My favorite way to cook perfectly fluffy rice is this Instant Pot Long Grain Rice recipe, which is excellent for Asian and Mexican recipes. Enjoy it as the base for your next taco bowl, or pair it with my Pineapple Curry. It’s easy to make because the Instant Pot does all the work. Press the button and let your Instant Pot make your rice perfectly every time.
One of my favorite things to make in my Instant Pot is rice. Super simple, I know, but it does such a fantastic job! It comes out perfectly cooked and fluffy without any thinking on my part.
I had always previously made rice on the stovetop because I’d never owned a rice cooker. And while that does work well, you do have to keep an eye on it. Also, it almost always boils over, making a mess on your stove.
Enter the instant pot with perfect results and no mess! And it cooks the rice from start to finish with no problems.
Plus if you’ve ever forgotten a pot of rice on the stove, and come back to a blackened mess… you know just how fun it is to clean up. Not to mention the terrible burnt rice smells!
But with the Instant Pot, you never have to check on it again. Just let it work its magic.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Long grain white rice – we like to use Jasmine rice, but Basmati is good, too. You’ll also find bags of rice at the store labeled ‘long grain white rice’, which also works in this recipe. But it tends to be more bland than Jasmine or Basmati rice.
How to make this recipe step by step
Step 1: Add the long-grain white rice to the instant pot, then pour the water over the top.
Step 2: Use a spatula to spread the rice evenly across the bottom of the pot and submerge as many grains as possible.
Step 3: Place the lid on the Instant Pot and set it to sealing (some models do this automatically).
Select the RICE button, deselect KEEP WARM if necessary, and press start. The Instant Pot will take 15-20 minutes to come up to high pressure; then the time will begin to count down.
When the timer is up, let the Instant Pot come down from pressure naturally until the pressure valve drops and the Instant Pot is safe to open, about 20 minutes.
Step 4: Fluff up the finished rice with a wooden spoon, spatula, or fork and serve.
Ways to serve this
- Serve this freshly steamed rice with just about any of my Asian recipes or many of my Mexican recipes.
- Try it with Pineapple Curry, Yellow Curry, or Easy Chicken Curry.
- Or serve it with your favorite stir fry like my Chicken Stir Fry, Ground Beef Stir Fry, or Ground Pork Stir Fry.
- We love using this rice as a base for my Taco Bowl recipe, Fish Taco Bowls, or any taco-inspired toppings you’d like.
- You can also use this rice as a shortcut instead of my Cilantro Lime Rice in my Chicken Burrito Bowl, Barbacoa Burrito Bowls, or Carnitas Burrito Bowls.
- Add some extra substance to your next Lettuce Wraps or Burger Bowls.
FAQ’s
No, you cannot substitute brown rice for white rice in this recipe because there will not be enough water or cooking time. If you want to use brown rice, you need to use a recipe that is written specifically for brown rice.
Yes, you can substitute chicken broth, vegetable broth, or any broth or stock of choice in place of the water in this rice recipe.
Storing leftovers
- To store – place any cooled leftover cooked rice into an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Make ahead – rice is best served right after it’s cooked, but you can reheat it as directed below. You can also use cooked leftover rice to make fried rice.
- Reheating – I usually reheat leftover rice with leftover stir fry or curry which helps to moisten it and make it soft again. If you want to heat it separately, add some water to the pan and steam for 1-2 minutes over medium heat covered until the water runs out. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the residual heat and moisture to heat the rest of the rice. You can also microwave to reheat.
- To freeze – freeze any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Remove from the freezer and defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating as desired.
Tips & Tricks
- You don’t need to rinse rice when you cook it in the Instant Pot. Add the rice and water and cook!
- Don’t rush the process, as the Instant Pot comes down from pressure; you don’t want to do a quick release. The rice cooks to the perfect texture when the Instant Pot is allowed to release naturally. If you’re in a hurry, let the Instant Pot naturally release for at least 10 minutes before opening the valve to release the remaining pressure.
Instant Pot Rice to Water Ratio: 1 cup of rice + 1 cup of water
Recipes to go with rice to make a meal
- Healthy Orange Chicken + Roasted Broccoli
- Instant Pot Salsa Chicken + avocado + sour cream + grated cheese
- Ground Beef Stroganoff + Garlic Roasted Carrots
- Instant Pot Egg Roll in a Bowl
- Coconut Lime Chicken + Sautéed Green Beans
I hope you enjoy this easy Instant Pot Long Grain Rice! If you do get a chance to make this recipe, I’d love to hear from you in the comments.
Instant Pot Long Grain Rice
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup long grain white rice - Jasmine & Basmati are our favorites
- 1 cup water
INSTRUCTIONS
- Add the rice to the bowl of your Instant Pot pressure cooker.
- Pour the water over the top and use a spatula to submerge any grains of rice and even out the layer of rice on the bottom, but don't stir.
- Place the lid on top of the pressure cooker and turn it to the sealing position, turn the valve to sealing if necessary for your machine.
- Select the RICE button on your Instant Pot, deselect the KEEP WARM buttom and press start to begin cooking.
- The Instant Pot will take 15-20 minutes to reach high pressure; then the time will begin to count down. When the timer is up, let the Instant Pot come down from pressure with a natural release, about 15-20 minutes
- Fluff up the finished rice and serve using a wooden spoon or spatula.
Hi Kari. Do you rinse your rice before putting it in the Instant Pot?
I don’t rinse my rice when cooking it in the Instant Pot and it turns out nice and fluffy. I used to rinse my rice for stovetop rice then I tried it both ways with the Instant Pot and it doesn’t seem to make a difference. I hope this helps and be sure to let me know if you have any more questions or how it goes!
I love making rice in the instant pot, but I would strongly encourage everyone to soak their rice. This will shorten the cooking time.
Do you still keep the same ratio of rice to water when you soak the rice, or do you soak it and add it to the Instant Pot with the water? Just wondering because I have soaked my rice for the Instant Pot with the 1:1 ratio and it has stuck both times to the bottom quite a bit!