Instant Pot white rice allows you to effortlessly batch cook a versatile side dish that goes with just about any meal. Follow these simple steps like rinsing, sitting, and steaming and you’ll have light and tender rice every time.
Cooking a pot of white rice is a go-to side dish for any eating occasion. Using an electric pressure cooker makes the job even more seamless, with very little need for constant attention. It’s the next level of rice cookers, that shortens the wait time while upping the excitement.
Please note that with so many types of rice available, a few adjustments may need to be made to the recipe. The size and variety play a role in the duration of cook time. However, the amount of water doesn’t change as much as you’d expect. Below are the basic steps for cooking different kinds of white rice, from preparation, settings, and cook time for the perfect batch.
Don’t skip the rinsing step
Rinse the rice with cold running water to remove any excess starches on the outside of the grain. This allows you to reduce the amount of sticking as the starches become gummy as they cook this creates a tackiness between the grains. I always do this step even when cooking rice on the stovetop.
The proper water-to-rice ratio
Cooking most kinds of rice in the Instant Pot needs a 1:1 water-to-rice ratio. For every 1 cup of rice, simply add 1 cup of water. The reason for the equal amounts is that rice requires the same volume of liquid for full absorption. This is plenty of water to help the starches absorb, swell, and soften the grains.
If you like a little more softness to the grains, adding an additional ¼ cup of water may help, especially for heartier grains like brown rice.
Setting selection and cook time
Use the “manual” button on the Instant Pot and set it to high pressure. This function provides the most control for any variety of white rice. I find that for long grain white rice, basmati, or jasmine, pressure cook for 3 minutes then natural-release for 10 minutes to yield separate, fluffy grains. If cooking short grain or medium grain white rice like sushi or calrose, use 1 ¼ cups water for 1 cup of rice. Pressure cook for 5 minutes and use the same natural-release time.
Natural-release has two benefits
That additional 10 minutes of natural release safely eliminates the pressure from the unit while gently steaming the rice. This process allows for full absorption of the hot water into the grains. Just make sure to press the “Keep Warm/Cancel” button if not serving right away to prevent the rice from scorching and sticking to the bottom of the pot insert.
What about the “rice” program?
Selecting the rice button is a preset program that works well for certain kinds of white rice. It provides an automatic time adjustment using smart controls based on volume. However, I recommend only using this setting for long grain white rice or parboiled rice.
Maxing out quantity
The ingredients should not go above the halfway mark in the pressure cooker. Note that rice can expand 2 to 3 times its size, so do not overfill the insert. A minimum of 1 cup of rice can be made in a 6-quart Instant Pot, which yields about 3 cups of rice.
Making smaller individual portions
If you want to cook an individual serving of ½ cup dried rice, use the pot-in-pot method. This is where you mix the rice with equal parts water, then steam it in a smaller pot that sits on top of a trivet with 1 cup of water in the larger insert. Pressure cook for 5 minutes instead of 3 minutes, and naturally-release for 10 minutes.
Why less water is needed
In a pressure cooker, the ingredients are locked in an enclosed system where very little evaporation is occurring, only as the unit comes up to pressure. Therefore, no excessive amount of water is lost like with the stovetop method where you have to account for steam exiting the sides of the pot during the entire cooking process.
Instant Pot White Rice
Ingredients
- 1 cup long grain white rice
- 1 cup water
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Add rice to a fine meshed strainer. Rinse and wash under cool running water until it runs clear, scrubbing the rice in between your fingers several times, about 1 minute. Shake to drain excess liquid.
- In a 6-quart Instant Pot add rice, water, and salt.
- Make sure that the release valve is in the "Sealing" position.
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot, turn and lock.
- Press the "Manual" button on the Instant Pot on high pressure, and then set the timer to 3 minutes using the "+" or "-" buttons. It will take about 7 minutes for the pot to heat and build up pressure. You will see some steam release from the lid, and then the time will start on the display.
- Once cooking time is complete, press the “Keep Warm/Cancel” button.
- Allow the pressure to naturally-release for 10 minutes.
- Carefully twist the steam-release handle on the lid to "Venting" position.
- Carefully remove the lid, opening the top away from you as steam will be released from the pot.
- Gently fluff the rice with a fork. Serve the rice hot.
Equipment
Notes
- Serving Size: ½ cup
- Recipe Yield: 2 to 3 cups depending on type
- For even softer grains of white rice add 1 ¼ cups of water.
- This recipe was designed for long grain white rice, extra long grain, basmati or jasmine.
- Cook short grain and medium grain white rice like sushi or calrose rice, use 1 ¼ cups of water. Cook for 5 minutes on high pressure and natural release for 10 minutes.
Nutrition Facts
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000-calorie diet. All nutritional information is based on estimated third-party calculations. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
Ally says
For one cup of rice, after rinsing do i add 1 cup of water? Or is the water absorbed by the rice while rinsing taken out of the 1 cup of water?
I think I’m over thinking, but have also wondered if rinsing rice affects the amount of water to add!
Jessica Gavin says
After rinsing make sure to press on the grains or shake the colander to drain the excess moisture as much as possible. Then add the advised amount of water to help hydrate the grains.This will prevent the rice from tasting too soggy if there is too much moisture in the instant pot.
Valerie C. says
Perfect rice, every time! Thank you Jessica, yet again, for more tips, tricks and recipes!
Barb says
Hi There
I have a 3qt Instant Pot Duo. There are only myself and hubby and I don’t like to make extra rice and freeze it. Any idea what would be the minimum of rice/liquid I could safely use in the 3qt?
Thanks very much.
Jessica Gavin says
The minimum amount of liquid for the pot to come to pressure is 1 cup, so I would recommend 1 cup of dried rice to get to best results.
Mariajosé says
What can I do if my instant pot dosn’t have the manual button?
Jessica Gavin says
Is there a “pressure cook” button? I believe that is the same as the “manual” button.
AJ says
Scaled it up to two cups of rice and it came out perfectly. Fluffy and delicious. Thanks!
Lsia McCloud says
If I want to do 3 cups of uncooked rice, how much would I adjust the cooking time?
Jessica Gavin says
Keep the cooking time the same. If more time is needed, then you can add another few minutes of pressure cooking after the first cook.
Heather says
This is very helpful including why not to use the “rice” button! Thank you for the tips!
Jessica Gavin says
You’re welcome! There are so many functions, it’s nice when to use it or not on the instant pot.