How to Cook Brown Rice Recipe
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Learn how to cook brown rice with this foolproof, easy recipe! It makes perfect brown rice every time! It’s perfect for busy weeknights and easy meal prep! Stovetop, Instant Pot, and Rice Cooker instructions included!
I love simple, easy make ahead recipes that make my weeknight dinners even easier! Take this simple Instant Pot Brown Rice Recipe. I love to make a batch of it to use in many recipes throughout the week. I know that I can quickly add this cooked brown rice to any number of dishes – from serving alongside baked chicken and vegetables, to add to my burritos, fried rice, and so much more.
Table of Contents
Brown Rice vs White Rice
Brown rice and white rice come from the same grain, but the processing method differs. Brown rice is a whole grain with the bran, germ, and endosperm intact. White rice has removed bran and germ during processing, leaving only the starchy endosperm.
How to Cook Brown Rice
Ingredients
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.
To make brown rice, you only need three simple ingredients.
- Brown rice – use any brown rice not of the quick-cooking or instant variety with this recipe.
- Water – The ratio of liquid to rice is very important. You’ll notice that the amount is the same for the stovetop and rice cooker cooking methods but different for the Instant Pot. You may also use vegetable stock, chicken stock, or broth as a substitute for the water if you prefer.
- Olive oil – I love to use it when making stovetop brown rice but do not use it in the rice cooker or Instant Pot methods. You can also use butter if you prefer.
Substitutions and Additions
Seasonings – I do not add seasoning to my recipe as it cooks. Here’s why. I prefer to leave it unseasoned so that I can season it based on the dish that I am serving it with or include it in. Of course, if you are preparing your rice to serve immediately, seasonings such as salt and pepper are perfect for including. If you are making batches of it like I like to do, you’ll most likely prefer for it to be unseasoned as well.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps for my easy, foolproof brown rice recipe that makes perfectly cooked brown rice every time. See the recipe below for the instructions for each cooking method.
- Measure ingredients. Measure your ingredients based on the cooking method that you’ll be using. You’ll notice that for stovetop and rice cooker brown rice, I use a ratio of 1 cup of brown rice to 2 cups of water. While in the Instant Pot, I use a ratio of 1 cup of brown rice to 1 1/4 cups water.
- Rinse the rice. Add the rice to a fine mesh colander and rinse with clean water until the water runs clear. This is essential in making fluffy, delicious rice that does not clump together during cooking. Don’t skip this step.
- Cook the rice. Add the rinsed rice and water to a saucepan, rice cooker, or Instant Pot and stir in the olive oil (stovetop only). Cook according to the instructions for the cooking method used.
- Rest and fluff. Allow the rice to rest based on the cooking method used. Then fluff with a fork and serve.
Storage Tips
Brown rice makes the perfect make-ahead recipe to help with meal prep! I love to make a large batch of it on the weekend to use in recipes.
To make ahead. Cool the cooked brown rice and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
To freeze. Cool the cooked rice and store it in a freezer-safe, airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
More Rice Favorites!
Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe
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!
How to Cook Brown Rice Recipe
Ingredients
Stovetop Brown Rice Recipe
- 2 cup uncooked brown rice
- 4 cups water, or chicken stock
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
Rice Cooker Brown Rice Recipe
- 2 cup uncooked brown rice
- 4 cups water, or chicken stock
Instant Pot Brown Rice Recipe
- 2 cups uncooked brown rice
- 2 1/2 cups water, or chicken stock
Instructions
Stovetop Brown Rice Recipe
- Rinse the rice in a fine mesh strainer until the water runs clear. Add brown rice and water to a medium saucepan set over medium heat. Stir in the olive oil. Bring to a rolling boil, reduce heat to simmer, cover with lid, and cook until the rice is tender and the water is absorbed, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from the heat, leave covered, and rest for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve.
Rice Cooker Brown Rice Recipe
- Rinse the rice in a fine mesh strainer until the water runs clear. Add brown rice and water to the rice cooker. Cook using the brown rice setting. Fluff with a fork and serve.
Instant Pot Brown Rice Recipe
- Rinse the rice in a fine mesh strainer until the water runs clear. Add brown rice to the Instant Pot or other pressure cooker. Pour in the water 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.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
Great recipe! We just got an Instapot and I love it, I didn’t realize how quiet they were! Anyhow, I used this recipe with some chicken bone broth I made (on the instapot lol) the day before and loved it. We like the rice a little more al dente, so I probably will lower the ratio to 2 cups of rice to 2 1/4 cup of liquid and see how that goes.
Thank you!
Glad to hear that you enjoyed this, Rom! xo
Any idea if this recipe works with short grain brown rice also?
yum it’s really good:)
You used the wrong ratio, it’s 2 cups if uncooked rice with 2 1/2 cups water (not 5 cups!)
I used this method and it worked great. No crunch at all so I loved it! Usually when I cook brown rice on the stove or in my rice cooker there is just a little crunch, but the instant pot is the miracle worker!
I am so glad to hear you like this too, Melissa! Thanks! xo
Hi there, I cooked the 2 cups of brown rice in the insta pot with a little bit of EVOO for about 2-3 minutes w top off then then add the 2.5 cups of hot water. Close and put on Pressure for 20-22 minutes. It turned out great! A little twist to your recipe. Will try it without the EVOO next time to compare. Thanks for the recipe!
Thanks Steve!
My brown rice came out PERFECTLY following these directions! I’ve been making brown rice on the stove forever and got so tired of watching it so it wouldn’t bubble over and then the pain of the cleanup of the pot – no matter how perfectly I cooked it, it always required scrubbing. This was SO SIMPLE and cleanup was a breeze. Plus, the rice turned out absolutely perfectly – moist but not wet and the perfect texture. Perfect rice with no effort beyond measuring the ingredients? Yes please! Thank you!!
Thanks so much, Leigh! xo
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!
Rana… For 2 cups of (uncooked) brown rice, use 2½ cup of water stock, or broth… Not 5 cups of water.
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!