Instant Pot Brown Rice Recipe–perfectly cooked brown rice without any fuss made in your electric pressure cooker!
Instant Pot Brown Rice Recipe
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I love brown rice. The problem with me is that I always forget to make it in time for dinner and when I think of it I don’t want to wait an hour for it to get done on the stove top. I do love making brown rice in the oven but it takes an hour and I don’t often plan that well. Now that I know I can make brown rice in the pressure cooker I’m so excited! And here’s the thing that I really like to do...make a big batch and then freeze portions of it in zipper bags in my freezer. Then when I want to have some for dinner it’s already made and ready to go. I like cooking brown rice in the Instant Pot because it turns out perfectly…not mushy or undercooked. Just right.
You may also like: –>>How to make rice in the slow cooker<<–
You’ll make this instant pot brown rice recipe by simply adding water and uncooked rice into the pot. Cooking for 22 minutes and then letting the cooker go to the “keep warm” mode for 10 minutes. You can then turn the valve to venting and remove the lid and eat! So this recipe took a total of about 40 minutes (with warm up time, cooking time, and pressure releasing time).
How to make other types of rice in the Instant Pot
I’ve made a free printable rice cooking times cheat sheet for you! I hope you find it handy. I keep mine in the kitchen so that I can easily find the water to rice ratio and how many minutes I’m supposed to cook the rice for. You can easily print this cheat sheet by clicking here.
Pin this cheat sheet for later!
What Instant Pot Did You Use?
For this pressure cooker brown rice recipe I used this Instant Pot IP-LUX60 V3 Programmable Electric Pressure Cooker. It’s 6 quarts, so the same size as most slow cookers. It cost me around $80 on Amazon.
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Instant Pot Brown Rice Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
Description
Perfectly cooked brown rice without any fuss made in your pressure cooker in 40 minutes.
Ingredients
- 2 cups brown rice
- 2 1/2 cups water
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Turn your instant pot to the “saute” function to start it heating up. Then add in the water and the brown rice and a pinch of salt (if desired). Turn off saute setting.
- Place the lid on the pressure cooker and turn the valve to sealing. Set the pressure cook/manual button to 22 minutes. When the time is up let the pot sit for 10 minutes and then move the valve to venting.
- Remove the lid and the rice should be ready to eat and enjoy!
Notes
This recipe took a total of about 40 minutes (with warm up time, cooking time, and pressure releasing time).
I used this 6 quart Instant Pot for this recipe.
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I just got an Instant Pot for Christmas and made rice for the first time. Using your measurements and directions, it came out perfectly! Thanks!
★★★★★
Hooray! I’m so glad you got an IP. You’ll love it
Hi Karen,
We love Short Grain Brown Rice and wondered how you would cook it in the Instant Pot?
Karen
you’ll do the same way as long grain brown rice 🙂
Thank you, Karen. Because of all your wonderful recipes, I use my Instant Pot much more often than I ever thought I would!
Hi, this is Melissa. I am wondering if I could use the pot-in-pot method and your measurements to make rice? Do you think it would work? Thank you in advance!
Sincerely,
MK
★★★★★
Yes! I love that method for rice!
Hi Karen. I am missing something that everyone else seems to get. How long do you leave saute mode on before changing to high pressure?
Thanks, Christine
You just turn it to saute. Then add in ingredients. Turn off saute. Then set the pressure cook to 22 minutes.
Followed directions as written and my rice came out perfect! I did it pot-in-pot as I am chilling the cooked rice to use in a stir fry tomorrow. No mess!
★★★★★
Awesome! And did it cook pot in pot in 22 minutes?
Yes! My NR time went a little longer than 10 minutes (maybe 15 minutes) because I was doing something else (!) but my rice was absolutely perfect-grains separated beautifully, fully cooked and not at all sticky or mushy.
That’s what I like to hear!
I must try this. I make my dogs food which has brown rice as one of the ingredients. When I first started making Ginger’s food I would boil brown rice and ground turkey together then add the rest if the ingredients. I finally realized that I needed to cook the rice first then add to the turkey after it was boiled. I have a very tiny kitchen so this boiling of the rice tedious and time consuming. Now I will do it in my instant pot! Thanks for the tip.
It’s the best! I love making brown rice in the Instant Pot.
Can you provide any guidance on cooking parboiled rice in the instant pot? I am not supposed to eat carbs and the parboil has a lower glycemic index)
I use parboiled rice all the time! It’s awesome. I do a 1 cup rice to 1.5 cup water ratio with a 5 minute pressure cooking time and 10 minute natural pressure release.
Tried it with the express cooker insta pot. Turned out absolutely perfect 😃. Husbands favorite. Thank you
★★★★★
Yay!
Eeek! I was planning on making brown rice tonight, but all I have left in he pantry is 2/3 of a cup. Karen, what are your thoughts on adjusting the water ratio. Would treating it like a full cup of rice, and using 1.25 cups of water leave me with ‘soup’?
I look forward to hearing from you, my IP guru 😉
I took a chance and just guesstimated after all. Did the 2/3 cup rice with 1 C water. Think I ought to have added the extra 1/4 cup of water. Rice cooked, but was a bit firm for my taste. Added a little water and cooked a couple mins in the microwave and it fixed it.
Still, I’ll be sure to re-stock my brown rice and make it in the IPt the right way next time – aka YOUR excellent way, Karen.
Haha! Love it. Thanks for sharing.
It’s always a 1 to 1.25 ratio so for 2/3 cup I would use 3/4 cup + 1 Tbsp of water. This is a problem though because you may get the burn message and your pot might not be able to reach pressure. I would use the ratio I suggested but use the pot in pot method. And then try cooking for 25 minutes plus a 10 minute NPR
I made this twice as written and it turned out perfect both times. I make the whole batch and then freeze in one cup containers to grab and add to a recipe as needed. Thank you for always providing quality recipes that have obviously been tested. Cooking in the Instant Pot has been a whole new learning experience for me. You make it easier. Thank you!
★★★★★
Thanks Stephanie!
I use brown jasmine rice. One cup of rice cooks in 1 3/4 cups water for 25 minutes on the stove. Do you have a suggestion for the IP? I cannot find anyone who has suggested a time.
I like your new format. I use your IP recipes all the time.
try this one: https://www.dadcooksdinner.com/pressure-cooker-brown-jasmine-rice/
When you add water to the pot, do you use cold water or hot or does it matter? I have an Insta-hot so I have nearly boiling water available, but would that change the cooking time?
I don’t know what a Inst-hot is?? Sounds interesting. I use water straight from the tap. Not hold and not cold.
I followed your recipe to the letter and the rice turned out perfect. Thank you so very much.
Insta-hot water comes from a separate tap at your sink. It’s primarily used for hot tea or coffee (bag or instant). As far as the instant pot, it should lessen the time a bit but the pot will still need to pressure up so don’t expect much time savings.
★★★★★
I want to try your recipe but when you say measuring cup there are two types of measuring cups a liquid glass one or a dry measuring cup !?! Are you measuring the water in the liquid glass and then the rice in a regular measuring cup !?!
yes, that’s usually how I do it. Sometimes I use the dry measuring cup for my water too.
I have found that is doesn’t matter what cups you use, the rice comes out great. If you prefer a moister rice add a bit of water to the finished rice and close the lid for a few minutes. If you prefer a drier rice, set control to “saute” and let it dry out the rice a bit. Watch so it doesn’t scorch.
If you use the measuring cups that came with the IP, measure water and rice with them. They are a bit smaller in volume, but still compatable. I like the smaller amount for my one person household, but do like the idea that I can bag and freeze the rice for later too..
Maggie each type of measuring cup has the same volume. A cup is a cup if you fill to the appropriate lines on the side of the “liquid” cup
If I wanted to make a large batch of brown rice, let’s say …4 cups brown rice, how much water should I use and does the cooking time change?
It’s a 1 cup rice to 1.25 cups water ratio. So it would be 4 cups rice and 5 cups water. That would make 9 cups of rice. And I would keep the cooking time the same 22 minutes.
I made this today… followed the recipe exactly as I see the same one everywhere! My rice burned on the bottom and was still a little crunchy. I’m frustrated and confused because everyone else says it came out great.
Hi Sarah, I’m sorry that it didn’t turn out. By chance did you use the measuring cup that came with the IP?
Does the cook time stay the same if you cook more rice? For example, white rice, 1 cup is 8 minutes. Is that true if you cooked say 3 cups of rice? What is the most cups you have cook–thinking of when you cook extra brown rice to freeze? Thanks! Love your recipes!
yes, cooking time remains the same. The pot will just take more time to come to pressure the fuller it is. I have cooked probably 3 cups of uncooked brown rice before.
I have not been able to find the time for oven ready mannicotti stuffed noodles. Can you tell me how long it will take?
what exactly are you making? are you using the pot in pot method?
I have been looking for a Rice Pudding recipe for the longest time and have been experimenting making rice pudding. I haven’t tried the Slow Cooker yet. I’m looking for a recipe that will leave the rice pudding creamy. All that I have come up with is they are creamy when first done, but the next day they are dry and hard because all if the moisture has been absorbed by the rice. Any ideas. LOL Thank you so much for your blog and your help. Virginia
good question! I have very little experience with making and eating rice pudding. I’m sorry that I can’t be more helpful but I just really don’t know!
Onehappyhousewife.com has a wonderful rice pudding (arroz con leche) recipe for the Instant Pot! It’s very creamy and delicious!
I too own an Instant Pot LUX 60 V3 in addition to a Fagor and a Nesco. The rice button has been setup for long grain white rice and the program cannot be modified. Use the directions found on this site or follow those that came with the manual or recipe book that came with ur pressure cooker. For the person that has had their rice come out soggy I believe you are using the directions on the bag of rice. Use the water/rice ratio for an electric pressure cooker which I believe is 1 1/4 cups water per cup of brown rice. That’s from memory so double check with your manual.
This year I prepared everything for my Thanksgiving dinner, except for the turkey which went in my smoker, in my electric pressure cookers including both pumpkin and eggnog cheesecakes for dessert. The cranberry sauce was divine. Everything was done quickly and on time so I could spend time with my guests not looking at pots and pans.
If I were to buy another electric pressure cooker right now it would be the Fagor LCD. It’s faster because of a higher wattage heating element and the multiple menus include nearly every food you would cook. It’s expensive but worth it.
What a great comment. You have me intrigued by the Fagor LCD. Maybe I should add it to my Christmas wish list!
This rice was everything. Simple and easy. I just got an instapot so I’ve been trying lots of new ways to make things. This is my favorite thing so far. I’m a stay at home mom, pregnant with our third. It’s going to be great to make perfect rice on Saturday for the whole week. God bless.
★★★★★
So glad to hear, Nadda!
What is the best way to reheat your frozen portions of rice? Thanks!
I don’t know if this is the “best” way but I just pop them into the microwave.
Hi Karen! I’m new to your site and love the Instant Pot turkey chili recipe which I’ve made a couple times already. 🙂 For this recipe, I’m wondering if it matters what kind of brown rice – short grain or long grain, jasmine or basmati? My brown rice has been coming out mushy and wet so I’m hoping to make nice and fluffy rice soon. Thanks so much!
I use long grain brown rice!
Karen is it Instant long grain rice?
No it is regular long grain brown rice.
Question as to whether it should be manual high pressure or low pressure?
high pressure!
I tried this brown rice recipe and it tastes just awesome. I also recommend everyone to try this recipe at least one time you will love this recipe.
Thank you for sharing this recipe.
★★★★★
Thanks! So glad you liked it!
If you were to double the recipe, would the ratio stay the same? Say 4c rice to 5c water? I have family visiting, and want to make sure I can feed everyone! TIA!
yes, it should be the same!
Hi Karen!
I’m new to the instant pot world, having received mine about a month ago. I noticed you used the manual button for this recipe. Can we just use the rice button to cook the brown rice?
Thanks!
ok Nikki, I’m not sure on that. I’m new as well to this instant pot world and haven’t tried all the buttons. I’m wondering if the rice button would be more for white rice or jasmine rice and not for brown rice? I will have to research it and let you know!
The rice button works great for regular white rice but the brown rice will still come out crunchy, in my experience the brown rice needs more time so manual is better for that.
Thanks Amy! You are right. The rice button is no bueno for brown rice.
Hello, there are 2 different ratios mentioned above. (in a 1.5 water to 1.0 rice ratio)–in the prose, and 2 cups rice to 2.5 c water in the recipe. Which is correct? Thanks.
oops I messed up! thanks for letting me know. I will correct. the right ratio is 2 cups rice to 2.5 cups water.