Instant Pot White Rice

Try making this quick and easy recipe for Instant Pot White Rice. Comes out light and fluffy every time! Great as leftovers and perfect for freezer cooking! Pair with our delicious 30 minute cashew chicken or enjoy as a simple beans and rice dinner! 

I’ve fallen in love with my Instant Pot and use it ALL THE TIME for recipe staples like Instant Pot beans and Instant Pot chicken stock and even Instant Pot lentils.

And as much as I like Instant Pot brown rice and that it’s ready in 22 minutes – perfectly, every single time – sometimes I want white rice instead.

After a few trial and errors, I’ve finally figured the perfect Instant Pot white rice recipe!

Instant Pot White Rice

I tried several different methods while seeking out the PERFECT Instant Pot white rice recipe, and I think I’ve found it! My method creates white rice that is:

• Light and fluffy.
• Not sticky at all!
• Perfect for soaking up sweet and sour sauce or extras from weeknight stir fry.
• Delicious fresh, or as leftovers.
• Great for freezing for a fast dinner in the future!

And the best part (in my opinion) is that this recipe requires less than 1 minute of hands-on time and is ready in under 10 minutes, from start to finish!

Ingredients for White Rice Instant Pot

The ingredient list for making white rice in the Instant Pot is pretty short:

• White rice
• Water
• Salt (optional)

We really like the flavor of jasmine rice, but this method works for any type of white rice. If you want to make brown rice, I recommend following my recipe for Instant Pot brown rice instead.

The salt is optional, and I normally don’t add it to in order to better control the flavor of my dish, but it’s there in case you like it!

Does the Instant Pot make good rice?

Oh, yes! It comes out absolutely perfect every time. It’s light and fluffy and it doesn’t stick together. Plus you don’t have to watch it carefully like you do when you cook rice on the stove.

I like making rice in the Instant Pot so much that it’s now the ONLY way I make it! Check out my list below of my favorite Instant Pot rice recipes!

How to Cook White Rice in Instant Pot

Here’s the very simple method to cook white rice in the Instant Pot:

1. Measure rice and water into the Instant Pot.
2. Seal, set the timer, and wait.
3. When the timer goes off, release the pressure quickly and enjoy!

What is the ratio of rice to water?

 For white rice, the ratio of rice to water is 1:1. This means that for every one cup of rice you cook, you need one cup of water.

Want to make two cups of rice? Add two cups of water.

Three cups of rice? Add three cups of water.

And so on…

How many cups of rice can you cook in an instant pot?

I have this 8 quart Instant Pot and I’ve made six cups of rice without any issue. If you have a smaller Instant Pot, you might not want to make as much.

Technically, as long as you don’t fill the Instant Pot higher than the max fill line, you’re okay. HOWEVER, when you fill it that high, you’re less able to use the quick pressure release and must use the natural pressure release instead (otherwise you’ll end up with a big mess inside and outside the Instant Pot).

Food continues to cook during natural pressure release, which could lead to gummy and sticky rice.

So I recommend filling your Instant Pot no higher than halfway to the max fill line, when you’re making white rice. That way you can use the quick pressure release and end up with perfectly cooked Instant Pot white rice!

What is the Best Instant Pot to Buy?

Taking it all into consideration – both the functions AND the max 2/3 full aspect – AND the size of my family – I ended up purchasing the 8 quart DUO 7-in-1 Instant Pot (because of the yogurt setting) on Amazon and I couldn’t be happier! It is perfect for my family of four.

What to Serve with Instant Pot White Rice

This IP white rice is so versatile because it goes great with so many different recipes! Try pairing it with our 30 Minute Cashew Chicken, or Thai Pineapple Vegetarian Curry. You can even enjoy it on family beans and rice night with our delicious beans and rice recipe!

My Favorite Instant Pot Rice Recipes

• Instant Pot Brown Rice
• Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
• IP Yellow Rice (Turmeric Rice)
• Instant Pot Spanish Rice