Does Sushi Rice Have Sugar? (Answered!)

The main seasonings in sushi rice are sugar, salt, and vinegar, which are added to cooked short-grain Japanese white rice.

Sushi is typically created using this mix after it has reached room temperature.

The amount of sugar in sushi rice can vary, depending on the type of rice used. So, does sushi rice have sugar? Let’s get into the details.

Is There Sugar in Sushi Rice?

I’ve already mentioned that sugar is added with other ingredients to make sushi rice.

Does that mean the rice itself doesn’t have sugar? Well, no. The short-grain Japanese white rice usually used for sushi rice has a lot of carbs that include various sugars.

So why do we add sugar to sushi rice? Sugar was not added to sushi rolls initially; it was used just to preserve the fish.

It wasn’t until the middle of the 17th century that the notion of adding vinegar to sushi rice was conceived.

Sushi rice does not need to be sweetened. Most individuals who cook at home can skip the sugar because sushi doesn’t need any additional sugar to taste good.

Sugar was traditionally used to counteract the vinegar’s sourness. So just a little bit of sugar is enough to make the vinegar taste less sour.

Japanese short-grain rice features a higher level of hardness and chewiness and is sticky when cooked.

Another characteristic of this type of rice is that its natural sweetness forgoes much additional sugar.

How Much Sugar Is in Sushi Rice?

Modern sushi has a lot of sugar, commonly added to sushi rice during preparation. Many recipes call for as much as one tablespoon of sugar for each cup of sushi rice used to make rolls.

This would equate to around 10 teaspoons (42 grams) of sugar for 20 sushi rolls.

Bear in mind that the sugar content of a 16-ounce bottle of Coca-Cola is 52 grams. So, 10 teaspoons of sugar is the amount of sugar absorbed by drinking almost an entire bottle of Coca-Cola.

When it comes to the natural carbohydrates found in short-grained Japanese white rice, 100 grams of rice contain roughly 0.5 grams of sugar (and 60 grams of other carbs).

Can You Make Sushi Rice Without Sugar?

Absolutely. Sweetening sushi rice isn’t an absolute necessity. Sugar’s primary benefit lies in counteracting the vinegar’s sourness.

Moreover, the rice itself is already more on the sweet side. This means that it doesn’t change the flavor of the rice if it’s omitted.

If you need to make your sushi rice less sour, a small amount of sugar will do the trick.

Does Sushi Rice Spike Blood Sugar?

Sushi’s primary ingredient is white rice, which has been processed and stripped of nearly all fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Essentially, all that remains are pure carbohydrates and moisture content, with minimal fat and protein.

According to some research, high consumption of refined carbohydrates and the resulting spike in blood sugar levels may induce inflammation and raise your diabetes and heart disease risk.

Furthermore, sushi rice is frequently sweetened.

Sushi’s carbohydrates are swiftly broken down in your digestive tract due to the added sugar and minimal fiber content. This can cause a surge in blood sugar and insulin levels, leading to overeating.

A spike in blood sugar followed by a sharp drop after eating foods with a high glycemic index can lead to hunger.

Even though you’ve already had enough food, your body will tell you that you’re hungry again.

The main issue for people with diabetes is that white sushi rice is a simple grain that can cause blood sugar to spike. This can result in an instantaneous surge that needs a high insulin dose to bring glucose levels down for some people.

For many others, sushi takes hours to take effect, resulting in a whole night of micromanaging insulin to attempt to get blood sugar levels back in range.

However, research indicates that the rice vinegar used in sushi may help decrease blood sugar, blood pressure, and blood lipids. But, to be safe, people with diabetes should stay away from sushi.

Does Brown Rice Sushi Have Sugar?

When rice undergoes milling to create white rice, the husk, bran, and germs are removed from the paddy.

Much of the fiber, which benefits gastrointestinal health and weight loss, is also eliminated when this happens. The grain is left, which contains the majority of the simple carbohydrates.

That is why eating white rice is linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and high blood sugar.

Brown rice, on the other hand, isn’t stripped of its bran. Therefore, it has a significantly greater fiber level.

However, white rice has only 0.1 grams of sugar per cup, but brown rice has 0.7 grams per cup.

Regardless, what happens to the various rice kinds after consuming them makes white rice problematic.

Brown rice’s high fiber content makes food more filling since fiber needs more time to digest and metabolize sugar. Complex carbohydrates, including fiber, are more challenging to convert to glucose.

In other words, while white rice may not technically contain a lot of natural sugar, its lack of fiber might produce blood sugar spikes, which can raise your risk of weight gain or diabetes.

That is not the case with brown rice.

In Summary

There are several methods to make a sushi meal nutritious.

Brown rice is a good alternative because it has more fiber and fills you up longer than starchy white rice. Sushi rolled in cucumber or sashimi, finely chopped fresh fish served without rice are two more ways of making your sushi dish healthier.

Opting for rolls or sushi with a greater fish-to-rice ratio is another option. In this way, you can receive a more nutritious meal full of protein and fewer starchy carbohydrates.

If you can’t bear the thought of giving up your white sushi rice, simply eat less of it. Pairing your sushi with something with extra protein or fiber, such as edamame or a side of veggies, can also help.

Additionally, starting your meal with a miso soup or salad is an excellent way to eat less rice. And, when dining out, don’t be hesitant to ask your waiter about how a roll is made.