Description

This Instant Pot Rice recipe delivers perfectly cooked white or brown rice with minimal effort. By using the Instant Pot’s ‘Rice’ setting or ‘Manual’ high-pressure cooking, you achieve fluffy, tender grains every time. Optional spices such as turmeric or cardamom pods add subtle layers of flavor, making it a versatile base for any meal.

Ingredients

Scale

For White Rice

2 cups white rice (Short and long grain Basmati or Jasmine)
2 cups water (or broth, optional)
1 tablespoon oil (avocado, olive, ghee or butter)
1 teaspoon sea salt
Optional spices: 1/2 teaspoon turmeric, 4-5 cracked cardamom pods, or other spices you prefer

For Brown Rice

2 cups brown rice
2 1/2 cups water
1 tablespoon oil of your choice
1 teaspoon sea salt
Optional spices as above

Instructions

Rinse Rice: Thoroughly rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear to remove excess starch.
Place Rice in Instant Pot Inner Pan: Transfer the rinsed rice into the Instant Pot inner pot evenly.
Pour Water Over Rice: Add the specified amount of water for white or brown rice directly into the pot over the rice.
Add Oil and Salt: Pour in 1 tablespoon of your chosen oil and 1 teaspoon of sea salt. Add any optional spices if using.
Stir Ingredients: Give the rice, water, oil, salt, and spices a gentle stir to evenly combine.
Secure the Lid: Place the Instant Pot lid firmly on and set the valve to the “sealing” position.
Set Cooking Mode: Press the “RICE” button. If the timer does not automatically adjust, set the cooking time to 12 minutes for white rice.
Natural Release: After the cooking cycle ends and you hear the beeper, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, if pressure remains, carefully perform a quick release.
Fluff and Serve: Open the lid, fluff the rice gently with a fork, and serve immediately. For softer rice, add a small amount of extra water next time.
For Brown Rice Option: Press the “Manual” button, adjust to high pressure for 23 minutes, then allow a natural release for 10 minutes before quick releasing any remaining pressure and opening the lid.

Notes

Water ratios differ slightly for white and brown rice to ensure optimal texture.
Add optional spices like turmeric or cardamom pods for aromatic flavor variations.
Adjust water quantity according to how soft or firm you prefer your rice.
For brown rice, use the manual high-pressure setting with longer cooking time for best results.
Fluff rice gently with a fork to avoid breaking the grains.
Use broth instead of water to add some depth of flavor, though it’s optional.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes for white rice, 23 minutes for brown rice
Category: Side Dish
Method: Instant Pot
Cuisine: International

Keywords: Instant Pot rice, pressure cooker rice, easy rice recipe, fluffy rice, white rice, brown rice, turmeric rice, cardamom rice