Instant Pot Sushi Rice

This Instant Pot Sushi Rice recipe is the best way to make this Japanese dish. Learn how to make sushi rice and different ways to use it!

Ingredients and substitutions

• Canola oil – or another neutral cooking oil like olive oil or avocado oil.
• Short-grain Japanese sushi rice – use either white or brown sushi rice.
• Rice vinegar – you can use white vinegar, but it will have a different taste.
• Sugar – use another cup-for-cup sugar substitute of your choice like stevia.
• Salt – to taste.

How to make sushi rice in the Instant Pot

Step 1: Add everything to the Instant Pot.

Rinse the rice until cold water, then add the canola oil, rice and water to the Instant Pot in order.

Step 2: Cook on high pressure.

Cook on high pressure for 10 mins, then do a natural pressure release.

Step 3: Mix in the ingredients.

Stir in the vinegar, sugar and salt. Let it cool for about an hour in the fridge.

Step 4: Serve and enjoy.

Enjoy on its own or serve as sushi bowls. Enjoy!

What to serve with sushi rice

Sushi rice is mainly used for sushi rolls, but there are so many other things you can use it for! Here are some of my favourite ways to serve it:

• Top it with firecracker shrimp
• Serve it as the side with teriyaki salmon
• Use it to make poke bowls or sushi bowls with all your favorite toppings like shrimp, crab, seaweed strips, avocado, soy sauce, spicy mayo and more
• Turn it into spicy shrimp stacks with mango salsa
• Deconstruct a traditional roll and make dynamite shrimp sushi jars

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use basmati or jasmine rice instead?

I wouldn’t recommend it. Basmati and jasmine rice don’t have the right sticky texture for sushi rice, and both varieties of short grain rice cook for less time than sushi rice.

What does the vinegar do to the rice?

The vinegar mixture adds the perfect flavor to the sushi rice and also helps give it that nice sticky consistency.

Do you need to rinse it before cooking?

Yes, you should take the time to rinse before cooking for the perfect sushi rice. Rinsing it will remove debris and excess starch from the rice. If you don’t rinse it first, the starch may bubble up during cooking and can clog the pressure cooker’s venting mechanism.

Can you double this recipe?

You can double this recipe as long as you don’t go over the maximum line in your Instant Pot. The cooking time should remain the same.

Why did my rice turn out mushy?

If your sushi rice turns out mushy and too watery, you might have added too much liquid or not fully drained it. Make sure you use a fine-mesh strainer to drain the rice fully before adding it to the pot.

Storing the sushi rice

This Instant Pot sushi rice will last in the fridge for up to 3 days in airtight glass containers. It’s meant to be served cold, so you don’t have to worry about reheating.

Can you freeze sushi rice?

Although it’s not an ideal option, you can technically freeze cooked sushi rice. If you do freeze it, keep in mind that thawed sushi rice often ends up with an odd texture. Rather than freezing any leftover sushi rice, it’s better to use it for another meal.

If you do plan to freeze your sushi rice, store it in an airtight freezer-safe container or Ziploc bag. Be sure to release as much air from the bag as possible. It should last in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat it, just let it defrost in the fridge overnight.

More Instant Pot rice recipes

• Instant Pot Chicken Fried Rice
• The Ultimate Instant Pot Rice Guide
• Instant Pot Coconut Rice
• More Healthy Instant Pot Rice Bowls

Meal prep tools for this recipe

• Grab some glass meal prep bowls.
• Freeze this recipe in glass microwave-safe bowls up to 3 months