Making fluffy, perfect white rice in the Instant Pot is easy, delicious, and foolproof with this simple method!
Try this rice with my Sheet Pan Meatballs with Chickpeas, Cauliflower and Butternut Squash for an easy meal-prep lunch.
My Favorite Instant Pot Rice
Rice is such an essential food in Latin and Asian cultures. It’s one of my favorite foods, and I eat it almost every day. In fact, I make it so often that I could make it in my sleep.
Although you can make rice on the stovetop, these days I actually prefer making it in my Instant Pot. It’s easy, hands-off and makes perfect white rice every time. I’ve tested and perfected the rice-to-liquid ratio in the Instant Pot, which I’m sharing with you today. It makes fluffy rice you can serve with everything from chicken adobo to chicken tikka masala. That’s another thing to love about rice – it can be served with so many main dishes.
If you’re looking for more easy rice recipes, you may like my Instant Pot Brown Rice, Black Beans and Rice, and Latin Yellow Rice recipes. I also have a helpful post on how to make brown rice on the stovetop.
Why Cook Rice in a Pressure Cooker?
- Fast Cook Time! The Instant Pot, or Insta pot as some people like to call it is also called a multi-cooker or electric pressure cooker. With only a couple minutes of prep, you can put your Instant Pot to work and let it cook a perfect batch of fluffy rice for you.
- Foolproof: If you struggle to make white rice, you will love this recipe. No need to worry about how hot the flame is, no need to watch a pot on the stove, just seal your Instant Pot and walk away.
- Make Ahead: This recipe makes enough for several servings making it perfect for meal prep.
What You’ll Need
Here’s the ingredients you’ll need to make white rice in the Instant Pot. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for exact measurements.
- Rice: I use long-grain white rice or jasmine rice. This should be fine with short grain rice too.
- Liquid: Cook your rice in water or broth for more flavor.
- Oil: I typically use olive oil, but any kind of oil will work.
- Salt: To season the rice
How to Make Instant Pot Rice
Here’s how to cook rice in the Instant Pot in just a few easy steps!
- Rinse rice in a mesh sieve under cold water and drain well.
- Add everything to your Instant Pot: Add the rice, water, oil, and salt to the pressure cooker and stir.
- Cook: Close the lid, turn the venting knob to sealing, and cook on high pressure for three minutes. When the timer beeps, use a natural pressure release for 15 minutes. (A “natural release” means you don’t touch the Instant Pot lid, and you let it sit for the instructed time.)
- Fluff Rice: After 15 minutes, do a quick pressure release by turning the knob to vent to release any remaining pressure. Open the lid and fluff the rice with a fork.
Frequently Asked Questions
The typical water-to-rice ratio is two cups of liquid to one cup of rice. I tested many water ratios and found that 2 1/3 cups of water and two cups of rice resulted in the best white rice.
One cup of uncooked rice equals approximately three cups of cooked rice, and one serving is about three-quarters cup. So, one cup of uncooked rice is about 3 to 4 servings depending on if you’re eating it as a side dish or as a main, like in fried rice. This long-grain rice recipe uses 2 cups of uncooked rice, which yields about 8 servings.
What to Eat with Rice
I have so many healthy rice recipes on my website for inspiration on how to eat Instant Pot white rice. Below are some ideas:
- Rice Bowls: Honey-Sriracha Roasted Salmon Rice Bowls, Buffalo Chicken Rice Bowls, Greek Chicken Meal Prep Rice Bowls
- Side Dish with Protein: Parmesan-Herb Baked Salmon, BBQ Chicken, Air Fryer Pork Chops
- Fried Rice: Cajun Fried Rice, Salmon Fried Rice, House Special Fried Rice
- Stir Fries: Pepper Steak, Tofu Stir Fry with Soy Sesame Sauce, Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry
- Poke Bowls: Ahi Tuna Poke Stacks, Spicy Tuna Poke Bowl
How to Meal Prep Rice
Cooked rice lasts for up to four days in the refrigerator, making it excellent for meal prep. Make a big batch on the weekend, and plan to use it for the next few days. White rice is versatile, so you eat it as a side, grain bowl, and fried rice in one week and not get tired of eating the same thing every night.
Is it OK to freeze cooked rice?
Yes, you can freeze cooked rice for up to 3 months.
- Cool it first by spreading the rice on a sheet pan in an even layer. Once it’s at room temperature, you can store it in one-cup airtight containers, so you can pull them out of the freezer as needed for quick meals.
- You can also freeze rice in quart zip-locked bags. Ensure there’s no air in the bag, and press the rice flat before freezing, so it doesn’t take up much space.
- To reheat, microwave the frozen rice covered for about three minutes or heat it on the stove if you’re adding it to soups, stir fries, etc.
More Instant Pot Recipes You’ll Love
Instant Pot Rice
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups long grain white rice , or jasmine rice, rinsed (13 oz dry)
- 2 1/3 cups water
- 2 teaspoons olive oil , or oil of choice
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt, use less if using table salt or sea salt
Instructions
- Rinse Rice: Rinse rice under cold water in a mesh sieve and drain really well.
- Instant Pot Rice: Add the rice, water, oil and salt to the pressure cooker pot and stir.
- Close the lid, turn the venting knob to sealing and cook it on high pressure 3 minutes. When timer beeps, let it sit 15 minutes.
- Fluff rice: After 15 minutes, do a quick pressure release, open the lid and fluff the rice with a fork.
Followed the recipe step by step and it came out slightly under cooked. I think it needed another minute or so. Rated 4 stars because it may just be an issue with my instant pot and not the recipe.
Well I must say you can let it stay in the pot longer than stated cuz I forgot, lol. Still perfect. This is now my go to cooking method. Perfect.
Cooks the rice perfectly every time!
I use this recipe multiple times a week! The best way to make the perfect rice & the easiest!
Perfect every time !
My first instapot meal was a success, thanks to you!
Rice to perfection!
Thank You!
Quick question, I don’t need to make 8 servings of rice. Could I cut the recipe in half? 1 cup of rice, 1 cup of water or should I use 1 1/3 cup of water?
I cook my rice for 5 to 6 minutes on high with a little oil or butter, 1 to 1 ratio rice to water and it comes out perfect every time.
Made exactly according to recipe except did not rinse. Came out a little over cooked for my taste. Next time I’ll natural release for only 10 minutes.
This recipe worked like a charm. Nice texture, great flavor on what would otherwise be just plain rice.
Can I use this recipe in 3-qt instapot?
Perfect texture! I used a combo of jalapeño and cilantro olive oil and its delicious!
Been making this a ton. If you double the quantity does it still only take 3 minutes?
yes
Finally I can make great rice! Thank you!!
Every rice package in the US says on the label: Do not wash the rice. When you do so, you are washing away the vitamins and left with just starch.
However, if you are getting your rice in a burlap bag directly off a tacky ship from an unknown place in Asia, yes, you may want to wash out the dirt etc. But most American rice comes from the Southern states and California, and needs no washing. Read the label.
Works like a charm. Had basmati rice, will be a go to recipe. I do like making a bigger quantity and if needed freezing for later.
I eat rice 5 out of 7 days and so thankful for this recipe… perfection all around! Thank you!
So do I, so glad you found this helpful!
As a rice enthusiast this was great! Perfectly cooked rice. After fluffing with fork I added a handful of chopped cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice….delish!!!
Perfect!!
Thank you Gina, what is your recipe for Instant Pot Brown rice? TYIA
I will share soon!
I just posted my Instant Pot brown rice recipe!
Is the rice/water ratio correct in this recipe? It calls for 2 cups of rice and 2 1/3 cups of water. Wouldn’t the water be doubled as you are using 2 cups of rice?
No, not in the pressure cooker. It is 2 cups rice, 2 1/3 cup liquid.
Gina, your post says that 2 1/3 cups water to 1 cup uncooked rice yields the best results, but your actual recipe is for 2 cups uncooked rice and still only 2 1/3 cups water. Shouldn’t the water be doubled to 4 2/3 cups?
2 cups rice, 2 1/3 cup liquid is correct for the pressure cooker, different than the stove.
Thank you for this recipe. I’ll be trying this this weekend. Could you clarify the amount of rice to be used? The recipe is listing 2 cups rice to 2-1/3 cups water ratio. Should it be 1 cup rice to the 2-1/3 cups water? Thanks much!
2 cups rice, 2 1/3 cup liquid is correct for the pressure cooker, the pressure cooker is different than the stove.
I can’t wait to try this… need to make a big batch – 24 servings – so hopefully will work good for my group! So perfect timing! Thank you Gina!
I never made that much, let us know how it works out!