After weeks of experimenting, I got it right. Here is your fail-proof guide for Instant Pot Rice. White rice, brown rice, wild rice, and many more, basically an encyclopedia about cooking rice in a pressure cooker.
If you’ve followed along for a while, you know I’m a huuuuge fan of pressure cooking. My Instant Pot Chicken and Rice recipe is not only a hit at my house but thousands of others now, too. YAY!
What Is The Best Rice To Water Ratio?
You’ll be surprised but it is always and for ALL sorts 1:1. Yes, you read that right.
Instant Pot Rice calls for a 1:1 rice to water ratio
You wonder why on the stove different ratios are called for. Well, the secret to rice cooking is that the darker or wilder the rice the longer it needs to cook and the longer something needs to cook, the more water evaporates during the process.
This leads us to the conclusion, that different kinds of rice do not necessarily need different kinds of amounts of water to “cook” but rather more water to evaporate.
Since the Instant Pot gives a tight seal and high pressure, no water evaporates at all.
So yes, brown rice and even wild rice need the exact same amount of water as white rice in an evaporation-proof environment. *mind-blown*
What If My Rice Is Too Hard With a 1:1 Ratio?
If your rice is hard or uncooked that doesn’t mean next time it needs more water, that means, next time it needs more TIME. Did you wait for FULL natural pressure release?
Unfortunately, you cannot “save” undercooked rice in the Instant Pot as putting the lid back on and turning the pot back on just leads to the dreaded burn warning. I recommend adding the undercooked rice to a soup or stew maybe 5 minutes before it’s done simmering.
What If My Rice Is Too Mushy?
You most likely used too much water. 1:1 water to rice ratio is essential for all rice types.
Use the exact same container to measure both rice and water. Some cups are standard American (236ml), others are metric (250ml) and the little plastic cup that comes with the Instant Pot is neither (160ml). So do not use different measuring cups to measure rice and water.
Does 1:1 Apply For 1 Cup Just As It Does For 4 Cups?
YES! When making Instant Pot Rice you need 1 cup of water for every cup of rice, regardless of if you cook just 1 cup or 4 cups.
This is different when you cook rice on the stovetop where evaporation happens. The more rice you cook the less water you need when using a regular pot on the stove.
How Many Cups Of Rice Can You Cook In An Instant Pot?
In theory: 2.5 cups in a 3-quart Instant Pot. 5 cups in a 6 quart Instant Pot. 6.5 cups in an 8-quart Instant Pot.
This is US standard measuring cups and raw dry rice.
So the mathematical thought for the theory is the following:
- 1 cup of raw white rice gives on average 3 cups cooked rice.
- Instant Pots should not be filled more than 2/3 of its full capacity at any time. So we have to take the expanded rice into consideration.
- A 6-quart Instant Pot’s capacity is 24 cups and two-thirds of that are 16 cups.
- There should not be more than 16 cups cooked rice in the Instant Pot and since 1 cup raw makes 3 cups cooked we have to divide the 16 by 3. That makes 5.3 cups.
The calculation is only theory though. I have not tried that many cups in my own 6-quart. 4 cups raw dry rice are the maximum I have cooked myself without any issues and with perfect results.
Natural Pressure Release (NPR) vs. Quick Pressure Release (QR)
What’s better? Hands down, no doubt >> natural pressure release. If you cook rice longer so you can do quick pressure release, with the hope to have the rice cooked faster overall, it gets sticky and mushy.
If you want fluffy rice, I encourage you to be patient and wait for natural pressure release. I timed all rice and there doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to the timing. Even the same kind of rice in the same amount has had different natural pressure release times.
What Is The Rice Button For?
The rice button was designed only for white rice (regular long-grain, Jasmine, or Basmati rice). It works fine with those types of rice. The shorter high-pressure cooking times with natural pressure release work better though in my opinion.
Also, the Rice Button does not work for any other type of rice but white rice.
Do I Have To Rinse Rice Before Cooking?
Opinions vary widely and there seems to be no right or wrong answer. It’s all up to personal preference. However, thankfully it is irrelevant for the cooking times presented.
Both rinsed and dry rice work with my cooking times and method. Nothing has to be adjusted or changed either way. Just make sure you drain your rice well in a fine mesh strainer if you rinse it. Then use 1:1 ratio.
Instant Pot Rice Cooking Times
Now let’s get to the individual kinds of rice:
White Rice
I’ve tried both Basmati and Jasmin and both cook in the exact same time, 3 minutes high pressure + NPR. The thicker regular long-grain white rice cooks better with 4 minutes high pressure + NPR.
Brown Rice
I’ve experimented with Basmati brown rice and with short grain brown rice and the Basmati cooked faster than the short grain. From all my experiments it seems like the thicker the individual grains, the longer they need. With the exception of wild rice, that one needs long regardless of being a skinny dude. 22 minutes high pressure + NPR for the thin Basmati and 24 minutes for the thick short grain.
Wild Rice
Some people swear the grain HAS to burst open, others swear, it’s best when “just about to burst” and others like it completely unburst. Guess what, you can achieve any consistency you like when you cook Instant Pot Wild Rice. Here are the times for whole unbroken wild rice: 28 minutes (unburst), 30 minutes (some burst some unburst), 32 minutes (burst).
Red Rice and Black Rice
Red rice and black rice is pretty thick and needs quite some time to break down so give it tiiime. It’s round and thick and it takes quite a bit for it to absorb all the water. It’s like a new towel that needs time to get soaking wet ;) 30 minutes high pressure + NPR.
Sushi Rice
I was actually pretty sure this would take just as long as regular white rice but surprise surprise. It’s not as sticky if you cook it or only 3 minutes and this is the only rice you really want to be sticky, right? So increasing the cooking time actually made it stickier and better to work with for sushi. Cooke it 5 minutes on high pressure + NPR.
Wild Rice Blend
Soooo, this one is the trickiest because it has several different kinds of rice that individually cook in different times. I found it cooks best in an in-between time. The wild rice in the mix will be completely unburst but the brown rice won’t be all mushy. Usually, that’ll be 28 minutes high-pressure + NPR. Of course, it will depend widely on what grains exactly are in your blend.
How to Reheat Rice in the Instant Pot
So, I’ve seen a couple of people recommend adding water or oil and stir it in the inner pot and pretty much making a mess, haha.
Um, not my favorite method.
I like things simple. I basically want the same convenience as a microwave but without the waves.
I store my leftover rice in a heat-proof glass container and then place the trivet in the Instant Pot, add a cup of water and place the rice uncovered on the trivet. Put the lid on, knob to sealing and press steam for 5 minutes. Quick pressure release, done!
So here you have it. The longest post in the history of Green Healthy Cooking.
Burn Warning Trouble Shooting
The wicked burn warning, it’s the Instant Pot user’s nemesis! For starters, some Instant Pots are a lot more temperamental than others. You most likely did nothing wrong, however, you are dealing with what we could compare with a toddler with a temper tantrum.
If your Instant Pot is generally one to scream “burn” easily and quickly I recommend you stay close in the beginning phase while it gets the water boiling and trying to get to pressure. When the pot is trying to push up the safety pin but seems to not be able to, that’s the critical moment. Push down on the handle of the lid a little to help it get to pressure.
If the pot tries and tries to get to pressure but can’t too much water evaporates through the valve and thus leaves too little inside the pot and the rice starts to burn.
If even with a little push on the lid, it cannot get to pressure, the sealing ring might not be positioned properly inside the lid. You will have to abort the mission and start over, making sure the sealing ring is still in great condition and placed correctly.
If the Instant Pot was able to pressure cook for most of the time and only showed the burn warning at the end of the cooking time, then just unplug it and wait for natural pressure release. Often times it still manages to cook the rice and just a tiny corner got burnt.
Instant Pot Rice
Equipment
- Pressure Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 cup rice - (Basmati white, Jasmin white, Basmati brown, short-grain brown, red, black, wild, wild blend, sushi)
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Add all ingredients into the Instant Pot. You can double, triple or quadruple all ingredients in same amounts.
- Make sure sealing ring is placed properly in lid, add lid, turn shut and turn knob to sealing position.
- Cook on high pressure for the number of minutes instructed below depending on the type of rice:White Rice (Basmati or Jasmin): 3 minutesWhite Sushi Rice: 5 minutesBrown Rice (Basmati): 22 minutesShort Grain Brown Rice: 24 minutesRed Rice: 30 minutesWild Rice Blend: 28 minutesWild Rice: 30 minutesBlack Pearl Rice: 30 minutes
- Natural Pressure Release until pin drops. Takes on average 9-12 minutes (max. 18 minutes for 1 cup and max 30 mins for 4 cups).
- Remove all rice from pot immediately to avoid it sticking to the bottom. If needing to keep warm, leave rice in pot after natural pressure release without opening the lid to avoid steam being released and drying out the rice > making it stick to the bottom.
Notes
- I use a US standard cup. 236ml in volume.
- I, personally, do NOT rinse or wash my rice.
- Cooking time stays the same no matter how many cups you cook.
Sunshine says
You are my hero!! Thank you so so so so much for making this easy for the rest of us! I am most grateful!!!
Alicia says
Hi,
I would like to say that stating that “the Rice Button does not work for any other type of rice but white rice” is false. The IP, as “smart” as it might be, does not “know” what kind of rice you put in there. I do not eat white rice any more, strictly brown.
Now, to my comment. I have made short-grain, brown rice using the rice setting and it has come out perfectly, ie: the way I like it. I don’t rinse the rice, I use the measuring cup that came with the IP to measure DRY ingredients and I use 1 1/4 c water measured in a measuring cup for liquids. Put the cover on, seal it and press RICE. As soon as it is done (L00.00), I press cancel, unplug IP and let the pressure go down (NPR). My Duo Mini doesn’t have a “manual” button nor a “multigrain” button. Just thought this might help someone.
Debbie says
I really want on try rice in my IP . Have you ever just used the rice button and why are the times so much longer then what you have posted? JUst curious
Lorena Grater says
The rice button cooks on “low” pressure and it works exclusively for white rice. The time ends up being similar because I use natural pressure release.
Jami Sue Brandt says
This is wonderful…thank you! I was pretty good with stove prep, then I moved on to rice cooker, and finally IP. I felt like I had arrived at my IP recipe. However, when I read yours, I was intrigued with the ratios and “no rinsing”. Well, I went into the kitchen right then and tried it. It worked well…dare I say perfectly! I have really arrived at my IP rice recipe!🤗
April Audietis says
Your vet only recommended instant rice to save you time and hassle cooking. Your dog can have regular rice (which can be made in the instant pot).
Barb says
Can Instant Rice be cooked in an IP? My vet wants me to give my dog that along with chicken.
Lorena Grater says
I’m sorry, I’m not familiar with that kind of rice. I don’t have any advice.
Amie says
Love this guide. Works great for all different Rice’s. I use it all the time!
Jackie says
My rice came out hard. :(
Lorena Grater says
Oh nooo. What kind of rice did you cook? How many cups? Did you use the same cup to measure rice and water? What Instant Pot model do you have and did you wait for full natural pressure release?
Jane says
My long grain white rice came out perfectly, thank you!!
Quick question….Is the cook time the same for white short grain rice ?
Lorena Grater says
Yes Jane. Same time.
Jeanne says
I use this guide all the time and recommend it widely—thank you so much for doing all that work so I didn’t have too! The one thing that’s missing though is Long-Grain Brown Rice. Any thoughts?
Lorena Grater says
Thank you so much for recommending it. That means so much to me. From my experience long-grain brown rice takes just as long as short-grain (24 mins).
Jack Knapp says
Great information, do you leave the Keep Warm setting on or turn it off?
Lorena Grater says
I always leave it on just in case my other food isn’t ready by the time the pin drops. That way I have warm rice even if I eat it 1 hour after cooking. You can turn it off though and the method still works.
Mark B. says
Does the cook time change by the amount of rice made? If I do 3:3 or 4:4 do I need to increase my cook time of white rice? And if so, by how much?
Lorena Grater says
The cooking time is the same.
Mark B. says
Thanks!
Savannah says
What about cooking time for high altitude? I know I have to add additional time for that. How much extra time for each rice? Thanks!
Lorena Grater says
3,000ft above sea level 5% more
4,000ft above sea level 10% more
5,000ft above sea level 15% more
Rana Olson says
I was asking if you have tried arborio for just plain rice. That’s what I use for my white rice. I have tried 5 min not sure its the right time yet. (I like it but then the leftovers end up being too dry) I was just trying to see if you tried different times with it for plain arbario rice. I am gonna have to try different times. Let me know if you give it a try. Thanks!
Lorena Grater says
No, I haven’t tried but I would assume 1:1 and 5 mins HP + natural pressure release. That’s what I would try first.
Rana Olson says
Have you tried Arborio?
Lorena Grater says
Yes, I made a separate post for it: https://greenhealthycooking.com/instant-pot-risotto/