaurant-Grade Quality - Three Ring Thai Sticky Rice Review
All Natural - Tamanishiki Short Grain Rice Review
Tamanishiki
- 15 Pound Package
- California short grain rice
- Widely used by prestigious Japanese Restaurants
- All natural
- Raised in California
Made in Japan - Shirakiku Koshihikari Rice Review
Shirakiku
- Japanese style sushi rice;
- Sweet aroma;
- Great taste;
- Sticky texture.
Specially Selected - Natural Earth White Sushi Rice Review
Natural Earth
- Sushi Rice, Premium Japanese Short Grain Rice, Specially Selected, 16 Oz
- This Premium Japanese Short Grain Rice is the perfect soft sticky texture that ensures your sushi rice to come out perfect.
- Japanese Short Grain Rice is absolute when eating it hot or cold. Try our Premium Japanese Short Grain Rice as a side to your fish, meat, or vegetable dishes. This rice can even be added to a stir fry, stew, or any other cuisine you create. See how sticky rice can add just the flavor and texture you were looking for.
- For Cooking Tips: When cooking, for drier rice use 1/4 less water than rice. For moister rice use 1/4 more water than rice. This rice has a larger kernel and a creamier center, both of which lend Sushi Chef rice its pleasing texture and slightly sweet taste.
- Natural Earth Products are made with the finest ingredients which are sourced from all over the world to ensure quality and taste in the foods you love. That is why our Sushi Rice is Kosher Certified, Gluten-Free, and has no added preservatives or coloring. Our products are the foods you love to enjoy, without the added guilt of enjoying them.
Certified Gluten-Free - RiceSelect Sushi Rice Review
RiceSelect
- ENRICH YOUR KITCHEN with RiceSelect Sushi Rice, which has a sweet flavor and a soft, sticky texture that makes it perfect to create an unforgettable recipe like sushi rolls, poke bowls, or rice puddings.
- HEALTHY AND TRADITIONAL: Our premium Sushi Rice is Non-GMO Project Verified, Certified Gluten-Free and Certified Kosher by Star K, making it a great addition to your pantry, no matter your dietary restrictions. Perfect for home cooks, vegans, and vegetarians alike!
- UNIQUELY CRAFTED & PERFECTED: Uniquely crafted with two varieties of Sushi rice, this premium short grain has set the standard for sushi rice sold in the United States.
- NO PRESERVATIVES OR ADDITIVES: RiceSelect Sushi Rice has zero preservatives or additives, and is low in fat, cholesterol, and sodium.
- HOW TO COOK: See Full Details on Back of Jar (Thoroughly rinse 1 cup rice in cool water. Repeat process until water runs clear. Drain well. Place rice in heavy saucepan. Add water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 20 minutes or until all water is absorbed. Remove pan from heat and let stand 10 minutes. In a small bowl stir together rice wine vinegar, sugar, and salt until dissolved. Fold dressing into rice.)
Sushi Rice vs. Other Sticky Variants
Arborio and sushi grain resemble each other in terms of looks; both have grains of similar sizes. However, the latter is considered the best choice for the preparation of the dish due to its perfection.
The Arborio variant, according to most foodies, is ideal for the preparation of the best rice cooker risotto – another traditional dish from Japan. It is not the recommended choice for cooking sushi as a result of a flaw in its texture.
Due to the variance in the nature of their taste, these forms of grains cannot be interchanged with one another.
Buying Guide
When looking for the best sushi rice brand, it is important to pay attention to the details given below. It is your best bet to put your money on the best sticky rice brand to experience the rich taste of it.
Medium Grain vs. Short Grain
Most buyers get into the dilemma between the medium and short grains while choosing the right item between the two for the preparation of Sashimi. The classification of the variants is based on the length-to-width ratio.
For medium-sized grains, this ratio ranges from 2:1 to 2.9:1. In contrast, the range of ration for the shorter Sashimi grains is 1.9:1 or less. You can bank on the shorter ones with a 1.6:1 ratio for length-to-width for the best taste.
Crop and Age of Rice
No other brand gives Sashimi its characteristic taste as much as the rice grains in the fall. To know if you are buying such grains, all you need to do is read the printed information on a packet before buying it.
Want to make certain that you are investing in the right product? The best way to do it is to choose rice for a sushi brand that has been packed recently.
Non-Pre-washed Rice
These days, the pre-washed grain is also available along with regular grains in stores. The latter has more starch content than the former, and so it adds more taste to the resulting Sashimi dish compared to the former.
Non -pre-washed or its regular variants should be your frontline option while choosing Sashimi rice if you want to get the actual flavor or sushi.
Overview of the Best Brands of Sushi Rice
Are you looking for premium quality sushi rice brands? Here we have listed a few popular brands by going through various sushi rice brand reviews that you can pick on for a treat:
Nishiki
Nishiki is a popular medium-grain that is grown in California and is sold by JFC international company. The manufacturers make use of a high-tech musenami technology for milling purposes, which yields high-quality texture and flavored Nishiki grains.
This methodology involves the removal of tapioca coating from the grain, which is further coated with a brine solution. This brand is grown in paddy fields and widely used by Sashimi lovers worldwide.
Calrose
Calrose is widely used by the Americans as a substitute for sushi grain. If you are not able to buy Japanese sushi rice brands, then you can consider ordering Calrose.
This brand is a lot similar to the Japonica and is medium-grained and can be purchased from your nearby grocery due to its wide-scale availability.
Botan
This brand is widely used in the US and is also gaining popularity in the Pacific island region and other parts of the world. This brand comes with a Kosher certificate and is a top preference for Sashimi rice that can be cooked within a couple of minutes.
One can treat themselves to top-notch Sashimi preparation by going in for this brand. But make sure that you rinse it at least three times before putting it inside the cooker.
Lundberg
Lundberg is another good sushi rice brand that boasts of premium quality fine grain. This brand is known to stand by its quality parameters for generations now and offers a quality taste and fine texture.
This brand is highly nutritious in comparison to its other paddy field counterparts and is gluten-free. It is also approved by the USDA and is grown using the Non-GMO standards, which makes these crops remain healthy throughout the season.
Kokuho
This brand dates back to the year 1963 when it was first introduced by the Koda farms. This is a premium quality Sashimi grain brand which is grown in ideal conditions and has gained immense popularity over a few years now.
This crop is grown under the name Koda family and has all rights reserved for growing this crop, but nowadays, a few independent farmers have also started yielding this crop. This brand is easy to prepare and can get ready instantly within a span of 15 minutes.
FAQ
Can I Use Regular Rice for Sushi?
Using regular rice for sushi is not a good idea as Sashimi rice is way different from the regular one. They are available in the form of Japanese rice, which are short-grained and Californian with medium grains.
How to Cook Sticky Rice for Sushi?
Sushi preparation is similar to the regular one; the only difference lies in adding some vinegar in combination with the Japanese cooking method for the preparation.
Does Sushi Increase Your Fat?
No, it doesn’t make you fat! In fact, it is a healthy option to have, but it all depends on how you cook it and the ingredients that you use while preparing Sashimi.
If you use a lot of oil and other fatty substances to give a treat to your taste buds, then the brand is not to be blamed for accruing fats on your body.
Conclusion
If you love rice staple, then cooking Sashimi can be an all-time favorite option. If choosing between the different sushi grains brands makes you go skeptical about the same, follow the important factors mentioned above to get the answers to all your queries.
So what are you waiting for? Go choose your best sushi rice brand 2023 and get over the regular rice to add on some extra delicacy to your daily diet.