Instant Pot Brown Rice

a small quantity of cooked brown rice in a ladle, held above an instant pot full of cooked brown rice

step by step guide for cooking perfect brown sona masoori rice in the instant pot inner pot as well as pot in pot

Course Main Course

Cuisine Indian

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 40

Total Time 45

Servings

Calories 229kcal

Author Shantala Shenoy Nayak

Equipment

Instant Pot Duo Nova

Ingredients

2 cup brown rice sona masoori
4 cup water
1-2 tablespoon ghee optional

Instructions

Cooking Rice in the Main Inner Pot (ideal for cooking MORE than 1.5 cups of rice)

Wash 2 cups brown sona masoori rice till the water runs clear, then drain the excess water.
In the Instant Pot inner pot, add water and rice in 2:1 water to rice ratio. Which means 4 cups of water for 2 cups of rice.
Then close the Instant Pot lid, after ensuring the sealing ring is securely in place, and turn the steam release valve to point to sealing.
Pressure cook on high for 22 minutes.
The rice is ready when the float valve comes down on its own.

Pot in Pot Method for Cooking Rice (ideal for cooking LESS than 1.5 cups of rice)

Pour 1 cup water in the main inner pot of the Instant Pot, and then place the steel trivet in the main pot.
In a small steel bowl add 1 cup washed and drained brown rice and 2 cups of fresh water.
Place this steel bowl on the trivet inside the Instant Pot. This is optional, but you can choose to cover this small steel pot with a steel lid.
Then close the Instant Pot lid, after ensuring the sealing ring is securely in place, and turn the steam release valve to point to sealing.
Pressure cook on high for 25 minutes.
The rice is ready when the float valve comes down on its own.

Video

Notes

Instant Pot Rice Setting: The auto setting for rice is for white or parboiled rice. Always use manual setting for cooking brown rice.
Brown Rice Cook Time: Brown rice takes significantly longer to cook than white rice, in general. In Instant Pot it takes about 22-25 minutes on high pressure to cook brown rice (vs 4-6 minutes for white rice), and then there is time to build and release pressure. So it’s best to plan ahead.
Pre-soaking Brown Rice: Soaking brown rice for 8-10 hours helps with reducing the quantity of phytic acid and arsenic in it, and also with the cooking process and texture. Though with instant pot you can get the soft fluffy texture even without pre-soaking.
Water to Brown Rice Ratio: 2:1 water to rice ratio gives soft, fluffy brown rice that is neither too dry, nor too sticky or mushy.
Splitting of Rice Grain: Cooked brown rice does not retain grain shape like white rice. Due to pressure, the outer bran ruptures, and the grain opens along the longer axis. This is a characteristic of brown rice.
Quantity vs Method: Technically you can cook any quantity of rice in the main inner pot, so long as the water and rice are under the halfway mark of the inner pot. But for smaller quantities of rice, it’s best to use the pot in pot method, so the inner pot stays clean, and you can use it for cooking something else.
Optional Additions: Adding ghee to rice will make it really aromatic.

Please note: The nutrition values are best estimates provided as a courtesy. The exact values can vary depending on the exact ingredients or brands used. If you rely on them for your specific diet and/or health issues, please consult a registered dietician or nutritionist.

Nutrition