What is Basmati Rice?
Basmati rice is a type of long-grained rice originating from India. India produces about two-thirds of the worlds supply of Basmati Rice. It is considered a premium type of rice in most parts of India due to the aromatic fragrance, flavors, and fluffy texture. We like our Basmati rice to be individual grain, separate, and not mushy and I am sure you will like it that way too. Follow the steps below to successfully create super delicious Basmati Rice!
Should I soak Basmati Rice to get the perfect flavor & consistency
No, you don’t really need to soak rice when making rice in an Instant Pot or pressure cooker. However, it is important to remove the starch of the rice before cooking it so it’s important to rinse the rise atleast 3-4 times until you see clear water. This also helps avoiding the burn message. Also check out our post on Instant Pot Burn Message – What, Why and How to avoid it?
Do I use the Rice Button or Pressure Cooker button to make Basmati Rice?
After trying several settings and timings we have realized for best results the ‘High Pressure’ function is the best option. It certainly takes lesser time than the rice function and with the instructions shared below, we have had 100% success.
What Pressure Cookers have you tried the settings for cooking Instant Pot Rice?
We have tried these settings using the Instant Pot Duo (6Qt and 8 Qt) , Instant Pot Ultra (6 Qt), Mealthy Multi-pot (6 Qt and 8 Qt). Apart from this, we have tried these settings in three different countries (US, Germany and India), so we are confident that these settings work !
How long would Basmati Rice last in a refrigerator?
Basmati rice if stored in an air tight container can last easily for a week. Though we would not recommend freezing as it’s so easy to make rice, but if you had to, it can last for around 2 months. Just follow the instructions for reheating to ensure it does not become dry.
Can Basmati Rice be reheated?
Yes, we can reheat Basmati Rice. This is one of the reasons we meal-prep our rice to last for the week. Reheating rice that has been kept in the refrigerator is not a big chore. You can transfer the rice to a microwave friendly container and sprinkle the rice with around 2 tea spoons of water. This ensures that the rice does not become too dry. Heat it for around a minute.
What Basmati Rice should I buy?
As you would have guessed it, the quality of the Basmati Rice you purchase has a huge impact on the final product. We love the Royal Brand of Basmati Rice and always have at least 2 bags of 20 Lb stocked in our pantry. We love our Basmati rice and want it to be cooked the right way.
Can I make the Basmati Rice a bit more soft?
Yes, you can slightly increase the content of water which helps it to go through the bran layer and have enough left for making it soft. Increasing the cook time will NOT change the texture and hence experiment with water and not with the cook time.
What is the water to Rice ratio for cooking Brown Basmati Rice or White Basmati Rice?
It is very easy to remember the ratio for ALL types of rice you make in the Instant Pot. It is always 1:1. Easy to remember isn’t it? The reason for 1:1 ratio for the instant pot is that there is barely any evaporation that happens in an instant pot and it gives a constant and reliable pressure every time. The only thing changes is the time it takes the water to work its way through the bran layer.
Pro Tips for making Instant Pot Brown Basmati Rice
Rinse your rice at least 3-4 times to reduce starch and wash out the debris. This also helps in avoiding the burn notice. Add some oil to help with the cooking process and get separate rice grains. Fluff the rice with a fork to ensure that you don’t end up breaking the grains.
Can I use the Pot In Pot method to prepare the Instant Pot Basmati Rice?
Yes. Pot in Pot method of preparing rice is an excellent way to prepare rice if you are afraid of the dreaded burn notice. In this method, you are adding the rice to another pot inside the main pot. This way the rice is not on the bottom of the pot and does not have any issues with burn notice. The rice to water ratio and cooking times remain the same.
How do I avoid getting sticky or mushy Rice?
If you are like me who likes each grain of the rice separate then adding a little oil or ghee definitely helps the starch of the rice from sticking them together. Exactly the reason you add oil when cooking pasta to avoid it from sticking to each other.
How to cook Instant Pot Brown Basmati Rice?
Rinse the basmati rice 3-4 times to reduce the starch. Use the 1: 1 rice to water ratio High Pressure option for 6 minutes for Basmati Rice or 15 minutes for Brown Basmati Rice. Do not use the electric pressure’s RICE button. Once the rice is done, use 10 minutes natural pressure release to ensure the rice cooks thoroughly. Fluff the rice using a fork. This ensures that your rice grains don’t break
Perfect Instant Pot Basmati Rice Video Recipe
Do check out our other Instant Pot Rice Recipes We have over 100+ Vegetarian Instant Pot Recipes for you to try. From soups to Pasta and desserts. Check out our recipes for Instant Pot Jasmine Rice & Instant Pot Brown Rice.
If you tried making this Instant Pot Basmati Rice Recipe, do leave a comment below to highlight how it went or to reach out to us if you have any questions. We used Basmati Rice to make the Cumin Rice or Zeera Rice served at the Indian restaurants.Even if you decide to skip the spices, they rice to water ratio will remain the same.
Heat Instant Pot to “Saute.”Add a teaspoon of oil. Once the oil is hot, add the cumin seeds, green cardamom pods and bay leaf. Give it a stir.Add a cup of rinsed Basmati rice.Add a cup of water and give it a stir.Close the lid. Turn valve to Seal. Set Instant Pot to “Pressure” on high pressure for 6 minutes.When the timer goes off, wait for approximately 10 minutes for Natural Pressure Release.Serve it warm.
INSTANT POT BROWN RICE
Heat Instant Pot to “Saute.”Add a teaspoon of oil. Once the oil is hot, add the Brown riceAdd a cup of water and give it a stir.Close the lid. Turn valve to Seal. Set Instant Pot to “Pressure” on high pressure for 15 minutes.When the timer goes off, wait for approximately 15 minutes for Natural Pressure Release.Serve it warm.
INSTANT POT JASMINE RICE
Thoroughly wash the Jasmine Rice 3-4 times.Heat Instant Pot to “Saute.”Once the oil is hot, add the Jasmine riceAdd a cup of water and give it a stir.Close the lid. Turn valve to Seal. Set Instant Pot to “Pressure” on high pressure for 6 minutes.When the timer goes off, turn off the ‘Keep Warm’ function and wait for approximately 10 minutes for Natural Pressure Release.Serve it warm.
INSTANT POT BASMATI RICE
1: 1 rice to water ratio6 minutes high pressure10 minutes natural pressure release
INSTANT POT BROWN RICE
1: 1 rice to water ratio15 minutes high pressure15 minutes natural pressure release
INSTANT POT JASMINE RICE
1: 1 rice to water ratio6 minutes high pressure10 minutes natural pressure release
Royal White Basmati Rice, 20 Pound Sunflower Oil Swad Cardamom Indian Grocery Spice, Pods Green, 3.5 Ounce Mahatma Organic Brown Rice, 2 lb. Uncle Ben's Jasmine Rice, 5lb (2pk) Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker and Warmer
