Instant Pot Sushi Rice

This Instant Pot sushi rice is fluffy, springy, and perfectly seasoned. And it's just what you need to make the best sushi, poke bowls, and onigiri at home! All you need are 5 simple ingredients, and the sushi rice is ready in just 15 minutes.

• Amazing taste and texture. This easy Instant Pot recipe has everything you want in flavorful sushi rice. Tender and fluffy grains, a sticky and springy texture, and a subtle savoriness that really brings out the flavor of the other ingredients.
• It's easy to make. All you have to do is put the ingredients in the Instant Pot, and it'll take care of the rest. It's honestly effortless and is basically all hands-off.
• The rice is so versatile. You can eat it as a side, use it to make sushi, create your own sushi bowls, and so much more. You can even use it to make this Japanese Curry recipe for a Japanese restaurant experience.

Ingredients You'll Need

For the rice:

• Sushi rice- w hite rice labeled "sushi rice." It usually is a short-grain Japanese rice, but some places have it as medium-grain California rice. Avoid long-grain rice or whole-grain rice because they won't have the same texture and stickiness that you need for this recipe.
• Water- a few cups for cooking the rice.

For the sushi vinegar:

• Vinegar- rice vinegar works best.
• Sugar- granulated sugar for a touch of sweetness.
• Salt- sea salt for more flavor.

It's crazy that just a few ingredients can make such delicious homemade sushi rice! You can use the sushi rice to make this fried sushi next!

Step 1: Cook the rice. Place the rice in a mesh strainer and wash until the water becomes clear. Alternatively, you can rinse the rice in a bowl about five or six times, using clean water each time. Next, transfer the washed rice to the Instant Pot along with the water, and set it to the "rice" function - on my Instant Pot, the automatic time set by this function to pressure cook for 9 minutes.  

Step 2: Make the sushi vinegar: While you're waiting for the rice to cook, you can get started on the vinegar. First, add the rice vinegar, sugar, and sea salt to a small bowl and mix until well combined. If you're having any trouble dissolving the sugar, you can place the bowl in a bigger one filled with hot water to warm the mixture up a little.

Step 3: Season the rice: Once you pressure cook the rice, pour the sushi vinegar over it while the rice is still hot. Then, quickly mix the rice a few times with a spatula or wooden spoon to thoroughly coat it with the vinegar. Be careful not to smash the rice as you do this. You want to do a kind of cutting motion across the rice with your spatula, then gently fold it over and repeat. Next, cover the perfectly cooked rice with a clean damp cloth to prevent it from getting too dry, and let it cool to room temperature. After it cools, use this perfect sushi rice for whatever you want and enjoy! 

This Japanese rice will help you make killer sushi rolls and onigiri, but it can also be used to make a ton of other things. You can use the hot rice as a base for poke bowls or bibimbap or add it to a stir-fry. Here are some of my favorite recipes to pair it with:

• General Tso Shrimp
• Curry Shrimp
• Sushi Bake
• Firecracker Shrimp
• Blackened Shrimp

If you have any leftovers, you can store them cooled in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. To keep the rice for longer, store it in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to six months. If you want to warm it up, I think the best way is to just microwave it with a splash of water in 30-second increments until it's warmed through. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is sushi rice?

Sushi rice is a white short grain rice that is coated in seasoned rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. It's slightly sticky rice that holds its shape really well, so the cooked rice is perfect for things like this salmon sushi bake or homemade sushi rolls.

Do you have to rinse sushi rice?

Yes, this will get rid of any excess starch. Just rinse the rice in a fine mesh sieve under cold water for a minute or so until the water becomes clear and the rice has no more excess starch.

What does vinegar do to rice? 

The vinegar is what gives the rice its unique sticky texture and subtly sweet flavor that allows you to cook perfect sushi rice.

More Instant Pot Recipes

If you like this Instant Pot recipe and are looking for more delicious recipes, we have a ton on the blog!

Give one of these pressure cooker recipes a try next:

• Instant Pot Sausage and Peppers
• Instant Pot Chicken Tenders
• Instant Pot Potato Salad
• Instant Pot Coconut Rice
• Instant Pot Paella
• Instant pot Coconut Rice
• Instant Pot Risotto
• Insant Pot Spanish rice