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This brown rice in the instant pot recipe is the best way to cook brown rice, hands down. It comes out perfectly every single time.
Table of Contents
- Why Use An Instant Pot?
- Ingredients Needed for Fluffy Instant Pot Brown Rice
- Types of Brown Rice
- How to Make the Perfect Brown Rice in the Instant Pot
- Don’t Use the “Rice” Button
- Add Flavor to Your Brown Rice Cooked in the IP
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Recipes Using Cooked Brown Rice
- More Delicious Rice Recipes
- How To Make Brown Rice in the Instant Pot
- Brown Rice in the Instant Pot Recipe
Many people shy away from cooking brown rice because it can be more temperamental than white rice. Brown rice is considered to be a “whole grain” as it contains the bran and the germ of the rice. White rice is lighter and softer than brown rice because the bran and germ are removed, making it easier and faster to cook. However, that doesn’t mean brown rice needs to be more difficult to cook. It is actually really easy if you follow the right steps!
With this simple recipe, you will find just how easy it is to make brown rice in an instant pot. The texture of the rice is light and fluffy with all the nutrients from being whole grain rice. Making brown rice in the instant pot is so much easier than the stovetop. There is no waiting or watching, the instant pot does all the work for you!
Why Use An Instant Pot?
By cooking the rice in the Instant Pot, the rice cooks evenly and comes out perfectly light and fluffy. I have tried many times to cook brown rice on the stovetop and it just doesn’t come out as nicely as when I do it in the Instant Pot. Even cooking brown rice in the rice cooker doesn’t get a perfect consistency. Follow the easy Instant Pot Brown Rice recipe below to get perfectly cooked brown rice every time.
Ingredients Needed for Fluffy Instant Pot Brown Rice
Make the perfect instant pot brown rice with just a few ingredients and an instant pot appliance. It is super easy to add it all into the instant pot and press a few buttons. Let the instant pot do all the work!
- Brown rice – Long-grain brown rice can be bought in a bag. We like the long grain because it is easier to use in other recipes as well as getting the extra texture and filling from it. Brown jasmine rice or brown basmati rice are great options.
- Water – This is to make sure it cooks, steams, and adds that liquid to help fluff up the water. Too much water can lead to a mushy type of rice though. The rice and water ratio have to be balanced.
- Salt – The salt will balance out the minerals and give it some flavor. Be careful not to add too much sodium when using salt or other seasonings.
Types of Brown Rice
The main types of brown rice are short-grain brown rice, medium-grain, and long-grain. There is also a “light brown” rice that has half of the bran removed, making it more of a cross between white rice and brown rice than full-blown brown rice. For this recipe, you can use any kind of brown rice. Long-grain brown rice is typically the most common, but you can use any of these types using the same method below.
How to Make the Perfect Brown Rice in the Instant Pot
Get ready to enjoy the best brown rice in the instant pot! It is easy to make and comes together in minutes. Make sure to follow these steps for the fluffy brown rice. It is a simple rice recipe that is perfect for adding as a side dish! You can’t go wrong with this brown rice recipe.
- Prepare – Place 2 cups of rice in a fine mesh strainer and rinse well, agitating and swirling with a hand, until the water runs clear. Drain well.
- Liquid – Place rice in the Instant Pot or pressure cooker and add 2 cups of water.
- Pressure cook – Cover the Instant Pot with the lid and turn the knob to the sealing position. Pressure cook on high pressure for 23 minutes. Natural pressure release 10-12 minutes, then quick release by turning the knob or the valve to the venting position.
- Fluff rice – Uncover and fluff rice with a fork before serving.
Don’t Use the “Rice” Button
Don’t be tempted to use the “rice” button on your Instant Pot or pressure cooker. Usually, the “rice” function is programmed to “low” pressure and only cooks for 12 to 15 minutes which is not long enough for brown rice. The rice function works best for white rice varieties only. Set your cooking time manually when working with brown rice.
Add Flavor to Your Brown Rice Cooked in the IP
The easiest thing to do to add more flavor to your rice is to switch up the liquid. Try adding chicken broth or vegetable broth for starters. You can also sauté your rice with some garlic, onion, or peppers in some oil before adding the water to cook. This will make for a more fragrant, flavorful rice. You can also season your rice to make Spanish Rice, Yellow Rice, or Rice Pilaf.
“It’s perfectly fluffy! I love cooking rice in chicken broth as you suggested, for the extra oomph of flavor!”
-Agnes
Frequently Asked Questions
When cooking rice in the Instant Pot, you will simply use a 1:1 ratio of uncooked brown rice to water. For example, if you add 1 cup of uncooked rice to the pressure cooker, you will add 1 cup of water.
This is typically LESS water than what you would use if cooking on the stovetop or rice cooker. If you cook on the stovetop you will want to use more water, closer to a 1:2 rice-to-water ratio.
You CAN soak your rice before cooking but it isn’t necessary with this method because you will be cooking your rice with high pressure. By cooking rice in the Instant Pot, there is enough pressure to soften the rice adequately without having to soak it first. If using a stovetop or rice cooker method, I would recommend soaking your rice to help soften it more before cooking.
In the Instant Pot, the rice cooks for approximately 38 minutes. That’s about 5 minutes to come to pressure, 23 minutes to cook at full pressure, and 10 minutes to natural release. This is pretty close to the same amount of time that it would take to cook on the stovetop. However, the rice will come out better because it is being cooked under high pressure. The heat is also evenly distributed in an Instant Pot. This makes it less likely to burn to the bottom of the pan.
Recipes Using Cooked Brown Rice
Brown rice is so versatile and can be used in SO many different ways. Add it to stir-fry recipes, casseroles, and/or soups. You can also serve it as a side dish with chicken, beef, fish, or any other protein. Here are a few more ideas:
Read Next: 27 BEST Instant Pot Recipes
More Delicious Rice Recipes
Try some of these flavorful rice dishes or check out ALL of our rice recipes for more great ways to enjoy rice! Rice is a great side dish or a simple meal with more ingredients added like fried rice. These family-favorite recipes are perfect for any meal!
How To Make Brown Rice in the Instant Pot
Brown Rice in the Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 2 cups long grain brown rice
- 2 cups water (or broth)
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Place 2 cups of rice in a fine mesh strainer and rinse well, agitating and swirling with hand, until water runs clear. Drain well.
- Place rice in the Instant Pot (or pressure cooker) and add 2 cups of water.
- Cover the Instant Pot with the lid and turn knob to the sealing position. Pressure cook on high pressure for 23 minutes. Natural pressure release 10-12 minutes, then quick release by turning the knob to the venting position.
- Uncover and fluff rice with fork before serving.
It’s so nice to have well cooked rice every time using an easy process! The rice tends to be a tad on the wet side for me, but a few minutes uncovered on the “keep warm” setting takes care of that. One of these times, I’ll try reducing the amount of liquid by a few tablespoons.
Sometimes, I lightly toast the rice first before adding the liquid. Once the saute function is “hot,” add 1–2 tablespoons olive oil to heat, then add the rice. Stir about 3 minutes until the rice gives off a nutty fragrance. One can also try “dry” toasting using the same process minus any oil.
It’s perfectly fluffy! I love cooking rice in chicken broth as you suggested, for the extra oomph of flavor!
Seriously the only way to make brown rice! Perfect every time.
This is my new favorite way to cook rice, turns out perfectly every single time!