So the big bag of rice I got from Meijer is labelled 無洗米 (no wash rice), so technically it won't turn into a horrible sticky mess if you don't wash it, but it still turns out better if you do. I assume that goes for most rice in US grocery stores.
The rice I bought from a Japanese grocery store before was not that. That, you had to wash.
The rice we buy is no wash, so we don't wash it. I tend to like my rice a little stickier, so it works for me. But if I'm gonna make something where the rice shouldn't be as sticky, I'd probably wash it and not use this method.
Washing the rice makes this method not work, because wet rice will not get brown and get nutty, it will instead start to cook.
Washed rice typically turns out fluffier and more thoroughly cooked, it's not just about the gumminess. Jokes aside though, it's not the end of the world if you don't wash your rice, and as other have said washing fortified rice removes most of the nutrients, so plan accordingly
So the big bag of rice I got from Meijer is labelled 無洗米 (no wash rice), so technically it won't turn into a horrible sticky mess if you don't wash it, but it still turns out better if you do. I assume that goes for most rice in US grocery stores.
The rice I bought from a Japanese grocery store before was not that. That, you had to wash.
The real answer is that it depends on the rice.
The rice we buy is no wash, so we don't wash it. I tend to like my rice a little stickier, so it works for me. But if I'm gonna make something where the rice shouldn't be as sticky, I'd probably wash it and not use this method.
Washing the rice makes this method not work, because wet rice will not get brown and get nutty, it will instead start to cook.
Washed rice typically turns out fluffier and more thoroughly cooked, it's not just about the gumminess. Jokes aside though, it's not the end of the world if you don't wash your rice, and as other have said washing fortified rice removes most of the nutrients, so plan accordingly