You can make perfect Instant Pot Rice every single time with this recipe! The rice is not sticky but perfectly fluffy. Use right away in any dish or portion out and freeze in ziploc bags.
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Why This Recipe Works
The search for the perfect fluffy rice is over! I used my method of cooking perfect rice on the stove and made the best rice in my Instant Pot. The water amount for cooking rice in the pressure cooker is different than the standard 1:2 ratio or rice to water, so I tested this recipe with three different ratios. The recipe below will show you how to make the best rice, not sticky or gluey, but perfectly fluffy.
This Instant Pot Rice does not require rinsing. All you need to do is toast the rice in melted butter for a few minutes before cooking. It works every single time!
Making rice in your Instant Pot is easy. I use it in my Teriyaki Shrimp and Easy Sesame Chicken recipes. It's perfect and totally fail-proof!
Ingredients:
- olive oil
- rice
- water
How to cook white rice in the Instant Pot?
- Make sure the stainless steel pot is in your Instant Pot (to know why I always mention this step, check out my Instant Pot Guide for Beginners). Press the "saute" (on medium setting) setting and wait 2 minutes. Add butter and let melt.
- Add rice and toast, stirring often.
- Add water. Stir well. Close the lid, set valve to "Sealing" position and set timer to 4 minutes.
- Once the timer is done, press "cancel/off" and let the IP release pressure naturally for 10 minutes.
- Open the lid carefully away from your face. Fluff rice with a fork.
- Serve or cool completely, portion out and freeze in ziplock bags.
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Water to rice ratio:
Unlike cooking the rice on the stove, the ratio of water to rice while pressure cooking is 1 cup of rice to 1.25 cups of water. I tested it with equal ratios, 1:1.5 ratio and 1:2 ratio and the 1:1.25 ratio produced the best, fluffy rice. What is the reason for less water? During cooking in the Instant Pot, the steam does not escape as it does during cooking in a pot on the stove.
The secret to fluffy rice!
Since I've made rice in my pressure cooker so many times, I've learned how to perfect it. The simple trick to fluffy rice is to fluff it with a fork immediatelly after you remove the lid. If you let it cool, it will stick together into one big clump.
Helpful Tips!
- Set the IP to NORMAL level on SAUTE setting. If you use it on HIGH, the butter and rice might burn. It's easier to control on a normal level. To adjust the level, use the ADJUST button, right after pressing the SAUTE setting.
- Toast the rice until you see quite a bit of rice lightly brown. Stir often so it doesn't burn.
- Add warm tap water. I always use warm tap water when cooking rice on the stove and it's just another trick to make the perfect fluffy rice. Besides, you don't want a temperature shock since you are adding water to the already hot IP insert.
- Fluff the rice with a fork right after you open the lid. This is the trick to keep it from sticking!
Rice pressure cooking time:
- White Long Grain Rice - set the timer to 4 minutes and 10 minutes Natural Release.
- Brown Rice - double the time of the white rice, set the timer to 8 minutes, and full Natural Release.
- Jasmine Rice - set the timer to 5 minutes and 10 minutes Natural Release.
Recipe FAQs:
Yes! I always make a double batch of rice and use half for my dish and the other, I portion out and place in ziploc bags. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months. To thaw, place in fridge the day before or place on a plate on the counter, to thaw faster.
The "rice" setting is best when cooking white rice. The timer is set from 10 to 12 minutes because the Instant Pot weighs how much rice and water you are using and adjusts the time accordingly. I always use "manual" setting and manually set the timer.
Of course! In fact, I think the smaller pressure cooker is perfect for cooking sides, like rice. Follow the recipe as the technique and time is the same.
If you know you will use the rice within a few days, place it in a container with lid and store in the fridge. Reheat until hot before serving.
More Instant Pot recipes:
To learn more about the Instant Pot, check out my Guide for Beginners. If you experienced the “burn” message while using your IP, check out my Instant Pot Burn Message post to learn how to fix the issue and prevent it in the first place.
If you like this recipe and make it, let me know in the comments below! Don't forget to rate it if you enjoyed it!
Instant Pot Rice
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 cups white long grain rice
- 2 ½ cups warm tap water
Instructions
- Make sure the stainless steel pot is in your Instant Pot (to know why I always mention this step, check out my Instant Pot Guide for Beginners). Press "saute" (on medium setting) setting and wait 2 minutes, until the display shows HOT. Add butter and let melt.
- Add rice and toast, stirring often. When you see quite a bit of grain lightly brown, press "cancel/off" button.
- Add water. Stir well. Close the lid, set valve to "Sealing" position (newer models do it on its own). Set timer to 4 minutes, on HIGH pressure. The Instant Pot will take about 4 minutes to come to pressure.
- Once the timer is done, press "cancel/off" and let the IP release pressure naturally for 10 minutes. Switch valve to "venting" position to release any remaining pressure. There should not be much left.
- Open the lid carefully away from your face. Fluff rice with a fork. Serve or cool completely, portion out and freeze in ziploc bags.
Notes
- 2 cups of uncooked rice = 6 cups of cooked white rice
- 1 serving = ½ cup rice
- Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate. Always use calorie counter you are familiar with.
April says
Thanks for a great recipe. I used it as a base for spinach and rice with chickpeas . I look forward to trying out more of your recipes as I’m a newbie to your site.
Anna says
Hi April! First of all, welcome! I am so glad you are here! Second, I absolutely love your additions of spinach and chickpeas. Thank you for making my recipe and for the comment!
Bev says
Thank you so much for this perfect recipe for rice. I prepared brown rice this morning only my 2nd pressured item. We loved it!
I have reviewed your instant pot recipes and I am excited to get started this week with chicken masala, mash potatoes and cabbage. I will let you know how your recipe turns out for me...if I read carefully and stick to the recipe it will be perfect!
K says
Perfect. Thanks.
Anna says
Thank you!
Moni says
Woww this recipe is perfect!
I tried a few but I was a little sad that they were not good recipes (hard and sticky).. thank you so much
Carolyn says
I am going to try this recipe. Any salt needed ?
Anna says
Hi Carolyn! I do not add salt until after it's cooked but if you can add it along with the water. Hope this helps!
joey says
can you use chicken broth instead of the water?
Anna says
Hi Joey! You can, however, some people notice a slight metallic taste from it. If you have a good quality one, maybe even homemade, you can try it. Or use a mix of water and broth. Hope this helps!
Brooke says
Do you think this could be doubled in a 6qt instant pot? Just double all the ingredients and keep the cooking time at 4 minutes?
Sheila B says
THANK YOU for a common sense recipe that WORKS!!! Rinsing rice is a complete waste of time & the multiple rice recipes I tried just didn't work as good as my very basic rice cooker. It's been frustrating trying to find a recipe that produced good results and yours did. Using the saute feature for the rice & butter at the beginning just added more flavor. I can now plan on donating my rice cooker!
Tara says
So this is only the 3rd thing I’ve ever made in my new instant pot. The first was rice and I failed miserably. This rice recipe tho, is amazing!! Browning it first brings out the pegao flavor. My family loves it!
Anna says
Hi Tara! That's fantastic! I am so glad it was helpful! Thank you for trying the recipe.