Instant Pot Brown Rice

Instant Pot Brown Rice

Looking for something healthy and easy? This Instant Pot brown rice is the recipe for you!

Brown rice topped with parsley in black bowl

Enjoying a bowl of instant pot brown rice is like coming home to a warm hug and a blanket.

Humans have used rice for thousands of years, since hunter-gatherer groups settled near the Yangtze River and began rice cultivation.

Today, roughly half of the world’s population relies on rice for food. It’s a global staple as diverse as the people who consume it.

With 40,000 rice varieties, each type has a different nutrient profile. Brown rice is among the most nutritionally beneficial because of its whole-grain composition.

Since brown rice has a longer cooking time than other varieties, many people use white rice instead. When you have a pressure cooker or an instant pot for rice, you don’t have to think about how long it takes to cook.

This simple recipe for instant pot brown rice works every time you want to make a quick, delicious meal. All you need is rice, your instant rice pot, and water or stock. While cooking time depends on whether you use long-grain or short-grain brown rice, the process shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes of prep and 15-20 minutes of cook time.

Is brown rice better than white rice?

Brown rice and white rice are essentially the same grain, but with one difference - one involves more human intervention. Milling strips white rice of most of its nutritional content. This refining process removes the bran, germ, and endosperm of the rice grain, which turns it into white rice.

Brown rice is healthier than white rice because it retains its nutrient-rich outer shell, and using it in your recipe helps increase your fiber and nutrient intake.

So just like the black rice, brown rice has a lot of health benefits and you really should make it if you want to balance all the snacks you eat.

Does brown rice taste like white rice?

Brown rice and white rice don’t taste the same, and not all recipes work with both varieties. Brown rice has an earthy, almost nutty flavor and has a darker color. White rice is mild and lighter in color.

However, the type of rice you use also affects the flavor and nutrient content. For example, basmati rice retains its distinct taste with white and brown rice, but each kind has its own flavor nuances.

Due to the differences, you might need to make adjustments to recipes that call for white rice when you want to use brown instead. With so many recipes for cooking brown rice in instant pot pressure cookers, you can find one that complements your main dishes or tastes good on its own.

Is this recipe vegan-friendly?

It depends on the type of broth you choose. This recipe is vegan-friendly if you use water or vegetable broth to cook your rice.

Should I use long-grain or short-grain brown rice?

Use short-grain in the pressure cooker for recipes that call for rice that clumps or sticks together. For recipes that call for softer, individually-falling grains, use long-grain. Short grain has more starch content, which is why it sticks together more easily than brown basmati rice.

Instant pot recipes will usually tell you what type of rice to use. When in doubt, check the size and texture of your rice, including how much starch the grains have before you rinse them.

Should I rinse the rice?

Before cooking, I strongly recommended rinsing the rice to remove the starch that makes the rice stick and any impurities on the grains.

Put the rice in a bowl and rinse it several times, rubbing the rice until the water is no longer cloudy.

How long can I store it?

You can store instant pot rice for up to one week in the refrigerator and up to three months in your freezer. Always make sure that the dish comes to room temperature before storing it.

Store rice as soon as possible, as it may contain bacteria that don’t die when in the pressure cooker. Refrigeration helps prevent bacteria from multiplying.

Can I add seasoning to the rice?

While this recipe is simple, you can find many ways to cook brown rice in instant pot pressure cookers. Use this recipe as a base and add flair to the rice with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and other flavorful spices. This recipe works best for dishes that already have seasoning so that it doesn’t overpower the flavor of your main dish.

How to serve?

The savory flavor profile of brown rice makes it a fantastic addition to many dishes, with plenty of vegan and non-vegan options. Some ideas:

Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast

Instant Pot Chicken Curry

Instant Pot Beef Bourguignon

Instant Pot Chicken Meatballs

If you need more options, check out What To Serve With Brown Rice for 15 ideas for a complete meal.

If you are looking for a one-pot meal, you can try this Instant Pot Brown Rice and Vegetables recipe.

Can I make adjustments to the recipe?

You can always make adjustments to the recipe, like decreasing the quantity if you don’t plan on storing it later. Two cups of rice make around four servings.

How to halve the amount?

  1. Use 1 cup of rice for this recipe.
  2. Make sure you adjust the water level accordingly.
  3. As a general rule, use 1 ¼ cups of water for every 1 cup of rice.

Anyway this is one of the easiest recipes to make, and with this method, you’ll have the perfect savory side dish to enjoy every time.

Instant Pot Rice Recipes

Instant Pot Rice Pilaf

Instant Pot Jasmine Rice

Instant Pot Black Beans and Rice

Instant Pot Coconut Rice

Instant Pot Yellow Rice

 

Instant Pot Brown Rice

The perfect way to make Instant Pot Brown Rice. Oil-free and foolproof recipe just for you 🙂 No more soggy rice!
4.59 from 24 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: international
Keyword: Brown Rice, rice
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Author: Corrie

Ingredients

  • 2 cups brown rice
  • 2.5 cups water or broth
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Rinse the rice.
  • Add water or broth and brown rice to the Instant Pot and stir.
  • Cover with the lid. Cook on high pressure for 15 minutes.
  • Once done, allow the natural release of pressure from your cooker.
  • Remove the lid and fluff the brown rice with a fork.
  • Serve and enjoy 🙂

Nutrition

Calories: 344kcal Carbohydrates: 72g Protein: 7g Fat: 3g Saturated Fat: 1g Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 1g Sodium: 585mg Potassium: 255mg Fiber: 3g Calcium: 32mg Iron: 2mg
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16 thoughts on “Instant Pot Brown Rice

  1. Hi I cannot find good information on making brown rice in the Instant Pot Aura. So many of the recipes include pressure directions and mine does not have a pressure cooker (which I am sad about). Can you tell me when I select the Rice/Multigrain button and then set it to High....then how do I know how long the time settings of 1, 2, 3, and 4 will cook for? The manual does not say. Does each number represent a certain amount of minutes? I am cooking 4 cups. So how much should I do for 1 cup? What are the ratios for rice to water with brown rice? Then I can multiply by how many cups I want. Thanks.

    1. Hmm, I'm sorry but I'm not totally sure. From what I understand, the Instant Pot Aura should automatically set the time and sense when it's done. You might be able to set custom settings but if you haven't, the default is just automatic.

  2. I frequently make brown bismati rice in my InstaPot. I follow whatever directions come with the rice packet. I spray the bottom of the InstaPot with non-stick spray (olive oil is my go to), add the rice and mix it with the non-stick spray, add the amount of liquid recommended by the rice packet. I use low sodium low fat chicken broth for my liquid. Cover the pot and set to rice (12 minutes in my InstaPot). I let it go down to "keep warm." It comes nice and delicious every time. It is a simple recipe, as I am in a low fat low sodium diet. I like reading the InstaPot recipes for ideas and modifications. Thanks.

  3. In the description it is mentioned the ratio of one cup rice to two cups of water. But in actual ingredients it is mentioned 2cups of rice and 3 cups of water. Shouldn't it be 4 cups of water??

  4. I just loved the recipe. Rice came out just right, not over cooked. After the rice got done, I made Chinese rice out of it and some chicken version. Thanks!

  5. Your ingredients sound perfect. I want to try to add some seasoning to these brown rice. What do you think is a good combination? I want to add garlic powder. Guide me for the rest!

    1. Thank you so much! I like adding turmeric, sea salt, garlic powder, and black pepper. You can try these seasonings as well.

    1. A rice cooker is meant to cook only rice, whereas an Instant Pot can cook many other foods in addition to rice. Instant pot is a magical electric pressure cooker.

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