How To Cook Instant Pot Rice

It’s so easy to cook rice in the instant pot! My rice cooker bit the dust a few years ago and I never replaced it. I got an Instant Pot shortly after and as soon as I realized I could cook rice in it, I never looked back. My old rice cooker did not cook brown or wild rice well at all and I had no control over the cooking times. The Instant Pot cooks rice evenly, consistently, and quickly. Much faster than cooking it on the stove top. It is hands-down my favorite way to cook plain rice. It pairs perfectly with chicken or pork meals, just about anything!

Tips for Instant Pot Rice

I like to fill my Instant Pot so it is about half full. This allows room for the rice to expand and also makes it so the water doesn’t sputter out too much before the Instant Pot seals. No matter the size of the Instant Pot or the amount of rice, the cooking time will remain the same. The only time I don’t rinse my rice is when I sauté the rice in oil before cooking it in the Instant Pot. I do this when I am making Mexican Rice or Fried Rice because it gives it a better texture for these particular dishes.

Read More: How to Cook Instant Pot Brown Rice

Measure the Rice into the Instant Pot: First, calculate how many servings you need. A good rule of thumb is ½ cup serving of cooked rice per person. Rinse Rice Before Cooking: I almost always rinse my rice before cooking. Rice can be dirty and covered in excess starches. Rinsing doesn’t take that long and it is totally worth the extra step. I like submerging the rice in water in the Instant Pot pot/liner and agitating the rice with my hands. Then I drain off the water continually and repeat until the water runs clear. I prefer this way because any debris that may be present in the rice floats to the top and can be drained off. It also uses less dishes. You can also put the rice in a fine mesh strainer and rinse until the water runs clear. Either way works. Be sure to drain off the excess water completely before adding the water for cooking.

Add Water: The rice-to-water ratio always seems to be the biggest debate when cooking rice. When cooking rice on the stovetop or even in a rice cooker more water may be needed, but not with an Instant Pot. A 1:1 ratio of rice to water is perfect. Nothing more, nothing less. Remember, the rice is being pressure cooked so all that steam and water is staying inside the pot, not evaporating out. I also love this ratio because you can really use anything you want to measure. No measuring cups? No problem. Just use a mug or glass to measure equal measurements. Add a pinch of salt: This gives the rice some flavor, but doesn’t affect the texture of the rice or the water absorption. Feel free to eliminate this step.