How to Cook Perfect Rice in an Instant Pot
on Apr 20, 2020, Updated Dec 15, 2023
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Cooking rice in an Instant Pot is just as fast and easy as you would hope.
One of the most common things people want to figure out how to cook in their Instant Pot is rice. And it’s just as fast and easy as you would hope.
This method is for long grain white rice, sometimes labeled “parboiled” on the package. This method works in an Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker, or any multipurpose cooker that has a pressure cooker function.
Rinsing Rice
First you have to rinse the rice (a step I always skip when cooking rice on the stove, but it helps prevents clumping and stickiness here, and takes all of 60 seconds).
Setting the Instant Pot for Rice
There are two ways to set your Instant Pot to cook perfect rice.
Rice Setting
If you have a newer Instant Pot, you may see a setting on the machine that says “Rice.” If so, you are halfway there. Just fill the machine with rinsed white rice and water at a 1 1/4:1 ratio, 1 ¼ cups of water to 1 cup of rice. Add a bit of butter or olive oil, season with salt.
I know it seems like there should be more water, as there is when cooking rice in a pot on the stove. The reason there is less water using the stovetop method is because in a pot evaporation occurs as the lid usually isn’t airtight. In the Instant Pot, when the pressure valve is sealed there is hardly any evaporation.
Press the “Rice” setting and that’s it. All done. Depending on the amount of rice, it might take anywhere from 5 to 12 minutes. The machine detects the amount of rice in the pot and adjusts the time accordingly. Unlike the manual setting option, below, with the “Rice” setting once the machine beeps, you can open the valve, release the pressure, and when it stop releasing air, you can open the pot and fluff the rice with a fork.
Manual Settings for Instant Pot Rice
Otherwise, rinse the rice and add it to the pot. Add the water (again, 1 ¼ cup of water to 1 cup of rice, and feel free to double or triple it). Add a bit of butter or olive oil if desired. It’s not necessary but it adds nice flavor. You can also use diluted chicken or vegetable broth instead of the water for even more flavor.
Season with salt.
Place the lid on the Instant Pot and lock it. Make sure the valve is sealed. Press “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” depending on your machine, select HIGH, and use the + or – buttons to adjust the cooking time to 5 minutes. Turn off the “Keep Warm” button, if possible, which would cause the rice to overcook.
When the time is up, allow the pressure to naturally release (eg, don’t open the steam release valve). When the valve has dropped after the pressure has naturally released (this should take at least 10 minutes), open the Instant Pot (you may still see a bit of steam).
Fluff the rice with a fork and serve hot. And here’s how to reheat instant pot rice.
Instant Pot Rice Times and Liquid to Rice Ratios:
- White Parboiled Rice: 5 minutes, 2 ½ cups water to 2 cups rice
- Basmati Rice: 5 minutes, 2 ½ cups water to 2 cups rice
- Jasmine Rice: 5 minutes, 2 ½ cups water to 2 cups rice
- Brown Rice: 10 minutes, 2 ½ cups of water to 2 cups rice
- Wild Rice: 15 minutes, 3 cups water to 2 cups rice
Big Batch Instant Pot Rice:
You can double or even triple if you have a bigger pot, but never fill past the halfway line.
Other Ways to Cook Rice:
- How to Cook Perfect Rice on the Stove
- How to Cook Perfect Brown Rice on the Stove
- How to Perfectly Reheat Rice
Also Read: 10 Ways to Use Leftover Rice.
How to Cook Perfect Rice in an Instant Pot
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups rice
- 2 ½ cups water
- Kosher salt to taste
- 2 teaspoons unsalted butter optional
Instructions
- Rinse the rice in a strainer until the water is fairly clear.
- Place the rice, water, salt and butter (if using) into the Instant Pot.
- Close the lid, and set the steam release valve to the “seal” position.
- Either press the “Rice” button if your machine has one, of press with “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” depending on your machine, select HIGH, and use the + or – buttons to adjust the cooking time. Turn off the “Keep Warm” button, if possible, which would cause the rice to overcook.
- When the time is up, all the pressure to naturally release (eg, don’t open the steam release valve). Make sure the “Keep Warm” setting is turned off. When the valve has dropped after the pressure has naturally released (this should take at least 10 minutes), open the Instant Pot, fluff the rice with a fork and serve hot.
