---
title: "How to Make Sushi Rice with Rice Cooker? (6 Easy Steps)"
description: "Learn how to make perfect sushi rice with a rice cooker in just 6 easy steps. Impress your guests with homemade sushi."
canonical: "https://kitchencuddle.com/how-to-make-sushi-rice-with-rice-cooker/"
author: "Anushree R."
published: "2023-05-29T14:34:45"
updated: "2026-10-30T02:54:35"
---

# How to Make Sushi Rice with Rice Cooker? (6 Easy Steps)

![Sushi rice made in rice cooker](https://kitchencuddle.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/sushi-rice-made-in-rice-cooker-1024x576.jpg)

Sushi rice is cooked short- or medium-grain rice seasoned with vinegar, sugar and salt. The grain’s starch composition gives it the texture needed for sushi; it is not the same as glutinous sweet rice.

It cooks slightly differently as well.

Though it’s traditionally prepared on the stovetop, you can [make rice in a rice cooker](https://kitchencuddle.com/how-to-use-a-rice-cooker/) as well.

Let’s look at how to make it in a rice cooker.

## Factors to Consider When Making Sushi Rice in A Rice Cooker

Though you can make sushi rice in a rice cooker, the outcome will depend on the following factors.

### 1\. Type of Rice

Sushi rice is a short-grain variety. It’s starchy, and hence this rice becomes sticky when cooked.

The sticky nature of sushi rice makes it ideal for sushi.

Now, there are different varieties of sushi rice.

The texture and appearance of the rice after cooking will depend on the variety of rice you choose.

The flavor of each variety differs.

The most common variety used to make sushi is Japonica rice, which is cultivated in Japan and Korea.

The grains of this type of rice are short and round.

They cook well and hence can be conveniently shaped into balls.

You can also use medium-grain sushi rice varieties with high amylopectin levels, though it may not produce the same result.

### 2\. Quantity of Water

The ratio of rice to water is different for a rice cooker compared to the stovetop.

Use the model’s Sushi water line or specified [rice-to-water ratio](https://kitchencuddle.com/rice-to-water-ratio-for-a-rice-cooker/) for the rice you are cooking.

However, it may vary slightly according to the rice cooker model and type of rice.

We recommend checking the appliance manual for instructions to ensure consistent results.

### 3\. Washing the Rice

Sushi rice is high in starch. This starch makes it sticky when cooked.

Like other types of rice, you must wash the rice before cooking sushi.

The better you wash it, the more starch you will remove.

To achieve the right level of stickiness, wash sushi rice at least two times.

Follow the rice or cooker instructions for rinsing; Zojirushi’s sushi recipe calls for rinsing until the water clears.

This rice is meant to be a little sticky, and the grains will not separate entirely.

Rinsing does not remove the starch inside the grain that gives cooked sushi rice its texture.

### 4\. Type of Rice Cooker

You can make sushi rice in any rice cooker. However, there are rice cookers with a special sushi rice setting.

Choosing such a rice cooker will make cooking easier.

Some electronic rice cookers adjust the cooking program with sensors. Their Sushi and [Sweet Rice settings](https://kitchencuddle.com/how-to-make-sticky-rice-in-a-rice-cooker/) are not the same.

These programs can help, but accurate measurements and the right rice still matter.

For a basic rice cooker model, you can enable the setting for white rice to cook sushi rice.

### 5\. Choosing the Right Setting

Rice cookers can either have simple or complex controls.

Choosing the appropriate setting will improve the outcome of the cooking process.

Some rice cookers have a dedicated sushi rice setting.

This makes it easy to automatically set the control to make the perfect sushi rice.

If there is no Sushi setting, use the setting the manual recommends for the white short- or medium-grain rice you are cooking, not a [brown-rice program](https://kitchencuddle.com/cook-brown-rice-in-a-rice-cooker/).

However, make sure that it matches the water-to-rice ratio to produce ideal results.

### 6\. Adding Vinegar

In the traditional method of making sushi, a vinegar mixture is added to the rice at the end of the cooking process.

The seasoned vinegar mixture will affect the taste and flavor of the rice.

You can either make this mixture by yourself or buy it pre-prepared.

The important factor to consider is that the sugar granules should be completely dissolved in the vinegar solution for a uniform taste, even if you are using a rice cooker.

## Steps to Make Sushi Rice in A Rice Cooker

[![Sushi rolls](https://kitchencuddle.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/sushi-rolls-1024x576.jpg)](https://kitchencuddle.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/sushi-rolls.jpg)

We discussed the main factors to consider when making sushi rice in a rice cooker.

Let’s now look at the different steps to follow to make the perfect sushi rice in a rice cooker.

### 1\. Measure the Right Quantity of Rice and Water

Accurate measurements will produce better results when you are making sushi rice in a rice cooker.

Hence, we recommend using precise measuring tools for this purpose.

Most rice cookers come with a measuring cup. You can use it to measure the rice.

If the supplied cup is missing, check its volume in the manual before measuring rice for the pot’s water marks.

Do not use an ordinary kitchen cup of rice with water marks calibrated for a smaller rice-cooker cup.

### 2\. Rinse the Sushi Rice as Directed

Rinsing removes loose surface starch and dust, but it does not make uncooked rice safe to eat. The rice still needs proper cooking and handling.

Secondly, washing the rice grains eliminates the excess starch content from them.

Rinse as the rice package or cooker recipe directs. The number of rinses alone does not determine the final texture.

But it will prevent the rice from becoming too mushy.

### 3\. Choose the Right Cooking Setting

Depending on the rice cooker model, you will have to choose a suitable cooking setting.

If the rice cooker has a Sushi mode, use it with the matching water line. A Sweet or glutinous-rice mode is a different program and is not automatically interchangeable.

However, if it’s not present, you can choose the setting for medium or short-grain rice.

For the most basic models, you can just enable the cooking switch.

The results will be impressive if you get the ratio of rice and water correct.

### 4\. Let the Rice Rest After Cooking

Once the rice finishes cooking, let it rest for at least five minutes.

This will give the grains enough time to absorb the excess moisture.

Most rice cookers will also switch to the “Keep Warm” mode during this time.

After five minutes, open the lid and check on the rice.

### 5\. Fluff the Rice Grains and Transfer Them to The Serving Dish

After opening the lid of the rice cooker, gently turn the rice over with a fork or spatula.

This will help the rice grains fluff up.

Then use a spatula to transfer the rice to a serving bowl. The final step is to season the rice.

### 6\. Season the Rice with The Vinegar Mixture

The unique flavor and taste of sushi rice come from the vinegar mixture used for seasoning.

Seasoned rice vinegar is available commercially, and you can use it directly from the bottle.

The other option is to make your very own seasoning mixture at home.

You can customize the vinegar mixture recipe to your liking.

For a defined example, [Zojirushi’s recipe](https://www.zojirushi.com/app/recipe/sushi-rice) uses 4 tablespoons of rice vinegar, 3 tablespoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt for 3 supplied rice-cooker cups of uncooked short- or medium-grain white rice. Scale the seasoning with the rice batch, not independently.

You can even squeeze some lemon juice into the liquid if you prefer.

Stir this mixture over a low flame till it combines perfectly.

Pour the seasoning mixture in small batches over the sushi rice.

Then, use a slicing and lifting motion to mix the vinegar into the rice evenly.

Finally, you can serve the sushi rice directly or wrap it in seaweed to make sushi rolls.

Seasoning with vinegar does not make home-prepared sushi rice safe to leave out indefinitely. Use it promptly and refrigerate leftovers within two hours, or one hour above 90°F.