Instant Pot Brown Rice

Brown rice is so delicious, but kind of a hassle to make on the stove (as far as I can remember). I actually haven’t made it on the stove for years, not since I got my Instant Pot.

Pressure cooking is 100% the best way to cook brown rice. Quick(er) to cook, no need to supervise a boiling pot, and perfectly cooked every time!

What brown rice to use?

I have tested this recipe with medium-grain and long-grain brown rice, and the method and cooking time are the same for both types. I have not tested brown basmati yet, but watch this space…

First rinse the rice

Before cooking, rinse the rice in a sieve under running water until it is clear. This removes the surface starch, which can make the rice gummy. After rinsing make sure you drain it well, so the water-rice ratio isn’t thrown off

I have also tested this recipe after soaking the rice, and the extra time spent soaking didn’t make a noticeable difference.

Get the water-to-rice ratio right

Use 2 ½ cups of water for every 2 cups of rice. This ratio might be a little lower than the amount stated on the rice packet for cooking on the stove, but that is because more water will evaporate if its cooked in a pot on the stove vs. in the Instant Pot.

Pressure cook + natural release

Pressure cook the brown rice on High for 22 minutes. When the cooking time it up, allow the Instant Pot to release pressure naturally for 10 minutes before opening it. This allows the rice to finish steaming.

Fluff with a fork

When you open the Instant Pot, you will notice that the rice is lying flat, and looks stuck together. Simply fluff it up with a fork before serving for the perfect texture.