A lot of times, we get asked what our most popular recipe is. If we’re going by the recipes that people just love and are always talking to us about and write us emails about how this has become their new favorite family tradition or something, it’s probably going to be the Creamy Chicken Taquitos or Tortellini Sausage Soup or Tim Riggins Brownies. But if you just look at the numbers of which recipe gets the most hits any given day or month? It’s (hands down!) our Instant Pot Brown Rice, which means even if it is not the sexiest of recipes, it is something you guys want. Since I have great intentions of cooking brown rice but almost always end up cooking white rice, I decided to show you how to make perfect Instant Pot white rice every time!
why use the instant pot?
One of the reasons I love my Instant Pot is because I was able to get rid of other tools in my kitchen that took up a lot of space (like a rice cooker). I never loved my rice cooker–it seems like it was never totally done the way I wanted, but I didn’t know how to fix it. Really, to be successful, I needed to be making several cups of rice, which I hardly ever needed. So I usually wound up making it on the stove in a pot because at least I could get the texture right, but stovetop rice is not a “fix it and forget it” kind of venture and I almost always ended up boiling over the rice water or burning the rice in the pan.
The Instant Pot ended up being the perfect solution–I could make 1 cup or 6 cups of rice, perfect every time, definitely quicker than my rice cooker and somewhat quicker than the stovetop. And, for instance, the other night, I wanted to have dinner ready when my kids were done with their extracurriculars, so I threw the rice in the Instant Pot while I ran out the door to pick them up and when we got back, it was done and on the warm setting, no house-burning-down required.
how to make it!
It’s really, really easy. You’ll need equal parts rice and water (or broth, if you prefer). You can also add a little butter or olive oil and salt and pepper if you’d like, but you don’t need to. If you’re at a high elevation, I recommend adding an additional 1-2 tablespoons of water and cooking for 1-2 extra minutes–you might have to play around with it a little depending on your elevation. But for everyone else, these directions should work for you.
Toss your ingredients into the Instant Pot and use the manual setting to cook on high for 3 minutes. This is when you say, “But Kate, there’s a rice setting on the Instant Pot! Can I use that?” Sure. But I had the same results using the rice setting as I did using my rice cooker. I actually NEVER use the settings on my Instant Pot and just set the times and pressures manually.
When the 3 minutes is up, don’t open the valve–just let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes. Then remove the lid and fluff with a fork and voila! Literally the most perfect white rice ever. This works with any white rice–long grain, Jasmine, Basmati, etc.
Instant Pot White Rice
Ingredients
- Equal parts white rice and water so 1 cup water, 1 cup white rice; 3 cups water, 3 cups rice, etc.*
- Optional: 1 tablespoon butter or oil for every 2 cups of dry rice
- Optional: Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Combine ingredients in Instant Pot. Use the manual setting to cook on high for 3 minutes and then allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes (don't open the valve, just let it sit.) Remove the lid, fluff with a fork, and enjoy!
Notes
If you’re looking for other Instant Pot basics, be sure and check out these recipes:
- Steel Cut Oats 2. Pot Roast 3. Chicken Breasts 4. Mashed Potatoes 5. Quinoa 6. Hard Cooked Eggs 7. Brown Rice 8. Whole Chicken
Questions & Reviews
I would love to see this recipe modified to make a cafe rio rice recipe 🙂
We like this one even better! 🙂
I just found your link to the brown rice, so that answered my question regarding that part!
I got my insta pot a few months back and have not been happy with how the rice turns out. I tried this last night and it was AMAZING!! The rice was perfect and under 15 minutes. Thanks for the recipe/ idea?? Keep them coming. Every new yummy recipe I make my family ask is this OBB? I made something not quite so yummy and my daughter (17) said I don’t think this is from the OBB ladies! Sassy kids 😉
Oh, this makes me so happy!!!! If only my sassy pants pre-teen appreciated my food the way your daughter does, hahaha!
Does this leave a lot of rice that sticks to the bottom of the instant pot? Another recipe I’ve tried makes me feel like I’m wasting so much rice, even with the added oil.
Not at all—I didn’t have any rice stick to the pot! 🙂
I have never cooked rice with instant pot. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Do you know if the water proportions work for medium and short grained rice too? The ones you listed are all long-grained and I know when I cook on the stove, I need to use different water:rice for the shorter types. Thanks!
Water’s the same regardless of grain size. I don’t know how it all works, but it’s some kind of magic. ?
Thank you for including the high elevation suggestion! I’m in Colorado and always need to alter things a bit. Making this tonight!!
Yay!!! Let me know how it goes!!
okay, that is hilarious because I was coming to your site for the sole purpose of the Instant Pot brown rice recipe. Ha! It comes out so fluffy!
???
I’m curious (because I have been trying to figure out perfect rice in the instant pot), why don’t you rinse the rice? Is this personal preference or texture of finished rice or???
I used to…but I don’t notice a difference. Also, all those nutrients on the nutritional facts on the rice bag are actually in the powder on the rice (it’s enriched, like flour), so when you rinse the rice you rinse those vitamins and minerals.