Pressure Cooker White Rice (Instant Pot recipe). Foolproof, fluffy long-grain white rice from an Instant Pot or pressure cooker.
Looking for an easy, hands-off rice cooking method? Have an Instant Pot or other electric pressure cooker? They make great rice. Give it a try!
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Jump to:
- How Long Should I Cook the Rice in the Instant Pot?
- How Much Water Should I Use?
- Should I Rinse Rice before I Put it in the Instant Pot?
- Tips for Cooking Fluffy Rice in a Pressure Cooker
- What kind of rice should I use?
- What's the difference between extra-long-grain rice and long-grain rice?
- Why don't you use the rice button?
- Instant Pot White Rice
- 💬 Comments
I used to make rice on the stove top. I thought: it takes about the same amount of time, stovetop or Instant Pot, so why bother using the pressure cooker?
Then, one night, I had to make Instant Pot rice because I needed the space on the stovetop. Now my Instant Pot is also my rice cooker. Why? Because I can make rice while I'm only half paying attention. Fill the pot with rice and water, set it for 4 minutes, lock the lid, and listen for the beep. Then, set a timer for 10 minutes, and when that goes off, quick release any remaining pressure. When I'm busy in the kitchen - tossing my way through a stir fry, for example - it's good to have a quick and easy side dish.
How Long Should I Cook the Rice in the Instant Pot?
Instant Pot rice takes 4 minutes at high pressure, with a 10-minute natural release. (The 10 minutes lets the rice in the instant pot finish cooking.) After 10 minutes, quick release any pressure left in the pot.
How Much Water Should I Use?
I use a rice-to-water ratio of 1 cup of rice to 1¼ cups of water. That's less water than I use on the stovetop (1 cup rice to 1 ½ cups water) because the sealed pressure cooker prevents evaporation.
Should I Rinse Rice before I Put it in the Instant Pot?
Please do not rinse enriched rice! In the US, most white rice is "enriched" with a coating of nutrients as part of processing the rice. Rinsing washes away the nutrients, so don't do it! The point of rinsing the rice is to clean it. That was a good idea in the old days, but modern rice producers clean the rice as part of their processing, so it's unnecessary.
That said, if you insist on rinsing your rice, It doesn't change the recipe. Rinse the rice in a fine mesh strainer under cold running water until the water runs clear.
Tips for Cooking Fluffy Rice in a Pressure Cooker
Long-grain rice is the key to fluffy rice. Medium and short-grain rice have more starch, making stickier rice. I use a lot of Jasmine rice, but any long-grain or extra-long-grain rice variety will do.
What kind of rice should I use?
This recipe will work with most types of rice. My favorites are long-grain or extra-long-grain varieties of white rice, so that's what I recommend with this recipe. If you want to cook brown rice, use my recipe for Instant Pot Brown Rice - Jasmine. Or, if you want to cook a wild rice blend, check here: Instant Pot Wild Rice Blend.
What's the difference between extra-long-grain rice and long-grain rice?
I was curious about the extra-long grain rice from brand-name US rice companies. I emailed the three rice producers I can buy at my local grocery stores; only one got back to me, and they referred me to the rice varieties page on USARice.com. But USARice only talks about long-grain rice on that page, and they don't mention extra-long-grain rice. They do say that long-grain rice is 6-8mm long. So, I got out my digital calipers, measured the three extra-long grain rice varieties I had, and compared them to a bag of generic long-grain rice. The extra-long rice grains were about 8mm; the "regular" long grains were more in the middle of the range, 6-7mm. Maybe extra-long grain rice is a specific variety of long-grain rice (like jasmine or basmati rice) that tends to be on the long end. Or, maybe extra-long is a marketing term for long-grain rice that is a little longer than average, kind of like "prime" graded meat. If you know any details about what extra-long grain rice means, please leave a comment!
Why don't you use the rice button?
I don't use the rice button because I like to be in control of my pressure cooker. I get perfectly cooked rice by setting the pot to pressure cook for 4 minutes, so why try the rice button?
Print
Instant Pot White Rice
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 1x
Description
Pressure cooker white rice recipe - rice from the pressure cooker in about 20 minutes.
Ingredients
- 2 cups long-grain white rice
- 2 ½ cups water
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
Instructions
- Add the rice to the pot: Stir the rice, water, and salt into an Instant Pot or other pressure cooker.
- Pressure cook the rice for 4 minutes with a 10 minute natural release: Lock the lid and pressure cook on high pressure for 4 minutes. (Use “Pressure Cook” or “Manual” mode in an Instant Pot.) Let the pressure come down naturally for 10 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure in the pot. Open the lid away from you to avoid any hot steam. Fluff the rice with a fork and serve.
Equipment
Buy Now → Notes
You can make this recipe in a stove top pressure cooker; everything works the same. The big advantage I get is the set it and forget it nature of an electric pressure cooker (like my beloved Instant Pot), so if I'm going to use the stovetop, I stick with my Basic White Rice recipe.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Pressure Cooker
- Cuisine: American
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Questions? Other ideas? Leave them in the comments section below.
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David Watkins says
Do you time from the instant you start the heat or from the time the pot reaches pressure.
Thanks,
David - Dallas
Mike Vrobel says
The time the pot reaches high pressure.
Nancy says
I use Jasmine rice, I use one to one water, rice, cook for 3 minutes and 10 min natural release. Butter and a bay leaf and it's wonderful.
The minute I turn my back on the stove, my rice is burnt. I have to use a cooker of some kind and the IP keeps the electric appliances to a minimum.
About rinsing, recently I read this removes some of the vitamins they add to rice, so I don't know if I should continue to rinse or not, if I don't I should add that little extra water yours's calls for.
Mike Vrobel says
Thanks!
Sue says
I made this recipe in my Cuisinart pressure cooker and it turned t perfectly! No more instant rice for my family! Thanks so much!
Mike Vrobel says
You’re welcome!
Aleisa says
I use this recipe for rice all the time and every time it comes out perfectly!
Thank you!
Mike Vrobel says
You're welcome!
MaLena says
Doubled the recipe and it was perfect...i did add garlic powder and sliced green onions as well for some yummy extra flavor. But perfect timings and measurements. This is my first time preparing rice in a pressure cooker. #Success 👌 Thanks to you. 😊🙏
Mike Vrobel says
You’re welcome!
Tim Taylor says
Same exact thing, just put everything in and doubled the amounts, Fingers crossed!
Shannan L Vaughn says
I have a "crockpot" brand pressure cooker so I have no manual setting...I rinsed my rice first...then used the "steam" button....cooked for 3 minutes then turned the pot off.... used your 10 min method and the rice was PERFECT!!! THANK YOU!
Gillian Didier-Serre says
Hi mike..this recipe. For pressure cooking long grain white rice can I use jasmin rice instead and use the same ratio and cook time
Mike Vrobel says
Yes, you can
Sheri says
I have always used Uncle Ben’s Converted White Rice. Would the instructions be any different? TIA
Mike Vrobel says
Yes. Converted rice is pre-cooked. It won't work with this recipe.
Sue says
I just did it and it’s good. I also added butter and forgot to turn off warming setting for 7 of ten minutes. Still turned out fine.
Chris Lukowski says
I'm curious as to why you don't use to 'Rice' button on the Instant Pot. Does that overcook the rice? I've made a few batches using this button and each time the rice has come out quite sticky, even with a 1:1 rice to water ratio and a pre-rinse. Is that because the default mode overcooks it?
Mike Vrobel says
Sorry, Chris, but I don’t have a good answer beyond “I don’t trust program modes”. The Instant Pot is probably a wonderful rice maker, amongst its other modes, but I only use the “Pressure Cook” and “Sauté” buttons. (And, very rarely, “Slow Cook” and “Keep Warm”.)
When something says “push here for rice”, I get suspicious. Again, it may do a great job - but I’ve never tried it, and am not planning on trying it.
Theresa says
so you don't need to rinse the rice first?
Mike Vrobel says
Nope. I add dry rice to the pot.
Sarah Marie says
This recipe is delicious! My new favorite way to cook white rice. I usually add a tablespoon of butter, but otherwise follow the directions. Perfect jasmine rice every time!
Retha Hill says
Sarah, I agree with you, and my favorite is Jasmine rice. I just tried this in my Instant pot, and it was perfect!! yay!!!!!
Kyle L says
Great Recipe, Great Site! Thank you for this, and I made this (but I also add in 1 TBSP melted butter...mmmm). It was great! I like to think I can do a number of impressive things in the kitchen, but rice is not one of them - this was spot on! The only thing - when I tried making a half recipe (i.e. one cup of rice, and with a little more water than required, even), I experienced a bit of scorching. Not brown or black, but a good bit of sticking, and a good bit of the rice was somewhat crunchy - anybody else experience this?
I will say I have tried the actual "Rice" function on this pot, and it seems to work well. It is actually automatic, so you put in the rice and water and select rice, and it just takes over and calculates the time (I presume based upon temperature calculations), and cooks the rice until done, and my results were perfect - and just pushing a button, setting no time, the IP takes care of that for you.
The only consideration with the automated rice function is that it uses low pressure, not high. There is nothing wrong with this, but it does take longer. I would say this recipe on high pressure has an average cook time of 13-17 minutes, and the low pressure automated rice function adds about 5-6 minutes to that.
I am just posting this to a.) praise this site!! b.) inquire as to anyone else's experience with smaller amounts of rice or with the automated rice function, and c.) to suggest that for 2 cups or more, use this recipe, for less than that, consider the automated rice function.
Cheers
Patricia says
I will be 60 next month h and this is the first time in my life I've made perfect rice! I love to cook too!! Thank you
Dave Gill says
Yes, please do brown rice. We're a brown rice house, and an alternative for nights when I hose up the rice cooker programming would be nice.
Mike Vrobel says
Sure, here it is: https://www.dadcooksdinner.com/pressure-cooker-brown-jasmine-rice/