Instant pot rice step-by-step guide
Rice is a staple food enjoyed by countless individuals around the world, especially by Asians. Its versatility, ease of preparation, and delicious taste make it a popular choice for a wide range of dishes. While traditional stovetop cooking methods require careful monitoring and attention to achieve the perfect consistency, the Instant Pot has revolutionized the way we cook rice.
Complete guide to cook instant pot rice perfectly
There are numerous varieties of rice available, such as long-grain, basmati, jasmine, and arborio. Each type has its own unique characteristics and requires slightly different cooking times. Certain varieties like wild rice and brown rice require more time compared to white rice. While all rice varieties can be cooked using either high or low pressure, the texture differs slightly.
Let’s start to make perfect instant pot rice:
Instant pot rice step-by-step guide
Equipment
- Instant pot
Materials
- 1 cup Rice
- 1 cup Water
Instructions
Step 1: Rinse the Rice
- Place the desired amount of rice in the inner pot of instant pot and rinse it under cold water 1-2 times until the water runs clear.
- Step 2: Add Water & seasonings (if any) to the Instant Pot
- Once you've rinsed the rice, add still water to the pot. Water to rice ratios can stay the same for all rice varieties, from 1 to 1.2 cups of water with 1 cup of rice.
- Tips: You can check if the water added is enough by using your hand. Usually, the water level is around one knuckle above the rice.
- One another way is dip your hand into water layer over the rice. If the water can fully cover your fingers, it’s the right amount.
- If desired, you can add salt, spices, or other seasonings to the rice and water mixture in the Instant Pot. This is to infuse additional flavors into your rice. Experiment with different herbs and spices to enhance your dish.
- Step 3: Instant Pot Rice Cooking Settings
Securely lock the Instant Pot lid in place and set the valve to the sealing position. Although the automatic "rice" setting can be used for cooking any type of rice, brown rice tends to yield better results when using a manual setting or a specific setting designed for whole grains, such as the "Multigrain" setting on the Instant Pot. Adjust the cooking time according to the type of rice you're using:
- White rice (Basmati, jasmine rice): On low pressure, set the cooking time to 15 minutes for a firmer texture or 17 minutes for softer one. On high pressure, cook in 5 minutes.
- Brown rice: Set the cooking time to 15 minutes, on high pressure.
- Once the cooking time is complete, allow the Instant pot to release pressure naturally for around 10 minutes.
- Step 4: Fluff and Serve
- Once the pressure has completely released, carefully open the Instant Pot lid. Use a fork or a rice paddle to fluff the rice gently. The grains should be separate and tender. Serve the rice immediately as a side dish or as a base for your favorite recipes.
Tips for perfect rice
- Rinse the rice. It’s essential to rinse the rice to remove any excess starch, which helps to achieve a fluffy texture in the final result.
- Right ratio of water and rice. Adjust the water amount accurately based on the quantity of rice. If there is not enough water, the rice will be dry. In this case, add a little water to the rice and microwave it on high for 10 minutes. If there is too much water, the rice will be mushy. If, unfortunately, your rice turns out mushy, fluff the rice and let it sit at room temperature to allow the excess moisture to evaporate.
- Hot serve: Rice is best enjoyed fresh and hot. Always heat it up before eating.
Cooking rice in an Instant Pot is a straightforward process that yields consistent, perfectly cooked grains every time. Following simple steps above, you can master the art of cooking rice and enjoy fluffy, delicious rice in short time. Experiment with different types of rice and seasonings and eat it with boiled egg, soup, pickles…. Also use your best cooked rice as base for other dish like Thai pineapple fried rice, egg fried rice.