Name: Instant Pot Brown Basmati Rice
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 22 min
Ingredients: 1 cup Brown basmati rice; 1.25 cups water; 1 tsp coconut oil; Salt (to taste)

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Making brown Basmati rice in the Instant Pot is not just easy and quick but also yields consistent results every single time. In this post, I will share how to cook this nutty long grain rice directly in the inner pot and using the pot-in-pot method.

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A bowl of brown basmati rice, some toor dal and a beans potato vegetable curry presented together. — Making brown basmati rice in the Instant Pot is quick, easy and yields consistent results every time.

What is brown basmati rice?

Popular in India, Pakistan, Nepal and other countries in the Indian subcontinent, basmati rice is a aromatic long grain rice cultivar.

Chewy in texture, it has a nutty flavor and is also fragrant. Unlike white rice, brown basmati, when cooked yields distinct separate grains that are slightly drier.

Brown basmati rice is a healthier version of the popular white Basmati. A wholegrain, it is considered to be more nutritious because it has the bran, the germ and the endosperm intact.

Jump to:

What is brown basmati rice?
Is brown rice healthier than white rice?
Ingredients
Ways to season your rice
Soaking brown basmati rice
Remember these to get perfect Instant Pot rice every time
How to adjust the timing and rice water ratio for Instant Pot rice?
Softer rice or al dente?
Recipe Notes
Serving suggestions
Shelf life, storage and freezing
How to reheat frozen Basmati rice?
Method
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Is brown rice healthier than white rice?

I am yet to come across a more debated food topic on social media. To put it in a nutshell, both brown and white rice have their own pros and cons.

Brown basmati rice is lower in glycemic index. Unlike white basmati rice in which the outer bran and the germ has been stripped, brown basmati has more nutrients and fiber because it is a whole grain.

There is also the arsenic debate that comes along with brown rice. Arsenic is and will be a concern only when you eat too much rice.

Aside from this, brown rice varieties also contain phytic acid which is not considered healthy or good to the stomach. To neutralize the effects of this, I recommend soaking brown rice prior to cooking.

However, white rice is considered to be easily digestible and easier on the stomach as against brown. All in all, I would say, choose what works best for you.

A complete guide to cooking brown Basmati rice in the Instant Pot — Perfectly cooked brown basmati rice every time is a delight in every bite.

Ingredients

We only need four ingredients to make a batch of perfectly cooked rice in the Instant pot.

Brown basmati rice- I have used regular long grain Brown basmati here. Please note that quick cooking brown basmati works very differently in terms of cooking time and rice:water ratios. My favorite brands are Royal, Tilda and Dawat brown basmati. You can also try Trader Joe’s.
Water – Alternatively, you may also use vegetable stock, chicken broth or even bone broth. Since I am vegetarian, I prefer water or sometimes use Better Than Bouillon to cook my rice.
Salt – Personally, I do not salt my rice. I guess it is the Indian in me. But if you prefer adding salt, then just go for it.
Oil– helps keep the grains separate and prevents foaming in the inner pot. You may also use butter for a richer flavor. My favorite oil is coconut oil.

Ways to season your rice

Make a bowl of rice more interesting by

Switching the water with stock.
Sprinkling some seasonings like dried herbs.
Making it into some cilantro lime rice. (Adjust the cooking time and rice water ratio based on the instructions here)
Adding some fresh herbs and a knob of butter.

Soaking brown basmati rice

Should brown rice be soaked prior to cooking? Is it necessary? The answer- it depends.

Without a doubt, soaking removes phytic acid, improves digestibility and cuts down cooking time drastically. But sometimes, we may not have the luxury of time to wait that long.

In this post, I will share how to make no soak brown basmati rice in the Instant pot and also pointers on how to adjust the water rice ratio and timings when the rice is soaked.

Remember these to get perfect Instant Pot rice every time

Cooking brown rice over the stove top takes forever. However, it is relatively low effort and quicker when done in the Instant Pot. Use these pointers for consistent results-

Wash the rice thoroughly until the water runs clear. This helps get rid of starch which in turn prevents rice from clumping together.
Rice water ratio is key to getting perfectly cooked fluffy rice. For every 1 cup of Brown basmati rice, use 1.25 cups water. Please read recipe notes for more details on this.
Instant Pot timings also play a major role in achieving that al dente cooked rice. We will be cooking brown basmati for 22 minutes on HIGH PRESSURE using the PRESSURE COOK mode and then doing a quick pressure release after ten mins of NPR.

How to adjust the timing and rice water ratio for Instant Pot rice?

When you soak the rice, cooking time also differs. Sometimes, the ratio of water and rice will also change. Here is a useful guide-

No soak brown basmati rice – for every 1 cup of rice, use 1.25 cups water. Pressure cook on HIGH PRESSURE for 22 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes. Your Instant Pot display will read L 00:10. At this stage, turn the VALVE to VENTING and do a quick pressure release.
Brown basmati soaked for 15 to 30 minutes– For every 1 cup of rice, use 1 cup of water. Pressure cook on HIGH PRESSURE for 15 minutes and do QPR after 10 mins NPR.
Brown basmati soaked for 1 to 2 hours– For every 1 cup of rice, use 1 cup of water. Pressure cook on HIGH PRESSURE for 12 minutes and do QPR after 10 mins NPR.

Softer rice or al dente?

When I follow the method in this post, I get perfectly cooked, fluffy and chewy rice every time. However, every brand of rice is different. Try one of these troubleshooting ideas to fix your rice.

For softer rice, use 1.5 cups water for every cup of brown basmati rice.
For a chewier and firmer rice texture, use 1 cup of water for every 1 cup of rice.
If your rice is dry and chewy after cooking, add ¼ cup water while cooking the next time.
In case your rice turned out to be mushy and overcooked, reduce cooking time to 18 minutes and do a QPR after 5 mins NPR.

Check out this post to know how to cook medium grain brown Sona Masoori rice in the Instant Pot.

Recipe Notes

Use the same cup to measure both your rice and water. I have used a standard measuring cup here where 1 cup = 250 ml.
Washing rice properly is key to achieving fluffy rice.
You can cook brown basmati in the inner pot directly or using pot in pot method also.
While releasing the pressure after 10 minutes of natural pressure release, it is natural for the steam to be released for quite a while. Do not panic about this.
After you have released the pressure, wait for 10 minutes before fluffing the rice.
Once the rice has cooked, I recommend transferring it to another container or removing the inner pot from the Instant Pot. This prevents the rice from becoming dry and brittle.

Serving suggestions

Brown basmati rice pairs well with lentils and vegetable based curries as well. Serve this with one of these dishes-

Shelf life, storage and freezing

One of the biggest reasons why I love brown basmati is because it is so meal-prep friendly. You can store brown basmati in the fridge for upto 4 days in an air tight container.

Freezing cooked basmati

Freeze cooked Basmati for up to 3 months easily. Simply allow the rice to cool completely. Transfer to freezer-safe bags or boxes, label and freeze.

While the texture does change a bit in case of regular frozen white rice, brown rice holds up well because it is a whole grain and is firmer.

How to reheat frozen Basmati rice?

Thaw frozen rice in the fridge overnight before reheating. You can follow any of these methods to reheat-

Reheat in the microwave. I recommend placing a glass of water along with the bowl of rice while reheating in the microwave. This helps prevent the rice from drying out.
Use the Instant Pot to steam the thawed rice.

Method

While I have used brown basmati rice for this recipe, you can use the same method to cook regular brown rice as well.

Prep work

Place the rice in a colander. Wash the rice well until water runs clear. Set aside.

Pot in pot Brown Basmati

Insert the inner pot into the Instant Pot. Add 1.5 cups water to the inner pot of the Instant Pot.

Place a tall trivet or an egg rack in the inner pot. Now, place a stainless steel pot or a similar Instant pot compatible pot on the trivet. I am using a 50 oz pot here.

Add the washed rice to the pot. Pour 1.25 cups water, add the oil and salt (if using). Stir well using a ladle.

Ensure that the sealing ring has been fitted properly into the Instant Pot lid. Close the Instant Pot lid, fit the pressure valve onto the lid and turn the VALVE to SEALING.

Plug in the Instant Pot. Press PRESSURE COOK mode- HIGH PRESSURE and set the timer to 22 minutes. Allow the cooking cycle to complete.

When the cooking cycle is complete, wait 10 minutes for the pressure to release naturally. When your Instant Pot display reads L00:10, do a quick pressure release by turning the VALVE to VENTING.

Once the pin drops, wait for 10 minutes before opening the lid. After you open the lid, fluff the rice with a fork or a silicon ladle. Serve hot.

Cooking basmati in inner pot directly

Place the inner pot into the Instant Pot. Add the washed rice to the inner pot. Pour in the water along with salt and oil. Using a wooden ladle, stir to combine.

Ensure that the sealing ring has been fitted properly into the Instant Pot lid. Close the Instant Pot lid, fit the pressure valve onto the lid and turn the VALVE to SEALING.

Plug in the Instant Pot. Press PRESSURE COOK mode- HIGH PRESSURE and set the timer to 22 minutes. Allow the cooking cycle to complete.

When the cooking cycle is complete, wait 10 minutes for the pressure to release naturally. When your Instant Pot display reads L00:10, do a quick pressure release by turning the VALVE to VENTING.

Once the pin drops, wait for 10 minutes before opening the lid. After you open the lid, fluff the rice with a fork or a silicon ladle.

Instant pot brown basmati served in a black bowl on a rustic platter. — A bowl of perfectly cooked fluffy brown basmati rice is nutritious and filling.

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Instant Pot Brown Basmati Rice

A comprehensive guide to cooking brown basmati rice in the Instant Pot perfectly every single time.

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time22 mins

Course: Sides

Cuisine: Asian, Indian, International

Servings:

Calories: 177kcal

Equipment

1 set measuring cups and spoons
1 Colander
1 six quart Instant Pot
1 ladle or spoon

Ingredients

1 cup Brown basmati rice
1.25 cups water
1 teaspoon coconut oil
Salt to taste