Learn how to cook rice in the Instant Pot with this easy, beginner-friendly recipe. Use this recipe for any dry, uncooked long-grain or medium-grain white rice such as Basmati and Jasmine. See notes on storage and freezing below. Variations for cooking brown rice and wild rice in Instant Pot are provided just below this recipe card.
1.5cupslong-grain riceBasmati, Jasmine, about 8.8 oz. / 250 g
2cupswateror stock, about 350 ml / 11.8 oz.
½teaspoonsaltomit if using stock
Note: 1 cup of dry white rice makes 3 cups of cooked riceso 1.5 cups makes 4.5 cups of cooked rice.
Instructions
Prep. Place 1.5 cups of white rice into a colander or a bowl and rinse under cold water 4-5 times; drain well. Don’t skip this step as the water rinses excess starch, preventing the rice from getting stodgy and sticky when cooked.
Add ingredients. Turn the Instant Pot on. Transfer the drained rice into the pot and pour in 2 cups of water and ½ teaspoon of salt (or chicken or vegetable stock with no extra salt).
Set. Secure and lock the lid; make sure that the pressure handle on the top is set to the Sealing position. Select Manual/Pressure Cook button and adjust the time to 4 minutes at HIGH pressure.After a few seconds, the ON sign will come on indicating that the pressure is starting to build (you might also hear 3 beeps on some models). The time of 4 minutes on HIGH works well for thinner Jasmine and Basmati rice; for slightly thicker long-grain or medium-grain white rice, you could do 5 minutes.
Cook. It will take about 5 minutes for the pressure to build, during which the cooking already begins. Then, the 4-minute timer will begin. Once the timer ends, leave the Instant Pot uninterrupted for 3-4 minutes to release pressure naturally.Then use the steam-releasing knob to let off the remaining pressure (or move the pressure handle to Venting). If you let the pressure release naturally longer, the rice will keep cooking very slowly, however, it will not have any liquid to absorb so it might get a little stuck to the bottom.
Serve. Carefully open the lid. Use a fork or a spatula to stir and fluff up the rice before serving as a side with your favorite meat or vegetable dishes.
Notes
Pressurizing time: 5 minutes | Cooking under pressure: 4 minutes (on HIGH) | Release: 3 minutes natural release followed by a quick release.
Total cooking time: 13-15 minutes
Rice Button Option: You can also choose to select the RICE smart program button. This program cooks on low pressure and is best used for white rice. For rice with a firmer texture or thinner rice like Jasmine or Basmati, use the Less mode; for rice with a normal texture or regular long-grain or medium-grain white rice, use the Normal mode; for rice with a softer texture, use the More mode. You can change modes by pressing the Rice button again. Use quick release at the end.
Add More Flavor/Color: Use chicken or vegetable stock instead of water for extra flavorful rice. You can also stir in half water/stock and half coconut milk for an Asian twist. Adding ½ teaspoon of turmeric will give you beautiful yellow rice.
Storage tips: Cool and refrigerate leftover rice as quickly as possible. Store leftover cooked rice in an airtight container in the fridge for no longer than 24 hours before reheating it – and then only reheat it once.
Can You Freeze Cooked Rice? Yes, you can safely freeze any leftover cooked rice to eat at another time. Make sure to cool as quickly as possible after cooking (spreading it on a flat tray or plate will help). Then store in Ziploc bags with a date on for up to 2 months. Defrost in a microwave on high heat, see how here.
Using Leftover Rice: Cold rice is perfect for turning into flavored, hot-fried rice or throwing it into soups or stews. You can also use leftover rice to make fritters, fishcakes, and vegetarian patties with beans or lentils.