Make aromatic, fluffy, and delicious Instant Pot basmati rice without having to tend to the pot!
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what is basmati rice?
Renowned for its delicate fragrance and nutty flavor, basmati rice, named after the Hindi word for "fragrant," is a long-grained variety prized for its culinary versatility.
It is believed to have been cultivated on the Indian sub-continent for centuries and comes in many varieties; with the most common being the white and brown variety. Red basmati rice exists, but it's less common.
ingredients
- basmati rice - use long-grain white basmati rice for the best results.
- water - you can also use some low-sodium broth, instead of water.
- salt - I like to season my rice with salt just before cooking. You can, however, also add the salt later.
how to make white basmati rice in the Instant Pot
Making white rice using your Instant Pot is so easy, here is how to go about it:-
- Rinse the rice: Rinse the rice using a fine-mesh strainer under cold running water until the water runs clear.
- Combine ingredients in Instant Pot: Add the rinsed rice, salt, and water/broth to the Instant Pot and stir to combine. Ensure all the rice is covered in liquid and doesn't stick to the sides.
- Pressure cook: Select the "Manual" or "Pressure Cook" function on your Instant Pot, set the cooking time to 3 minutes at high pressure. After cooking, allow for a natural pressure release for 10 minutes, followed by a quick release.
- Serve: Open the lid, fluff the rice with a fork, and serve with spice-infused curries, stews or as preferred.
💡A quick tip: Remember, 1 cup of uncooked rice yields about 3 cups cooked rice. Do not fill your Instant Pot over ⅔ full as this may increase the time the Instant pot needs to come to pressure, or clog the pressure release knob.
what rice to water ratio should I use?
| No-soaking method | |
| Rice to water ratio | 1:1 plus ¼ a cup of water |
| Pressure cooking time (valve on seal, or using a manual pressure cooker) | 3 minutes |
| Pressure release | 10 minutes natural pressure release (NPR9 followed by a quick pressure release (QPR). |
While most recipes call for a strict 1:1 ratio, the extra ¼ cup simply accounts for the evaporation which occurs as the pot is coming to pressure.
To avoid discrepancies, use the same measuring cup to measure both rice and water.
Related recipes: For more flavorful instant pot recipes, try our instant pot frozen chicken wings next!
refrigeration and freezing
- In the refrigerator: store in suitable containers in the fridge for 3-5 days.
- In the freezer: place in Ziploc bags (these have the added advantage of being able to flatten out) or suitable airtight containers in the freezer for up to 6 months.
useful tips
- For extra fragrance: Add whole spices like cinnamon, bay leaves, or cloves before cooking and remove them when fluffing.
- For fluffier rice: Add a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice before cooking to enhance liquid absorption. This helps break down the starch in the rice, making each grain absorb more liquid and cook properly.
- Adaptability: This recipe works for other pressure cookers, but you'll need to adjust the cooking time manually.
more tasty recipes!
These other Instant Pot and Pressure Cooker recipes are definitely worth checking out!
- Instant Pot frozen chicken thighs
- Ninja Pressure Cooker Tomato Sauce
- Instant Pot Lamb Stew in Red Wine,
- Instant Pot Chicken Thighs cooked from frozen,
- Instant Pot Honey Mustard Chicken Breast and Potatoes
- No-peel Instant Pot Applesauce
Or try out our delicious rice recipes below!
- Swahili Pilau Rice
- Coconut Basmati Rice
- South African Yellow Rice
- Ninja Air Fryer Basmati Rice
- Rice in Coconut (Wali wa Nazi)
Updated on March 4th, 2024: Certain parts of this recipe have been simplified to enhance clarity and readability.
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Basmati Rice
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups white basmati rice
- 2¼ cups water (or a low-sodium broth)
- ½ teaspoon salt (or more to taste; less if using broth containing salt)
Instructions
- Rinse the rice using a fine-mesh strainer. Rinse using cold running water for a few minutes until the water runs clear. This helps clean out some of the starch coating the rice, resulting in a fluffier grain.
- Next, add the cleaned rice, salt, and water/broth to the Instant Pot, and stir to combine. Make sure all the rice has been covered with water and is not sticking to the sides of the Instant Pot.2 cups white basmati rice, 2¼ cups water, ½ teaspoon salt
- Depending on your Instant Pot model, select the manual or pressure cook function, set the cooking time to three minutes, close the lid, set its valve on the seal position, then pressure cook at high pressure for 3 minutes. Once this time is over, allow it to naturally pressure release for 10 minutes, then do a quick pressure release, to release any remaining pressure.
- Open the Instant Pot lid, fluff using a fork, and then serve.
Notes
- Make your basmati rice even more fragrant by using whole spices such as cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, and whole cloves, just before pressure cooking. You can then easily pick them out when fluffing the rice, just before serving.
- Add a tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice just before pressure cooking. This helps break down the starch in the rice making each grain absorb more liquid.
- On average, one cup of white rice will give you 3 cups of cooked rice. When deciding the amount of white basmati rice you want to cook, bear in mind that Instant Pots should not be filled to more than ⅔ of their full capacity when done.
Nutrition
frequently asked questions
Yes. You can use this recipe to make other white rice varieties such as Jasmine, pandan, or Surinam.
Use your rice in soups, if it turns out too hard. Do not try to add more water and cook it further, as you will probably end up getting a burn notice. Similarly, you can add overcooked and mushy rice to soups or blend it into a paste and use it to thicken stews.
The answer to this is simple. The thing is, you lose more liquid to evaporation when you cook rice on the stovetop. The Instant Pot or any pressure cooker for that matter comes up to pressure and creates a sealed environment that prevents evaporation.
Lilly
Thank you for all the great tips! I've made this recipe 4 times now and each time the rice comes out perfect! Thanks for the recipe
Kate Hahnel
Yes, the Instant pot makes such fluffy rice!
Britney
I always sucked at making rice so I'm so happy that I found this recipe because it was so easy to follow and my rice came out perfectly!
Kate Hahnel
Glad you loved the recipe. Thank you for coming back to leave a comment.
Jazz
This recipe is such a time-saver. I've used it to make rice with low sodium broth three times now and and it's a keeper. Thanks!
Kate Hahnel
Thanks! Along with my air fryer rice recipe, I have to say this Instant pot method makes cooking basmati rice so easy!
Marta
I LOVE basmati rice so much, but I don't always feel like making it on the stovetop. Your instructions were spot on and so easy to follow! Thanks so much.
Kate Hahnel
Thanks so much, glad it turned out well!
Stephanie
I love using my instant pot and I'm always looking for new recipes to make with it, so I'm so glad I found this one. Super easy to make and this was some of the fluffiest rice I've ever had.
Kate Hahnel
Thank you! I was also surprised at how well it cooks rice!