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Pressure Cooker (Instant Pot) Brown Rice

This Instant Pot Brown Rice is perfectly nutty and fluffy. Pair it with your favorite meals for a delicious weeknight dinner.

instant pot brown rice in a wooden bowl


 

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I used to avoid brown rice like it was an icky stranger in the dark. Fact is, most brown rice was either too crunchy or just didn’t taste as good as white rice. But once I started making my rice in the pressure cooker, my whole outlook on brown rice changed. 

It’s perfectly nutty and fragrant and fluffy thanks to the pressure cooker. 

There are a few things you should know about brown rice in a pressure cooker:

  • It takes longer to cook than white rice. While white rice can have a minimum pressure cook time of 4 minutes, brown rice takes atleast 17 or up to 23 minutes on high pressure to cook. 
  • The ratio of water is better if increased a bit. With white rice, a 1:1 ratio generally works for fluffy rice. With brown rice, I use a 1:1.25 ratio. 2 cups of brown rice, 2 1/4 cups liquid.   
  • I always recommend rinsing rice (except for arborio) before placing it in the pressure cooker. It’s what mother taught me and mother knows best.   
  • Once you open the lid, the rice will look a little watery. It’s absolutely fine. Go on ahead and fluff the rice and the liquid will magically disappear.

How to make Instant Pot Brown Rice

brown rice, salt box, measuring cup with water, and measuring spoons laid out on a gray background

I start my rinsing my brown rice and then placing it in the Pressure Cooker with water and salt. 

hand holding salt in a measuring spoon over the brown rice and water in the instant pot

I then cook on high pressure for 23 minutes, then natural release for 10 minutes. 

cooked brown rice in instant pot

Once I open it, I fluff it and serve with my favorite dish. 

brown rice on fork

Notes 

  • As with all pressure cooking recipes, your location/altitude may affect how long the cook time needs to be. This pressure cooking altitude chart should help with any necessary adjustments. 
  • Chicken broth can be substituted for water if you want a more flavorful rice.
  • I use the cheapest brand of brown rice I can find in the store (generally the store brand) and it works perfectly. As long as it’s not par-boiled or anything this method will work. 

How long to cook brown rice?

This my friends depends. I’ve gone as short as 17 minutes and as long as 23 minutes of cooking brown rice on high pressure. Both yielded delicious similar results although I preferred the longer cook time a wee bit more. My husband could tell no difference. So if you’re short on time, 17 minutes on high pressure and a 10 minute natural release will be just fine.

Suggested meals to serve with brown rice:

Looking for other Instant Pot Rice Recipes? Try these out:

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5 from 5 votes

Pressure Cooker (Instant Pot) Brown Rice

This Instant Pot Brown Rice is perfectly cooked and ready in less than an hour. Nutty and flavorful and perfect for any weeknight meal.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword instant pot brown rice
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 23 minutes
Time to Rise to pressure and Natural release 20 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 344kcal
Author Tanya

Ingredients

  • 2 cups brown rice rinsed
  • 2 ¼ cups water
  • 1 ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Add rinsed brown rice, water, and salt to Pressure Cooker.
  • Cover and set Pressure Cooker on high pressure for 23 minutes. Make sure the valve is set to "Seal."
  • Once cooktime is done, allow the pressure cooker to naturally release for 10 minutes, then release any remaining pressure by moving the valve to "Vent."
  • Once all the pressure is released, open lid and fluff rice with fork. Serve with your favorite meal. Enjoy 🙂

Notes

This rice was prepared in a 6qt Instant Pot. I also use these measurements and methods in my Ninja Foodi pressure cooker.
Chicken broth can be substituted for the water

Nutrition

Calories: 344kcal | Carbohydrates: 72g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 883mg | Potassium: 255mg | Fiber: 3g | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1.7mg
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5 from 5 votes
Recipe Rating




Jenni

Sunday 13th of February 2022

Would it still work if I leave out the salt?

Tanya

Monday 14th of February 2022

Hi Jenni, yes, it will work but it may taste bland.

Marie

Thursday 6th of January 2022

I did this in my Ninja Foodie and it was cooked perfectly, and nice and fluffy. I set it for 23 minutes.

Tanya

Saturday 8th of January 2022

Thanks Marie, so glad you liked it.

Sharon

Tuesday 16th of November 2021

It was perfectly cooked. Thank you!!

Karen R.

Sunday 1st of November 2020

Hi! Thanks for sharing your pressure cooker brown rice tips and experience. I'm making some right now to add to a pot of lentil soup for a perfect protein (something about lentils and brown rice eaten together). Such a great autumn meal.

About the measurements, if 1cup rice requires 1.25cups liquid, shouldn't 2cups require 2.5?

"With brown rice, I use a 1:1.25 ratio. 2 cups of brown rice, 2 1/4 cups liquid."

Tanya

Monday 2nd of November 2020

Hi Karen, thanks. The ratios won't scale so perfectly. I tried brown rice with both 2 1/4 cups and 2 1/2 cups but found that the 2 1/4 cup made the perfect brown rice.

lynda terry

Friday 11th of September 2020

Perfect! Was amazing with my Dad's Hot Chicken Curry recipe, topped with mango chutney and chopped bananas of course.

Tanya

Friday 11th of September 2020

Lynda, that meal sounds amazing!