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.
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Alana says
Thank you so much! I just cooked brown sticky rice as per your recommendations as my first Instant pot recipe. 24 mins and natural release. The grains came out intact and perfectly cooked no excess liquid. Swoon 😍
Vanessa says
Thank you so much for your healthy post!
Wondering if you know how to make quinoa with born rice in Insta Pot? Ratio the dam was brown rice?
Lorena says
Hi Vanessa, brown rice takes 22-24 minutes depending on thickness so you’ll have to cook for that long when using a mix of both. The quinoa will overcook a little but there is no way around it. Better overcooked quinoa than hard brown rice ;)
Sherry says
I apologize. I was skeptical and didn’t believe this would work. I was wrong and I’m sorry for doubting you.
I live at 8800 feet west of Denver. I figured I needed more water and a longer cooking time. I decided to follow your directions anyway. I rinsed 2 cups Brown Jasmine rice and added 2 cups water and 1/2 tsp salt. Cooked for 22 minutes. Set a timer for 15 minutes npr. Went outside to talk to a neighbor and came into the timer beeping. It was a 22 minute npr. Rice is perfect. Thank you so much for a new and fool proof method!
Lorena says
I’m soooo happy it worked for you Sherry!!! :D
Dianne says
This was a little confusing for me – did you cook on High pressure for the 3 minutes and the total time was 22 minutes? I did not know you could set a time for NPR.
Lorena says
Hi Dianne, I’m sorry this was confusing. Yes, all pressure cooking times are for cooking with “HIGH PRESSURE” and no, you cannot set a time for Natural Pressure Release. It will always take a different time. NPR simply means you do NOTHING once the high pressure cooking time is over and wait for the safety pin to drop all on it’s own without touching the valve. It may take 10 minutes or it may take 20, that all depends on the size of your pot, the volume that’s inside and the altitude that you live in and the mood your pot is in that day ;) For white rice you click “manual” “high pressure” “x minutes as described” and then you walk away and only open the pot to perfectly cooked rice once the pin dropped. Let me know if you have any further questions.
Tricia says
I’m assuming I can switch it the water for broth? Have you ever added but to the rice/water while it’s cooking?
Lorena says
Yes, you can easily replace with broth. I’m not sure I understood your second question. You can’t add anything to the rice while it’s cooking because it’s under pressure and the lid is not removable.
Celia says
Meant to say: for 32 minutes in my Instant Pot (IP Duo).
Celia says
Thank you so much for sharing this. I successfully cooked wild rice in my new Instant Pot and am so excited about that! Following your suggestions I cooked two cups of wild rice in two cups of water for 32 in my (IP Duo). The rice came out exactly as I hoped it would. The natural release had not happened by 20 minutes so I just turned it off and took the lid off and it was perfect. Thanks again.
Lorena says
I’m so happy it worked just like you hoped :D
Meghan says
Thank you for this!! Can you tell me if toasting the rice first on the sautee setting will have an effect on the time? I’m new to rice cooking.
Lorena says
It doesn’t have an effect on the timing. I do that often. I add some oil, some crushed garlic, the rice and toast, then add water. The only thing you have to pay attention to is to preferably not add freezing cold water but rather room temp AND to be ready to put on the lid fast. Since the pot is already hot and the water isn’t there happens a lot more evaporation. To avoid that you have to be quick adding the lid and closing the valve.
Charlotte says
Thank you so much for this information. I just got my instant pot and have not used it yet, but we cook a lot of wild rice, and also packaged red beans and rice. My question is, would I used the same water to rice/beans ratio as for just rice? The package is 8 oz and calls for 4 cups water. Would you recommend the 1:1 ratio for this also. Thanks so much.
Lorena says
Oh gosh, Charlotte, I’m sorry, I have no idea. I’ve never seen a package as you describe. I have a package of white rice and puy lentils which are super small and cook fast so for that I do the 1:1 and 3 minutes HP + NPR technique. Not sure if it’ll work with the red beans though. You’ll have to try to find out. Sorry I can’t be of more help.
Jana says
I don’t know if my instant pot is malfunctioning or if this is normal, but there is a solid 3 minutes between when the red button pops up and when the timer finally starts counting the time. Should I count the rice cooking time from when the button pops up, or use the programmed time, even though it’s already been at pressure for 3 minutes?
Lorena says
Jana, do you mean from the moment you press manual and 3 minutes high pressure to when the counter starts counting? Because that would be normal. That’s the time the pressure cooker takes to come to pressure. It heats and pressure forms in the pot and eventually the safety pin jumps up and makes it impossible to open the lid. That’s when the pressure cook timer starts. That’s when the 3 minutes start. I suggest you add rice, water, sea salt, close the lid, turn the valve to sealing position, press manual, make sure it’s on high pressure (not low), set timer to 3 minutes and then walk away for 20 minutes. Like, completely walk out of the kitchen and then come back and check.
Mary says
Why doesn’t anybody talk about high altitude. They give times but that is for sea level. I live at 6000 feet. That affects everything we cook. Even when canning you can things for longer and higher pressure.
Lorena says
I do talk about it in the blog post Mary :) Also, in a couple comments. From what I’ve read you have to add 5% cooking time per every 1,000 feet of altitude. I will never be able to confirm exact cooking times for anything but sea level and that’s where I do all experiments and cooking.
Andree says
Hi!
I just got my IP and tried to cook jasmine rice according to your instructions. 2 cups rice (unwashed) + 2 cups water. 3 minutes high pressure and manual release. After 21 minutes the pressure valve still hadn’t come down. I had a starving toddler to feed So I did a quick release which let out only a little squirt of steam and the valve fell. The rice was only slightly undercooked. It wasn’t awful but it certainly wasn’t perfect. Any thoughts as to why it was taking so long?
Thanks.
Lorena says
Hi Andree, at what altitude do you live? Was it “white” basmati rice? 21 minutes natural pressure release sounds about right for 2 cups. Pressure release takes longer the more volume is in the pot. Sometimes the safety pin gets stuck and all pressure is actually out. Usually after 25 minutes I turn the valve, too and if no pressure comes out I shake the lid a little and the pin drops. If you live at high altitude you might have to add another minute of high pressure cooking time for better rice.
Andrée Repta says
Hi thanks for the reply. For all intents and purposes I basically live at sea level. I was cooking white jasmine rice. But if it’s normal for more rice (ie. 2 cups) to take longer to manual pressure release that’s fair. I’m wondering too, if you have to step away from the rice and you won’t be around once the pressure is manually released, do you set it on the “keep warm” function? Or would that over cook the rice? Thanks.
Lorena says
I put in the rice, the water, some sea salt, close the lid, turn valve to sealing and set it to 3 minutes high pressure (important, not low pressure) and then I literally walk away so yes, the keep warm function turn on automatically once the 3 minutes are over and I don’t mess with anything until the pin drops by itself. If after say 25-30 minutes the pin still hasn’t dropped I turn the valve and check if any pressure is still in. If there is I immediately turn it back to sealed. If there is non I know the pin simply got stuck, I shake the lid a little, it drops and I open.
Shawn says
Thank you for all the information! I greatly appreciate it!
Linda says
Lorena, do you have the “Keep Warm” option on or off during the Natural Release?
Thank you.
Lorena says
Yes Linda, I leave it on but it works both ways, on and off.
Linda says
Thank you so much.
Melissa Picon says
I literally can’t thank you enough. I haven’t been able to cook a wild rice blend on the stove right yet and it turned out perfectly with your recipe for the instapot. Thank you thank you. You’re awesome
Lorena says
YOU are awesome for coming back, rating and commenting :D
DeAun says
Appreciate the work that went into sleuthing this info out. This could be a great resource were it not lacking information for presoaked rice. Some of us IP users even still soak our beans.
Lorena says
I soak beans, too but not rice. I go into detail about why in several other comments.
Janet says
I have been on the hunt for a rice cooker to replace my old one. Discovered it may be toxic. I also discovered it’s better to soak brown and black rice for health reasons. Looking for presoaked rice cooking instructions for the Instant Pot. Considering getting a 3 quart Instant pot for rice and grains.
Lorena says
This recipe will also work with washed rice and soaked rice according to some comments. I haven’t tried myself but I’m sure it works just fine :)