Perfect Instant Pot Rice
The best kept secret to perfectly fluffy rice? Your Instant Pot.
Serves4
Prep7 minutes
Cook15 minutes to 30 minutes
We all know and love the Instant Pot for its electric pressure-cooking capabilities, but let us not forget that this multi-cooker can make yogurt, sauté, slow cook, and even cook rice!
If you’ve completely forgotten that your Instant Pot can function as a rice cooker or simply need an easy-to-follow guide, this recipe is for you. Here’s how to use your Instant Pot to cook any type of rice.
Note: This method will work with any type of electric pressure cooker, not just the Instant Pot.
How Long Does Rice Take to Cook in the Instant Pot?
Use HIGH pressure for the following times, then let the rice natural release for at least 10 minutes:
- White rice (basmati, jasmine): 5 minutes
- Long-grain brown rice: 10 minutes
- Wild rice: 15 minutes
Should I Use the “Rice” Button on My Instant Pot?
The Instant Pot’s rice button is best used for white rice, as it is specifically calibrated to weigh white rice and water and cook the rice accordingly. This is ideal for weeknights when you truly want to set and forget your rice, but not great for cooking different varieties of rice on the fly.
How to Cook Rice in the Instant Pot
- Rinse rice. Rinsing rice removes any dirt and excess starch that can make the rice sticky, and, I’ve found, makes the rice taste better. According to Instant Pot’s manual, rinsing the rice also makes up for the small amount of moisture lost in evaporation during the cooking process.
- Pressure cook the rice on HIGH. Lock the lid in place and set to cook at HIGH pressure for the following times:
- White rice (basmati, jasmine): 5 minutes
- Long-grain brown rice: 10 minutes
- Wild rice: 15 minutes
- Natural release for at least 10 minutes. Using natural release for rice yields fluffy results and less likelihood that the rice on the bottom of the pot will stick or burn.
What Is the Ratio of Rice to Water in an Instant Pot?
Instant Pot suggests any rice can be cooked with a one-to-one rice-to-water ratio, but during testing, we found this wasn’t universally true — both among Instant Pot models and other multi-cookers. Use slightly more water when cooking brown rice and wild rice to prevent undercooking and scorching. Plus, it’s better to err on the side of more water, since most rice varieties can be drained if there’s excess moisture.
- 2 cups white rice (basmati, jasmine) to 2 cups water
- 2 cups long-grain brown rice to 2 1/4 cups water
- 2 cups wild rice to 3 cups water
How to Fluff and Serve Instant Pot Rice
After 10 minutes of natural release, most of the pressure should be gone from the pot, but at this point you can open the valve and release any remaining pressure. Use a fork to fluff the rice, and turn the Instant Pot to the warm setting to keep it hot for serving.
Instant Pot Rice Recipe
The best kept secret to perfectly fluffy rice? Your Instant Pot.
Prep time 7 minutes
Cook time 15 minutes to 30 minutes
Serves 4
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
For white rice:
- 2 cups
white, basmati, or jasmine rice
- 2 cups
water
- 1/2 teaspoon
kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon
unsalted butter
For brown rice:
- 2 cups
long grain brown rice
- 2 1/4 cups
water
- 1/2 teaspoon
kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon
unsalted butter
For wild rice:
- 2 cups
wild rice
- 3 cups
water
- 1/2 teaspoon
kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon
unsalted butter
Equipment
Measuring cups and spoons
6 to 8-quart electric pressure cooker
Fork
Fine-mesh strainer
Instructions
Rinse the rice. Measure the rice into a fine-mesh strainer and rinse under cool running water for about a minute or until the water runs clear.
Combine the rice, water, salt, and butter in the Instant Pot. Dump the rice into an Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker. Note that the water amounts are different depending on the rice you’re using! Add the water and salt to the rice and stir to combine. Toss the butter in, and don’t worry if it floats.
Pressure cook the rice on high. Lock the lid in place and set to cook under HIGH pressure for the following times:
White rice: 5 minutes
Brown rice: 10 minutes
Wild rice: 15 minutes
The Instant Pot will take 8 to 10 minutes to come up to pressure.Let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes. When the cook time is up, let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes.
Release any remaining pressure, fluff, and serve. Quick release any remaining pressure release. Uncover, fluff the rice with a fork, and serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
Storage: Leftover rice can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days or frozen for a few months.
Nutritional data: The nutritional data is calculated for white rice.