We’ve shown you a few different methods for making brown rice. In the oven. Boiling in a lot of water. And there’s always just making it on the stovetop. There are pros and cons to each, but I’ve recently started cooking brown rice in my Instant Pot. We’ve been hearing from a lot of people who got them for Christmas, wanting recipes, and rice is one of those essential ways that you can really put your Instant Pot to work. This Instant Pot Brown Rice is about as fast as the method that involves cooking it in a lot of water, but I also feel like it’s more forgiving. It’s a lot faster than cooking it in the oven (although there are times that I really like that method; it’s very comfort food-y) and cooking it on the stovetop is always kind of iffy…things spill over…rice burns…I say bad words…the rice is either overcooked or undercooked. Basically, I just need to never do that.
The first time I cooked it in my Instant Pot, I used the Instant Pot directions (which are more along the lines of stovetop water to rice proportions). I wound up with mushy, waterlogged rice. The next time around, someone told me that I needed to cut way back on the water, which gave me perfect, fuss-free brown rice. So now I make it likes this a few times a week and freeze any leftovers for easy use in the future.
You’ll need 2 cups of brown rice, 2 1/2 cups water (I use just shy of that because I don’t think I need that much at sea level elevation, but I think in higher elevations, 2 1/2 will be perfect), a little olive oil, and a little kosher salt.
Use the sauté setting on your pan to heat the olive oil, then add the rice and stir for about 30 seconds.
Add the salt and water…
And use the manual setting to cook for 22-24 minutes (22 for low elevations, 24 for higher elevations). Allow the pressure to release naturally (so don’t turn the valve) for 5-10 minutes, then fluff with a fork and serve.
Seriously, it couldn’t be easier!
How to Make Brown Rice in an Instant Pot
- Yield: 4 cups
Description
Failproof brown rice in a pressure cooker! It’s perfect every time!
Ingredients
- 2 cups brown rice
- 2 1/2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Use the sauté setting to heat the olive oil for 2-3 minutes. Add the rice and stir for 30 seconds. Add water and salt. Use the manual setting to cook for 22-24 minutes (22 for low elevations, 24 for higher), then allow the pressure to release naturally (don’t use the release valve) for 5-10 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Leftovers freeze beautifully for later use.
Notes
*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.
Questions & Reviews
Thanks so much for this recipe; I had a couple mushy rice disasters and was so disappointed with the IP as rice cooker. This is consistently the best brown rice I’ve had.
This makes me so happy!!
Do you think it would be OK to double this recipe in a 6 quart pot?
Yep!!
My rice came out so yummy!! I’ve never had a rice cooker and always made mine on the stove. I was browsing Pinterest the other day and found you could make rice in the Instant Pot so I thought I’d give it a try. I am so glad I did!!! This rice came out so delicious. It was flavorful and the perfect texture. Not mushy like when I make it on the stove. Cooking rice in the Instant Pot was a game changer for me. Thank you!!!
Yaaaay!!!! So glad it worked!!
This is my go to brown rice recipe. I’ve been using it for so long I thought I ought to comment! It’s one of those things I wondered how I survived before brown rice in the instant pot.
My brown rice never really was a big hit when I made it on the stove in water. I saw this recipe and just bought an Instant Pot so off to make some rice. All I can say is “wow” I had moist tender rice and not crunchy and clumpy like I got before. Thank you for sharing!
This makes me so so happy!!
I added chopped carrots to this recipe… It came out perfect! I will use this recipe again and again! Thanks!
Made this tonite. Used chicken broth otherwise followed the recipe. IT WAS PERFECT! Thank you!
If I cut the recipe in half do I decrease the cooking time (manual)?
Nope! 🙂
Made this for the first time tonight. Came out perfect following the recipe exactly.
Do you wash the rice before you start ????
You can if you’d like, but you don’t have to .
My rice was cooked perfect. I set it going for 23 minutes and I subbed broth for the water. This will be a go to recipe for me. I’m an Instantpot newbie!
I made this recipe tonight using basmati brown rice it turned out perfect. Thank you. I am going to try and double the recipe next time using 4 cups of rice and 5 cups of water for 26 min high pressure and 20 low pressure hope that works as well. thank you again!
Thank you, I will buy just regular whole grain brown rice. I want to try your recipe.
I have uncle ben’s Whole grain brown rice says perfect in 20 minutes, can I use this rice in the instant pot using your recipe or would it cook too quick?
It would cook too quick. So sorry! 🙁
Do you know how to cook Uncle Ben’s whole grain brown rice in the Instant Pot?
I don’t know if it’s any different, I’m sorry!
Leftovers??? What leftovers?! This rice is so delicious I refuse to make it on the stove!! And I eat.it.all 🙂
Mine turned out great!
I tried cooking only one cup of brown rice using 1 cup of brown rice with 1 and 1/4 cup of water and the brown rice came out hard and crispy. Have you been successful at just cooking 1 cup of brown rice? I just bought the Duo sized pot, and cooked it using the pressure cooker button for 22 minutes as the Duo does not have a multigrain button.
I haven’t…I think a standard size Instant Pot is just too large. It’s okay; having some cooked brown rice in the freezer always comes in handy! 🙂
This was a game changer! I made brown rice on the stove 3-5 nights a week and it is a mess! Followed these directions exactly and my rice is PERFECT. Thank you so much!
Thank you for sharing your technique! I had always rinsed my white rice with the IP, but I tried the brown rice your way by sauteing it first without rinsing. I live in WA State and I cooked for 24 minutes, just to be sure, and natural release. Turned out wonderful! Thank you! 🙂
I am at higher elevation with a very dry climate so I took your advise about adding a smidge more water, a smidge more time. Let’s say 2 T more water, 2 minutes more cook time, with 12 minutes till release. It was perfectly done. Moist and chewy.
By the way I used short grain brown rice, if it makes any difference. I recommend your method!
I tried this the other day and the 24 minutes wasn’t enough. I’m in Layton, Utah. I added 2 extra minutes the second try and it was perfect! (So 26 minutes before the 10 minute slow release). Thought that might help others to know!
Thanks for sharing this !!! You’ve saved me. I was about to give up on rice. I live in the Midwest and 23 minutes was perfect.
Thank you so much! This was delicious & I’m a newbie to the Instant Pot!
Came across your recipe tonight. I’ve only attempted brown rice once, and it didn’t go well. Tonight’s rice was perfect!! Thank you!!
Awesome!!! So happy to hear this!! ❤️❤️
Yay…yay…yay! No more mushy brown rice! My white rice always turns out perfectly with the “rice” button option, but my brown rice (my personal preference) has always been mushy…too much water was the culprit. Thanks for your recipe❤️
I love to add wheat berries to either millet or quinoa or brown rice. So, say, 1C of the grain with 1/4 C of the wheat berries, so 1 1/4 C of water or broth would you say? Same cooking time for millet and brown rice?
I have no idea…you might just need to play around with it. 🙂
Hi….you don’t use the rice setting?
Not with brown rice…it has to cook for much longer and it’s easier to just customize it myself. 🙂
Will this be ok with bone broth? I’d assume so, but just wanted to check. I live in PA so I’m guessing 24 minutes will be my time.
Yep, it will totally work! 🙂
Do you need to rinse the rice first?
You can…but you don’t have to:
Should I choose low pressure or leave it at the automatic setting for high pressure?
If you have the option of choosing, choose high (it depends on the model.)
This recipe is awesome! I’m new to my instant pot and am quickly falling in love with it, but I have been nervous to cook perfect rice. I followed your directions exactly and the rice came out perfect! Thank you so much for this amazing recipe.