One of the reasons to love the instant pot is perfectly cooked rice. Being a north Indian, I prefer white basmati rice over any other variety of rice. You don’t need to keep that extra rice cooker anymore, and it can free up the counter space. Try this perfect Instant Pot Basmati Rice.
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Watch How to Make Perfect Basmati Rice
What is Basmati Rice?
Basmati is a variety of long, slender-grained aromatic rice from the Indian subcontinent. This variety has gotten very popular all over the world, with India and Pakistan being the largest exporters of this rice.
How to cook perfect Instant Pot Basmati Rice?
Cooking rice needs perfection in the amount of water and time. With this recipe, you can make perfectly cooked basmati rice. Just soak the rice, then cook it for 4 minutes on high pressure in the instant pot and 5 minutes for natural pressure release. Sounds easy…it actually is!
I like to have rice al dente and separate. I don’t like sticky or mushy rice. That said, everyone has different preferences for rice, so feel free to adjust the recipe to your taste.
I soaked the rice for about an hour and used a rice-to-water ratio of 1:1. Soaking for 15-20 minutes or not soaking them works, too. Although researchers say that soaking rice overnight helps reduce toxins by 80%.
If you have the time, soak them and rinse them before cooking. That said, there have been times when I have forgotten to soak the rice, but they still come out great. If you end up not soaking the rice, then you can increase the rice-to-water ratio to 1:1.25 cup.
Traditionally cooked basmati rice in a saucepan needs double the water amount than the rice. However, in the instant pot, less water is enough to get perfectly cooked rice.
Main things to remember for perfect Basmati Rice
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Option 1 (posted in recipe)
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Option 2
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| Soaking Rice | 1 hour | No soaking |
| Rice to water ratio | 1:1 | 1:1.25 |
| Pressure Cook / Manual (High pressure, vent sealed) | 4 minutes | 4 minutes |
| Pressure Release | 5 minute NPR | 5 minute NPR |
Enjoy this perfect basmati rice with any Indian curry, such as Chole Masala, Chicken Curry, and Dal Makhani. This recipe works perfectly if cooking rice in the main pot.
If you are doing pot-in-pot (PIP), then you need to cook for additional time. Check out the pot-in-pot rice recipe.
Try out the basmati rice, and let me know if this works for you. A simple variation of basmati rice is Jeera or Cumin rice.
Want to make Brown Rice in the Instant Pot? Check out the recipe here.
Basmati Rice – Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup Basmati Rice, (180 grams)
- 1 cup Water
- 1 teaspoon Ghee or Oil, (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt, (optional)
Instructions
- Wash basmati rice until the water runs clear. If soaking, soak the rice in excess water for 1 hour. After the soaking time is done, rinse the rice.
- Add the water and rice to the instant pot. If using, add the ghee and salt. Start the instant pot in manual or pressure cook mode for 4 minutes at high pressure with vent in sealing position.
- When the instant pot beeps, do 5 minutes natural pressure release, which means release the pressure manually 5 minutes after the instant pot beeps.
- Fluff the rice with a ladle or fork. Let them stand for 5 more minutes.
- Rice is ready to be served with your favorite curry.
Notes
- I add 1:1 rice to water ratio in this recipe as I soaked the rice. You could change the rice to water ratio to 1:1.25 if not soaking the rice.
- If you like very soft rice, then you can increase the water to 1.5 cups for 1 cup of rice.
- This recipe was created in a 6qt Instant Pot DUO60 Multi-use Programmable Pressure Cooker.
the rice turned out perfect!
Hi Charlotte – I’m so glad to hear that! Perfect rice really does make a meal feel complete. 😊
Hello ~ I too have had dismal results with Jasmine and Basmati in my instant pot. My issue I believe is I live a mile high (high altitude). Do you have suggestions for high altitude adjustments? I have 2 sized instant pots one the 3 quart and a 6 quart. My jasmine always is sticky despite rinsing and rinsing. Since there are only two of us I use the 3 quart with non-stick/Teflon pan, yet still sticky rice? Do you have a preference in Basmati rice brand?
Hi Onalee – In my experience, jasmine rice is typically a bit sticky. I use Tilda or Royal brand extra long grain basmati rice. They usually give perfectly separate cooked grains of rice.
Finally! Fool proof instant pot rice. I tried the soaked and unsoaked and they both came out perfect. Thank you pipingpotcurry!
Hi – That’s awesome to hear! So glad the Instant Pot rice worked perfectly for you.
Followed the recipe and came out perfectly. Thanks!!
Hi Bhakti – Awesome! Glad it turned out great. 😊
Followed this recipe to a T, soaked the rice for 30 mins & did 3 cups of rice in my instant pot & it came out PERFECT!! thank you for this recipe!
Hi Lori – So glad it turned out perfect! Thanks for sharing how it worked for you! 😊
I have never managed to cook rice properly in the Instant Pot following the receipes I’ve found on line. This one included unfortunately. The rice is always way over done. The only settings I’ve got to (sort of) work are (having rinsed, soaked etc,) 1 minute on lower pressure. Switch off the “keep warm” function and leave to stand for a few minutes with natural release. Even then I think I can cook better in a pan on the stove top. Is there something wrong with my Instant Pot?
Hi Mark – Oh no, sorry you have not been able to find the instant pot rice recipe you love yet. But really, it is great to cook the rice on the stovetop if that is your preference. Cooking in the instant pot is a convenience where less monitoring is needed. You can also try the pot-in-pot method in case you like that better – https://pipingpotcurry.com/basmati-rice-pip-pressure-cooker/
i have tried on numerous occasions to make fluffy basmati or jasmine rice in fact i have wasted 3 bags each of basmati and jasmine rice because all of my attempts have resulted in sticky clumpy rice which has to be removed from the pot using a large spoon i find rice as sticky as this to be completely inedible i should add that i use a new 5.7L duo60 and i always follow recipes to the letter but so far i haven’t made any thing approaching fluffy rice with separate grains
Hi Segosia – I am not sure if you tried this recipe. But I understand it is also a texture preference. If you are not satisfied with how the rice turns out in the instant pot, I suggest the stovetop method may be a better choice for you. I have this peas pulao recipe for stovetop you might enjoy – https://pipingpotcurry.com/matar-peas-pulao/
I was on the fence between buying a rice cooker or using the instant pot I already have to make rice. I found your recipe and gave it a try and it was so good! And so easy. Thank you for sharing this- it saved me money and counter top space! Also saves so much time instead of my traditional making it on the stove.
Hi Natalia – I’m so glad the recipe worked out for you! It’s awesome that you could make the most of your Instant Pot—saving money, space, and time is a win all around. Happy cooking! 😊
Can I use the same measurements and cook time in a 3qt instapot?
Hi Payal – yes, it should work well.
Do we need to keep it in warm after cooking
Hi Ria – I would suggest taking the steel insert with rice out of the instant pot after it is cooked, as otherwise the bottom layer can get overcooked with the residual heat. I hope that helps.
My husband’s favorite!! love your site.
Hi Donna – So happy to hear that 🙂
I made 3 cups of rice I did not pre soak I used 1.25 cups of water per cup of rice. cooked for 4 minutes with 5 minute release, I did rinse the rice afterwards oh best rice I’ve cooked it was out of control thanks for sharing
Hi Nick – Glad the rice cooked perfectly. Thanks for sharing back!
I love eating basmati rice. For 2 cups of rice how long would you pressure cook and natural pressure release it. A lot of the recipes show for 1 cup but not for 2. Thank you.
Hi Aileen – The pressure cooking time remains the same even if you double the amount or rice.
Wonderful post
I see a huge difference when I rinse and rerinse the rice! Much better. Do you have a preferred brand that you use?
Hi Jo – I like Royal or Tilda brand extra long grain rice basmati rice.
Only way I cook rice anymore. Comes out perfect every time. Thank you!
I soaked, stirred and stained the water 3 times over 30 minutes. Thank them followed instructions. It came out perfect. Not mushy or over cooked. I did use ghee.
Hi Heidi – Happy to hear the rice cooked perfectly. Thank you for sharing back!
My family and I love this recipe. Me- because I can make enough to last for the week and them because they have easy access to our favorite rice already cooked in the fridge. Thank you for this!
Hi – So good to hear that 🙂
Really helpful recipe. I doubled the recipe and it came out just a tiny bit dry so will add just a tad more water next time maybe but over all pleased with this recipe.
Can you use whole grain tilda basmati , thank you
Hi Diane – Sure that would work well for this recipe.
Timing and ratio made the only fluffy perfect basmati rice I have made in the IP. I am so glad to have found your site because the other variations in ratio/time were not quite right. My search is over!
Hi – So happy to hear that. Thank you for sharing back 🙂