9 Best Rice Cookers for Sushi [With Buying Guide]

Are you searching for the ideal rice cooker for making sushi? After all, who can live without rice? (Especially when it comes to sushi.) But, with so many choices available, how do you know which one is best for you? Should I use brown rice or white rice when making sushi?

So, what are you waiting for? Browse our selection of the top rice cookers for sushi to find the one that is perfect for your home.

Introduction to Rice Cookers

A rice cooker is an essential kitchen appliance to have on hand if you want to be able to make sushi with perfectly cooked rice at home, with rice that is cooked to the ideal consistency.

It comes with a pot or pan designed specifically for cooking rice, in addition to a steaming basket that can be used to steam vegetables or fish. The most effective cooktops for rice may differ from one another, but they all share a single quality: they simplify the process of preparing rice.

Types of Rice Cookers

Rice cookers are classified into three types: standard rice cookers, pressure cookers, and slow cookers. The most common type is the standard rice cooker. Rice cooks quickly and evenly in it, resulting in perfectly cooked rice for daily use.

Brown rice, white rice, basmati, jasmine, and other types of rice can all be cooked in a rice cooker.

For those who want to cook rice quickly, the pressure cooker is ideal. Rice cooks faster in it than in a standard rice cooker, but it is critical to carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid overcooking or burning the rice.

For those who prefer to cook rice slowly and gently, the slow cooker is ideal. Every time, it yields tender, fluffy, delicious rice.

Sushi Rice Cookers: Features to Look for When Buying One

When looking for a rice cooker for sushi, there are a few things you should think about. First, you need to find one with a basket for steaming. This is very important if you want to cook fish or vegetables.

Additionally, you should look for a rice cooker with a keep-warm feature. Until you are ready to serve it, this will keep your cooked rice warm and ready to eat.

Get a rice cooker that has a timer, please. By doing this, you can set a timer to automatically start the rice cooker and cook your rice.

A rice cooker that can prepare at least 3 cups of uncooked rice at once is what you need. You want one that will work well and last, but you also don’t want it to be too costly. Before making a choice, be sure to read the reviews.

How to Pick the Best Rice Cooker for Sushi?

Cookstoves for rice are not all created equal. In actuality, some are superior to others in cooking rice for sushi. So, how do you pick the rice cooker that is right for you?

Here are some things to think about:

• What kind of rice do you intend to prepare? Different types of rice cookers include different rice cooking options (medium grain rice, brown rice, long grain rice, jasmine rice, basmati rice, etc.). You will need a cooker that can handle sushi rice if you want to make sushi.
• The rice cooker will be used by how many people? You will need a larger cooker if you are preparing food for a large group of people.
• What attributes do you desire? To keep the rice warm until it is time to serve, some rice cookstoves have built-in timers, automatic shut-offs, or even thermal sensors.

Once you’ve considered these factors, it’s time to start shopping! Read on for our picks for the best rice cookstoves to cook sushi rice.

Best Sushi Recipes

Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can experiment with different fillings and sauces. A hot favorite among sushi enthusiasts is the California roll, which typically includes crab meat, avocado, and cucumber. If you’re feeling adventurous, try adding in extras like cream cheese and tempura shrimp.

What sort of sushi should you prepare in your new rice cooker, then? Well, there are tons of delicious recipes out there, but some of the most popular include temaki (hand-rolled sushi), makizushi (rolled sushi), and nigiri (hand-pressed sushi).

And do not forget about flavor. If you want your rice to have a distinct richness that goes well with the lighter flavors of traditional sushi ingredients like sashimi or pickled ginger, try adding a dash of mirin, which is a sweet rice wine, or wasabi, in addition to rice vinegar. This combination will do the trick.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Different Types of Rice Cookers

Before we dive into the specifics of the rice cooker for sushi, let’s take a quick look at the different types of rice cookers on the market. This will help you better understand the benefits and drawbacks of each type.

There are three main types of rice cookers: high-capacity cookers, medium-capacity cookers, and small, compact cookers.

High-capacity cookers are great for people who make large quantities of rice at a time. They’re also great for families or groups of friends who want to make their rice dish together.

Medium-capacity cookers are best for singles or couples who want to make a batch of sushi rolls once in a while. They’re smaller and more compact than high-capacity cookers, making them easier to store and use.

Small, compact cookers are perfect for people who only want to make a single serving of sushi at a time. They’re also ideal for travel, as they’re lightweight and easily portable.

Each type of cooker has its set of benefits and drawbacks, so it’s important to consider what your needs are before making a purchase.

Tips for Cooking Perfectly Fluffy Rice in a Rice Cooker

Cooking the perfect rice can be tricky, especially if you’re new to using a rice cooker. But don’t worry—we’ve got some useful tips that will help you get perfect, smooth rice every single time.

• Measure out your ingredients: To get perfectly cooked rice, it’s important to measure out your water and rice in a measuring cup or bowl before adding it to the cooker. If you use too much water, the grains will be soggy and cooked unevenly. If you use too little, it will be undercooked.
• Rinse your rice: Rinsing your rice helps remove any additional starches and impurities that can affect the texture of the final product. Just make sure to not over-rinse—the idea is to just give it a quick rinse and drain off the excess water.
• Fluff up your rice: Once it’s done cooking, fluff up your rice with a wooden spoon or spatula before serving. This helps distribute the heat evenly so that each grain is cooked to perfection.

What makes a good sushi rice cooker?

A good sushi rice cooker should be able to make sticky rice—that’s essential for making good sushi. It should also have a large pot so that you can make enough rice for your needs, and it should come with useful features like an auto-adjust time and temperature function.

The benefits of using a digital rice cooker

A digital rice cooker is an essential kitchen appliance for anyone looking to make delicious rice for sushi. Not only is it super comfortable and quite foolproof, but it also helps produce rice that is stickier than usual.

Hamilton Beach Commercial Rice Cooker

This rice cooker from Hamilton Beach Commercial is a commercial-grade unit that can cook up to 90 cups of rice at a time.

Hamilton Beach rice cooker has some features that make it perfect for cooking sushi rice, including an adjustable time and temperature function, and a nonstick cooking pot that makes cleanup a breeze.

However, there are a few things to consider before making your purchase. First, this rice cooker is expensive and may be overkill for home cooks.

Second, it’s bulky and takes up a lot of counter space. Finally, it’s not as intuitive to use as some other rice cookers on the market, so it may require some trial and error before you get the perfect sushi rice.

Cuckoo Induction Heating Pressure Rice Cooker

If you’re looking for something with a bit more power, the Cuckoo Induction Heating Pressure Rice Cooker is the way to go.

It has a stainless steel and aluminum construction, so it’s durable and looks great. This rice cooker has an 8-cup capacity and can cook up to 10 cups of rice at once.

The Cuckoo also has a dedicated sushi setting, as well as several other settings that help you tailor the cooking to your specific needs.

Plus, this cooker uses induction heating pressure technology to adjust temperatures, providing even heat distribution for perfect results every time.

The downside is that this model is one of the most expensive ones on our list – so you’ll need to factor in cost when making your decision.

CUCKOO CR-3032 Rice Cooker

If you’re looking for commercial-grade technology, the Cuckoo CR-3032 30-cup (uncooked) is an excellent choice. It offers convenience, and a great price, and can handle large batches of rice with ease.

This cooker has a stainless steel body that is built to last and features multiple settings that allow you to make different types of rice. It also has a non-stick inner pot so that you don’t have to worry about sticking or burning your rice.

The downside to this cooker is that it doesn’t have an auto-adjust time and temperature function as the Zojirushi NS-ZCC10 does.

But if you want a commercial-grade cooker with great performance at an affordable price, then this one should fit the bill.

Zojirushi NP-GBC05XT Rice Cooker

The Zojirushi NP-GBC05XT may be the ideal sushi rice cooker. It offers induction heating, which is more precise and faster than traditional heating methods.

In addition, it has advanced fuzzy logic technology that detects humidity and temperature levels to ensure that the rice is always cooked perfectly. The menu settings include options for regular rice, sushi, oatmeal, and more, so you don’t have to do any guesswork or worry about overcooking your rice.

On the downside, this cooker is on the pricier end of the spectrum. If you’re just cooking basic sushi or want something simpler, this may not be the best option, as it comes with a lot of features you may never use.

However, if you’re serious about your sushi cooking and want a model that will help you get it right every time, this could be worth the investment.

Zojirushi NS-TSC18 Rice Cooker

Now let’s look at the Zojirushi NS-TSC18. This 10-cup nonstick cooker is designed for sushi preparation.

It’s super easy to use with its LCD and digital timer.

Plus, you don’t need to be a master chef to make perfect sushi rice—it has built-in settings that are tailored for this purpose.

The temperature and timer settings on this cooker can be adjusted, and it also has a function that keeps food warm, a steam vent, and a stay-warm setting, all of which makes it an exceptionally convenient appliance for preparing sushi rice. The timer helps to signal the cooker to stop after the rice is done.

The one downside to this is that it’s quite expensive—but if you’re serious about making excellent sushi rice every time, it’s worth the extra cost.

Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Rice Cooker

Another excellent option is the Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1. It is a multifunctional appliance that serves as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, and yogurt maker, among other functions.

In addition, it has a “sushi rice” setting, making it ideal for preparing sushi rice. This Duo Plus 9-in-1 allows you to adjust the cooking time and temperature for each recipe you prepare, which is one of its best features. This allows you to determine the ideal degree of doneness for sushi rice.

The downside is that it doesn’t have high-end features like an Induction Heating system or microcomputer control panel like the Zojirushi NS-ZCC10 but it still produces great results.

If you are looking for something a little less expensive than the Zojirushi NS-ZCC10, but you still want to make delicious sushi rice, this is a great option to consider.

Toshiba 3L 6 Cups Rice Cooker 

Consider the Toshiba Rice Cooker 6 Cups if you are looking for an excellent rice cooker for making sushi.

The fuzzy logic function allows the rice cooker to automatically adjust the cooking time and temperature based on the type of rice being prepared, while the one-touch operation makes it easier to use.

It includes a measuring cup and measuring spoon so that you can add water and sushi rice in the correct proportions before cooking.

Additionally, the nonstick inner pot is very simple to clean and maintain. In addition, the cord is detachable for added convenience.

This model is ideal for large families because it can cook up to 6 cups of rice at once, making 12 cups of cooked rice, which is easily enough for four or more people. However, if you do not require such a large capacity, other sizes are also available.

Instant Pot NOVA 6 Pressure Cooker

The NOVA 6 is one of the best and most reliable rice cookers for making sushi. This 6qt cooker is made with advanced technology and a non-stick inner pot that allows you to easily and precisely monitor the cooking process.

It has a pre-programmed feature for sushi (among other dishes), so you can get the perfect texture with minimal effort.

The cooker also comes with 10 different cooking programs, such as steam, boil, slow cook, sauté, and even yogurt or cake, so it’s useful for much more than just making sushi.

You can even adjust the temperature, time, and saturation levels to get the right consistency for your sushi rice. And if you’re worried about safety, this cooker has protection against overheating and undercooking.

Overall, this pressure cooker is an all-in-one device that will make any kind of rice perfectly – from oatmeal to jasmine to sushi – so it’s a great choice for anyone who loves good old-fashioned Japanese cuisine.

YumAsia Panda Mini Rice Cooker 

The next rice cooker to consider is YumAsia Panda. This is a great option as it has a 3.5-cup, 0.63-liter capacity and is small enough to fit on any countertop.

It has a unique black-and-white design that makes it stand out from the rest of the crowd and will make your kitchen look stylish and elegant. This rice cooker also has advanced fuzzy logic technology, which allows for precise temperature control for a perfect sushi rice every time.

The nonstick pot ensures that your sushi won’t stick, and you can easily clean it up afterward. The only downside to this model is that it doesn’t have an auto-adjust time and temperature function like some other models do.

However, it does come with a free mat for easy cleanup, so if you are looking for something quick and easy to use, then this YumAsia Panda Mini Rice Cooker might be the choice for you.

Conclusion

If you are interested in purchasing a new sushi rice cooker, the Zojirushi NS-TSC18 comes highly recommended by our team for cooking rice (white, jasmine, brown rice, etc.).

It is equipped with some features that render it ideal for the preparation of sushi rice, and it is also an excellent all-purpose rice cooker that can successfully prepare medium-grain, brown, and short-grain rice.

Because of its Fuzzy Logic Technology and keep warm feature, it is one of the very best rice cookers for sticky rice that can be used for sushi that is currently on the market.

FAQs

Maybe you still have some questions about sushi-making rice cookers. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are some of the most FAQs to help you make an informed decision.

What kind of rice should I use?

White rice with short grains or jasmine brown rice is the two types of rice that are most commonly used to make sushi. These cookers allow you to prepare not only paella and basmati rice but also oatmeal and a variety of other types of rice as well.

Is rice cooker good for sushi rice?

The use of a rice cooker for the preparation of sushi rice is the most time- and labor-efficient method. There is neither commotion nor unease to be found. You will quickly become an expert at making sushi at home if you follow this method. This completely changes the dynamic.

What rice cookers do Japanese people use?

Zojirushi is one of the two most popular Japanese rice cooker brands. Additionally, they have a reputation as the go-to brand for Japanese eaters. All of their rice cookers are of high quality, even though they do not typically carry many models at the lower end of the price range.

What is the difference between a rice cooker and a Japanese rice cooker?

All rice cookers are created differently, and all of them have their drawbacks and benefits. Japanese rice cookers are more reliable in some respect, durable, and have lots of good reviews. To find the best rice cooker for you, you need to know what features you are looking for.