Can you cook Japanese rice in advance and keep it warm?

[Alsoflamingo]

Just that, really. I am cooking for a big group of people and can't make enough all in one go. Is it possible to make a batch and then keep it warm somehow? Wondering about putting in steamer over hot water and covering with a towel while I cook second batch….. Any Japanese cooking experts out there? TIA.

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

I'd have thought that if you keep it in a pot that is insulated with towels it will keep warm long enough for you to cook the second batch. If you keep applying heat, the danger is that the grains will stick together too much or lose their shape. I make sushi rolls quite often and, if covered, the cooked rice stays warm and pliable for quite a long time

[TanteRose]

yes, you can keep it warm - good idea from Cog about insulated pot.

In Japan, we have rice cookers which have a "keep warm" function and people leave the rice in the cooker for several hours before eating it.

[Alsoflamingo]

Good idea about the insulated pot - will go down that route I think. I am using a rice cooker actually. The trouble is that I need to do 2 batches to make enough so need to keep the first batch warm somehow!

[TanteRose]

should be fine!

what are you cooking for the hordes of people?

[Alsoflamingo]

Blimey - you name it. Chicken teriyaki, miso marinated salmon, miso soup, tofu and fennel with tahini/miso sauce, carrot and daikon salad. And fresh kaki to finish. Going slightly bonkers in the kitchen as you can imagine!!

[TanteRose]

Sounds amazing - hope it all went well

[ClartyYakker]

I've not done it myself but a colleague who regularly cooks huge pots of daal for work related soirees also makes amounts of of rice in casserole dishes in the oven.

Your meal sounds blimmin lovely

[sashh]

I was going to say get a rice cooker, I've managed to keep rice warm in a slow cooker as well.

[Alsoflamingo]

In the end managed to keep first batch warm really successfully. Put the cooked rice in a casserole dish with a tight lid - and put that in a massive pot with boiling water in it (sort of like a bain marie). Kept it warm brilliantly without drying it out. Phew!!!