Best way to cook Brown Rice is hand-down using Instant Pot or a pressure cooker. The rice is cooked to perfection with soft cooked texture and nutty flavors. This no-fail brown rice recipe is great for busy week nights as well as meal preps.
What is Brown Rice?
- Brown rice is unpolished whole grain rice with the inedible outer hull of the grain removed. While white rice more processed by removing the outer hull, bran layer, and cereal germ.
- Brown rice comes in 3 different varieties – short grain, medium grain and long grain. I like cooking medium grain brown rice that cooks plump, moist and tender and also the long grain brown basmati rice which has a more chewy texture and nutty flavors.
- Brown rice is low in calorie and is packed with vitamins, minerals and fiber.
Two Ways to cook Instant Pot Brown Rice:
1. Pot in Pot Method – Works best when cooking less than 1.5 cups of brown rice:
- Rinse 1 cup of brown rice 2 to 3 times under running water. Drain well and add to a stainless steel bowl along with 1 1/4 cup of water and salt.
- Add 1 cup of water to the main Instant Pot insert. Place the bowl with rice on the trivet and then carefully place the trivet in the Instant Pot.
- Close the Instant Pot lid with pressure release handle to sealing. Set the Instant Pot to Pressure Cook (Hi) for 22 minutes.
- Allow 10 minutes of natural pressure release. Release any remaining pressure by moving the pressure release handle to venting and open the Instant Pot. Take the inner stainless pot and the trivet out using heat resistant mitts. Gently fluff the rice with a fork or silicone spatula.
2. Main Pot Method – Works best when cooking more than 1.5 cups of brown rice:
- Place 2 cups rice in a wire mesh strianer and rinse 2 to 3 times. Drain the rice.
- Add drained rice to the Instant Pot insert. Add 2 1/2 cups of water, salt and make sure all the rice is evenly submerged under water.
- Close the Instant Pot lid with pressure release handle to sealing. Set the Instant Pot to Pressure Cook (Hi) for 20 minutes.
- Allow 10 minutes of natural pressure release. Release any remaining pressure by moving the pressure release handle to venting and open the Instant Pot. Gently fluff the rice with a fork or silicone spatula.
Did you enjoy this recipe? Try this Instant Pot Brown Rice Chicken Biryani.
Here is a video showing how to cook brown rice in Instant Pot :
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- 1 to 2 cups brown rice
- 1 1/4 to 2 1/2 cups water
- 1 to 2 teaspoons kosher salt optional
- Rinse 1 cup of brown rice 2 to 3 times under running water. Drain well and add to a stainless steel bowlalong with 1 1/4 cup of water and salt.
Add 1 cup of water to the main Instant Pot insert. Place the stainless steel bowl with rice on the trivet and then carefully place the trivet in the Instant Pot.
- Close the Instant Pot lid with pressure release handle to sealing. Set the Instant Pot to Pressure Cook (Hi) for 22 minutes.
- Allow 10 minutes of natural pressure release. Release any remaining pressure by moving the pressure release handle to venting and open the Instant Pot. Take the inner stainless pot and the trivet out using heat resistant mitts. Gently fluff the brown rice with a fork or silicone spatula.
- Place 2 cups brown rice in a wire mesh strianer and rinse 2 to 3 times. Drain the brown rice.
Add drained rice to the Instant Pot insert. Add 2 1/2 cups of water, salt and make sure all the brown rice is evenly submerged under water.
- Close the Instant Pot lid with pressure release handle to sealing. Set the Instant Pot to Pressure Cook (Hi) for 20 minutes.
- Allow 10 minutes of natural pressure release. Release any remaining pressure by moving the pressure release handle to venting and open the Instant Pot. Gently fluff the brown rice with a fork or silicone spatula.
Recipe Video
Notes to add more flavor to cooked brown rice:
- Use broth instead of salt and water to cook the rice
- Saute a small onion in some oil and then add the rice, water and salt
- Toast the rice in oil on saute mode for 1 to 2 minutes
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Author: Archana
Hey there! I am a techie turned recipe developer, cooking instructor, and food blogger. I love food and enjoy developing easy and healthy recipes for busy lifestyles. I live New Jersey with my husband and two sons.
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