Instant Pot White Rice

Do you want to learn how to make white rice in the Instant Pot with my easy step-by-step tutorial, along with lots of tips? Instant Pot White Rice is an easy side dish that goes with so many things. Long grain rice, water, and salt is all you need to make perfectly soft & fluffy white rice every time. 

For more rice recipes that you’ll love try my Instant Pot Mexican Rice and this Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice.

Instant Pot White Rice Recipe

White rice is something that can go with most dinners. It’s cheap, simple to make, and I’ve never met a kid that doesn’t like rice! Which makes it perfect for dinnertime. There are so many ways to use this recipe, and with only 3 easy ingredients, and a 4 minute cook time, it couldn’t be simpler to make. 

Learn how to make white rice in the Instant Pot with this easy recipe and get all my tips for perfect rice each time!

Ingredients Needed

Here are the ingredients that you will need to make this recipe. I also share some tips so that you can have success recreating this recipe in your own kitchen. 

• Long Grain White Rice – This is important! Make sure you are using a long grain white rice, or extra long grain white rice, or other forms of a long grain rice like basmati rice. I love basmati rice and will use that mostly and then also long grain white rice. 
• Water
• Salt – Any salt works here! Iodized table salt, sea salt, or kosher salt. 

How To Make White Rice In The Instant Pot

Learn how to make white rice, the easy way, in a pressure cooker or Instant Pot. Be sure and read to the bottom of the post where there is a handy printable recipe, a pin it button so you can save it to Pinterest, along with a recipe card with all the ingredients, instructions, and my tips. 

• Rinse Rice : This is so important so don’t skip it! This is what will help the rice turn out fluffy. Place the long grain rice in the fine mesh sieve or strainer (I have linked my favorite rice colander in the recipe card below), and run cold water over it for about 1-2 minutes, or until the water runs clear.
• Instant Pot : Add the rinsed rice, water, and salt to the insert of a Instant Pot or other pressure cooker. Cover it with the lid. Make sure the valve is on the ‘sealing’ position. Set to high pressure and do a manual cook time of 4 minutes. 
• Pressure Release : Once the cook time is done, allow a 10 minute natural release (which means just let it sit there for 10 minutes, no need to move the valve or anything). Vent to release any remaining pressure. 
• Serve : Fluff the rice with a fork and serve!

Tips For Success

Here are a few of my helpful tips that will hopefully make this recipe a hit at your home.

• Rinse Rice : Don’t skip this part. Rinsing the rice of all the gunk is what will give you fluffy rice each and every time. You will be surprised by how ‘dirty’ the rice is while you are running cold water over it. To do this, you will need a fine mesh sieve or strainer, or a rice strainer. I have linked what I use below in the recipe card if you want a solid recommendation. 
• Switch Out The Water : If you want more flavor to the rice then feel free to use chicken broth in place of the water. I prefer using water for a mild tasting rice, which means it will pair well with anything, but use chicken broth if you want more flavor to the rice. 
• Natural Release : A natural release on the Instant Pot or other pressure cooker, means that after the cook time is done, do not move the lid or the venting seal. Leave it as is and let it sit for 10 minutes so the air can naturally release and the rice will cook more. Once the natural release is done, then you will do a manual release which means you move the valve to the ‘venting’ position and let any remaining pressure out. 
• Cook Time : The cook time is short at only 4 minutes, but keep in mind that it takes about 8-10 minutes for the Instant Pot to get to pressure and then another 10 minutes for the natural release time. It’s a totally hands off process for you so it’s still really easy. Just don’t start the rice 5 minutes before dinner is ready thinking it will be done in 4 minutes 😉

Instant Pot White Rice FAQ’s

• Can I Double or Triple This Recipe?
  • Yes you can. Keep in mind that the ratio of rice to water is 1:1, so make sure that you have an Instant Pot that is large enough to accommodate the larger batch. This recipe calls for 2 cups of rice which will end up making about 4 cups of rice for serving. This amount is usually plenty for a normal dinner as a side dish. 
• How To Store Leftover White Rice
  • Leftovers will keep well, in an air-tight container, for up to 3 days in the fridge. 
  • The longer it sits in the fridge the harder & firmer the rice will get. I don’t love rice leftovers past 1-2 days of when I make it. 
  • To help the rice fluff up again for serving, place a small amount of water in with rice, and then microwave it. The water will help to steam the rice which will help make it softer and fluffier. 
• Do I Have To Use Long Grain Rice?
  • The answer is yes but there are other kinds of long grain rice. 
  • If you’re new to making rice I would highly recommend sticking with long grain rice. It’s easy, cheap, and universal. 
  • You can also use extra long grain rice or basmati rice is also a longer grain rice.
• Natural Release vs Manual Release
  • A natural release is where you let the IP sit for 10 minutes after the cook time. Don’t touch anything, don’t turn any valves, just leave it. This will allow the pressure to naturally release while also continuing to cook the rice. 
  • A manual release is where you move the valve from the ‘sealing’ position to the ‘venting’ position. This is where the pressure and air, and sometimes condensation will sputter out of the valve. 

Serving Suggestions for White Rice

My favorite thing about rice is how versatile it is! Here are some recipes that I love serving with a side of this Instant pot white rice. 

• Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken : Make it an easy dinner using a crockpot and the Instant Pot! This chicken gets super tender, shreddable, and makes lots of sauce so it’s perfect for serving over this white rice. 
• Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs : The best meatballs made with ground chicken and a homemade teriyaki sauce. I always serve these meatballs over rice for dinner. 
• Easy Swedish Meatballs : These easy meatballs start with frozen meatballs plus simple ingredients like cream of mushroom soup and a gravy packet. They are so yummy served over rice or even egg noodles. 
• Skillet Cashew Chicken : An easy, one skillet pan recipe with a luscious homemade cashew sauce, chunks of chicken, and cashews. White rice is the perfect side to serve a heaping scoop of this over. 
• One Pan Chicken Teriyaki : An easy 20 minute dinner made in one pan!
• Baked Honey Mustard Chicken : This chicken cooks in the oven in a honey mustard sauce that is perfect served over some white rice, with extra sauce drizzled over top. 
• Turkey Taco Burrito Bowls : Ground turkey taco mixture made into burrito bowls with all the toppings!