If you’re new to the Instant Pot, making rice is a perfect place to start. It may seem basic, but many people are unsure how to get consistently great rice from their pressure cooker. This guide covers my favorite tips and a simple recipe so you can make perfect white rice every time.
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BACK TO INSTANT POT BASICS
Rice is a staple in our household—my wife is Filipino and rice accompanies almost every meal. We switched to the Instant Pot after our old rice cooker became slow and its non-stick coating started to flake. The stainless-steel inner pot and reliable results convinced us to use the Instant Pot for rice most nights.
We usually cook Jasmine rice and it turns out beautifully in the Instant Pot. Basmati and other white rices also work well. Below is the recipe I use for two cups of rice, plus my top three tips for consistently excellent results.
Tip 1: Use a Dedicated Silicone Ring for Rice
The Instant Pot sealing ring absorbs odors from whatever you’ve cooked. Strong-smelling dishes like curry, chili, or garlic can leave a scent that later transfers to quieter foods—like rice. Even washing or using the dishwasher doesn’t always remove those smells completely.
Keep a separate silicone ring just for rice to avoid off-flavored rice. It’s an inexpensive and effective way to preserve the clean taste of your rice.
Tip 2: Add a Little Extra Water
The Instant Pot cup-to-cup method recommends a 1:1 rice-to-water ratio using the included cup. For many people, including my family, that produces rice that’s slightly dry. I add an extra 1/4 cup water to make the rice a touch more tender and slightly sticky—perfect for steaming and serving with saucy mains.
For example, for 2 cups of dry Jasmine rice use 2 1/4 cups of water. I find that when making larger batches you still only need that same extra 1/4 cup, not a proportional increase. The extra water also gives a little leeway if the rice sits on the “keep warm” setting for longer.
Tip 3: Rinse Your Rice Three Times
Rinsing rice removes excess surface starch, which is the main cause of gummy or clumpy rice. Many skip rinsing altogether or only rinse once, but properly rinsing three times makes a noticeable difference in texture. It’s quick and only takes a minute.
How to Rinse Rice Properly for the Instant Pot
Put the dry rice in the Instant Pot inner pot and cover it with water. Swirl the rice and water in a circular motion to loosen starch, then carefully tip the pot to pour the cloudy water away. The rice will cling together if you pour slowly, which helps prevent losing grains down the sink. Repeat this fill-agitate-pour routine two more times until the water is noticeably clearer. Then proceed with cooking.
Did you leave rice in the Instant Pot too long?
If rice dries onto the inner pot, scraping it off can be difficult. A helpful cleaning trick can make this easier—see the included video demonstration for a simple hack to loosen dried-on rice without harsh scrubbing.
2 Cups of Jasmine Rice in the Instant Pot
Equipment
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Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 2 cup Jasmine Rice
- 2 ¼ cup water
Instructions
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Remove the lid from the Instant Pot.
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Make sure a silicone ring reserved for rice is properly seated in the lid.
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Remove the inner pot and add 2 cups of Jasmine rice using the Instant Pot measuring cup.
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Cover the rice with water and swirl it in a circular motion to rinse.
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Carefully tip the inner pot and pour out the cloudy water, stopping just before the rice reaches the edge. Repeat the rinse two more times.
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After rinsing, add 2 1/4 cups of water to the inner pot.
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Plug in the Instant Pot, place the lid on and turn it clockwise until it locks.
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Set the steam release to Sealing.
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Press the Rice button and set it to 10 minutes. If your model allows pressure selection, use High.
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When the Instant Pot beeps, carefully move the steam release to Venting and wait until all steam is released.
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Turn the lid counterclockwise to unlock and open. Use a rice paddle to fluff and serve.
Video
Nutrition
Tried this recipe?Mention @DadGotThis or tag #DadGotThis!Leftover rice is great for Filipino-style garlic fried rice, which pairs perfectly with chicken adobo—both of which you can make in the Instant Pot. If you want more Instant Pot basics and tips, explore other posts and videos from the same author.