How to Cook Brown Rice in an Instant Pot

If you normally cook rice on the stove top, you’ll be amazed at how easy and incredibly convenient it is to cook rice in the Instant Pot.

Instant Pot rice is an easy, foolproof, hands-off method of cooking rice.

No burned rice. No boiling over. No need to even be in the same room, the same house, or even the same town when your rice is cooking. Just set it and forget it!

Once you start your rice, you don’t have to think about it again until you’re ready to serve it. Deliciously cooked brown rice will be ready for you exactly when you want it.

You’re going to love this method of cooking brown rice.

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How to Cook Brown Rice in an Instant Pot

To cook brown rice in an Instant Pot, simply place rice and water in the pot, secure the lid, turn the steam release valve to the sealing position, press the “Pressure Cook” or “Manual” button and set your time to cook for 24 minutes.

You can even delay your start time so your rice can be hot and ready later in the day (so you can go to work or run errands and come back to hot rice).

Check out my recipe below for water to rice ratio.

Measuring Tips

Be careful when measuring your rice and water. An precise water-to-rice ratio is important to make sure your rice comes out fluffy and properly-cooked. Use good (read: accurate) measuring cups when measuring your water and rice. One way to make sure your measurements are precise is to use the same measuring utensil for both water and rice.

Note that the measuring cup that comes with the Instant Pot is not accurate.

Notes on cooking time:

How long does it take to cook brown rice in an Instant Pot? I’ve listed out the times below for both the 3-quart and the 6-quart Instant Pot. Please note that these times are hands-off time. The Instant Pot does the work while you go about your day.

For 3-quart Instant Pot

12 minutes to come to pressure

24 minutes to cook

23 minutes to release

– Total Time: 59 minutes

For 6-quart Instant Pot

9 minutes to come to pressure

24 minutes to cook

16 minutes to release

– Total Time: 49 minutes

FAQ

Should I rinse my rice before cooking it?

Whether or not you rinse your rice before cooking it is a matter of personal preference and is completely up to you. Both rinsed and dry rice will work with this method of cooking rice. If you do rinse your rice, just be sure to drain it thoroughly before adding it to the Instant Pot.

How much rice can you cook in an Instant Pot?

My recipe below cooks 2 cups of dry rice, which yields about 6 cups of cooked rice.

In a 6-quart Instant Pot, you can cook 4 cups of dry rice, which yields about 12 cups of cooked rice.

Should I use natural pressure release or quick release?

Be sure to use the natural pressure release method when making rice in your Instant Pot. The quick release will make your rice sticky and mushy.

What’s a good way to flavor brown rice?

For more flavorful rice you can cook the rice in broth instead of water. Or you can sprinkle Herbamare over it, top it with some of my vegan Parmesan, or season it with my Rice Seasoning Recipe (below in this post).

Can I reheat rice in the Instant Pot?

You can. I prefer to reheat my brown rice on the stove top, but you can also reheat it in the Instant Pot.

To reheat brown rice in the Instant Pot, pour 1 cup of water into the Instant Pot and place the trivet in the Instant Pot. Place rice in a heat-proof glass container (uncovered) on the trivet. Secure the lid on the Instant Pot, and pressure cook for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, use the quick release method and your rice is ready to eat.

Troubleshooting

My rice is hard/crunchy

If your rice comes out hard or crunchy, you either didn’t add enough water or you tried to cook too much rice for the size of your Instant Pot

My rice is mushy

If your rice comes out mushy, you probably added too much water. Or you used the quick pressure release option. (Be sure to always use natural pressure release when cooking rice in an Instant Pot.) Or you didn’t fluff your rice with a fork when it was done (see recipe).

There is still water in the pot.

If there is water in the pot after your rice has cooked, you either did not cook your rice long enough or you added too much water at the beginning.

Delicious Ways to Eat Brown Rice

Lime, Rice, and Beans Bowl

This naturally gluten-free dish is so flavorful and filling and taste fabulous topped with guacamole.

Mazidra

Stuffed Collard Leaves (Collard Rolls)

Collard leaves filled with perfectly seasoning vegetables and rice, baked in a luscious tomato sauce – the perfect (and perfectly healthy) comfort dish.

More Brown Rice Recipes

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