Foodanddrink

Chefs say this best-selling $9 tool is the secret to delicious, fluffy rice

Food & Wine · Jul 17, 2026 07:15 · 3 min read

Yes, you should be rinsing your rice every time.

A bowl of rice garnished with a sprig of parsley on a burlap background — Credit: Food & Wine / Getty Images

You don’t have to be a trained chef to make restaurant-grade rice at home. Though if you want perfectly fluffy grains every time, it doesn’t hurt to follow the advice of a professional.

Last year, we interviewed a dozen chefs about the basic kitchen gadgets that elevate meals from meh to marvelous. Their recommendations were varied, ranging from a pricey-but-worth-it Vitamix blender to a set of cake testers for $8.

But one that really stuck out was a simple rice washing bowl suggested by Jeff Osaka, chef and former owner of Sushi-Rama and Osaka Ramen in Denver. Osaka pointed us to Inomata’s 2-Quart Plastic Japanese Rice Washing Bowl with Strainer, which he uses to prepare rice for his family to boost its texture and taste profile. He told Food & Wine it’s become his go-to because it has “a solid bottom” and a “strainer on the side” for ease.

Even better? It’s just $9 at Amazon.

Inomata 2-Quart Plastic Japanese Rice Washing Bowl with Strainer

inomata plastic japanese rice washing — Credit: Amazon

~~$10~~ $9 at Amazon

Made in Japan with BPA-free, food-grade plastic, the 2-quart Inomata bowl has a solid bottom and side drain for soaking and rinsing rice thoroughly before cooking. The bowl also includes an easy-to-grip handle and is safe to place in the dishwasher on the top rack.

And while rinsing rice might seem unnecessary, the extra effort is worth it. Washing most types of rice, but especially white rice, helps to remove excess starch or other unwanted chemicals that might cause grains to clump together or taste slick. Soaking also softens rice, allowing it to cook more evenly and quickly. You could tackle the job in a regular bowl, but it’s not recommended, as the water can easily spill out grains, wasting food and money.

With this bowl, all you have to do is measure and pour in your rice, cover with water, vigorously swish your fingers through, and then drain the water. Keep repeating the process until the water goes from cloudy to clear and is free of loose starch or debris. You may also use the bowl to rinse off fruit, vegetables, legumes, and other foods.

Over 4,700 Amazon shoppers have rated it five stars, including one who called it a “must for perfect rice,” and added that “The difference it makes in cooking is noticeable: The rice tastes cleaner, cooks more evenly, and my rice cooker doesn’t get those foamy bubbles on top anymore.” A second reviewer was glad not to lose any more rice grains to the kitchen sink: “I was sick of trying to just pour the water out of a normal bowl. This is well-designed, and you can count on not losing any more rice to your drain!”

Others lauded the bowl’s ease of use. “The design is simple but effective, with a built-in strainer that allows you to drain the rice effortlessly after each wash,” another shopper stated. “The size is perfect for handling even larger batches, and the quality of the material feels durable and well-made. These bowls have become an essential part of my rice-cooking routine, and I highly recommend them to anyone who’s serious about making perfect rice. They save time and make the process a lot more convenient.”

Rice rinsing should be non-negotiable, and this $9, chef-approved tool makes the additional step easier, improves the taste of rice, and cuts down on unnecessary food waste. Win, win, win.