Instant Pot Brown Rice

Without a question the best way to cook Brown Rice is using the Instant Pot or a pressure cooker. The rice is cooked to perfection with fluffy, soft 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.

We love incorporating brown rice in our meals in different ways. In addition to my popular white rice Chicken Biryani we also enjoy the Instant Pot Brown Rice Chicken Biryani. My Vegetarian Chickpea Biryani recipe also includes instructions to make it using brown rice.

Why I love making Brown Rice in the Instant Pot:

• Easy hands off recipe
• Consistent results with fluffy, perfectly cooked rice
• Unlike the stovetop recipe this is mess free with easy clean up
• My favorite meal prep recipe
• This recipe works with most varieties of brown rice including basmati and jasmine rice

How to Cook the best Instant Pot Brown Rice

There are two ways to cook Brown Rice in the Instant Pot depending on the amount of rice you are cooking. The water ratio for brown rice will vary slightly depending on the method you choose.

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.

Here are some of my favorite curries to serve along with brown rice for a delicious gluten-free Indian meal:

• Easy Chana Masala – the best chickpea curry
• Healthy Butter Chicken – chicken cooked in a buttery tomato sauce
• Chicken Tikka Masala – slow cooked chicken in a flavorful bursting sauce
• Daal Makhani – lightly spiced creamy lentils
• Spinach Daal – easy dump and done Instant Pot lentils

Have you checked out my Cooking 101 that has includes basic recipes such as  Homemade Ghee, EASY 5-ingredient Garam Masala, Perfect Instant Pot Quinoa, Spicy Chutneys and Indian Pulses.

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5 from 3 votes

Instant Pot Brown Rice

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time35 mins

Total Time40 mins

Course: Meal Preparation, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings: 4

Calories: 171kcal

Author: Archana Mundhe

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 to 2 cups brown rice
• ▢ 1 1/4 to 2 1/2 cups water
• ▢ 1 to 2 teaspoons kosher salt optional

Instructions

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 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.

Main Pot Method – Works best when cooking more than 1.5 cups of brown rice:

• 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.

Video

Notes

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 

Nutrition

Calories: 171kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 588mg | Potassium: 103mg | Fiber: 1g | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 0.7mg

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