Want to cook rice in the serving bowl or along with an entree? Instant Pot pot-in-pot rice is the perfect solution for you. The pot-in-pot method saves time and let's you make a complete meal at once. Here is a step-by-step guide to cooking PIP rice in your pressure cooker.
You might find it interesting that this is actually not a new thing for Indian cooking. We have been doing this for a long time on a stovetop pressure cooker. Now with the instant pot, I like the convenience of a larger pot in which I can add the small pot to do PIP cooking.
I have shared recipes to make Basmati Rice and Brown Basmati Rice in the main pot. So now I want to share the perfect recipe to make pot-in-pot rice.
I LOVE the convenience of pot-in-pot cooking (also called PIP method) to make a complete meal at once. Who wouldn't love that?
If I am cooking a curry, lentils or beans in the instant pot, I always pair with pot-in-pot rice. So that we can have dinner ready in one go, such as this kidney bean curry.
If you want to make pot-in-pot Brown Rice, check the recipe here.
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What is Instant Pot Pot-in-Pot Method?
The Instant Pot Pot-in-pot method helps to cook food in a separate small pot, that is placed on a trivet or steaming rack in the instant pot.
Water (or other forms of liquid) is added to the main instant pot steel insert. This liquid helps to build pressure in the instant pot and the food in the small pot cooks from the steam generated from the liquid.
Why use pot-in-pot method to cook rice
- You can cook less quantity of rice.
- You don't need to wash the large instant pot steel insert if just cooking rice.
- You can cook in the serving bowl itself.
- You can cook a complete meal at once and save precious time. With entree in the main insert and rice in a bowl on a trivet. For example, you can cook Dal Tadka or Paneer Butter Masala along with the rice.
What accessories are needed for Pot-in-Pot Rice?
To cook pot-in-pot rice, you need a trivet and a bowl you can place on the trivet. If I am preparing only rice, then I use the trivet that came with the instant pot. If you are cooking entree along with the rice, you would need a long legged trivet.
Here are the pots I have, which my mom got from India. But you can find similar one's on Amazon - Stackable Stainless Steel Insert Pans. I have also done PIP for rice in a Pyrex glass bowl, but these need about 3-4 minutes more to cook the rice.
How to cook PIP Rice?
I used basmati rice in this recipe, however you could use other varieties of white rice such as jasmine rice too.
Rinse Rice: Although rinsing the rice is optional, I like to rinse the rice before cooking. I have always seen my mom and grand mom rinse rice. You can rinse in a strainer under tap water until the water runs clear.
Add it to a bowl safe for cooking in the instant pot. I prefer to use steel bowls as they are the safest for pressure cooking.
Add equal amount of water as the rice added. If you like, add ghee/oil and salt to the bowl.
Pressure cook: Add 1 cup water to the main instant pot insert and place the trivet on it.
Now place the bowl with rice and water on top of the trivet. Set the instant pot on manual mode or pressure cook for 6 minutes.
When the instant pot beeps, do 10 minute NPR or natural pressure release, which means release the pressure manually 10 minutes after the beep.
And here is the perfectly cooked basmati rice. Fluff it with a fork and enjoy.
This basmati rice pairs perfectly with any Indian curries such as Chole Masala, Green Moong Dal and Spinach Lentils.
Pro-Tips
- Make sure rice is submerged in water before cooking. This should happen anyway if you follow the ratio mentioned in the recipe.
- If you like softer rice, you can increase the ratio of rice to water to 1:1.25 or 1:1.5. Totally up to your taste preference.
- I highly recommend to use a stainless steel bowl for pot-in-pot cooking. If using a glass bowl, make sure it is is oven safe and approved for pressure cooking. You will need to add 3-4 minutes more cooking time with a glass bowl.
Pairing Rice with Other Dishes
If you are making rice for dinner, most likely you will be eating it with a main dish - which could be a stir fry, curry, lentil or a soup.
When cooking rice with an entree, consider the cooking time for the entree. If it takes 5-12 minutes to cook the entree, then cook white rice pot-in-pot with the entree in the main insert.
However if the entree needs over 20 minutes to cook, then I would suggest to cook pot-in-pot brown rice with the entree.
More Rice Recipes
We love to flavor our rice. Here are more rice recipes you will love:
Instant Pot Pot-in-Pot Rice (Pressure Cooker)
Ingredients
- 1 cup Basmati Rice rinsed
- 1 cup Water for cooking rice, see notes
- ½ teaspoon Salt (optional)
- 1 tablespoon Ghee or Oil (optional)
- 1 cup Water for main pot with trivet
Instructions
- Wash the rice and drain water. Put the rice in a bowl. Add 1 cup water for cooking rice in the bowl. Optionally, Add salt and ghee/oil if you prefer.
- Add 1 cup water to the main insert of the pressure cooker. Place trivet in the main insert. Place the bowl with rice and water on the trivet.
- Close the lid of the pressure cooker with vent in sealing position. Set in pressure cook or manual mode for 6 minutes at high pressure. (Note: if using a glass bowl, cook for 9 minutes at high pressure)
- When the pressure cooker beeps, do a 10 minute Natural Pressure Release, which means release the pressure 10 minutes after the beep.
- Fluff the rice and it is ready to be enjoyed.
Video
Notes
Note: Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.
Vivian Cutler says
What is the device you take the pot out with?
It looks so handy and won't burn my hands when I try and get the pot out without a handle.
Thank You
Amy says
I just made this. I used 2 cups of Basmati rice & 2 cups of water in a stainless steel pan. I cooked as directed & it was perfect. Thanks
Meeta Arora says
Hi Amy - Glad to hear the rice turned out perfect. Thanks for sharing back!
Swathi Chevalam says
Hi...does closing with a lid for pip have an effect in the rice texture..? Thanks for the post...was struggling with mushy rice in my new pot.
Meeta Arora says
Hi Swathi - I actually don't cover the rice bowl with a lid. But you can try that if it works well. I don't think the texture of the rice would be different with or without a lid. Glad the post was helpful.
Kim says
Thanks for all your posts about coking rice. I tried this recipe last week. I used coconut oil and added turmeric. I think this PIP method will be my go-to method for now on. I had this rice with a lentil and sweet potato soup and it was delicious. Looking forward to trying more of your recipes.
Piping Pot Curry says
Hi Kim - Glad that you enjoyed it! Thank you for sharing back. Pot-in-pot is definitely my favorite way of cooking rice.
Ayesha says
Hi Meeta.. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong but the top layer of my rice is always dryish and not as fluffed up as the bottom layers. I tried with 1.25 water but still same results. Any idea what could be the issue?
Meeta Arora says
Hey Ayesha - I would say try a little more water. Also add a tbsp of oil or ghee, if you like. For any leftover rice, when I reheat rice in the microwave, I cover it with a wet paper towel to make them more moist.
Tricia says
I’m new to instant pot and just tried my first PIP recipe (not from your site). Am I reading correctly that you don’t put the lid on the rice pot?
Meeta Arora says
Hey Tricia - yes, that is correct. When doing pip for rice, I don't cover the pip bowl with a lid.
Susan says
Trying this now and it didn't work in my 6qt IP Lux. Followed directions exactly. Ugh! Put it back on for another 6 min and will see what happens.
Piping Pot Curry says
Hello Susan - Sorry to hear. Did you use a glass bowl for the pot-in-pot? As typically glass bowls need 3-4 extra minutes compared to steel bowls. Did the extra 6 minutes cook the rice?
Linda says
Will this 6 min PIP cooking method work for BROWN BASMATI rice too? Thx in advance for the help.
Piping Pot Curry says
Hey Linda - Brown Basmati rice needs more cooking time. If I am only doing PIP brown rice, then I do 22 mins on high pressure with 10 mins NPR. If making with a curry or lentils that cooks in anywhere between 22-30 mins, that works too. I do that in the Red Kidney Beans Curry and Madras Lentils recipe.
Kiran says
Do you presoak the rice? Or is it better if you do for the pot in pot method?
Piping Pot Curry says
Hello Kiran - I don't presoak the rice for this recipe and it works perfectly. If you like softer texture of rice, you can add more water 1.25 cup.
Ann says
Why not use the "rice" button?
Piping Pot Curry says
Rice button can work too. 6 minutes at high pressure has worked consistently for me and also it is quicker, so I prefer it ????
Nikita says
In the rice mode, do you do NPR or QR? Also if I were to increase or reduce the quantity of rice would the cooking time change, rice mode or manually? Thanks!
Piping Pot Curry says
Hey Nikita - After cooking in rice mode, NPR or 10 minute NPR (release pressure 10 mins after beep) would work. I have not tried Rice mode with PIP, and have seen comments that it has not worked perfectly for some on Instant Pot groups. I usually prefer the manual/pressure cook mode for rice. The cooking time does not change even if you increase the quantity of rice.
Diane says
Thank you so much. I've been cooking too much rice at a time and it's been a struggle for me to eat it all within a few days. PIP for me from now on.
Piping Pot Curry says
That’s great. I love pip option, saves time and perfectly cooked rice!
Sue R says
When doubling or tripling how much water in bowl and how much in IP
Meeta Arora says
Hi Sue - If you double or triple the rice, proportionally increase the amount of water for cooking. In the instant pot steel insert, the same amount of water works. The pressure cooking time will remain the same even if you increase the quantity of rice.