Instant Pot Basmati Rice -Perfect Indian White Rice

How to cook basmati rice in Instant Pot or stovetop: A guide on cooking the perfect Basmati rice in your Instant Pot pressure cooker as per your taste using Manual, Pot in Pot, or Rice Mode.

This guide is for long-grain (or medium) white basmati rice- without the husk.

You could say basmati rice is in our blood. My family has been growing their own basmati rice in India for generations. Needless to say, we take our rice seriously.

The stovetop method of cooking basmati rice is my mother's , and instant pot or not, that's her preferred way of making it.

Everyone likes their rice a certain way, and that's a fact. Some want it el dente, all grains separate, and some want it soft.

When making rice for fried rice, I want the rice to be just cooked. However, I want my rice to be softer when we eat dal.

I have noted that in the United States, most people prefer very el-dente rice, which means it has a slight bite to it. If you travel down south India, you will mostly find softer rice, though in the northern part of India, if two grains of rice stick together, then that's overcooked rice.

Ingredients

Okay, a relatively short list. You can knock of the last two most of the times.

Basmati Rice

What is Basmati Rice

Basmati rice is a long-grain rice that's very popular in Indian food.

I can safely say that most Indians have at least three types of rice in their pantry- Everyday rice like sona masoori or short grain rice, basmati rice for plans, biryanis, and special occasions, and third brown rice or red rice from Kerala.

Basmati rice is long, separate, and almost al dente when cooked. The older the rice, the better it is.

Many different types of basmati rice are available on the market: long grain, broken, brown, and black. This guide is for long-grain (or medium) white basmati rice- without the husk.

There will be slight variations in the final result based on

1. Age of the Rice
2. Altitude
3. The outcome you want- soft/fluffy or al dente
4. Soaking

Water

The amount of water you add will depend on your desired outcome, Soaking time, and the pressure cooker you use.

Traditional pressure cookers need more water as the steam is emitted out with each whistle. But Instant pots need way less water, so the ratios look very different from the normal pressure cooker.

You can also replace water with chicken or bone broth for added nutrition and extra flavor.

Oil & Salt

These are unnecessary, especially if you are using good-quality rice and serving it with Indian food.

Usually, Indian food is saltier than most, and plain rice works pretty well.

How to Cook White Basmati Rice in Instant Pot

To make perfectly cooked Basmati rice just the way YOU like it, follow the steps below.

Step 1: Rinse the Rice

Make sure to rinse the rice to eliminate impurities and excess starch. This is especially needed for organic rice or older rice.

If you plan to soak the rice, add some drinking water to it so it's completely submerged and set aside. Strain the rice before adding it to the instant pot.

Step 2:Measure & Add water

Now, measure the water as per the chart.

• No Soak Rice & El dente - 1 Part Rice & 1 ¼ Part Water
• No Soak Rice & Soft - 1 Part Rice & 1 ½ Part Water
• Soaked & El dente- - 1 Part Rice & 1 Part Water
• Soaked & Soft- - 1 Part Rice & 1 ¼ Part Water
• Pot in Pot - Soft - - 1 Part Rice & 1 ¼ Part Water

Add the rice and water to the inner pot. You can add salt and oil to the rice if you want.

Step 3:Pressure Cook

I usually pressure cook for 5 minutes. What can I say I like round numbers and in this case not only is it easy to remember but it works too.

Step 4: Natural release

Let the steam escape Naturally for 10 minutes and then quick release. When in a rush, I quickly release after 3 minutes.

The reason for letting the steam release naturally is two-fold: a)it gives the rice a bit more "slow" cooking time. Which makes the rice less sticky and fluffier. b)It gives the water on the bottom of the pot to be absorbed by the rice.

Usually the rice on top of the pot is cooked with more of a bite than the rice in the bottom. Which sometimes has a little more moisture simply because of gravity and pressure from the top. That's why natural pressure release helps give it that extra time.

And finally, don't forget to fluff it with a fork.

Storing & Leftovers

I usually cook rice as and when I need it because I don't mind doing it, but you can cook rice in bulk and remove it as and when needed.

Store the rice in an air-tight container, or you could portion it out in single-serve containers, too. It should last for 6-7 days in the fridge.

You can also freeze cooked rice. I like to do this in freezer bags that have been frozen flat. That way, removing and microwaving in a plate is super easy.

Here are some easy ways to heat up Cold basmati rice.

Microwave- Sprinkle the rice with ½ tablespoon of water, cover it, and microwave it till it's hot and steamy.
Steam- You can also steam the rice in a steamer. I do this when the rice is cold and more than a couple of days old.
Boil- For a quick refresh, I usually add the cold rice to boiling water, let it stand for 2-3 minutes, before draining it.

Also! If you are making fried rice of some kind, do not refresh or heat the rice; use the cold rice directly. This will make sure the rice grains are separate.

Serve Basmati Rice

It's best to serve rice straight out of the instant pot. Basmati rice is at peak yumness when it's hot and has just been cooked.

Here are some sides & curries to go with your perfect basmati rice.

• Dals - The most comforting food for Indians besides Khichdi is dal chawal - rice and lentils. I have some amazing Instant pot dal recipes that you will love - you can try a simple Toor Dal or Chana Dal or a north Indian classic- Black Dal or Dal Makhani.
• Beans- My most favorite meal in this whole world is Rajma Chawal- Kidney beans cooked in a onion tomato gravy with fluffy rice. While Rajma was my favorite, my brother and now my husband and son too , love Chole Rice - chickpeas curry.
• Vegetarian Curries - Cauliflower curry Aloo gobhi made with a little gravy or mushroom masala or an indulgent Paneer dish like Palak Paneer or Paneer butter masala.
• Chicken & Seafood Curries - Serve the rice with time Indian classics like Butter Chicken , Chicken Vindaloo , and our house staple, South Indian Style Pepper Chicken Curry. Or a fragrant Kerala Shrimp Coconut Curry ..Sigh, the combinations are endless!

More Instant Pot Rice Recipes

If you make your rice using this method, do leave me a comment and a rating. I would love to connect with you!

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Should you Soak Basmati Rice

I used the same rice & amount of water to test out the difference between rice that's been soaked and not soaked.

I find that the rice that's been soaked for 1 hour or more does cook softer, with a lesser bite to it, while being separate and fluffy.

For everyday cooking, where the only critiques are my child and husband, I rarely soak. I just rinse the rice and stick it in the instant pot.

In the photo below, I hope you can make out how the rice that's been cooked for 5 min, with 10-minute natural pressure release, is more separate & less plump.

Delay Button Rice

This is my favorite way of making rice.

I wash and rinse the rice. Add the same amount of water as the rice.

Set the Pressure cooking time to 5 minutes. And then I delay it by an hour's time.

I usually do this when I start cooking a meal so that by the time we are ready to eat, the rice is cooked perfectly and is steaming hot!

Pot-in-Pot Rice Cooking

Cooking several things at the same time in the pressure cooker is an age old Indian practice!
The way this works is that you place the trivet you got with the instant pot in the steel insert. Add 1 cup of water.
Place a Steel bowl of rice with water and cover it with a plate. Pressure cook for 6 minutes on HIGH.
The rice comes out soft and fluffy but still separate.

You can cook the dal and rice together, but you have to be careful about cooking things that take the same amount of time.

When to do pot in pot

• Good for smaller quantities- When the amount of rice being cooked in less than ½ cup.
• When you do not want to wash the big instant pot insert, you have to reuse it.
• When you are short on time and want to cook two things together. However, this needs serial planning, proper equipment, and measurement.
• The rice doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan.

FAQs on Instant Pot Basmati Rice