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    Home » Recipes » Side Dish

    Instant Pot Sushi Rice

    Published: Aug 29, 2019 · Updated: Apr 7, 2020 by Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC · 35 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pin for how to make sushi rice in the Instant Pot.

    Learn how to cook perfect sushi rice in the Instant Pot every time with this simple, fail-proof recipe. Made with short-grain Japanese or California rice, rice vinegar, and a little bit of sugar, sushi rice is easy to make and perfect for sushi rolls and sushi bowls.

    Bowl of rice with a spoon in it

    If you've ever tried making sushi rolls at home, you know that one of the key steps is perfectly cooked sushi rice. Not only does it hold the roll together, but it also adds delicious flavor.

    Cooking sushi rice in the Instant Pot not only saves time but also results to the perfect rice every time.

    Ingredients you'll need

    To get started, you'll need to following ingredients to make flavorful sushi rice:

    • Japanese short-grain white rice
    • Water
    • White wine vinegar
    • Rice vinegar
    • Avocado oil - or any other kind of oil
    • Cane sugar
    • Salt

    You'll need the following equipment:

    • An Instant Pot (I use both the Instant Pot Duo Mini 3-Quart and Instant Pot DUO 6-Quart with great results)
    • Fine mesh strainer to rinse the rice
    • Measuring cups and measuring spoons
    • Medium-sized bowl
    • Wooden spoon

    How to make Instant Pot sushi rice

    1. Rinse rice: Rinse the sushi rice in a mesh sieve under cool running water for a few minutes. Drain well.

    Rinsed sushi rice in a fine mesh sieve.

    2. Combine ingredients: In the insert of the Instant Pot, combine the water and sushi rice.

    Hand pouring cup of water into the Instant Pot.

    3. Pressure cook: Close the Instant Pot lid, set the valve on “sealing”, and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. Once completed, turn off the Instant Pot and wait 10 minutes to naturally release the pressure. Quick-release any remaining pressure* and remove the lid.

    4. Fluff and serve: Using a fork, fluff the perfectly cooked sushi rice. Scoop into a bowl.

    Instant Pot filled with cooked sushi rice.

    5. Prepare the mixture: In a small bowl or in a small saucepan, whisk the white wine vinegar, rice vinegar, oil, sugar, and salt. Mix until the salt and sugar are dissolved. Microwave for 15 seconds, if needed.

    Hand stirring mixture for sushi rice.

    6. Combine mixture with rice: Pour over the bowl of cooked sushi rice and gently mix to combine. Use the sushi rice to make sushi rolls or a sushi bowl.

    Hand pouring mixture over a bowl of sushi rice.

    Storing and reheating

    To store: A day or two if stored in a sealed container in the fridge, however, it may start to dry out after a short time.

    To freeze: While any kind of rice can be stored in the freezer, sushi rice may result in a mushy texture when thawed. For that reason, it's advisable to prepare the amount you'll be using.

    To reheat: Warm on a skillet over medium heat.

    Frequently asked questions

    How do you quick-release the pressure? Quick-release by carefully turning the steam valve to the “Venting” position. Once the steam has completely escaped, the pin will down. Carefully open the lid.

    Do you have to rinse sushi rice? Yes, rinse under cool water to remove any unwanted debris from the rice.

    What size Instant Pot did you use? I’ve tested this recipe on both my Instant Pot Duo Mini 3-Quart and Instant Pot DUO 6-Quart with great results. However, you may need to tweak how long you cook the rice, based on preference, the size, model, and brand of your pressure cooker.

    Bowl of sushi rice with a container of mixture in the back.

    More Instant Pot recipes

    If you enjoy using your pressure cooker, check out these recipes:

    • Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
    • Instant Pot Cabbage
    • How to Cook Hard-Boiled Eggs in the Instant Pot
    • Instant Pot Broccoli
    • Instant Pot Beets

    Looking for other rice recipes to make in the Instant Pot? Check out Basmati rice, black rice, brown rice, and jasmine rice.

    Did you make this Instant Pot Sushi Rice recipe? Leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let us know how it turned out. Be sure to tag me on Real + Vibrant’s Instagram to show me what you made.

    Bowl of sushi rice.

    Instant Pot Sushi Rice

    5 from 56 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Total time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 214kcal
    Author: Sapana Chandra
    Learn how to make perfect sushi rice in the Instant Pot every time with this simple, fail-proof recipe. Use for sushi rolls and bowls.

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup Japanese short grain white rice
    • 1 cup water
    • 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon avocado oil
    • 1 tablespoon cane sugar
    • ¼ teaspoon salt

    Instructions

    • Rinse the sushi rice in a fine mesh strainer under cool running water for a few minutes. Drain well.
    • In the insert of the Instant Pot, combine the water and sushi rice. Close the Instant Pot lid, set the valve on “sealing”, and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. Once completed, turn off the Instant Pot and wait 10 minutes to naturally release the pressure. Quick-release any remaining pressure* and remove the lid.
    • Using a fork, fluff the perfectly cooked sushi rice. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
    • In a small bowl or in a small saucepan, combine the white wine vinegar, rice vinegar, oil, sugar, and salt. Mix until the salt and sugar are dissolved. Microwave for 15 seconds, if needed.
    • Pour over the bowl of cooked sushi rice and gently mix to combine. Use the sushi rice to make sushi rolls or a sushi bowl.

    Notes

    I’ve tested this recipe on both my Instant Pot Duo Mini 3-Quart and Instant Pot DUO 6-Quart with great results. However, you may need to tweak how long you cook the Instant Pot sushi rice based on preference, the size, model, and brand of your pressure cooker.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 214kcal, Carbohydrates: 40g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 152mg, Potassium: 53mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 3g, Calcium: 13mg, Iron: 1mg
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Japanese
    Tried this recipe?Mention @realandvibrant and hashtag #realandvibrant!

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    About Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC

    Sapana Chandra is a certified health coach, author of Plant Power Bowls, and founder of Real +Vibrant. Here you’ll find simply delicious vegetarian recipes with step-by-step photo instructions – recipes you’ll be excited to enjoy and share with your loved ones.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ericka says

      April 04, 2022 at 4:23 pm

      i have made this recipe every week since discovering it about 2 months ago. IT IS PERFECT.5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

        April 15, 2022 at 9:49 am

        I'm so happy to hear that, Ericka, thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    2. Mel says

      February 02, 2022 at 5:26 pm

      First time sushi-maker here, this rice was PERFECT. The only substitution I made was using monk fruit sweetener instead of sugar - it was great.5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

        April 15, 2022 at 9:54 am

        So happy to hear, Mel!

        Reply
    3. Catherine says

      January 24, 2022 at 4:12 pm

      Delicious!5 stars

      Reply
    4. Andrea says

      October 25, 2021 at 4:13 pm

      Fantastic recipe-followed exactly (except used olive oil as that’s what I had) and it comes out perfect every time! My husband LOVES sushi rice and it’s been so nice to make this for him at home!5 stars

      Reply
    5. Gina H says

      September 25, 2021 at 7:34 am

      I made this exactly as described, came out perfectly!5 stars

      Reply
    6. Benjamin says

      March 17, 2021 at 11:24 pm

      I’m leaving a five star review because the recipe and method deserves it.
      It deserves it because I made it by following the recipe and method.
      Please don’t mislead people with a five star review if you have not followed and made the recipe.5 stars

      Reply
    7. luz maria esquer says

      August 12, 2020 at 8:30 am

      This recipe trully is amazing, my friends have tried it and loved it. I want other people to try it but dont have an instant pot, is there a way you can add instructions for regular pots?5 stars

      Reply
    8. Scott Fishburn says

      July 30, 2020 at 9:36 pm

      We're having a sushi-making party tomorrow night, and the rice has always been a challenge the few times I've tried it. Now that I have the Instant Pot, I tried this as a "test run" before the party tomorrow. Seems like the texture is perfect and the rice glissens when it's done, but the vinegar is a bit too strong. Tomorrow night I'll adjust the seasoning a bit and report back. Also, for a party of 8, well, really 10 when you consider 4 of them are teenagers that love sushi, I'll need to make sure to make enough rice with enough time to get it to cool properly. I'm guessing 5 cups of rice may be needed. I hope my Instant Pot can handle that, but I'll probably do it in two separate batches. I'll let you know how it turned out.5 stars

      Reply
    9. Sarah says

      June 06, 2020 at 3:51 pm

      Just perfectly done and seasoned for our sushi making parties at home. Thank you for making it so easy! Believe it or not we use 5 cups of sushi rice so we have enough!5 stars

      Reply
    10. Jodi says

      May 11, 2020 at 5:25 am

      This made the best sushi rice we've ever had! Texture and taste were just perfect. Thank you!5 stars

      Reply
    11. Rebecca says

      April 22, 2020 at 7:58 am

      I've never thought of making sushi rice in the instant pot, but now I need to. You make it look easy5 stars

      Reply
    12. Veena Azmanov says

      April 22, 2020 at 7:49 am

      Thanks. Surely helpful and best used for awesome and yummy recipes.5 stars

      Reply
    13. Erika says

      April 22, 2020 at 7:18 am

      This is a great recipe! The rice turned out great!5 stars

      Reply
    14. Dannii says

      April 22, 2020 at 7:14 am

      Why have I never thought to do sushi rice in the instant pot? Such a great idea and I will give it a try soon.5 stars

      Reply
    15. Emmeline says

      April 22, 2020 at 7:03 am

      This might just be the reason I finally get an instant pot... sushi rice, come on! Bring on all the poké bowls at home!5 stars

      Reply
    16. Tanya says

      February 25, 2020 at 5:02 pm

      I used this rice for my first attempt at making homemade sushi rolls last week. I was pleased with the results and am making it again tonight for our Fat Tuesday feast before Lent begins. Thank you for taking an otherwise daunting ingredient and making its preparation easy and foolproof!5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

        March 03, 2020 at 6:00 pm

        Thanks for your feedback, Tanya! So glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe.

        Reply
    17. Ashley says

      February 09, 2020 at 5:58 pm

      Great recipe. Here are some tweaks that worked well for me:
      -substitute avocado oil for toasted sesame seed oil for flavor
      -boil the vinegar solution for a couple minutes then let cool completely before adding to rice
      -I only used about 3/4 of the vinegar solution
      -lay rice out into a flat dish and cut the solution in with a spatula or flat wooden spoon
      -fan the rice or let it cool completely (it got stickier the more it cooled) before using5 stars

      Reply
    18. Maria says

      January 10, 2020 at 9:10 pm

      The rice came out with the perfect consistency by following the instructions.

      I skipped the sugar and avocado oil, and used seasoned rice vinegar and I really liked the flavor.

      It was so easy!!

      Thank you Sapana, this is going to my favorites, I can’t wait to have a “build your own sushi” party.5 stars

      Reply
    19. Chelsea says

      December 14, 2019 at 11:27 am

      So much flavor in this rice! And it was easier than I thought it would be.5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

        December 14, 2019 at 12:46 pm

        So glad to hear, Chelsea! Thanks for your feedback.

        Reply
    20. Irina says

      December 11, 2019 at 10:38 am

      Sometimes it is a challenge to make sushi rice, but not with your recipe. Bookmarking for later! Thanks!5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra says

        December 11, 2019 at 11:17 am

        So glad to hear, Irina! Thanks for sharing.

        Reply
    21. Lisa | Garlic & Zest says

      December 11, 2019 at 10:36 am

      I've never actually made my own sushi, consequently haven't thought about how to make sushi rice... I had no idea what went into it. I don't think I want to start rolling sushi, but I'll be a nice piece of sashimi atop this rice with some ginger, wasabi and pickled veg would be a dynamite meal.5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra says

        December 11, 2019 at 11:18 am

        That sounds like a delicious combo and the perfect meal, Lisa! Thanks for sharing.

        Reply
    22. Andrea Metlika says

      December 11, 2019 at 10:34 am

      I've always had trouble getting my sushi rice just right. I think with this recipe I'll finally get it right.5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra says

        December 11, 2019 at 11:18 am

        Excited for you to try it out, Andrea!

        Reply
    23. Emily Liao says

      December 11, 2019 at 10:24 am

      Thanks for sharing this! I've always wanted to learn how to make sushi rice, so perfect timing 🙂5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra says

        December 11, 2019 at 11:19 am

        Can't wait to hear what you think, Emily! Thanks for stopping by.

        Reply
    24. Dannii says

      December 11, 2019 at 9:57 am

      We love making our own sushi, but I never thought to use my instant pot to make the rice. Great idea!

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

        December 11, 2019 at 10:03 am

        Thanks, Dannii!

        Reply
    25. Caitlin says

      October 29, 2019 at 9:46 pm

      I've always been so intimidated by making sushi at home but I came across searching how to make the rice and it was perfect! Loved the flavoring especially.5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

        December 07, 2019 at 5:43 pm

        So glad it turned out perfectly for you! Thanks for sharing your feedback.

        Reply

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    Sapana Chandra

    Hi, I'm Sapana! I’m a recipe developer and author of the cookbook Plant Power Bowls. Here you'll find simple, delicious, vegetarian recipes made with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Learn more about me

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