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Instant Pot Basmati Rice Recipe
Two Ways to make Rice in the Instant Pot - Pot in Pot Method and Main Pot Method
Servings: 4
Calories: 253kcal
Equipment
- 7" Stainless steel insert pan
Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 1½ cups basmati rice
- 3 cups water See recipe instructions if cooking directly in the main pot
- 1½ teaspoon kosher salt
Pot-in-Pot Cooking
- 1 cup water added to the Instant Pot insert to help build steam
Instructions
Pot in Pot Method
- Rinse the rice well and drain all the water out.
- Add rice, water, and salt to a 7" stainless steel insert pan.
- Add 1 cup of water to the Instant Pot insert. Place the trivet inside and then place the pan with rice on the trivet.
- Close the Instant Pot lid with the pressure release valve to sealing. Pressure cook(Hi) for 5 minutes, followed by a 5-minute natural pressure release
- Quick release any remaining pressure and then open the Instant Pot. Take the rice pan out with silicone heat-resistant mitts.
Main Pot Method
- Rinse the rice well and drain all the water out.
- Add rice, water, and salt to the Instant Pot insert. Notes: For exactly 1½ cups of rice, use a 1:2 rice-to-water ratio, and add 1 teaspoon of salt per cup. For more than 2 cups of Rice, use a 1:1 rice-to-water ratio, and add 1 teaspoon of salt per cup
- Close the Instant Pot lid with the pressure release valve to sealing.
- Pressure cook on Low-pressure mode for 5 minutes followed by quick release. Note: The low-pressure cook mode, allows the rice to soak a little bit as it slowly builds the pressure resulting in long fluffy grains of cooked rice. If you do not have the low-pressure option on your Instant Pot, simply cook on HI pressure instead
- Open the Instant Pot. Take out the Insert using heat-resistant mitts and place on a trivet. Allow the rice to cool down for at least 5 minutes before fluffing gently with a silicone spatula.
Notes
Rice too soft? Try reducing the water by about ¼ cup per cup of rice, or shorten the pressure cook time from 5 minutes to 4 minutes for a firmer texture.
Tips for Perfect Instant Pot Basmati Rice
Cooking time and water ratio matter, but what you do before and after cooking makes all the difference. Here are my go-to tips for light, fluffy basmati rice every time:
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- No soaking needed – For plain basmati rice, soaking isn’t necessary. Just rinse thoroughly and drain well. Over-soaking can lead to mushy rice.
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- Cool it down quickly – Once cooking is complete, move the inner pot to a trivet on the counter. This stops further cooking and helps prevent soggy rice.
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- If rice looks undercooked – Simply return the inner pot to the Instant Pot, close the lid, and let it sit for 5 minutes. The residual heat will finish cooking it.
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- Let it rest before fluffing – Avoid stirring the rice while it’s steaming hot to prevent breaking the grains. Let it rest for a few minutes, then gently fluff with a silicone spatula.
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- Serve gently – Run a silicone spatula along the sides of the pot and serve without breaking the grains.
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- Make ahead friendly – Great for entertaining! Spread cooked rice on a large tray to cool. Use slightly wet hands to gently separate the grains if needed. Reheat in the microwave, oven, or a chafing dish when ready to serve.
Nutrition
Calories: 253kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 594mg | Potassium: 80mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg
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