Perfect Instant Pot Brown Rice

Make Perfect Instant Pot Brown Rice every time with this easy brown rice recipe for the electric pressure cooker. Perfect for meal prep and a great way to get delicious fluffy brown rice without a rice cooker!

I love cooking rice in my Instant Pot. One of the very first Instant Pot recipes I ever made was Instant Pot jasmine rice, and it turned out so well that I knew my electric pressure cooker was a keeper!

Several of you wonderful people have asked me for a recipe for cooking brown rice in the Instant Pot. So, here’s my brown rice recipe with a video included!

I tested this Instant Pot rice recipe several times using my 6 quart Instant Pot and 8 quart Instant Pot. You get perfect Instant Pot brown rice every time!

Ingredients

You only need a few simple ingredients to make brown rice in the Instant Pot. If you don’t have them at home, you can find them in your grocery store or online:

• Brown rice — long grain brown rice, not Minute Rice
• Sea salt
• Olive oil
• Water

How to Cook Perfect Instant Pot Brown Rice Every Time

Making brown rice is basically the same as making white rice. The main difference is brown rice requires a longer cook time. The rest of the steps remain the same.

First, you want to rinse the rice thoroughly before cooking. Measure the rice, using a dry measuring cup, and dump it into a large fine mesh strainer.

Then, rinse it under cold water for a few minutes. After rinsing, shake the strainer to remove as much water as possible.

Next, add the rinsed rice to the inner stainless steel pot. When I make jasmine rice, I always season it, and the same goes for brown rice.

Add a little sea salt and olive oil to the rice. This adds flavor and the oil also helps keep it from sticking. You can also try a little garlic powder for extra flavor.

We usually mix the sea salt and oil directly into the rice. You can also add it after the water if you forget.

The perfect ratio of water to rice is 1 cup water for every 1 cup rice. So, add a cup of water if you’re only making a cup of rice.

I usually make 2 cups of rice, so I use 2 cups water to 2 cups rice. If you want to make 3 cups of brown rice, use 3 cups water and 3 cups rice.

Pro tip — I highly recommend using a liquid measuring cup for the liquid and a standard dry measuring cup for the rice.

Don’t use the cup that comes with the Instant Pot.

Just pour in the water and add the lid. Now, you’re ready to pressure cook the rice!

Cook Time

Pressure cook the rice for 22 minutes on high pressure. After it’s done cooking, allow a 10 minute natural pressure release.

Then, do a quick release for the remaining pressure. Open the pot, stir it, and you’re good to go!

The brown rice is perfectly cooked using this tried and true method. It’s tender, with just enough bite that it’s not too soft or mushy.

The rice is slightly sticky, which makes it perfect for using as a side dish with your favorite Asian-style recipes or any recipe, really.

We like to serve brown rice with Instant Pot Korean Ground Beef, Baked Honey Lime Chicken or Instant Pot Honey Lime Chicken.

Variations

This basic recipe is just an easy way to cook the perfect brown rice–there are so many ways to customize and enjoy this delicious grain!

When cooking the rice, use broth instead of water, or a mixture of broth and water for a little extra flavor. Vegetable broth and chicken broth will both work.

You can cook any kind of brown rice in the Instant Pot. I usually make regular brown rice or brown basmati rice.

Add whatever spices you want to make this plain brown rice the perfect side dish for your desired flavor profile.

Of course, rice can also be part of a main dish: my favorite thing to do with rice is add some black beans and spicy seasoning for a tasty burrito filling!

How to Store

Store any leftover rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where it’ll last for 4 to 5 days.

Reheat individual portions in the microwave.

This recipe is also great for meal prep! Just cook a large batch of brown rice, either don’t season it or keep the seasoning simple, and refrigerate it.

You now have a ready side dish for future meals, and all you have to do is reheat and add flavor!

Rice Cooking Tips

• Use dry measuring cup for rice and liquid measuring cup for water
• Rinse rice before cooking
• Use
• Add sea salt or kosher salt and olive oil for flavor and texture
• Remove rice immediately after cooking is complete for easy clean-up

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Recipe published in 2020 and updated in 2022

This Instant Pot brown rice recipe has just a few easy steps, and yields delicious, perfect results! The cooking process is much simpler than stove top rice, in my opinion!

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