Why is my rice always mushy in Instant Pot?

Be careful not to add too much liquid at once , as it can make the rice mushy. Fluff with a Fork: After the rice is cooked, let it sit with the lid on for a few minutes, then fluff it with a fork. Gently separate the grains to break up any clumps and release excess moisture.

How do you do the rice finger trick on Instant Pot?

Here's what you do: Add the amount of rice you want to cook to a pot. Optionally, rinse and drain the rice. Make sure the rice is level. Put your index finger on top of the rice and add cold water until it hits your first knuckle. That's it! Mar 20, 2024

Why is my rice in Instant Pot too hard?

Why is the rice hard? If your Instant Pot rice is too hard or undercooked, you didn't cook it for long enough . Make sure you're using the right amount of cooking time followed by a natural pressure release.

What is the ratio of water to rice?

Add 2 parts water and 1 part rice to a large pot. For slightly firmer rice, use 1 part liquid to 2/3 parts rice. Bring the water to a boil. Once it's boiling, add a big pinch of salt.

What is the rice trick recipe?

Place your fingertip on top of the rice and add water until it reaches your first knuckle. Cover the pot with a lid and bring the water to a boil. Turn the heat to low and cook for 18–20 minutes, until all the water is absorbed.

How much water do I need for 2 cups of rice?

For tender grains of rice that easily separate, such as in a pilaf, use 2 cups of water for every 1 cup of rice . You can also use another liquid like stock in this 2:1 ratio. For slightly chewier, fluffy white rice, use 1 1/2 cups of water for every cup of rice, or a 1.5:1 ratio.

Do Instapots cook rice well?

This is where the Instant Pot excels. One of the many things you can do with an Instant Pot is cook rice using the pressure cooking setting. With this method, rice cooks faster than it does on the stovetop, and you get consistent results every time .

How much rice does 1 cup make?

As a general rule, 1 cup of uncooked rice will equal about 3 cups of cooked rice . Leftover rice can be used later in the week to make fried rice or chicken rice casserole.

What do you add a pinch of this to your rice before cooking?

Yes, adding a pinch of salt to water when cooking rice has several benefits. It enhances the flavor of the rice. Salt is a natural flavor enhancer, and it can help to make rice more flavorful and palatable. It helps to prevent the rice from sticking together.

How long does it take to cook rice in a pressure cooker?

Here are my preferred cooking times for rice in the pressure cooker: Brown rice: 20 minutes on high pressure for firm rice, or 22 minutes for softer grains . White rice: 15 minutes on low pressure for firm rice, or 17 minutes for softer grains.

Instant Pot Rice {Easy, Foolproof Recipe!}

See my guide on how to use an Instant Pot.

Instant Pot rice is a hands-off way to cook fluffy white rice. This foolproof rice recipe helps to make dinner prep easy!

Instant Pot Rice {Easy, Foolproof Recipe!} - Kristine's Kitchen (1)

With this Instant Pot rice recipe, you can make the best rice with the least effort!

You’re going to love cooking rice in your Instant Pot. It’s fluffy, foolproof, and the perfect side dish for so many meals, including Beef Stir Fry, Baked Salmon and Pork Tenderloin.

Cooking rice in the Instant Pot is completely hands-off. Once you start the rice cooking, you don’t have to think about it again until you’re ready to serve your rice. There’s no watching a pot on the stove or worry of a pot bubbling over.

You can use this method to cook any long grain white rice. I most often make Instant Pot jasmine rice or basmati rice. If you want to cook brown rice, see my Instant Pot Brown Rice recipe.

This Instant Pot Rice

takes just a few minutes of active prep time.
turns out perfectly cooked and fluffy, every time.
is so versatile, perfect for serving with stir fries or using in your favorite rice recipes, like Fried Rice.

It came out nice and fluffy. Excellent recipe!!
Jennifer

Instant Pot Rice {Easy, Foolproof Recipe!} - Kristine's Kitchen (2)

Rice to Water Ratio

The rice to water ratio for Instant Pot rice is 1 to 1. This means that for every cup of rice you need one cup of water. Measure carefully, and use the same measuring cup for both the water and the rice so that your measurement is precise. This way, your rice will turn out perfect every time.

Why do you need less liquid when pressure cooking rice, compared to cooking rice on the stove? This is because you lose less liquid to evaporation when you use a pressure cooker.

For more flavorful rice you can cook the rice in chicken broth, vegetable broth or bone broth instead of water. I recommend using a low sodium broth to limit the amount of salt.

How to Make Instant Pot Rice

Here is an overview of the recipe steps. You’ll find the full printable recipe in the recipe card below. If you are new to Instant Pot cooking you can read my beginner’s guide on How to Use an Instant Pot.

Rinse the rice. Place the rice in a fine mesh strainer and rinse it under cold running water to remove excess starch. Drain the rice well and then put it in the Instant Pot.

Instant Pot Rice {Easy, Foolproof Recipe!} - Kristine's Kitchen (3)

Add the water and stir to combine.

Pressure cook for 4 minutes at high pressure. Before setting the cook time, check that the steam release valve is in the sealing position. The pot must be sealed for the rice to cook properly.

Instant Pot Rice Setting

I prefer to cook rice using the manual pressure cook setting, not the rice setting. The Instant Pot rice setting is a preset program that cooks for about 12 minutes at low pressure. It can only be used for white rice. I’ve tested cooking white rice using the rice button, and prefer to use the 4 minutes at high pressure method instead. It’s faster and I find that the texture of the rice is better.

How Much Rice Can You Cook in an Instant Pot

The recipe below is for cooking 2 cups of dry rice, which will yield about 6 cups of cooked rice. You can scale the recipe down to cook 1 cup of dry rice. The water to rice ratio and cook time stay the same regardless of the amount of rice you are cooking.

You can cook more rice as long as you don’t exceed the maximum fill lines on your pot. Rice will expand as it cooks, so you have to account for this:

You can double this recipe to cook 4 cups of rice in a 6 quart Instant Pot, which will make about 12 cups of cooked rice.
If you have an 8 quart Instant Pot (and need a lot of rice), you can triple this recipe to cook 6 cups rice. This will make about 18 cups of cooked rice.

Instant Pot Rice {Easy, Foolproof Recipe!} - Kristine's Kitchen (4)

How to Store Rice

Always cool and store cooked rice promptly for food safety. You can cool rice quickly by laying it out in a thin layer on a baking sheet. Refrigerate or freeze rice as soon as possible after cooking (within an hour).
To Refrigerate: Once it’s cooled, store cooked rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.
To Freeze: Cool completely and then store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1-2 months. After that, the rice can start to dry out.
To Reheat: Reheat rice in the microwave, on the stove top, or even in a dish in the oven, covered to trap in the heat and steam. If your rice has dried out you can add a bit of water when reheating.

More Easy Instant Pot Recipes

You may also enjoy these Instant Pot recipes:

Instant Pot Risotto
Instant Pot Mexican Rice
Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
Instant Pot Shredded Chicken
Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
Instant Pot Baked Potatoes

4.93 from 14 ratings

Instant Pot Rice

Servings: 6 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 4 minutes mins

Inactive Time: 25 minutes mins

Total Time: 34 minutes mins

Ingredients

▢ 2 cups long grain white rice, such as basmati or jasmine
▢ 2 cups water
▢ ½ teaspoon Kosher salt, optional

Instructions

Place rice in a fine mesh strainer and rinse under cold running water. Drain rice well and put it in the Instant Pot.
Add water to the pot, and salt, if desired. Stir. Make sure that all of the rice is in the water, not stuck to the sides of the pot.
Close the Instant Pot lid and move the steam release valve to the sealing position.
Use the Pressure Cook or Manual function to cook at high pressure for 4 minutes. The Instant Pot will take about 10 minutes to reach pressure and then the cook time will begin counting down.
When the cook time ends, allow the pressure to release naturally for at least 15 minutes by leaving the Instant Pot alone.
Carefully move the steam release valve to the venting position to quick release any remaining pressure. When the pin drops down, open the Instant Pot lid.
Fluff rice and serve.

Notes

You can substitute low sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth for the water. If using broth, omit the salt.
To cook only 1 cup of dry rice, use 1 cup of water. The cook time will be the same.
You can cook up to 4 cups of dry rice in a 6 quart Instant Pot. Use a 1:1 rice to water ratio and keep the cook time the same.

Serving: 1cup, Calories: 225kcal, Carbohydrates: 49g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 201mg, Potassium: 71mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Calcium: 20mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is an estimate.

Cuisine: Asian

Course: Side Dish

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Instant Pot Rice {Easy, Foolproof Recipe!} - Kristine's Kitchen (2024)