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 so much for this recipe; I had a couple mushy rice disasters and was so disappointed with the IP as rice cooker. This is consistently the best brown rice I’ve had.
This makes me so happy!!
Do you think it would be OK to double this recipe in a 6 quart pot?
Yep!!
My rice came out so yummy!! I’ve never had a rice cooker and always made mine on the stove. I was browsing Pinterest the other day and found you could make rice in the Instant Pot so I thought I’d give it a try. I am so glad I did!!! This rice came out so delicious. It was flavorful and the perfect texture. Not mushy like when I make it on the stove. Cooking rice in the Instant Pot was a game changer for me. Thank you!!!
Yaaaay!!!! So glad it worked!!
This is my go to brown rice recipe. I’ve been using it for so long I thought I ought to comment! It’s one of those things I wondered how I survived before brown rice in the instant pot.
My brown rice never really was a big hit when I made it on the stove in water. I saw this recipe and just bought an Instant Pot so off to make some rice. All I can say is “wow” I had moist tender rice and not crunchy and clumpy like I got before. Thank you for sharing!
This makes me so so happy!!
I added chopped carrots to this recipe… It came out perfect! I will use this recipe again and again! Thanks!
Made this tonite. Used chicken broth otherwise followed the recipe. IT WAS PERFECT! Thank you!
If I cut the recipe in half do I decrease the cooking time (manual)?
Nope! 🙂
Made this for the first time tonight. Came out perfect following the recipe exactly.
Do you wash the rice before you start ????
You can if you’d like, but you don’t have to .
My rice was cooked perfect. I set it going for 23 minutes and I subbed broth for the water. This will be a go to recipe for me. I’m an Instantpot newbie!