Instant Pot Sushi Rice

Name: Instant Pot Sushi Rice
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1 cup Sushi rice; 2 tbsp Rice vinegar; 1 tbsp Sugar; 1 tsp salt; 1 cup water

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Learn how to make perfect Japanese sushi rice in the Instant Pot every time with step-by-step pictures and a video tutorial.

To make this recipe, all you need is simple ingredients such as sushi rice (of course!), rice vinegar, sugar, and salt.

This sushi rice recipe is easy, quick, and makes the best rice. Once you master perfectly seasoned and fluffy sushi rice, you will be ready to dish up all kinds of mouth-watering recipes!

Instant pot sushi rice in a wooden bowl with wooden spatula

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What is Sushi Rice?
Ingredients required
How to make Instant pot Sushi rice? Step by step process
Notes, pro-tips, and quick FAQs
Some Asian Recipes
Instant Pot Sushi Rice

My family loves Japanese Sushi rolls. I have been making a lot of sushi at home lately.

Sushi rice is the building block of Japanese sushi. And making them at home with a few tips and tricks is like child’s play.

Plus instant Pot makes the whole process so easy with zero monitoring.

To make sushi rolls, once the rice is done, everything else comes together very quickly.

What is Sushi Rice?

Sushi Rice is a bowl of short-grained Japanese rice that is seasoned with, salt, vinegar, and sugar.

The rice has a fluffy texture with a firm bite and each rice grain sticks with each other yet retains its shape and that's how it holds so well inside the sushi rolls.

Mushy rice means it has too much water or it's overcooked. If the rice is fresh, you will see a nice shiny gloss on the surface of each grain.

With the right technique, making sushi rice at home is children’s play. Here’s the list of ingredients required and my step-by-step process for making the best sushi rice from scratch, just like the best sushi restaurants in Japan.

Ingredients required

You will need only 4 ingredients to make this recipe.

Sushi rice (Japanese short-grain rice) – as discussed above, you need a specific type of short-grain rice to make sushi rice. Basmati rice or jasmine rice will not work here. So make sure to buy the specific rice. My favorite brand is Nishiki Premium Sushi Rice, and Lundberg Family Farms – Organic California Sushi Rice. You can easily find them on Amazon or in Asian stores.

Vinegar – I have used rice vinegar here. It is easily available at any Asian store or on Amazon. At Asian stores, you would also find "Sushi Vinegar" which is already flavored with salt and sugar. If you are going to use that, skip the salt and sugar in this recipe. But I recommend using plain rice vinegar and then add salt and sugar as per your liking.

Sugar and Salt: and of course other than vinegar, the rice is also seasoned with some salt and sugar.

On top of the above ingredients, many people also add kombu. I couldn't find them this time in my Asian grocery stores so I skipped it. If you can find kombu, I highly recommend adding it to cook with the rice for a more umami flavor.

Pre-measured ingredients for Instant pot Sushi rice

How to make Instant pot Sushi rice? Step by step process

Step – 1 Rinse Sushi Rice

Rinse rice under running water. Keep rinsing and draining the water 7 to 8 times or until the water turns clear. (image 1 and 2)

Note – Be careful not to break the rice grain! Be very gentle while rinsing them.

Then transfer the rinsed rice to a strainer. Let it sit there for 10 minutes or until there's no water dripping from the strainer. Rice should not feel wet. (image 3)

Step - 2 Cook them

Add the rice to the Instant Pot along with 1 cup of water. Make sure all the rice is fully submerged in the water. Close the lid. (image 4 and 5)

Press the manual/pressure cook button. Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes, vent valve in the sealing position. (image 6)

Once cooking time is done, let the pressure release naturally.

collage of making Instant pot Sushi rice

Step 3 Make Sushi Vinegar

While the rice is cooking, add vinegar, salt, and sugar to a pan and place it on low-medium heat. (image 7,8 and 9)

Stir until sugar dissolves and everything is well combined. Switch off the flame and let it cool. (image 10)

Note – The sushi vinegar doesn't need to be hot. We just need to melt the sugar and salt into the vinegar mixture.

Step Add Sushi Vinegar

Once the pressure has naturally released, carefully open the lid and then transfer the rice to a Hangiri Sushi Rice Barrel or glass bowl.

Gently spread out the sushi rice with a Wooden spoon.

Slowly pour the prepared vinegar mixture on every rice grain. (image 11)

Note – Make sure to add the vinegar mixture to the warm rice so it mixes well.

Mix slowly using a wooden spatula until everything is well combined. Then let the Instant pot sushi rice cool down to room temperature before using it in sushi rolls. (image 12)

Note – Be very careful not to crush or press on the sushi rice while stirring because this may break the rice grain or make them mushy! Try using a cutting and slicing motion. (refer to video)

Collage of making sushi vinegar and adding in to sushi rice

Notes, pro-tips, and quick FAQs

Make sure to fully dissolve the sugar and salt into the vinegar before mixing with the rice.
Allow the sushi rice to cool before making the sushi roll.
Don't cook the rice for more time, it can become mushy and get a bad texture.
NEVER skip the rinsing step. Make sure to rinse your rice until the water runs clear. Likewise, let the rice dry for at least 10 minutes after rinsing until stopped dripping water.

Why cooking sushi rice in Instant Pot?

You can cook the rice using a pot over the stove, but the most convenient way is to cook sushi rice using an Instant pot or an electric rice cooker. It is really easy to cook in the instant pot and it ensures that the rice is perfectly cooked every single time.

What kind of rice is sushi rice?

Sushi rice is typically Japanese short-grain rice, which has a stickier consistency after it's cooked.

Is there a difference between sushi rice and regular rice?

Yes! The consistency and flavor of sushi rice are very different from long-grain rice, jasmine rice, or other types of rice. With a higher content of moisture, Japanese rice is known by its unique sticky texture.

Is jasmine rice sushi rice?

Sushi rice is traditionally Japanese short-grain rice and differs from other types of rice grains due to its sticky consistency. Other types of rice, such as the more popular Jasmine white rice, are long-grain rice that has a lighter texture and is less sticky than short grain.

Can use normal rice for sushi?

No! you cannot substitute it with any other rice.

What can I use instead of rice vinegar for sushi?

You can use White Wine Vinegar, or Lemon, or Lime Juice.

Why do you need rice vinegar for sushi?

Adding vinegar to sushi rice helps to hold the shape of the roll, and the flavors complement the fillings or toppings.

Does it need that much vinegar?

It may seem like a lot of vinegar is used in making this rice. You need this much amount of vinegar in this recipe. It creates an amazing flavor!

Why should we use a glass bowl and wooden spoon when mixing? Can I use a metal spoon?

From my research, I’ve found out few reasons
– The vinegar may react with some metals.
– Metal spoons are more likely to damage the rice.
– Metal bowls heat more rapidly when in contact with hot rice, changing the consistency.

What can I make with sushi rice?

You can make sushi rolls, sushi bowls, Poke bowl and many other recipes.

What can I make with leftover rice?

You can make Poke bowl or Onigiri.

Can I store this?

By storing this rice in the fridge, it loses the texture and taste. So I won’t recommend storing this rice.

Some Asian Recipes

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