Basmati Rice Instant Pot recipe

Say goodbye to undercooked mushy or burnt rice with this basmati rice instant pot recipe. This foolproof recipe requires no soaking or tending to the pot and yields fluffy, light and tender rice that doesn’t clump together. 

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Water is the only other ingredient you would need to make this easy recipe. This delicious rice is perfect for meal prep and it pairs well with so many dishes like this chicken chettinad and chicken salan !

Instant pot basmati rice is the perfect recipe if you are new to pressure cooking. You can make the best rice with the least effort and you will get consistent results each time. 

So whether you’re an Instant Pot* newbie, or a pro, you’re gonna love this! Learn how to make basmati rice quickly, easily and with less effort than other methods!

What is Basmati Rice?

Basmati rice is a popular long grain rice traditionally grown in the Indian subcontinent. India is its largest exporter.

They’re fragrant rice with a light nutty flavor and fluffy and airy texture when cooked right. It comes in both white and brown varieties. Honestly, Basmati is the only kind of rice I make at home!

All rice varieties, including basmati are a very low allergenic food, so it is commonly given to babies. It is also vegan, gluten-free and contains low levels of fat and cholesterol. 

Interestingly, basmati rice is less calorie dense and starchy as compared to other types of white rice.

Basmati rice Vs Jasmine Rice

Both, Jasmine* and Basmati rice* are long-grain rice varieties from Asia. While the dry grains look almost the same, it is much easier to tell them apart when cooked.

Jasmine rice is sticky rice. It sticks together once cooked whereas basmati rice is light and fluffy. 

Basmati rice also become almost twice as long after cooking whereas Jasmine rice increases in width and the edges become rounded.

What we look for in a perfect white basmati rice

This can of course vary from person to person. But as someone who has grown up eating basmati rice, these are some of the things I look for in basmati rice :

• Cooked basmati should be al dente and fluffy.
• It should give off that distinct aroma and it should be full of nutty flavor.
• I also prefer my basmati rice to be long and separate with just the right amount of moisture.

Soft, sticky and mushy basmati rice is a big no NO for me!

Type of basmati rice to buy

Basmati is a long grained rice. While buying basmati rice, remember that longer the grain, the better it is.

The best basmati rice isn’t pearly white but has slightly golden hue. I also recommend buying aged basmati rice* as aging helps to dry the rice fully and keep those grains fluffy and separated.

Rinsing Rice

You have to rinse the rice before cooking. 

Rinsing prevents rice from clumping together by removing the starchy outer layer on the rice. This keeps the grains separated during cooking and you get fluffy rice instead of a gelatinous mess.

DON’T skip this simple step!

To rinse the basmati rice:

• Place rice in a fine mesh strainer*. Rinse under cold water at least 3 times for 1-2 minutes, or until water runs clear.
• I move the rice around with my fingers while rinsing, to make sure the water runs over all of the grains. 
• Shake as much water as possible off of the rice, so that you’re not adding additional water to the Instant Pot.

Is it necessary to soak the rice before cooking basmati rice

It is definitely not necessary to soak the rice before cooking it. In fact, I rarely do it!

But if you do have the time, you can soak it in water for 15-20 min before cooking it. 

Soaking rice in water, helps rice to absorb water making it softer and prevents it from breaking. It also reduces starch content in cooked rice more than just rinsing the rice.

Ratio of water to rice to cook basmati rice

Typically, for stovetop cooking, I follow a 1:2 ratio, which means, for every cup of rice, I use 2 cups of water.

When making rice in an instant pot, we need less water. I use 1 cup of water for every cup of rice, ie 1:1 ratio of rice to water. 

How much rice can you cook in an instant pot?

This would depend on the size of your instant pot. For safety reasons, Instant Pots should not be filled more than ⅔ their capacity (look for the ‘max’ line in your steel pot).

1 cup dry rice yields to roughly 3 cups of basmati rice. Based on all these factors, here are the quantities for dry cups of rice:

• 8-quart Instant Pot*- 6.5 cups
• 6 quart Instant Pot*- 5 cups
• 3-quart Instant Pot*- 2.5 cups

Cooking time does not increase with quantity – so 1 cup or 2 cups of rice will require the same pressure cooking time.

Ingredients and Alternatives

Here are the ingredients you need to get the perfect basmati rice

Basmati rice: Pick up out good quality basmati rice. Longer grains indicate higher quality, and should be tapered slightly at the end.

Oil: We used olive oil to avoid the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pot. You can alternatively use ghee* as well which gives off a very rich flavor.

Water: Use 1:1 ratio of rice to water.

How to make the perfect Basmati Rice in Instant Pot

Rinse and Add Rice into instant pot

Measure out 2 cups of basmati rise. 

Rinse thoroughly with water till the water is almost clear to fully clear. To see more details on how to rinse, scroll up and read the ‘Rinsing Rice’ section.

Add the rinsed rice into an instant pot*. Add in about a tablespoon of olive oil. This step is optional, but it avoids the rice from sticking to the bottom of the instant pot after cooking. We have had great success ever since we started using oil.

Add water

Add 1:1 ratio of water to rice. So 2 cups of water in this case and close the instant pot, with the top valve sealed.  

Cook Rice

Set the cooking mode to ‘pressure cook’ on ‘high’ pressure. Set the time to 5 minutes. 

Let the instant pot do its magic. Once its cooked, it will automatically switch to ‘keep warm’ mode. Let it stay in this for about 15 minutes. After the 10-15 minutes, switch off the instant pot and release the pressure valve if there is still pressure left inside. 

Fluff Rice and serve!

Using the prongs of a fork, fluff the rice very gently. Fluffing the rice helps break up any lumps and separate the grain. Check the video to see how to do this.

Serve fresh and warm for best taste and texture!  

Storing cooked Basmati rice

Once the rice has cooled down, refrigerate for up to 3-5 days. 

You can always store cooked leftover rice in the freezer, in zip lock bags or in airtight container for 1-2 months. Any longer than that and the rice will begin to lose its flavor and moisture.

To defrost, simply keep the rice container in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat in the microwave after adding 2 tablespoons of water on top. Every 30 seconds, stir the rice gently until the rice is hot. 

If you don’t have a microwave, then reheat the rice in a sauce pan* with a sprinkle of water.

Serving Instant Pot Basmati Rice

You can serve this plain basmati rice with any Indian dishes such as chicken curry, mutton curry, lentils, beans and more!

Tips to get the perfect basmati rice

• Do not mix the rice when it’s steaming hot, this will start breaking the long grains. 
• Fluff up the rice once it cools a bit.
• Rice will get drier as it cools – once the excess steam evaporates from the rice.
• Cook time will remain the same no matter how much rice you make.
• Each cup of uncooked rice will yield three cups of cooked rice.
• Use only good brands of basmati rice*.

Commonly Asked Questions

Should I use the rice button on my Instant Pot ?

You can use the “Rice setting” on your Instant Pot for most types of white rice. However for the long grained Basmati rice you will get better results by using a very specific cooking time, like this recipe does. If you use the “Rice” button on an Instant Pot, your rice will take longer to cook (around 12min) as it is cooked on low pressure. This recipe cooks basmati rice in a shorter time – just 6 min at high pressure.

Can you cook brown basmati rice in Instant Pot ?

You can cook brown basmati rice in Instant Pot but it takes longer to cook than white rice – around 22 min. Rice to water ratio is also different – 1 cup brown rice requires 1.5 cups of water to cook.

Do you rinse rice with hot or cold water ?

Cold water is the best option to rinse rice with, as it helps get rid of the starch more easily.

Can I cook basmati rice using broth or stock ?

Yes, you can absolutely cook basmati rice in chicken broth*, vegetable broth* or vegetable stock. It will give the rice an elevated flavor and aroma.

Should you add salt or oil while cooking basmati rice in instant pot ?

This depends on personal preference. Oil and salt both aren’t technically necessary but they do add flavor. I usually only add a tablespoon of olive oil to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom of the instant pot. If you do want to add salt, add it along with the rice and water before sealing your Instant Pot.

Do I need to soak the rice before cooking ?

You don’t need to soak the rice, but you do need to rinse it well. Check the “Rinsing Rice” section above to see how to rinse rice to remove starch.

How do I keep the rice from sticking to the pot ?

Add 1 tbsp of oil and coat the instant pot before adding rinsed rice and water to prevent it from sticking to the pot. Also make sure to rinse rice well to remove starch. This will also prevent rice from sticking to the bottom of the pot.

Natural release vs. Quick release for – which is better for rice ?

Unless I am in a rush, I do 5-10 minutes of natural pressure release, after which I release the remaining pressure using quick release.

LOOKING FOR MORE DINNER/LUNCH RECIPES??

Here are some of my favorite ones, that I am sure you would love –

• Texas Roadhouse Herb Crusted Chicken
• Olive Garden’s Asiago Tortelloni Alfredo with Grilled Chicken
• Bratwurst

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