So long, rice cooker! This Instant Pot rice comes out perfectly every time. Fluffy and flavorful, it's delicious as a side dish, in grain bowls, and more.
I first tried this Instant Pot rice recipe last fall, and to be honest, I don’t think I’ve cooked rice any other way since. Nothing against the stovetop or the rice cooker, of course, but the convenience and reliable results of this Instant Pot rice recipe just can’t be beat. It’s super quick and easy, and the rice comes out tender, fluffy, and flavorful every time. If you have an Instant Pot, you have to try it!
How to Make Instant Pot Rice
This recipe couldn’t be simpler! To make it, you’ll need two ingredients:
- White rice
- Water
This recipe only works for white jasmine or basmati rice, as other kinds of rice, like brown or black rice, have different cooking times. I haven’t nailed down a pressure cooker method for cooking black rice yet, but if you have brown rice, you can find cooking instructions in this post!
Rinse the rice well and place it in the Instant Pot. Pour in the water and secure the Instant Pot’s lid.
Pressure cook on high pressure for 3 minutes, and then allow the Instant Pot to release pressure naturally. When the float valve drops, remove the lid.
Fluff the rice with a fork, and enjoy!
Serve the rice right away, or allow it to cool to room temperature. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. For longer storage, freeze it for up to 3 months.
Instant Pot Rice Recipe Tips
- Rinse the rice. Whether you’re cooking rice in the Instant Pot or on the stove, I always recommend rinsing it first. To do this, place it in a fine mesh strainer set over a bowl, and rinse the rice under running water until the water runs clear in the bowl. This process washes away excess starches that can cause the rice to clump, giving it a lighter, fluffier texture once it’s cooked.
- Scale the recipe to your Instant Pot. I always cook 2 cups of rice at a time in my 6-quart Instant Pot. Because it’s on the larger side, just 1 cup tends to scorch on the bottom of the pot. But if you have a smaller, 3-quart Instant Pot, feel free to make just 1 cup of rice! You’ll use the same cook time and rice to water ratio.
- Not sure how to use your rice? We can help! I’m guessing that you’ll have no trouble coming up with ways to eat your rice, but if you do need some inspiration, we have tons of ideas! Toss it with olive oil or butter and salt for a simple side dish, or serve it alongside a curry or stir fry. Turn it into cilantro lime rice to make zesty stuffed peppers or Chipotle-style burrito bowls. Or leave it plain and add it to a DIY grain bowl with your favorite vegetables, a protein, and a tasty sauce. Find 15 of our favorite rice bowl recipes here!
More Favorite Pressure Cooker Recipes
If you love this Instant Pot rice recipe, try making one of these dishes in the Instant Pot next:
Instant Pot Rice
Ingredients
- 2 cups uncooked white jasmine rice, well rinsed
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Combine the rice and water in a 6-quart Instant Pot. Secure the lid and Pressure Cook on High for 3 minutes.
- Allow the Instant Pot to release pressure naturally. When the float valve drops, remove the lid.
- Fluff the rice and enjoy.
I followed the instructions, cooked 2 cups of rice on “pressure cook”, had to stop the instantpot before it finished cooking because it says that the food was burning. When I checked the pot, the rice was stuck to the bottom. Although it was cooked it was too hot and burned my rice.
Hi Steven, how disappointing! What size IP do you have?
A few tips:
– Do not reduce this recipe. 2 cups of water is needed for proper operation of the instant pot. Any less and it will burn. I suggest you freeze the leftovers, since refrigerated rice grows bacteria quickly, and it must be eaten within two or three days.
– 3 minutes will produce a slightly al dente rice. If your rice is more than six months old, it may take a little longer to cook. Additionally, if you like your rice a little softer, as I do, give it a little extra time. I generally set my pot for five minutes. The rice comes out soft and moist. You may want to experiment once or twice until you find the perfect time for your preferred texture.
– if you do increase the cook time to five minutes, you can manually release the pressure after two or three minutes of rest. For the three minute cook time, I would probably let the pot come to full natural pressure release, as that pressure release time is part of the cooking process. A quick release after only three minutes of cooking will yield undercooked rice..
I see the positive comments here and a few other places where a similar method is used, but for some reason I can’t get it to work for me. I rinsed the rice several times, and followed the instructions exactly (except I just did one cup of rice/water) and the rice is definitely undercooked. Any idea what I might be doing wrong?
Hi Sharon, hmm, what type of rice are you using? It’s white rice for sure?
Yes, it was definitely white rice…I think I used Jasmine. I tried it again and added just a bit more water and set it for 5 minutes instead of 3. It was still not quite completely cooked, but better than my first try.
Add up to half a cup of extra water to compensate for evaporation during cooking, and ensure it’s set on High. I personally prefer 5 minutes rather than 3. Do not manually release pressure when cooking is done. Instead, wait several minutes for the little metal pressure seal to drop. If you’re not sure, use a long spoon to lightly tap the side of the weight. Nothing will happen if the pressure is fully released. But if it hisses, it’s not done depressurizing.
It only works with 2+ cups of rice is what I learned. Because the level of the water is so low with only 1 cup.
Would this timing be accurate for regular white rice? I got plain white rice from the food bank and I’ve never made anything but minute rice or microwave rice
Hi Brandi, yes, this recipe should work for regular white rice in the Instant Pot.
Made the perfect Jasmine Rice. I had a few ingredients in the fridge in case of a power outage during a winter storm, but everything necessary for a California Roll. Following your instructions made an amazing pot of rice. Thank you!
I’m so glad your rice came out perfectly!
Why are we rinsing white rice? I don’t get it?
Hi Bob, rinsing the rice removes starches from the outsides of the grains that can make them sticky. Hope this helps!
Thanks!
Hi Bob !
When naturally releasing the pressure on the rice do you shut off the ‘keep warm’ mode ?
Thanks for your reply
I cooked rice in the Instant Pot but didn’t like the way it stuck to the pot, making clean up a pain, I started cooking rice as you would spaghetti and it only takes about 5 minutes of cooking time and is so fluffy!! Of course, wash rice. I got a specific colander to wash and drain the rice. So quick and easy!! And, you can save the rice water for other things.
Does this method work with Basmati rice as well?
yep! You can use white basmati rice.
For any type of brown rice, this is the timing: https://www.loveandlemons.com/instant-pot-brown-rice/