If you struggle getting brown rice to the perfect consistency, this Instant Pot brown rice recipe is for you! Using an electric pressure cooker to prepare rice is one of the best ways to get fluffy, tender brown rice every time. It’s basically foolproof!

Instant Pot brown rice in the pressure cooker.

I have to admit, cooking rice on the stovetop is not one of my strong areas. Whenever we serve rice as a side dish, I let John handle it. He’s a pro and always gets it exactly right. Me? I think I get distracted and let too much liquid cook out or cook it on too high of a temperature. And don’t get me started on how different stove tops cook at different rates.

How do I make rice? Enter the Instant Pot! This thing has been a lifesaver.

I will gladly take over rice duty as long as there’s an Instant Pot around. All you have to do is measure correctly, close the lid, set the timer, and done! Of course, there are some nuances, and I’ll go over those with you. You get perfect Instant Pot brown rice every time.

If this sounds good, you’ll want to try my Instant Pot white rice and Instant Pot cilantro lime rice.

How I Make Instant Pot Brown Rice

First things first, I use an Instant Pot Duo 6 quart from 2015-2016-ish. There are different makes and models of pressure cookers, so yours may be a little different. You may need to adjust the instructions a bit to find the sweet spot.

Brown rice and water in the Instant Pot liner. — 1. Start by pouring the water, rice, and salt into the stainless steel liner of the Instant Pot. Stir to ensure the rice is completely submerged in the water.

Brown rice submerged in water in the Instant Pot. — 2. Make sure the seal is properly seated in the lid, close the lid, and set the valve to the sealing position. Press the Manual (Pressure Cook) button and adjust to high pressure for 22 minutes.

Cooked Instant Pot brown rice before fluffing. — 3. Once the cooking time is complete, turn off the Keep Warm function and allow the Instant Pot to release pressure naturally for at least 10 minutes. Afterward, carefully open the valve to release any remaining pressure. Remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork.

The Water Ratio and Cook Time I Use

I’ve always had the best luck using a 1:1.25 ratio of rice to water. Meaning for every 1 cup of rice, I use 1 ¼ cups of water or other liquid. This ensures that the rice gets nice and fluffy without being mushy. More importantly, it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the liner and burn.

Do You Need to Rinse Brown Rice First?

This is a question I get a lot. I’ve been making brown rice in the Instant Pot for over 10 years, and cannot tell the difference between rice that’s been rinsed vs. rice that hasn’t. So for me, no, it hasn’t been necessary.

If you see debris or dirt in the rice, obviously rinse it. Just make sure that you drain it really well. Any excess water in the rice should be considered as part of the liquid in the recipe.

If you don’t drain it thoroughly, you’ll end up with 2-3 extra tablespoons of water in the rice before it ever goes into the liner. That could result in softer, overcooked rice.

Side view of fluffy brown rice in a bowl.

A Note About 1 Cup vs. 2 Cups of Rice

In general, the way rice works, no matter how you cook it, is for every 1 cup of dry rice you use you’re going to end up with 2 cups of cooked rice. So, think about how much you need for the end result and go from there.

If you need 2 cups total, use 1 cup of dry rice and 1 ¼ cups of water. If you need 4 cups of brown rice, use 2 cups of dry rice and 2 ½ cups of water. You can adjust up or down based on need as long as there’s room in the pressure cooker.

What Kind of Brown Rice Works Best in the Instant Pot

I always use long grain brown rice, jasmine, basmati, or jasmati. Those are the varieties that are fairly common in my local grocery stores and they all cook using the same times, temps, and measurements.

Cooked brown rice inside the Instant Pot insert.

Tips for the Best Texture

Don’t forget to stir: Make sure to stir the rice and water to submerge the grains in the liquid. Anything that’s a hump above the water isn’t going to cook properly.

Turn off Keep Warm: The keep warm function does exactly what it says. It keeps the food warm. That’s the same as leaving a pan of cooked rice on a burner that’s set to low and expecting great results. What you’re gonna get is rice stuck to the bottom of the liner or at minimum overcooked rice. When the Instant Pot finishes cooking, turn off Keep Warm and then allow the natural release.

Add extra flavor: Use something other than water to add extra flavor. Chicken, beef, or vegetable broth are great options. Just omit the salt so the rice doesn’t get too salty.

Why Brown Rice Turns Out Mushy or Too Firm

Your rice turned out too soft. Here are some common reasons why:

Mismeasured the rice or water.
Cooked it too long, which can sometimes happen depending on the model of pressure cooker.
Completed a quick pressure release instead of a natural release.
Left it on Keep Warm which overcooked the bottom and dried it out but made the top layer soft and mushy.
Didn’t drain it completely after rinsing.

The rice is too firm or crunchy. Here are some common reasons why:

Needed a little more water.
Undercooked and needed a few more minutes of cook time.
Didn’t stir the rice and water together before cooking.
The seal wasn’t seated properly in the lid and too much steam escaped.

Brown rice in a serving bowl with a wooden spoon.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

Storage: Transfer leftover rice to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 2 months.

Reheating: Add a splash of water when reheating in the microwave or on the stovetop to restore moisture.

For meal prep, portion cooked brown rice into freezer-safe containers or ziplock bags for easy grab-and-go servings.

Ways to Use Instant Pot Brown Rice

I love to use the Instant Pot to cook brown rice so it’s completely hands off. That lets me focus on the other parts of the meal. Some of our favorite pairings are these:

About My Instant Pot

I use an Instant Pot Duo 6-quart, and haven’t tested this recipe in other sizes or models. Cooking brown rice is as basic as it gets, though. I’m confident that it can be done, but you may need to adjust the time a bit. This also goes for other brands of pressure cookers like Ninja, Presto, Cosori, etc. Use my info as a starting point and adjust as needed.

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