Instant Pot Brown Rice is soft, chewy, nutty, and perfectly cooked. This recipe Instant Pot Rice is the perfect, fail-proof method for fluffy brown rice that does not stick to the bottom of your pressure cooker.
Perfectly Cooked Brown Rice
Using the Instant Pot to make rice is hands-down the BEST way to make perfectly cooked rice.
When cooked in the instant pot, brown rice turns out nutty, soft, chewy, and not at all mushy. It is everything rice should be!
With this recipe for Instant Pot Brown rice, there is no babysitting of the rice, no worry of overcooked, or undercooked rice, and no need for a rice maker! I mean, a rice maker is only good for making rice, while an Instant Pot can not only cook rice perfectly but is also handy for so many recipes and staples, like Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs or Instant Pot Baked Potatoes.
Instant Pot Rice will make cooking rice effortless and ensure perfect results every single time.
What You Need
- Rice: While this recipe is specifically for brown rice, I have included cooking instructions for white rice as well. You can use long-grain or short-grain brown rice for this recipe, just follow the appropriate cooking times.
- Liquid: For perfect Instant Pot Rice, you want to use a 1:1 ratio of rice to liquid, as you don't need to account for evaporation when using an electric pressure cooker. As far as what liquid to use, I highly recommend vegetable broth or chicken stock in place of water for the most flavor, but of course, water will work.
- Instant Pot: This recipe will work using any model of electric pressure cooker you own, including 3-quart, 6-quart, and 8-quart models.
- Fine-Mesh Strainer: One crucial step to making perfect Instant Pot rice, is to rinse the rice. You will need a fine-mesh strainer to to do this.
How To Cook Brown Rice in the Instant Pot
Step One: Rinse Rice
I know that everyone has a different theory on this, but I am telling you in my experience, the rice turns out better when you rinse it first! Rinsing rice will remove the surface starch that can cause the rice to get mushy and stick together when cooked. So for fluffy, NON-mushy rice, take a minute to rinse it first.
- Measure out the dried rice and place it into a fine mesh colander.
- Rinse the rice under cold water for a minute or two and then gently shake off any excess liquid.
Step Two: Pressure Cook
- Pour the stock or water into the inner pot of the Instant Pot.
- Stir in salt, if using.
- Add the rice and gently push the rice down into the liquid. You want the rice to be fully submerged in the liquid.
- Cook on HIGH pressure (Do NOT use the rice function--this defaults to low pressure.)
- Long Grain Brown Rice: 22 Minutes
- Short Grain Brown Rice: 24 minutes
- Long Grain White Rice: 3 Minutes
- Once cook time has elapsed, let the pressure release fully. This takes about 15-20 minutes, depending on how much rice you prepared. Do not be tempted to do a quick release of pressure. It will result in mushy rice and starchy liquid spewing all over your kitchen.
Step Three: Fluff
NEVER EVER stir cooked rice with a spoon. Instead, use a fork to fluff the rice. This separates the rice grains without the rice breaking or crushing the grains up.
Important Tips to Remember
- You MUST rinse your rice before placing it in your Instant Pot for the best results.
- It is always a 1:1 ratio of liquid to rice when cooking rice in the Instant Pot.
- For the 6-quart Instant Pot, cook at least 1 cup of dry rice.
- For the 8-quart Instant Pot, cook at least 1.5 cups of dry rice.
- Feel free to add seasonings to your rice before or after cooking, like Taco Seasoning, Cajun Seasoning, or simply salt and pepper.
- For richer results, add in 1 tablespoon of butter on the top of the rice before cooking or add after cooking and mix into the rice as you fluff the rice with a fork.
- Never fill your instant pot more than ½ full when cooking rice. You need to leave room for the rice to expand.
How to Store & Reheat Cooked Rice
It is crucial to cool the cooked brown rice before placing it into a storage container, as this will help prevent bacteria from growing. It is also important to not leave rice out at room temperature for longer than one hour, as it is very moist, making it a perfect breeding ground for bacteria to grow quickly.
To quickly cool the rice, spread it out on a sheet pan and place it in the refrigerator to cool quickly or cool at room temperature for 15-30 minutes.
Transfer the cooled rice into an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Alternatively, place the rice into a freezer-safe container and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To reheat refrigerated or frozen rice, place the rice into a heat-safe container. Sprinkle rice with 1-2 teaspoons of water. Reheat in the microwave, in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until the rice is hot. Or, reheat the rice in the Instant Pot by using the pot in pot method and heating for 1 minute on high pressure.
Serving Suggestions
Instant Pot Brown rice makes a great side dish or base for casseroles or stir-fries.
- Serve Instant Pot Brown Rice alongside Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken, Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli, Chicken Asparagus Stir Fry, or Stir-Fried Chicken and Bok Choy to soak up all the delicious sauce from the dish.
- Use cold or frozen rice to make Homemade Fried Rice in minutes.
- Add cooked brown rice to casseroles such as Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole or Creamy and Cheesy Chicken and Rice.
- Use the brown rice as a base for Burrito Bowls.
Need more inspiration for planning meals that your family will love? Sign up for my FREE Meal Plans and each week you will get a meal plan with a shopping list.
I would love to hear from you in the comments if you made this recipe for Instant Pot Brown Rice! Please share your experience!
Instant Pot Brown Rice
Ingredients
- 2 cups liquid stock or water
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 cups brown rice
Instructions
- Measure out the dried rice and place it into a fine mesh colander. Rinse under cold water for 1-2 minutes and shake to remove excess liquid.
- Pour the stock or water into the inner pot of the instant pot and stir in the salt if using. Add the rinsed rice to the inner pot and gently push the rice down so that it is fully submerged into the liquid.
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot and be sure the vent knob is sealed. Set the cooking time for 22 minutes on HIGH Pressure for long-grain brown rice, 24 minutes for short-grain brown rice, and 3 minutes for long-grain white rice.
- Once cook time has elapsed, let pressure release fully! This takes about 15-20 minutes, depending on how much rice you prepared.
- Once the pressure is fully released, remove the lid off the pressure cooker and gently fluff the rice with a fork.
Tori Rice
With this work with quick cooking brown rice?
Kristen Chidsey
No unfortunately, quick cooking brown rice is precooked and cooks different. I have had others share with me that they have had success cooking for 5 minutes on high pressure with natural release. You still want to use a 1:1 ratio.
Mifflin
Wow! This was fabulously delicious! Just a bag of generic long grain brown rice and your directions. Thank you so much!
Kristen Chidsey
You are so welcome! Makes making rice super easy!
Xochitl Naraine
Useful information. Lucky me I found your web site by chance, and I'm surprised why this twist of fate did not happened in advance! I bookmarked it.
Carolina
I’ve tried so many brown rice recipes for my IP and this was the the one!, others were okay but often too hard. My girlfriend and I loved it!
Kristen Chidsey
So happy this was a hit Carolina!
Maryla Gallagher
Thanks for the tip on refrigerating or freezing rice. I don't like leftovers to sit out as it dries out, but I didn't know about the risk of bacteria.
Don
Maybe a stupid question but do I keep the rice in the fine mesh basket for cooking or dump it directly into the cooking pot without the basket?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Don, dump it into the inner pot without the strainer! Enjoy!
Des
Do I do quick release or natural release?
Kristen Chidsey
Natural release is always best for rice.
Joe
I am always a little skeptical when I see the words perfect, and fail proof in a recipe, but this method really worked. I made a combination of black rice and brown rice, and it turned out perfect. Thanks.
Kristen Chidsey
I understand your hesitation Joe, I am glad you found this recipe lived up to the claims I made.
Marcia
Short grain method worked perfectly, neither too hard nor mushy. Used some of my instant pot bone broth for the liquid. Really tasty.
Kristen Chidsey
Awesome! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review Marcia 🙂
Ashley
So easy and perfect every time!
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad you have had success with this recipe Ashley!
Gina Matsoukas
This brown rice really was PERFECT! Thank you for the recipe!
Kristen Chidsey
YAY!!! I love to hear you had success Gina! Thanks for taking the time to review.