Instant Pot Basmati Rice

Basmati rice in a black bowl topped with basil

The easiest way to make basmati rice. Get a perfect rice each and every time using this simple recipe!

Basmati rice in a black bowl topped with basil

This recipe works great with loads of my Instant Pot food recipes like beef and broccoli, butter chicken, and other “heavier” main dishes that need something light for balance.

This recipe is oil and gluten-free and uses only 3 ingredients that you’re guaranteed to have in your pantry already. One even comes directly out of the tap!

This recipe is basically just rice and water!

Rice is such an accessible carb. I like to buy a large bag from Costco or Walmart. It’s very cheap and lasts me ages.

This white basmati rice in the Instant Pot is an easy decision!

The first time I tried this recipe, I couldn’t believe how fluffy and soft the rice was… I didn’t even have to do much!

… And it takes no time!

This is one of the easiest recipes you can make in your Instant Pot, and all of my recipes are pretty darn easy.

I cook perfect basmati rice in the Instant Pot, every time.

I recommend my Instant Pot recipes for beginners and those of you who like fast, last-minute-dinner-panic kinds of cooking.

Read on for my top rice cooking method and more tips for perfect basmati rice!

Why using the Instant Pot?

Basmati rice in your Instant Pot pressure cooker is so much less hassle. Just add your ingredients in, set the timer, and let the Instant Pot work its magic.

Aren’t those the most simple instructions?!

Don’t you just hate it when your stovetop rice goes gloopy, or when it sticks to the bottom of the pan?

I always seem to overcook or undercook my stovetop basmati rice.

Stovetop basmati rice is much more annoying and much more stressful than it needs to be.

It’s only rice!

If you pressure cook your basmati rice it takes away all that aggravation and makes perfect, fluffy cooked rice every single time.

Cooking this recipe in the Instant Pot is much the same as using a standard rice cooker. Instant Pot, however, is a much more versatile device that allows you to pressure cook many meals, not just basmati rice.

How to Make Basmati Rice

Gather your ingredients for the recipe.

rice in the pot and spoon

Rinse rice under cold water until the starch is removed. The water should not be milky. Place the rice in the Instant Pot and add water.

Rice in Instant Pot

The rice to water ratio should be 1:1.

  • If you like softer rice, 1 ¼ cups water is recommended.
  • If you prefer firm rice, 1 cup of water is what you should add.

Add salt and lock the lid into place.

Adding Salt

Cook the rice at the High-Pressure setting for 6 minutes.

Once the cooking cycle is done, leave the Instant Pot to release the pressure naturally for 10 minutes. Then do a quick pressure release by moving the venting knob from the sealing to venting position.

Once done, fluff the rice and serve.

instant pot recipes

How to double up the recipe?

If you are using 2 cups of rice, then you will need to add 2 cups of water.

To make perfect Instant Pot basmati rice, I use water to rice ratio of 1:1. So that’s 1 cup of water for every 1 cup of rice.

The Instant Pot cooking time should be the same for any amount of basmati rice, even up to 5 cups.

The cook time can vary if you’re using different types of rice, such as brown rice or wild rice, but the water to rice ratio stays the same.

Keep reading to discover my method for cooking other types of Indian rice.

Should I Rinse the Rice Before Cooking?

I recommend that you rinse the rice before cooking this rice recipe in the Instant Pot.

Rice is covered in starch, which makes your rice water look milky and can cause the rice to stick inside the Instant Pot. Rinsing reduces the likelihood of this happening.

The best way to rinse your rice is to put it in a bowl or sieve and rinse it a few times with cold tap water until the rice water runs clear. I’d recommend rinsing for 5 minutes, or up to 10 minutes if you have time.

How Do I Release the Steam?

To release steam once you’ve cooked your basmati rice, simply leave your Instant Pot alone for 10 minutes.

I know that some websites advise you to always perform a natural pressure release after you’ve cooked rice. That means letting the Instant Pot do its thing and coming back to it 20-25 minutes after it’s finished cooking. Letting your pressure cooker release steam naturally means that your basmati rice is less likely to stick to the sides of the inner pot.

But from my experience, 10 minutes of natural pressure release are enough to get the perfect basmati rice 🙂

If you have time, you can perform a natural steam release (till the valve drops).

If it's your first time and you are afraid  of the Instant Pot, feel free to cover your hand with a tea towel or oven glove .

instant pot for rice

Helpful Tips

Add 1 tablespoon of butter to your cooked instant rice pot. I know, I sound crazy but hear me out… Sometimes don’t you just wanna indulge?

We all love the taste of butter and melting a stick of it into a steaming Instant Pot of freshly cooked rice sounds like the perfect comfort food. The recipe tastes like a warm hug. Perfect for duvet days and still so quick and simple to make.

Instant Pot Basmati Rice

Avoid mushy rice and prepare the perfect bowl of basmati rice in Instant Pot.
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Indian
Keyword: Plain Basmati Rice
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 16 minutes
Total Time: 18 minutes
Servings: 2
Author: Corrie

Ingredients

  • 1 cup basmati rice rinsed
  • 1 cup water
  • salt to taste

Instructions

  • Add water, rice and salt and mix a little.
  • Close the lid and cook for 6 minutes on high pressure .
  • When cooking time ends, wait for a natural pressure release for 10 minutes.
  • Once done, open the lid, fluff the rice and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 338kcal Carbohydrates: 74g Protein: 7g Fat: 1g Saturated Fat: 1g Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 1g Sodium: 11mg Potassium: 106mg Fiber: 1g Sugar: 1g Calcium: 29mg Iron: 1mg

Notes

It's important to take out all the rice once it's done, or close the lid again, to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pot. 
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @corriecooksblog or tag #corriecooks!

3 thoughts on “Instant Pot Basmati Rice

    1. The rice button is a preset that cooks for a certain amount of time, about 10-12 minutes I think, but may vary depending on your model. In my opinion this doesn't work well for all types of rice, so I would just do high pressure.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating