How to Cook White Rice in the Instant Pot
on Feb 18, 2020, Updated Mar 12, 2024
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Cooking white rice in the Instant Pot is super easy and fast so you have fluffy, moist rice in no time for any meal you want!
This simple, step by step tutorial will show you just how simple cooking white rice can be, and you won’t ever be stuck with dry or crunchy rice again!
Table of Contents
- How to Cook White Rice in the Instant Pot
- What kind of white rice can you cook in the Instant Pot?
- Can you cook brown rice in the Instant Pot?
- How do I use the rice button on my Instant Pot?
- Does the Instant Pot make good rice?
- How long does white rice take in an Instant Pot?
- Why is my rice sticking to the pot?
- Should you rinse rice?
- How much water do you need for rice?
- Why did my rice turn out mushy?
- How do you fix rice that’s too wet?
- How do you overcook rice?
- How to cook white rice in the Instant Pot Recipe
How to Cook White Rice in the Instant Pot
If you’ve been around here for a while, you already know about my love and infatuation with the Instant Pot. It just makes EVERYTHING easier. Everything. If you don’t have one yet, I’d honestly recommend it as the one kitchen gadget you need in your life this year. I use mine on a weekly basis, if not more. And with this simple white rice recipe in the Instant Pot, you’re going to bypass any weird or funky rice making issues you’ve come across before (and I know from experience that there are a lot of ways to accidentally mess up rice… I’ve been a victim to all of them!).
So wave dry, cakey, overly sticky, crunchy, or undercooked rice buh-bye when you cook it this way in the Instant Pot. White rice is a perfect side to go with meat and veggies, or you can use it alongside a Tex-Mex dish or Asian stir-fry recipes. However you take your rice, this will be your new go-to for cooking it to perfection every. single. time. Sound like a dream? It sorta is… Enjoy this easy, quick, fool-proof rice recipe!
What kind of white rice can you cook in the Instant Pot?
This recipe works for all kinds of white rice! I’ve had success using long grain, short grain, jasmine, and basmati rice.
Can you cook brown rice in the Instant Pot?
You sure can, but the recipe below is NOT the recipe for brown rice. For brown rice, I use 1 and 1/4 cups water per cup of rice, cook for 24 minutes at high pressure, and then let it natural pressure release for 10 minutes. Do the oil the same; any rice needs a layer of oil before cooking.
How do I use the rice button on my Instant Pot?
Actually, I don’t use the rice button because it doesn’t cook the rice at high pressure. Instead, use the pressure cook button and cook the rice for 4 minutes before letting it rest for 18 minutes while it does a natural pressure release.
Does the Instant Pot make good rice?
YES yes yes! It makes the best rice in my opinion because it keeps the moisture locked in to steam it and keep it fluffy, and it’s way faster than stovetop rice or using a rice cooker!
How long does white rice take in an Instant Pot?
White rice only takes 4 minutes of cook time in the Instant Pot, plus 18 minutes to rest as the pressure releases. So in total, less than 25 minutes which is a major win in making perfect rice!
Why is my rice sticking to the pot?
Rice will stick to the Instant Pot if you don’t spread a layer of oil (canola, vegetable, or avocado oil work well) on the bottom of the pot before adding the rice and water.
Should you rinse rice?
It’s often recommended to rinse rice in a colander to remove debris and the surface starch which can sometimes cause the rice to stick together as it cooks. Honestly, if you’re short on time it won’t make a huge difference! Sometimes I wash it, sometimes I don’t and it turns out good with this method every time.
How much water do you need for rice?
For this white rice recipe, I use one cup of water for every one cup of rice.
Why did my rice turn out mushy?
Rice can get mushy when the grains split and become too saturated. Rinsing the rice prior to cooking will help keep it from getting too mushy. Another problem is using too much water when cooking, so be sure to use a 1:1 water to white rice ratio and nothing more!
How do you fix rice that’s too wet?
You shouldn’t have watery rice with this method of cooking it, but if there’s still water in the pot then you can always bake the rice in the oven for 5 minutes at 350 F. in a baking dish covered with foil to remove the excess water.
How do you overcook rice?
With other methods of cooking rice, like using the stovetop, it can be tricky to know when it’s done and accidentally overcook it, making it dry and sticky.
Instant Pot Recipes That I Love
- The Best Instant Pot Broccoli and Cheese Soup
- Hearty Bean Soup in the Instant Pot
- Instant Pot Egg Salad (no boiled eggs to peel!)
- Crispy Instant Pot Pork Taco Recipe
How to cook white rice in the Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 1 to 2 teaspoons oil, (such as canola, vegetable oil, or avocado oil)
- 1 cup rice
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Remove the metal Instant Pot insert for the instant pot cooking section. You’ll use it like you are working with a mixing bowl.
- Add the oil to the bowl of your instant pot and use a pastry brush or something similar to fully coat the bottom of the Instant Pot insert, and 1 inch up each side, with oil. The goal is to just cover it completely, so use enough oil to do that.
- Add the rice to the Instant Pot insert and shake the insert just a little so that the rice spreads all across the bottom of the pot (and is not just in a pile in the center).
- Add the water the the Instant Pot insert, and shake the insert just a little so that the rice spreads evenly along the bottom of the pot. (Sometimes when you add the water, it’ll wash a hole in the rice, so by shaking it the rice will cover the bottom of the pot again.)
- Place the insert back into the cooking portion of the Instant Pot, place the lid on, push the valve to “sealing.”
- Press the “pressure cook” button and set the cook time for 4 minutes. It should be on high pressure. (Sometimes using the rice button will not be the high pressure option, so I don’t use the rice button.)
- Let the Instant Pot come to pressure and start the cook time.
- Once the cook time has gone by, let it rest for 18 minutes at natural pressure release (on mine, it’ll starts counting up the minutes since the cook time has ended, so I just wait for it to get to 18).
- Once the 18 minute natural pressure release has gone by, you can flip the valve so that any remaining pressure is released.
- Remove the lid carefully, fluff with a fork, and serve.
Notes
- This has worked for all kinds of white rices for me — long grain, short grain, jasmine, basmati — it works well for them all.
- This is NOT the recipe for brown rice. For brown rice, I use 1 and 1/4 cups water per cup of rice, cook for 24 minutes at high pressure, and then let it natural pressure release for 10 minutes. Do the oil the same; any rice needs a layer of oil before cooking.
- The oil prevents the rice from sticking, so don’t skip this step; it will stick without it.
Nutrition
Love Rice? Give these great recipes a try
- Easy Spanish Rice Recipe
- Cafe Rio Cilantro Lime Rice
- Easy Cajun Beans and Rice
- One Pot Sausage Rice and Peas
- Stove Top Chicken and Rice
Learning how to make white rice in the Instant Pot will totally change your life (seriously!) because you’ll be able to make perfect rice quickly and with ease, every single time!
