We’ve shown you a few different methods for making brown rice. In the oven. Boiling in a lot of water. And there’s always just making it on the stovetop. There are pros and cons to each, but I’ve recently started cooking brown rice in my Instant Pot. We’ve been hearing from a lot of people who got them for Christmas, wanting recipes, and rice is one of those essential ways that you can really put your Instant Pot to work. This Instant Pot Brown Rice is about as fast as the method that involves cooking it in a lot of water, but I also feel like it’s more forgiving. It’s a lot faster than cooking it in the oven (although there are times that I really like that method; it’s very comfort food-y) and cooking it on the stovetop is always kind of iffy…things spill over…rice burns…I say bad words…the rice is either overcooked or undercooked. Basically, I just need to never do that.
The first time I cooked it in my Instant Pot, I used the Instant Pot directions (which are more along the lines of stovetop water to rice proportions). I wound up with mushy, waterlogged rice. The next time around, someone told me that I needed to cut way back on the water, which gave me perfect, fuss-free brown rice. So now I make it likes this a few times a week and freeze any leftovers for easy use in the future.
You’ll need 2 cups of brown rice, 2 1/2 cups water (I use just shy of that because I don’t think I need that much at sea level elevation, but I think in higher elevations, 2 1/2 will be perfect), a little olive oil, and a little kosher salt.
Use the sauté setting on your pan to heat the olive oil, then add the rice and stir for about 30 seconds.
Add the salt and water…
And use the manual setting to cook for 22-24 minutes (22 for low elevations, 24 for higher elevations). Allow the pressure to release naturally (so don’t turn the valve) for 5-10 minutes, then fluff with a fork and serve.
Seriously, it couldn’t be easier!
How to Make Brown Rice in an Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 2 cups brown rice
- 2 1/2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Use the sauté setting to heat the olive oil for 2-3 minutes. Add the rice and stir for 30 seconds. Add water and salt. Use the manual setting to cook for 22-24 minutes (22 for low elevations, 24 for higher), then allow the pressure to release naturally (don't use the release valve) for 5-10 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Leftovers freeze beautifully for later use.
Notes
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Questions & Reviews
Thanks for sharing this !!! You’ve saved me. I was about to give up on rice. I live in the Midwest and 23 minutes was perfect.
Thank you so much! This was delicious & I’m a newbie to the Instant Pot!
Came across your recipe tonight. I’ve only attempted brown rice once, and it didn’t go well. Tonight’s rice was perfect!! Thank you!!
Awesome!!! So happy to hear this!! ❤️❤️
Yay…yay…yay! No more mushy brown rice! My white rice always turns out perfectly with the “rice” button option, but my brown rice (my personal preference) has always been mushy…too much water was the culprit. Thanks for your recipe❤️
I love to add wheat berries to either millet or quinoa or brown rice. So, say, 1C of the grain with 1/4 C of the wheat berries, so 1 1/4 C of water or broth would you say? Same cooking time for millet and brown rice?
I have no idea…you might just need to play around with it. 🙂
Hi….you don’t use the rice setting?
Not with brown rice…it has to cook for much longer and it’s easier to just customize it myself. 🙂
Will this be ok with bone broth? I’d assume so, but just wanted to check. I live in PA so I’m guessing 24 minutes will be my time.
Yep, it will totally work! 🙂
Do you need to rinse the rice first?
You can…but you don’t have to:
Should I choose low pressure or leave it at the automatic setting for high pressure?
If you have the option of choosing, choose high (it depends on the model.)
This recipe is awesome! I’m new to my instant pot and am quickly falling in love with it, but I have been nervous to cook perfect rice. I followed your directions exactly and the rice came out perfect! Thank you so much for this amazing recipe.