This Instant Pot Fluffy Rice is tender, light, and flavorful every time! Please keep reading to learn my fool-proof secret to cooking perfect rice in the Instant Pot. Ready in about 15 minutes. A guide to cooking different kinds of rice in the Instant Pot is included.
Perfect & Fluffy Instant Pot Rice
Rice is one of those everyday staples I cook with my eyes closed. And this Instant Pot Fluffy Rice version is way easier and quicker to make. Rice was/is VERY important in my family. Seriously. I think it was the first thing I learned to cook.
The love thingy for rice seems to be genetic because my kids LOVE rice. So, once again, I find myself making rice several times per week.
That is why I am so excited to have found a way to make it in my Instant Pot in less than 20 minutes. I avoided making rice in the pressure cooker for a long time because I thought it would be sticky, mushy, and overcooked. We hate mushy rice. But after a few testing and tweaking, I found the perfect way to make fluffy rice in the Instant Pot.
This Instant Pot Rice is
- Tender
- Flavorful
- Fluffy
- Easy
- And AMAZING with any main dish…
Secrets of making fluffy rice every time
- Rinse uncooked rice under running cold water to get rid of the extra starch.
- Toast rinsed rice with a little bit of unflavored oil before adding the cooking liquid.
- Add 1 teaspoon of white vinegar to the cooking water.
- If cooking on the stovetop, let all the cooking water evaporate, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until rice is tender.
- When cooking in the pressure cooker, let the water bring to a boil before securing the lid. Cook for 8 minutes. Natural release for 5 minutes and then quick release. Fluff with a fork and serve.
Guide to cooking perfect rice in the Instant Pot
- Regular white rice = 1 cup rice + 1 cup water. Cook on high pressure for 8 minutes. Natural release for 5 minutes, then quick release.
- Brown rice = 1 cup rice + 1 1/4 water. Cook on high pressure for 20 minutes. Natural release for 5 minutes, then quick release.
- Basmati = 1 cup rice + ¾ cup water. Cook on high pressure for 8 minutes. Natural release for 5 minutes, then quick release.
- Jasmine = 1 cup rice + ¾ cup water. Cook on high pressure for 8 minutes. Natural release for 5 minutes, then quick release.
- Texmati = 1 cup rice + 1 cup water. Cook on high pressure for 8 minutes. Natural release for 5 minutes, then quick release.
- Wild rice = 1 cup rice + 1 ½ cup water. Cook on high pressure for 25 minutes. Natural release for 5 minutes, then quick release.
Scaling up or Down the Recipe & Cooking Times
You can double/triple the recipe with the same cooking time. On the other hand, if you need to make less, half the ingredients and keep the same cooking time. Keep in mind that you should use the rice:water ratio that is best for the type of rice you are making.
How to cook fluffy rice in the Instant Pot (step by step)
Please check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact quantities and detailed instructions (scroll down).
- Rinse the Rice
Place rice fine mesh colander and rinse it under cold running water until the water runs clear.
- Saute the Rice
Turn on the Instant Pot and select u0022Sautéu0022 and adjust to more. Add oil. When hot, add the rinsed rice. Toast rice for 2 – 3 minutes until most moisture is absorbed and the rice starts to look a little toasted and coated with oil, stirring constantly.
- Cook
Add water, salt, garlic, vinegar, onion (if using), and pepper (if using). Bring to a boil. Secure the lid to the Instant Pot. Close the pressure release valve. Select u0022manualu0022 or “pressure cook” and adjust the cooking time to 8 minutes. When the time is over, let the pressure release on its own for 5 minutes. Then, carefully turn the valve to u0022Ventingu0022 to release any extra pressure that might still be in there. Then remove the lid. Press u0022cancelu0022. Discard onion and pepper if you used them.
- Fluff u0026 Serve
Fluff rice with a fork and serve.
Storing & Freezing Instructions
Store: Cooked rice leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Make sure the rice is cool down to room temperature before refrigerating or freezing.
Freezing cooked rice: To freeze cooked rice, portion it into freezer-safe containers or freezer bags. Remove as much air as possible before sealing to prevent freezer burn. Frozen rice can be stored for up to 6 months. When you’re ready to use it, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and reheat it thoroughly before serving.
PRO-TIP: Divide it into smaller portions for easier and faster cooling.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can double/triple the recipe with the same cooking time. Keep in mind that you should use the rice: water ratio that is best for the type of rice you are making.
You can cut the recipe in half using 1/2 cup of rice to 1/2 cup of water and keep the same cooking time.
The rice button on the Instant Pot doesn’t differentiate between the type of rice you are using, so to avoid any miscalculations, it’s best just to use the pressure cooker button and adjust the time accordingly to the type of rice you are making.
The rice measuring cup that comes with the Instant Pot is 180 ml (less than a regular cup), so if you decide to use the cup, you need to use it to measure the rice and water so you can keep the 1:1 rice/water ratio.
What to Serve with Rice
The options are endless! Rice is an incredibly versatile staple food that can be served almost with everything. The list below is just the beginning because of how versatile rice can be.
- Easy Kung Pao Pork Chops
- Easy Teriyaki Turkey Meatballs (Egg-Free)
- Instant Pot Beef Tips with Gravy
- Easy General Tso’s Chicken [recipe+video]
- Easy Hawaiian Pineapple Pork
- Quick & Easy Beef and Broccoli (Video)
- Browse more recipes…
Recipe Card 📖
Easy & Fluffy Instant Pot Rice
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups (400 g) white rice
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) canola or vegetable oil
- 2 cups (480 ml) water
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- 1- 2- inch piece onion (optional)
- 1 -2- inch piece bell pepper (optional)
Important
Don’t forget to check out the step-by-step photos above in the post—they’ll guide you through the process and make everything super clear!
Instructions
- Place rice fine mesh colander and rinse it under cold running water until the water runs clear.
- Turn on the Instant Pot, select "Sauté", and adjust to more. Add oil. When hot, add the rinsed rice. Toast rice for 2 – 3 minutes until most moisture is absorbed and the rice starts to look a little toasted and coated with oil, stirring constantly.
- Add water, salt, garlic, vinegar, onion (if using), and pepper (if using). Bring to a boil. Secure the lid to the Instant Pot. Close the pressure release valve. Select "manual", or "pressure cook", and adjust the cooking time to 8 minutes.
- When the time is over, let the pressure release on its own for 5 minutes. Then, carefully turn the valve to "Venting" to release any extra pressure that might still be in there. Then remove the lid. Press "cancel".
- Discard onion and pepper, if you used them.
- Fluff rice with a fork and serve.
-
- Rinse uncooked rice under cold water to remove the extra starch.
-
- Toast rinsed rice with a little bit of unflavored oil before adding the cooking liquid.
-
- Add 1 teaspoon of white vinegar to the cooking water.
-
- If cooking on the stovetop, let all the cooking water evaporate, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until rice is tender.
-
- When cooking in the pressure cooker, let the water bring to a boil before securing the lid. Cook for 8 minutes. Natural release for 5 minutes and then quick release. Fluff with a fork and serve.
- Regular white rice = 1 cup rice + 1 cup water. Cook on high pressure for 8 minutes. Natural release for 5 minutes, then quick release.
- Brown rice = 1 cup rice + 1 1/4 water. Cook on high pressure for 20 minutes. Natural release for 5 minutes, then quick release.
- Basmati = 1 cup rice + ¾ cup water. Cook on high pressure for 8 minutes. Natural release for 5 minutes, then quick release.
- Jasmine = 1 cup rice + ¾ cup water. Cook on high pressure for 8 minutes. Natural release for 5 minutes, then quick release.
- Texmati = 1 cup rice + 1 cup water. Cook on high pressure for 8 minutes. Natural release for 5 minutes, then quick release.
- Wild rice = 1 cup rice + 1 ½ cup water. Cook on high pressure for 25 minutes. Natural release for 5 minutes, then quick release.
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
This recipe was originally published in February 2018. The recipe remains the same, but more notes, tips, photos, and information were added to the post in May 2023 to make it as helpful as possible!
I once pressure cooked my rice for 5 minutes and it was rubbery. I did 4 minutes and it was better, but not fluffy.
I want to try this recipe, but why are you bringing to a boil plus cooking (on high pressure, I assume) for 8 minutes? Does the sautéing and using vinegar change the rice so that it would need 8 minutes? Or is it low pressure?
Or are you keeping it on sauté and putting the lid on and sealing?
Hello Jasmine! For this recipe, bringing the rice to a boil and then cooking it under high pressure for 8 minutes ensures it’s perfectly cooked and flavorful. The sautéing and vinegar help enhance the taste and texture, but they don’t affect the cooking time significantly.
I am assuming that your are using regular white rice, in that case, after toasting and bring it to boil, you need to pressure cook for 8 minutes, and then natural release for 5 minutes. Hope this helps, and I hope you end up with delicious, fluffy rice!
I am shocked there aren’t more comments on this! I have been trying to find the perfect IP rice recipe for so long and I finally found it! I omitted the pepper and onion but it was exactly the right consistency and the garlic powder flavor just made it amazing all on its own. Definitely going to be my go-to rice recipe.
Hello Lena!
Wow, thank you so much for your wonderful comment! 🌟 It absolutely made my day to hear that you found the perfect Instant Pot rice recipe here. Isn’t it just fantastic when you discover a dish that hits all the right notes? Your feedback truly warms my heart! It’s fantastic that you were able to customize it to your liking by omitting the pepper and onion. Sometimes simplicity is key, right? The garlic powder really does add that extra oomph, doesn’t it? I’m thrilled to hear that it’s going to be your new go-to rice recipe! Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience.
I just tried this recipe because it is similar to how I cook rice on the stovetop (toasting it first). I’ve tried rice in the IP about a half dozen other times, with other recipes, and about half the time I get a burn warning. I got a warning this time too. I’m using an 8 qt Ultra model. I suspect the problem is that it’s an 8 qt instead of a 6 qt and that does throw some recipes off.
Hello Kirsten! What a bummer… I know newer IP models has that problem. I am still using my first IP from 2017.
How much extra water is needed if cooking chicken with jasmine rice? Thanks!
Hello Christina! I am sorry but I haven’t tested this recipe with chicken. If you do try adding the chicken, please let me know the outcome. Thanks for your interest in my recipe.🙂
Hola Oriana – I am considering purchasing an instant pot and would like your recommendation. Normally I would be using it to feed 3-4 people but occasionally I would use for larger crowds. I have been enjoying your recipes for a while thanks! Soy Americana pero vivi en Caracas para diez anos – pero hace muchos anos. Me encanta mis memorias de Venezuela!
Hola Cheryl!! Thanks so much for following my recipes. Caracas was a nice place to live in the past, unfortunately, that is not the case anymore. Regarding the Instant Pot, there are several models but all of them have a 6qt capacity. The main difference is the quantities of programmable functions, for example, the latest one has a function to make a cake. So, it would depend on how much you want to spend. I bought mine on Amazon (http://amzn.to/2CArgfJ – affiliate link) but you can also find it at Walmart, Target, etc… I am planning to buy a second one soon and I would probably buy the Instant Pot Ultra 6 Qt 10-in-1 (http://amzn.to/2EHMcYa – affiliate link). Please let me know if you have any other question. Un abrazo ? Update: there is an IP with 8qt capacity ( http://amzn.to/2FwOIxF – affiliate link)
Your way of making this fluffy rice is so different than mine. 😀
And I understand your love for rice. I’m from Nepal where no one gets tired of eating rice, I mean we eat rice two times a day for lunch and dinner. 😛
And I’ll use your recipe to make tasty fluffy rice for my dinner. 😀
I’ll enjoy this recipe, Oriana 😀 😀
Hello Ushmana! Yes, rice is very important in my family LOL. Toasting the rice before cooking and adding a splash of vinegar to the cooking liquid are two family’s tricks that have been applied for decades. I hope you like my version. Thanks so much for stopping by ?