Instant Pot Brown Rice is an easy, no-fail, hands-free way to make fluffy brown rice; it cuts the stovetop cooking time in half. This quick and simple method for preparing perfect rice in the Instant Pot requires just 1 ingredient (plus water) and less than 30 minutes with reliable results every time.
Perfect Instant Pot Brown Rice
Instant Pot Brown Rice is my favorite hassle-free, set-it-and-forget-it method for making a quick side of steaming soft rice in under 30 minutes. Using an electric pressure cooker makes the process so much easier because you don’t have to boil the water in advance or babysit the pot; just add rice and water to the instant pot, press a button, and walk away while the pressure cooker does the work.
Normally, it takes almost an hour to simmer brown rice on the stove, but cooking under high pressure softens the tough grains faster, so you can enjoy a healthy, fiber-rich side dish a lot sooner. This simple recipe gives you every reason to make a big batch of wholesome, nutrient-dense grains; you get a fluffy, tender texture at the touch of a button without creating a mushy mess!
Make a batch of brown rice and then use in your recipe rotation throughout the week. You can serve it with my Sheet Pan Stir Fry, in Baked Burritos, stuffed in Sheet Pan Tacos, and so many more.
Why We Love This Instant Pot Brown Rice Recipe
- Quick and easy to make.
- Only uses rice and water.
- Fool-proof method for cooking perfectly fluffy brown in half the time as the stovetop.
- Healthy, nutrient-dense, and full of fiber.
- Dairy-free, gluten-free, egg-free, nut-free, vegan recipe is great for specific diets.
- Perfect for busy weeknights and is a delicious side dish for your main meal.
Ingredients / Shopping List
- Brown rice
- Water
Substitutions and Additions
- Liquid Swap: Chicken stock or chicken or vegetable broth can be used in place of water if you prefer.
- Season or Spice: If you want to add some flavor to the rice you can add salt, chopped onion, dried herbs, turmeric, paprika, or other seasonings and spices to the rice and water mixture before cooking so that the rice absorbs the flavors.
How to Make Instant Pot Brown Rice
Instant Pot Brown Rice is my favorite hands-free method of cooking to give you a quick side of steaming brown rice in under 30 minutes. It is so easy to make a big batch of these wholesome grains and serve it alongside your main meal.
- Rinse The Rice: Rinse the rice in a mesh strainer and drain.
- Prepare The Instant Pot: Combine rice and water in the Instant pot, place and lock the lid, set the valve to sealing, press the manual button twice to turn off keep warm function, and set for 15 minutes on high pressure.
- Release: Allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes and then quick release to remove any remaining pressure.
- Serve: Fluff with a fork and serve or freeze for later. Enjoy!
Tips for the Best Brown Rice!
- If you rinse the rice before cooking, drain well to ensure the accurate water-to-rice ratio.
- The best way to measure your rice is using a scale. This will give you more accurate measurements for the brown rice versus using the rice scoop that comes with the Instant Pot or a standard measuring cup.
- If your rice is too mushy or watery, reduce the water by 1/4 a cup or reduce the cooking time by 1 minute and retest it.
- If your rice is too hard and dry, increase the water by ¼ cup next time before cooking, and try increasing the cooking time as well.
Storage Tips
- To Store: You can store your rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- To Freeze: To freeze, cool the rice after cooking, place it in a freezer- safe, airtight container, and freeze for up to 1 month.
- To Reheat: To reheat, place the rice in a bowl, add a few drops of water, and microwave it in 30-second intervals until hot.
Other Easy Side Dish Recipes
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Instant Pot Brown Rice
Ingredients
- 2 cups dry brown rice
- 2½ cups water
Instructions
- Rinse rice well in mesh strainer. Thoroughly drain.2 cups dry brown rice
- Add Rice and water to Instant pot. Stir to combine.2½ cups water
- Place and lock lid. Set valve to sealing. Press the Manual button twice to turn off keep warm function.
- Set for 15 minutes High pressure. Allow to naturally release for 10 minutes. Quick release to remove any remaining pressure.
- Fluff with a fork. Serve or freeze for later
Jenn’s Notes
- To Store: You can store your rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- To Freeze: To freeze, cool the rice after cooking, place it in a freezer- safe, airtight container, and freeze for up to 1 month.
- To Reheat: To reheat, place the rice in a bowl, add a few drops of water, and microwave it in 30-second intervals until hot.
- If you rinse the rice before cooking, be sure to drain well to ensure the water-to-rice ratio is accurate.
- The best way to measure your rice is using a scale. This will give you more accurate measurements for the brown rice versus using the rice scoop that comes with the Instant Pot or a standard measuring cup.
- If your rice is too mushy or watery, reduce the water by 1/4 a cup or reduce the cooking time by 1 minute and retest it.
- If your rice is too hard and dry, increase the water by ¼ cup next time before cooking, and try increasing the cooking time as well.
