How to Make Sushi Rice with a Rice Cooker

Name: How to make Sushi Rice with a Rice Cooker
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2.25 cups japanese short-grain rice ((Note 1)); 2.25 cups water; 1 2-inch piece kombu (kelp) (optional (Note 2)); 1/3 cup rice vinegar ((Note 3)); 3 tbsp sugar; 1.5 tsp sea salt

Learn how to make sushi rice at the touch of a button using your electric rice cooker. This recipe covers everything you need to know from rinsing the rice, determining the right amount of water to seasoning, and tips for making ahead.

The cooked sushi rice in a light brown ohitsu container with a white spoon on a bamboo placement mat with the rice cooker and a potted plant behind.

Although it's fairly easy to make great-tasting sushi rice using the stovetop method or in an Instant Pot, using a rice cooker is foolproof, hands-free, and guarantees the best sushi rice every time.

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Why you'll love this recipe

Learn how to make flawless sushi rice using your rice cooker.
Get all the tips and information you need to achieve perfect texture and flavor on your first attempt.
Avoid common pitfalls that lead to wet, mushy, or dry rice.

Cooking sushi rice in a rice cooker

The easiest and most convenient way to cook perfect sushi rice is in a rice cooker. You just wash the rice add the correct amount of water and leave the rice cooker to do its thing. It's hands-off and fail-safe and if you already have a rice cooker it's the way to go.

If you're making sushi rice for the first time, the best rice cooker is the one you have. Sure it might not have some of the specific sushi rice cooking features of Japanese rice cookers, but if you rinse the rice and add the correct amount of water, it will do the job well.

Buying a rice cooker

If you love homemade sushi and rice bowls a rice cooker is a worthwhile investment. It's great for achieving consistent results and has handy features. Keep-warm mode is a personal favorite. It takes the pressure off with timings and is so useful if people in your household eat at different times.

There are many options depending on your budget and the size you require. If you cook sushi rice regularly, I highly recommend purchasing a Japanese rice cooker from a well-known brand like Zojirushi or Tiger. They have a specific sushi rice setting as well as 'fuzzy logic' which adapts the cooking time and temperature to the variations in water levels and the type of rice, guaranteeing perfect sushi rice every time.

Zojirushi: A well-known premium Japanese brand known for quality and durability with fuzzy logic technology to ensure perfectly cooked rice every time. They have online stores in the US and Europe. I've had mine for 9 years and it's still going strong.
Tiger: Are similar to Zojirushi when it comes to quality and features. They also have an online store in the US. Outside of the US you can find them on Amazon or specialist stores.

Toshiba and Panasonic are great if you are looking for a more affordable Japanese brand. Check out Imusa and Aroma, for budget options that start at $25.

Ingredients

Japanese short-grain rice (often called sushi rice) is the specific type of rice you need for sushi.
Kombu (optional) edible seaweed that adds umami flavor
Sushi vinegar. A seasoned vinegar mixture made from rice vinegar, sugar and salt, to add the perfect amount of sweetness, saltiness, and acidity to the rice.

What type of rice is used for sushi?

Japanese short-grain rice is what you need. It's often labeled as sushi rice, which can be confusing, but sushi rice is just Japanese short-grain rice marketed to a Western audience. Also known as Japonica rice, its short-plump grains and high starch content give it a sticky texture that's perfect for sushi rolls. But it's not just for sushi. It's the type of rice the Japanese eat most often and is served with nearly every meal.

Where to buy Japanese short-grain rice?

You should be able to find Japanese short-grain rice (sushi rice) at regular stores like Walmart, Whole Foods, and Target.

You can buy it online from Amazon or an Asian grocery store.

Which brand is best?

If you're new to making sushi rice you don't need to worry about the brand too much.

American brands like Kokuho Rose and Nishiki are budget-friendly and easy to find. and even though they are medium-grain rice, they are great for sushi.

If you're looking to level up your rice game, try premium brands like Tamaki Gold or Tamanishiki.

How much sushi rice do I need to cook?

This depends on the size and type of roll you are making be it thick sushi rolls, spicy tuna rolls, or simple sushi rice for nigiri. You can use this table as a guide.

A rice cooker cup is a small plastic cup that comes with the rice cooker. It's ¾ cup (180ml) and is the best way to measure rice if you have it. Otherwise, you can use regular cups or grams.

Cups/grams	Thick sushi rolls	Medium sushi rolls	Thin sushi rolls	Inside out rolls	Nigiri
¾ (150g)	1	2	4	3	7
1 ½ (300g)	2	4	8	6	15
2 ¼ (450g)	4	6	12	9	22
3 (600g)	5	8	16	12	30
3 ¾ (750g)	6	11	20	15	37

Adapted from How to make sushi rice, by Namiko Hirasawa Chen.

Rice to water ratio for a rice cooker

For sushi rice, a simple water ratio of 1:1 gives it that perfectly sticky texture. Because rice vinegar is added, Japanese rice needs a little less water when it's used to make sushi. Usually 10-20% more water is required.

What is kombu?

Kombu is a type of dry kelp (seaweed) that adds umami (savory) flavor to the rice. It's a common ingredient in Japanese cuisine and a key ingredient in dashi stock that is often used as a base for soups and stews.

It's not something you'll find at a regular store so you'll need to buy kombu online or from an Asian grocery store.

It's optional because you can make good sushi rice without it. Plus it can be pricey and harder to find.

That said, it's a good flavor enhancer and stays good for up to a year, so if you make sushi often it's worth the extra effort.

Sushi rice seasoning

Sushi vinegar (known as Sushi Zu) transforms cooked rice into authentic sushi rice and gives it the perfect balance of savory, sweet, and tangy flavor. It's a 3-ingredient mixture of rice vinegar sugar, and salt.

It's super easy to make your own or buy ready-made sushi vinegar online. Unless you make sushi frequently, homemade is the way to go. Rice vinegar is much cheaper and easier to buy than ready-made sushi vinegar. Plus, apple cider vinegar is a great substitute if you can't find rice vinegar in your regular store.

Other tools and equipment

If you're making sushi rice for the first time, you don't need to buy new tools or equipment unless you want to.

You just need a large mixing bowl and a wooden spoon to mix the cooked rice with the sushi vinegar.

Here are a few tools that you might want to consider if you make sushi often.

Hangiri. A traditional Japanese wooden sushi rice mixing tub. Its flat, shallow bottom and wide, sloping sides allow the rice to cool and absorb the flavor of the sushi vinegar evenly.
A Rice Washing Strainer. I love this rice strainer clip that I bought on a trip to Japan a few years ago. It's small, budget-friendly, and makes rinsing sushi rice so much easier.
Rice paddle for folding the sushi vinegar into the rice.

Quick Recipe Video

Step-by-Step Instructions

Washing the rice in a bowl with a rice strainer clip attached, on a white background.

Step 1: Wash the rice with cold water until the water almost runs clear. Mix gently with your hand between each rinse to release the starch.

A rice cooker pan on a white background containing the rinsed rice, water and kombu.

Step 2: Put the rinsed rice into a rice cooker pan, fill it with the correct amount of water, and add a piece of kombu (if using).

Step 3: Set the rice cooker to cook on a sushi or white rice setting.

The sushi vinegar in a small stainless steel pot with whisk, on a white background.

Step 4: Make the sushi vinegar by mixing rice vinegar, sugar, and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat until the sugar and salt dissolve.

The cooked rice in a hangiri with a white rice paddle, on a white background.

Step 5: Remove the kombu (if using) and transfer the rice to a mixing bowl (or hangiri). Pour on the sushi vinegar mixture and gently fold it into the rice using a wooden spoon or rice paddle until it reaches body temperature. You can fan the rice as you go to cool it more quickly.

The hangiri containing the cooked rice covered with a damp towel, on a white background.

Step 6: Cover the rice with a damp towel if you're not going to use it immediately to prevent it from drying out.

Expert Tips

Wash the rice until the water almost runs clear. Washing away the excess starch improves the texture and stops the rice from becoming mushy and glutinous.
Don't use a sieve or colander to wash the rice. You'll risk breaking the grains. A Japanese Rice Washing Strainer makes rinsing easier while still keeping the grains intact.
Make sure you add the correct amount of water. Use the markings on your rice cooker pan or table above as a guide.
Allow the rice to cool to room temperature before making sushi.
Cover the rice with a damp cloth or tea towel to prevent it from drying out if you are not using it straight away.

Serving suggestions

Once you've cooked up a batch of sushi rice you'll be ready to create all kinds of delicious sushi rice creations like:

People Often Ask

What is the ratio of rice to water in a sushi rice cooker?

You need a straightforward ratio of 1:1. Because sushi vinegar is added, Japanese rice needs a little less water when used it make sushi.

Can I add the sushi rice seasoning directly to the rice cooker?

This isn't recommended for several reasons. Transferring the rice to a hangiri or large mixing bowl allows the rice to cool more quickly and the seasoning to be mixed evenly. The acidity in the rice vinegar may also damage the non-stick coating on the rice cooker bowl.

How long does it take to cook sushi rice in a rice cooker?

Usually around 20 minutes, but this may vary depending on the rice cooker model and the amount of rice being cooked.

Do I have to use a rice cooker with a sushi rice setting?

Having a dedicated setting for sushi rice adjusts cooking time and temperature for the best results, but you can still make excellent sushi rice with a basic rice cooker or even on the stovetop.

Why did my rice turn out mushy?

There are several possible causes including not washing the rice properly, adding the incorrect amount of water or seasoning.

What's the best way to store and make ahead?

Nothing beats freshly made sushi rice. If you're not ready to use the cooked rice immediately, you can store it in a cool area for up to 3 hours, covering it with a damp towel to maintain moisture. Avoid refrigerating the rice, as it will dry it out.

The cooked sushi rice in a light brown ohitsu container with a white spoon.

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