Instant Pot White Rice

Learn how to cook jasmine white rice in an Instant Pot or Ninja Foodi. This Instant Pot White Rice recipe is the easiest and quickest way to cook rice. It's even faster than a rice cooker. 

White rice is about the most simple thing you can make in your kitchen. Some people still choose to cook white rice in a pot or using a rice cooker. For me, there is nothing easier and faster than cooking rice in an Instant Pot. I even put my rice cooker away for good freeing up some valuable space in my kitchen. 

Jump to:

• Pressure Cooker White Rice
• How to Cook White Rice in a Pressure Cooker
• Step 2. Cook the Rice at High Pressure
• How to Store Leftover Cooked White Rice:
• Instant Pot White Rice

Pressure Cooker White Rice

Cooking white rice in an instant pot only takes 4 minutes of cooking time at high pressure. The rice comes up perfect every time, so fluffy and tender. 

A number of regions across the globe would name rice as the most important ingredient and a staple in their diet. I myself am in that camp, a day doesn’t feel quite right without a hot rice dish!

Serve this white rice with:

• Best Pork Tenderloin Stir Fry
• Vietnamese Caramelized Pork Bowls
• Tonkatsu (Japanese Pork Cutlet)
• Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken Stir Fry

Jasmine white rice is an extremely versatile rice that goes well with just about anything. I’ve used it in so many types of cuisines: Thai, Indian, Middle Eastern, Jamaican, Chinese and Spanish just to name a few. It soaks in and perfectly accompanies the flavors of a dish, and when cooked right has a slightly sticky and soft texture that is easy to love. 

How to Cook White Rice in a Pressure Cooker

Cooking white rice in an instant pot requires minimal preparation. Here are some basic steps to follow:

Step 1. Rinse Your Rice Before Cooking

Do not skip this step. You want to rinse the rice to remove debris, get rid of any chemicals like arsenic, and to take away that pungent smells. As a result, the rice will have a clean taste and fluffier texture.

My favorite way to rinse the rice is using a strainer with a fine metal mesh. Simply run cold water over the rice, gently rub the rice with your fingertips in circular motion and shaking the strainer multiple times back and forth until the water runs clear.

Don't forget to drain the rice! Let the rice sit in a strainer for a few minutes to remove any excess liquid to prevent mushy rice.

Step 2. Cook the Rice at High Pressure

You've washed your rice and now it's time to cook the rice in an Instant Pot at high pressure.

• To cook white rice in an instant pot, use a 1 to 1 water to rice ratio.
• Add the rinsed rice and water to the pressure cooker pot. Stir to combine.
• If you want to add a seasoning to rice, feel free to add about ½ tsp of salt per a cup of rice. I personally think the salt is unnecessary since I'll be eating rice with a main dish that already has a lot of flavors in it. 
• Secure the lid. Select the "Manual" key and set it to "4 minutes".
• When the timer is off, allow the cooker to cool down naturally for about 5 minutes. After that, turn the quick release button to the “Venting” position to let out steam until the float valve drops down. 

Please note, if you are going to use the rice to make fried rice, you only need to cook it for 3 minutes and allow the cooker to cool down naturally for about 10 minutes, as mentioned in the previous post Instant Pot Fried Rice

How to Store Leftover Cooked White Rice:

You need to store the leftover cooked white rice in the fridge or freezer within an hour or so. Properly stored, it lasts about 5-7 days in the fridge or up to a month in the freezer.

Check Out More Instant Pot Recipes Using Rice:

• Greek Chicken Lemon Rice Soup (Avgolemono)
• Ground Beef and Rice
• Cilantro Lime Rice
• Risotto
• Instant Pot Fried Rice