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 lets you make a complete meal at once. Here is a step-by-step guide to cooking PIP rice in your pressure cooker.

pot-in-pot instant pot rice - Piping Pot Curry
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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 the PIP method) to make a complete meal at once. Who wouldn’t love that?

If I cook a curry, lentils, or beans in the instant pot, I always pair it 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.

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 by the liquid.

You can use the same method to make rice in Ninja Foodi as well.

Learn more about the instant pot pot-in-pot method with this comprehensive guide!

Why use the 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 comes 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 ones 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.

Stackable containers for pot-in-pot PIP

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 grandmom 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 an equal amount of water as the rice is 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.  

Trivet in the instant pot

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.

Basmati rice with water in instant pot

When the instant pot beeps, do 10 10-minute NPR or natural pressure release, which means releasing the pressure manually 10 minutes after the beep.

Fluffy Rice made in instant pot with pot-in-pot method

And here is the perfectly cooked basmati rice. Fluff it with a fork and enjoy.

This basmati rice pairs perfectly with any Indian curry, such as Chole Masala, Green Moong Dal, and Spinach Lentils.

Fluffy Rice in a steel bowl

Pro-Tips

  • Make sure the rice is submerged in water before cooking. If you follow the ratio mentioned in the recipe, this should happen anyway.
  • 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 using a stainless steel bowl for pot-in-pot cooking. If using a glass bowl, ensure it 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 soup.

When cooking rice with an entree, consider the cooking time for the entree.  If cooking the entree takes 5-12 minutes, 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 cooking pot-in-pot brown rice with the entree.

More Instant Pot Rice Recipes

We love to flavor our rice. Here are more rice recipes you will love:

4.96 from 23 votes

Instant Pot Pot-in-Pot Rice (Pressure Cooker)

Instant Pot pot-in-pot rice is a great way to prepare rice along with the entree for a one-pot complete meal. 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.
Prep Time: 1 minute
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 21 minutes
Servings: 3

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup Basmati Rice, rinsed
  • 1 cup Water, for cooking rice, see notes
  • 1/2 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

Ratio: 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.
Make it a meal: When cooking rice with an entree, consider the cooking time for the entree.  If it is around the same range 5-12 minutes to cook the entree, then pot-in-pot rice with the entree in the main insert would work. However if the entree needs 30 minutes to cook, while the rice needs only 6 minutes, I do not recommend doing pot-in-pot white rice with the entree.  You can consider pot-in-pot brown rice
Pot-in-pot container: 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.
Created: This recipe was created in a 6qt Instant Pot DUO60 Multi-use Programmable Pressure Cooker.

Nutrition

Calories: 269kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 4gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 399mgPotassium: 71mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gCalcium: 22mgIron: 1mg

Additional Info

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Indian
Diet: Gluten-free, Vegan
Tried this recipe?Mention @pipingpotcurry or tag #pipingpotcurry!

About Meeta

I strongly believe that each one of us has a chef inside us, we just need to explore the ingredients and create great food. My passion is to share easy, healthy, and wholesome recipes made using Instant Pot & Air Fryer, that are well tested, so you can cook with confidence.

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35 Comments

  1. 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

  2. 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

    1. 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.

      1. 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.

  3. 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.

    1. Hi Kim – Glad that you enjoyed it! Thank you for sharing back. Pot-in-pot is definitely my favorite way of cooking rice.

  4. 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?

    1. 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.

  5. 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?

    1. Hey Tricia – yes, that is correct. When doing pip for rice, I don’t cover the pip bowl with a lid.

  6. 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.

    1. 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?

    1. 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.

    1. 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.

    1. Rice button can work too. 6 minutes at high pressure has worked consistently for me and also it is quicker, so I prefer it ????

      1. 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!

      2. 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.

  7. 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.

      1. 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.