Glutinous describes the rice's level of amylopectin, a water-soluble component of starch. ... To ensure the grains cook and absorb moisture evenly, sticky rice first needs to be soaked and rinsed in water before cooking. Once steamed, the grains of glutinous rice become tender but maintain a distinct chewiness.

What happens if you don't Soak glutinous rice?

The reason for this is because instead of boing glutinous rice you steam it instead causing uneven water absorption if you dont soak the rice beforehand. The reason for steaming is that glutinous rice would turn to mush if boiled/ cooked conventionally in the rice cooker as they tend to absorb too much water.

Can you cook glutinous rice without soaking?

Cooking sticky rice in a rice cooker seems to be the easiest way but it doesn't yield the best result. There is no need to soak the sticky rice. You just add sticky rice and water, according to manufacturer's instructions. Press the button and wait for 30-45 minutes depending on your rice cooker.