Instant Pot Brown Rice Recipe
Instant Pot Brown Rice Recipe – This no-fail, easy as can be brown rice recipe is perfect for busy weeknights and easy meal prep!
I love simple, easy make-ahead recipes that make my weeknights (and days!) even easier! Take this simple Instant Pot Brown Rice Recipe. I love to make a batch of it to then use in so many recipes throughout the week. I know that I can quickly add cooked brown rice to any number of dishes – from serving alongside baked chicken and vegetables, adding to my burritos, salads and so much more.
Instant Pot Brown Rice Recipe
How to Make Instant Pot Brown Rice
To make my Instant Pot Brown Rice, I start with 2 cups of brown rice and 2 1/2 cups of water, stock or broth.
I then seal my Instant Pot and set the timer for 15 minutes. I then let my Instant Pot release pressure naturally. You’ll see that all of the liquid from the water, stock or broth that you added are absorbed into the rice making it tender and delicious.
You’ll also notice that I do not add a lot of seasoning to my brown rice recipe as it cooks. Here’s why. I prefer to leave my brown rice unseasoned so that I can season it based on the dish that I am serving it with or including it in. Of course, if you are preparing your brown rice to serve immediately, seasonings are perfect to include. If you are making batches of brown rice like I like to do, you’ll most likely prefer for it to be unseasoned as well.
Fluff your brown rice using a fork and then serve or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week or cool and freeze for up to 3 months.
I think you’ll absolutely love this staple recipe and find so many recipes and meals that you want to include it in!
Here’s my Instant Pot Brown Rice Recipe. I hope you make it soon!
Instant Pot Brown Rice Recipe
Instant Pot Brown Rice Recipe - This no-fail, easy as can be brown rice recipe is perfect for busy weeknights and easy meal prep!
Ingredients
- 2 cups uncooked brown rice
- 2 1/2 cups water, stock, or broth
Directions
Add uncooked brown rice to the Instant Pot or other pressure cooker. Pour in the water, stock or broth and stir to combine. Seal the lid of the Instant Pot and select 15 minutes on high pressure.
Allow the Instant Pot to release pressure naturally. Remove the lid to the Instant Pot and fluff the brown rice with a fork.
Serve the brown rice or transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to a week or the freezer for 3 months.
All images and text © Robyn Stone for Add a Pinch
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
I saute some chopped onions in the IP first, then add the remaining ingredients. I cook on high pressure for 22 minutes then NPR. I freeze it in portions large enough for the 2 of us. Just pop that ziplock with frozen rice in the microwave for 2 minutes. Comes out perfect and fluffy every time. This is such a great recipe.
Don’t you just love how easy brown rice is to flavor depending on your tastes! I love cooking a large batch to then use like this! xo
I am confused about this recipe. In the beginning, you state ”
To make my Instant Pot Brown Rice, I begin with the standard ratio of for every cup of uncooked rice, add 2 1/2 cups of water, stock or broth”. Then when you list the ingredients you state ”
Ingredients
2 cups uncooked brown rice
2 1/2 cups water, stock, or broth”
Which is the correct ratio for rice?
Hi George! Ack! Thank you SOOOO much for catching that! xo
So is it 1or 2cups of rice?
Hi Maggie,
This recipe calls for 2 cups of uncooked rice and yields 6 (1 cup) servings.
It doesn’t appear that you altered the recipe above in response to George Wooden’s observation. Did you want to *remove* the statement that reads, “I begin with the standard ratio..”? This looks like a great recipe, but that statement definitely contradicts the directions given by the ingredients list. It also may account for some of the recipe fails that others have mentioned. Anyway, I’m about to try this recipe by following the ratio that you use in the ingredients list…
Hi Mary!
The ratios that I use are for every 2 cups of uncooked brown rice, I use 2 1/2 cups of water, stock or broth. I hope you enjoy it! xo
If Instapot makes brown rice this beautiful, then I am a complete convert! 🙂
It definitely makes for beautiful brown rice! xo
Brown rice is the best in an instant pot. I have found that 1 1/2 cups of rice works best with 2 1/4 cups liquid. The extra liquid isn’t necessary. I really enjoy your recipes. Keep up the great work.
Thanks so much, Debb!
I just bought an instapot this week. This is happening this weekend!.Thanks for the freezer idea. That will be helpful on busy weeknights.
Congratulations on your new addition! 🙂 I hope you enjoy it and especially this crazy simple brown rice recipe. Being able to pull it out of the freezer for busy weeknights is the best! xo
this is a good one! I have someone that would love it. let me be the one of many to ask “if you use fresh salmonhow do you suggest prepare it since it will be thawed and unseasoned?
Unfortunately, this recipe did not work out for me. I used 2 cups of brown rice and 5 cups of water on 15 minutes high pressure as stated in the recipe, and my brown rice came out looking more like oatmeal. Next time, I’ll try it with less water.
Sorry it didn’t work out as it should have, Rana. I make this often with this recipe and have not had a problem with it, so I can’t be sure what happened. Thanks!
Mine turned out this way as well, however, I quick tossed it in a saucepan to help soak up some of the excess moisture, and although my rice didn’t turn out as fluffy as I am used to it being, it still tasted delicious and my whole family gobbled it up! I added some cut up chicken, onion, peas, and carrots to round out the meal. It was a hit!
Thanks Jill! I’m glad your family enjoyed it! I’ve not had too much moisture when I made it, but I’ve adjusted the recipe as some others have mentioned theirs did. Sounds like a delicious meal! Thanks! xo
Hi Chloe,
I’m sorry this didn’t work out for you. I make it often and it works fine, but I have adjusted the recipe. I hope this change helps! Thanks!
The recipe calls for 2 cups of brown rice and 2 1/2 (not 5) cups of water. So I’d say your rice-to-water proportions being way off caused the rice to turn out like oatmeal. Try it again!
I wanted to cook less rice, don’t freeze rice. I used 1/2 cup rice, and 3/4 cup water. Which it the same proportions or ratios recommended here. I cooked on High 15 min, and let it naturally cool off. Turned out great, no water left but still moist, soft rice.
Rana, it is supposed to be 2 cups of brown rice to 2 1/2 cups water, not 5 cups of water.
Rana… For 2 cups of (uncooked) brown rice, use 2½ cup of water stock, or broth… Not 5 cups of water.
What does natural release mean?
Natural release is when you let the steam pressure naturally release after pressure cooking. You may want to check your manual that came with you machine for any further information. Thanks!
I had the same problem as rana. No steam was released at all during the 20 minutes I waited for the natural release to happen and it’s just wet mush. Maybe should have used the keep warm function???
Hi Amy, I’m not sure what happened and sorry it didn’t turn out well for you. I’ve not had a problem with it and make it often. I did make an adjustment to the recipe that I hope helps. Thanks so much!
Spot on. Perfect brown rice. THANK YOU.
Thank you so much, Linda! Glad to hear you enjoyed it as well! xo
Just tried this recipe, which worked beautifully. I’ve only had my Instant Pot for about two weeks, and I’ve seen a range of instructions on how to cook brown rice. Your method produced the perfect batch.
I’m so glad to hear you had great results too, Mary! Thanks so much for letting me know you enjoyed it! xo
I found your site searching for brown rice in instant pot. I have not had my brown rice turn out well yet, so I will try your suggestions. My question – I want to cook 3 cups of brown rice – do I add 3 1/2 cups of water? Is it 1:1 plus half a cup of water? Hope this question makes sense… I may just end up cooking 4 cups of rice so I can double your recipe.
The rice turned out perfectly! For those who are having issues with the rice you have to allow the natural pressure to release fully. I’m new to the instant pot so I had to learn this the hard way. Thank you for the recipe!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Mila! The Instant Pot can be a bit of a learning process, but so worth it for it’s convenience!!! Thanks! xo
Good basic recipe! The leftovers were made into a cold rice salad for the next day…yummy!
Great, Linda! Thanks!xo
Robyn, thanks for your recipes. May I suggest that you mention (for the newbies) which button to select? I personally almost always use the MANUAL or PRESSURE button on my InstantPot. I never use the RICE button, which I believe cooks at LOW pressure. The MANUAL or PRESSURE buttons cook at HIGH pressure which is the preferred setting for a successful pot of rice. Just mentioning the time without mentioning the preferred button could give one poor results.
Thanks for the suggestion, Amy! xo
this worked beautifully! Not clumpy or sticky – just perfect rice 🙂 – thanks!
Wonderful! Thanks Stephanie!
The rice was cooked perfectly. I used chicken broth for the liquid and it tasted great.
I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed it, Amy! xo
Hi! Does it matter if you use short grain or long grain brown rice?
This worked really well for me. Any ideas on how to adjust pressure time to cook a double batch?
I have the same question with Kim. Got the final meal, I just wonder if we can adust the pressure time. Thanks.
You don’t mention rinsing the brown rice first. Does your recipe ignore this step or do I *always* need to rinse my rice before making it in the IP?
For some reason it just doesn’t work for me
Could it be the rice?
I just purchased it from my local grocery, there is no date on it so I don’t know if it’s fresh.
I tried stove top method, seems the same.
It’s still as hard as the uncooked in the bag.
I simmered it for 2-1/2 hours befor throwing it away, still not cooked!
I’m sorry you’ve not gotten rice the consistency you want, Doug. Since brown rice is a firmer consistency than white rice, some people may not like it as well. It could also be the type of rice you bought – but I can’t be sure. Thanks.
Thank you. Followed your directions and I got perfect brown rice! No rice sticking to the bottom… no rice submerged in water. Just the way I like it. Bravo to you.
I’m tickled to hear this Ken! Thanks!
This makes great brown rice! I am interested in making a rice + veggies combo, but everything I’ve tried (collard greens, frozen veggies) gets super-mush-ified by 15min at HIGH pressure.
Some research suggests that the only foods that would survive at 15min on HIGH are whole potatoes, mushrooms, or artichokes. Has anyone else had luck cooking vegetables with their brown rice?
So happy you enjoy the rice, Stephen! We love it too – and isn’t it so easy?!
I’ve not added vegetables to this particular brown rice recipe in my Instant Pot. I do have many more Instant Pot recipes on my website though you may want to try if you enjoy using yours. Thanks!
Do you have to make any adjustments for high altitudes? I am excited to try this!
I followed the directions exactly & the rice turned out dry & crunchy.
I’m sorry that happened, Julie. I make this recipe often and have not had that problem, so I’m not sure what happened. Thanks.
I had a similar issue to some – rice came out mushy. I let it natural release for 10 minutes, maybe it should have been longer. I also wondered if it matters what kind of brown rice you use? I used Minute Rice so maybe since that’s considered “instant”, it won’t work with this recipe. If so, then that’s my bad!
Hi Cara,
I am sorry your rice came out mushy, but it because of the Minute Rice. Instant rice is takes a different amount of time to cook than regular rice. Hope you enjoy this recipe if you give it a try again with some regular brown rice. Thanks!
Thanks for the recipe. I’m excited to try it. I am cooking for a large group tonight, about 10 people and I’d like to try about 4 cups of dry rice. Will the recipe double easily? So 5 cups of liquid? Anyone had any luck with this?
Thanks!!
This worked perfectly! Thank you so much!!
I’m thrilled you enjoyed it, Heather! It makes it so easy, doesn’t it?! Thanks! xo
Hi, on a video about using a pot [Ekovana stainless steel pans ] inside the IP for cooking rice, they used the Steam function for about 6 mins which seems a very short session.
I like wholegrain rice and would like to use the Ekovana pot inside the IP, but am unsure about how much to do it for since I’ve never used the Steam function and can’t find info. about it. Also, would it be low, mod or high on Steam?
If I cook it on Manual without the pan, then it cooks for 35mins plus 10mins release.
Hi Sheila,
I’ve not used one of the Ekovana pans with my Instant Pot, so I can’t say how best to use it with yours. I do hope you enjoy the rice recipe if you give it a try! Thanks! xo
Hi. So frustrated with this. Tried following your recipe and it over heated and burned. Tried a second time, adding 3 cups of water to 2 cups of brown rice, BURNED! The vent is open, right? I live in Arizona and I swear brown rice is so hard to make!! Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.
Followed directions exactly and it came out perfectly! Thanks for the recipe.
So glad to hear you liked it, Caitlin! Thanks!
Perfect!
If you’ve never loved brown rice, like me, this recipe will make you a convert. I halved the recipe and the rice came out tender and fluffy and a lot of that nutty taste was gone. I almost felt like I was eating white rice and cheating. Delicious!
Thanks Carla! Glad you liked it!
Perfect every time.
Thanks so much Dan! Glad you enjoy the recipe!
Tried this recipe tonight and we had perfect brown rice with our meal! Thanks!
Wonderful to hear this, Lisa! So glad you enjoyed it! xo
Almost perfect brown rice. I used the 2 C rice with 2.5 C water and mine actually came out a little dry after the NPR. Next time I will probably release a little earlier. I do live at about 6400 ft above sea level, so that may have affected my results a bit. Overall, though, I love this way to cook brown rice. Saves so much time and the rice will be perfect next time with a little extra water. Thanks for a great recipe!
Thanks so much Dawn!
This recipe worked perfect for me! Thank you for this, it’s sometimes hit or miss when trying something off a blog. Can’t wait to see what else you have.
I’m happy to hear that it worked for you. I hope you find many more recipes you will enjoy. I share recipes that my family enjoys and hope that others enjoy them too! Thanks!