• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
Platings and pairings logo.
Start Here
All Recipes
Perfect Pairings
Free Resources
About
Home

How to Use the Instant Pot Rice Setting

Jump to Recipe

Posted by:

Erin Lynch

|

Updated:

February 3, 2026

|

4.96 from 204 votes

This site runs ads and generates income from affiliate links. Disclosure policy.

Instant pot rice button pinterest image.
  • Facebook
  • Flipboard
  • Email

With this easy Instant Pot Rice recipe, you’ll see it’s simple to make fluffy rice with minimal measuring and perfect results every time. With directions for white rice, basmati, jasmine and brown. Plus, how to use the Instant Pot rice button.

Bowl of rice and small bowl of soy sauce next to instant pot.

Save This Recipe!

Enter your email address to get a link to this post conveniently in your inbox!

Save Recipe

Today I thought I’d share with you my “method” for how to cook perfect rice in the Instant Pot.

Cooking rice in the instant pot is easy, hands free and simple. 

Table of Contents

  • Water to Rice Ratio
  • How to Make It
  • Instant Pot Rice Button Instructions
  • How Long to Cook Rice in the Instant Pot
  • Recipe Tips
  • How Much Rice Can I Cook in My Instant Pot?
  • Storing + Reheating
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Full Recipe

Reader

Love



5 stars
I followed your directions exactly and the rice came out perfectly! Thank you!

–

Beverly Hembree

Water to Rice: Ratio

  • 1:1 – While you generally use 1 cup rice to 1 ¼ cups water for stovetop rice, in the Instant Pot, that ratio drops down to 1:1, aka 1 cup of water for every one cup of rice.

The reason for the reduced water is that the Instant Pot is more “sealed” than a traditional cooking pot, meaning less evaporation of water during the cooking process.

How to Make It

  1. Rinse Rice: Rinse rice under cold running water until water runs clear.
  2. Add Ingredients to Pressure Cooker: Add oil to Instant Pot along with the rinsed rice, water and salt.
  3. Seal: Lock the lid and set the steam valve to seal.
  4. Cook: Cook white rice using the instant pot rice setting or follow the cooking chart below.
  5. Release Pressure: Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes and then release any remaining pressure.
  6. Fluff: Fluff rice with a fork and serve.
Cooked rice in instant pot.

Instant Pot Rice Button Instructions

  • Most Instant Pot models will have a “RICE” button – This is the perfect button to use if you’re cooking white rice. If you’re cooking any other type of rice, be sure to follow the timing chart below – The water to rice ratio will remain the same.

How Long to Cook Rice in the Instant Pot

  • White Rice: 4-8 minutes
  • Brown Rice: 22-24 minutes
  • Jasmine Rice: 4-8 minutes
  • Basmati Rice: 4-8 minutes
  • Wild Rice: 25-30 minutes

Total Time: Note that you still need to account for the time it takes for the Instant Pot to come to pressure, and then for the natural pressure release. It will take about 10 minutes for the pressure to build, and then we will let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes too. So, in reality, you should add 20 minutes to the cooking time below.

Dome of rice in ivory bowl.

Recipe Tips

  • Rinsing: Be sure to rinse the rice before adding it to the pot, to get rid of any additional starches. Just run it under water until the water is clear. The result is rice that’s light and fluffy.
  • Oil: I like to add in 1 teaspoon of oil for each cup of rice that I’m making – This not only prevents the rice from sticking to the pot, but it also cuts down on the foaming a bit so that your Instant Pot doesn’t sputter and spit.
  • Salt: I add a pinch of salt for each cup of rice that I’m cooking, to flavor the rice right from the get-go.
  • Adding Flavor: If you’d like to add even more flavor and nutrition you can cook it in broth instead of water. I love making parmesan broth, instant pot bone broth and slow cooker bone broth. All you need is some leftover parmesan rinds or meat bones and veggie scraps. 

How Much Rice Can I Cook in My Instant Pot?

The recipe below is for cooking 1 cup of rice, which will yield about 3 cups of cooked rice. But the recipe can be easily adjusted using the recipe card below (just click the 2x or 3x button).

Depending on the size of your instant pot, you can cook the following amounts of rice:

  • 6-Quart Instant Pot: You can cook up to 4 cups of dry rice, which will make about 12 cups of cooked rice.
  • 8-Quart Instant Pot: You can cook up to 6 cups of dry rice, which will make 18 cups of cooked rice.

Note: The water to rice ratio (1:1) and cook time will stay the same regardless of the amount of rice you are cooking.

Storing + Reheating

  • Storing – Let your rice cool to room temperature, then refrigerate it in an airtight container for 4 to 5 days. 
  • Freezing – Seal the cooled leftovers in a freezer-friendly bag or container and freeze for 4 to 5 months. 
  • Reheating – If frozen, thaw the rice in the fridge before reheating. If the grains seem dry, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water and reheat in the microwave in 30 second intervals. Repeat until the rice is hot and fluffy.
Chopsticks in bowl of rice.

Serving Suggestions

Rice is fantastic served hot or chilled. Use a hot and fresh batch of delicious rice to go with:

  • Spicy Peanut Tofu Bowls
  • Hibachi Fried Rice
  • Thai Beef Stir Fry 
  • Ginger Veggie Stir Fry
  • Turkey Swedish Meatballs
  • Mongolian Beef
  • Lamb Stir Fry with Green Beans 

You can also top your rice with one of these 15+ sauces for rice bowls.

Or, chill your rice to serve with: 

  • Shrimp Sushi Bowls
  • Salmon Sushi Bowls
  • Tuna Rice Bowl
  • 15-Minute Poke Bowls
  • Vegetarian Sushi
Bowl of rice and small bowl of soy sauce next to instant pot.

More Rice Recipes

  • Instant Pot Fried Rice
  • Instant Pot Mexican Rice
  • Toasted Rice Powder
  • Rice Cooker Rice
  • Instant Pot Red Beans & Rice
  • Bacon Fried Rice
  • Hibachi Fried Rice

More Perfect Whole Grains

  • How to Cook Perfect Quinoa in the Instant Pot
  • Rice Cooker Quinoa
  • The Best Instant Pot Farro
  • Instant Pot Oatmeal
  • Instant Pot Risotto 

More Instant Pot Recipes

  • Instant Pot Spaghetti with Jar Sauce

    new!

    Instant Pot Spaghetti with Jar Sauce

  • Instant Pot Rotisserie Chicken Soup

    new!

    Instant Pot Rotisserie Chicken Soup

  • Instant Pot Chili

    new!

    Instant Pot Chili

  • Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas

    new!

    Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas

  • Weight Loss Cabbage Soup

    new!

    Weight Loss Cabbage Soup

  • Instant Pot Pot Roast

    new!

    Instant Pot Pot Roast

Browse More Instant Pot Favorites

Did you try out your instant pot rice button?

If you loved this post on how to use the instant pot rice setting, I would appreciate it so much if you would give this recipe a ⭐️star review⭐️! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

For more great Platings and Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and Facebook.

Save This Recipe!

Enter your email address to save this recipe for later. ⬇️

Save Recipe – Before Recipe Card

You’re signing up to get (delicious!) emails from me. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Bowl of rice and small bowl of soy sauce next to instant pot.

Full Recipe

Instant Pot Rice

With these tips you’ll see it's simple to learn how to cook perfect rice using the Instant Pot rice setting. The result is fluffy & flavorful rice that’s easy to prepare with minimal measuring.
4.96 from 204 votes
Print Pin
Serves 4 people
Created by Platings and Pairings
Prep Time: 1 minute min
Cook Time: 8 minutes mins
Time for pressure to build and release: 20 minutes mins
Total Time: 28 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 cup rice
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon cooking oil (olive oil, vegetable oil, canola oil)
  • 1 pinch salt

Instructions

  • Rinse rice under cold running water until the water runs clear.
  • Add oil to the Instant Pot along with the rinsed rice (still damp), water and salt.
  • Lock the lid and set the steam valve to its “sealing” position. Select the “RICE” button (if cooking white rice) or follow the cooking chart below. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes and then release any remaining pressure. Fluff rice with a fork and serve.

Notes

Cook Times: 
  • White, Jasmine & Basmati Rice: 4-8 minutes
  • Brown Rice: 22-24 minutes
  • Wild Rice: 25-30 minutes
Tip: Use the recipe card to adjust the number of servings you are making. The water to rice ratio (1:1) and cook time will stay the same regardless of the amount of rice you are cooking.

Nutrition

Calories: 168kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 3g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 53mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

This instapot rice recipe was originally published in 2017. It was updated in 2022 to add new photos, and again in 2023 to add new content.

  • Facebook
  • Flipboard
  • Email
4.96 from 204 votes (147 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

238 responses

  1. Dawn Owens
    September 10, 2017

    Is there a trick to making rice and chicken strips at the same time?
    I love to cook my meals all together and at times I will use chicken broth instead of water to cook my rice in. Any tips??

    Reply
    1. Erin
      September 22, 2017

      To be honest Dawn, I haven’t tried it… Are you wanting the chicken strips separate from the rice? I would maybe put the rice below and then insert that metal basket upside down so that the strips are lifted off of the rice. Like, place them on that metal sling…? I have a feeling the chicken may cook a lot faster than the rice though, but perhaps with the steam, it won’t dry out…? I think I need to put this to the test!

      Reply
    2. Helen
      December 11, 2017

      You could saute the chicken first, i do it with onions and a little fajitis seasoning, i then just add my water and rice and put the cooker on rice and let the PO go.

      Reply
      1. Erin
        December 19, 2017

        That sounds really yummy Helen!

        Reply
  2. sarah
    September 30, 2017

    Do you put it on manual to change it to 8 minutes for white rice? I put it on the rice but it automatically does 12 minutes not 8. Or there’s also the multigrain that does high pressure instead of low pressure and you can adjust the minutes. Is that the one you use?

    Reply
    1. Erin
      September 30, 2017

      Hi! Turn the Instant Pot to Manual and then adjust the time. Hope this helps!

      Reply
    2. Fawn
      May 19, 2018

      Hit the rice button again and it will cycle through all the cooking options.

      Reply
  3. Alicia
    October 2, 2017

    Okay, so I am brand new to the Instant pot and I am wondering about the water/rice ratio. I always use brown rice but do 2 cups water for every cup rice. Is it really one/one? If so, why such a difference?

    Reply
    1. Erin
      October 18, 2017

      Hi Alicia – In the Instant Pot, there’s very little evaporation of the water. That’s why the water-to-rice ratio is so different.

      Reply
  4. Anna
    October 4, 2017

    If I double the recipe, do I double the cooking time? Thanks!

    Reply
    1. Erin
      October 18, 2017

      No need to double the cooking time Anna – It should take the same amount of time.

      Reply
      1. Bekah Southern
        October 30, 2017

        Tha KS for asking this question, I was about to until I read through the posts. Trying now with a double batch in high pressure for 10 min. Wish me luck

        Reply
        1. Bekah Southern
          October 30, 2017

          5 stars
          It was perfect! 👌

          Reply
  5. Corinne Poulten
    October 18, 2017

    Hi
    Is it a straight normal cup measurement for water and rice or a normal cup for the water but a rice cup measure for the rice?
    Thanks:)

    Reply
    1. Erin
      October 22, 2017

      You should use the same measurement for both… I tend to use a measuring cup.

      Reply
  6. Sabine Haynes
    October 27, 2017

    Do you put boiling water in the instant pot or cold water.

    Reply
    1. Erin
      October 30, 2017

      The water should be cold.

      Reply
  7. Yolanda
    November 1, 2017

    I am thinking of getting a 8 qt instant pot but when I cook rice I only need 2 cups usually. Would two cups of water be enought to start the pressurized process in the 8 qt pot? Or should I just get a 6 qt? (I really wanted the extra capacity for cooking larger portions although there is only 2 adults and 2 kids in the house).

    Reply
    1. Erin
      November 8, 2017

      Hi Yolanda – This should come out just fine when using the 8-quart Instant Pot too.

      Reply
      1. Linda White
        April 2, 2020

        5 stars
        Thank you so much for this recipe. It turned out absolutely perfect! I am looking forward to trying more of your recipes.

        Reply
        1. Erin
          April 2, 2020

          I’m so glad it worked well for you Linda!

          Reply
  8. crystal
    November 27, 2017

    I like adding minced garlic into my rice after it’s done cooking – but that’s with a regular rice cooker.
    Do you think adding minced garlic into the InstaPot, with the rice and water before cooking, will be okay?

    Reply
    1. Erin
      November 30, 2017

      That sounds great Crystal – I think that should work… I’d love to hear back if you try it. Maybe you could try leaving the cloves whole? They may get softened and then you can mash them into the rice…?

      Reply
  9. Joey
    December 14, 2017

    Hi! I just got my IP and haven’t cooked rice yet….this might be a dumb question but, can I use Instant rice?

    Reply
    1. Erin
      December 19, 2017

      Hi Joey – I would not use instant rice.

      Reply
  10. Roxanne Snegirev
    December 30, 2017

    How many cups of rice can u cook in a small pot?

    Reply
←Older Comments
1 2 3 4 … 11
Newer Comments→

Hi, I’m Erin!

Can I pour you a glass of wine? Let’s have some fun in the kitchen! Maybe some pasta? A juicy steak? I’ve got loads of yummy, easy recipes for you! Because cooking should feel as comfy as your favorite yoga pants. ♥

Know More

Follow Me on Social!

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • X
  • YouTube

Recent Recipes

  • Italian Penicillin Soup
  • Marry Me Tortellini
  • Arugula Pesto
  • Carrot Cucumber Salad
  • Parmesan Chicken Cutlets
  • Instant Pot Spaghetti with Jar Sauce
  • Pesto Hummus
  • 30+ Green Foods for St. Patrick’s Day & More!

Dish Type

30 Minute Meals
Appetizer Recipes
Cocktail Recipes
Dessert Recipes
Healthy Recipes

Cooking Method

Air Fryer Recipes
Grilling Recipes
Instant Pot Recipes
Slow Cooker Recipes
Sous Vide Recipes

Ingredient

Beef Recipes
Chicken Recipes
Lamb Recipes
Pork Recipes
Seafood Recipes

Cocktails

Classic
Gin
Margarita
Moscow Mule
Vodka

Sides

Bread
Potatoes
Rice
Salad
Vegetables

Travel

Australia
California
Europe
Hawaii
Italy
About Me
Contact
Privacy Policy

© All Rights Reserved.

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.