This post is a fail-proof guide for getting perfectly cooked fluffy Basmati rice in the Instant Pot. Cooking rice in the Instant Pot is a breeze, once you know the technique and get a hang of the rice:water ratio.
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Mushy and overcooked rice is my pet peeve. When it happens to a Biryani or Pulao, my anxiety hits the roof. As a noob cook, I found cooking Basmati perfectly every single time a huge challenge.
Fast forward 12 years and here I am with a detailed guide on cooking fragrant white Basmati in the Instant Pot perfectly every single time.
This post is my humble attempt to share all the things I have learned in the process of perfecting this recipe. Please do read the recipe notes for consistent results every single time.
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Ingredients
You only need two ingredients for this- basmati rice and water.
Basmati rice– Using aged basmati rice will give you the best results. Since aged rice requires less water and cooks to a fluff with distinct, separate grains, I always prefer this.
My brand recommendations include Kohinoor and Dawat. Tilda and Aldi’s are great options too.
Please note that this is not a sponsored post and these views are based on my personal experience.
Variations
- Add salt- Personally, I do not like adding salt to plain rice. But if you prefer, you may add kosher salt. For every 1 cup of rice, add up to 1 tsp salt.
- Use broth instead of water for a more flavorsome rice. Chicken broth or vegetable stock are great options.
- Herbs can make the rice more flavorful. You can add dried herbs like basil and rosemary for an aromatic rice.
- Stir in some olive oil or butter for rich flavor. Use 1.5 tsp olive oil or melted butter for every 1 cup rice.
Storage, freezing and shelf life
Did you know that Basmati rice is fantastic meal prep material? Cooked basmati rice can be stored in the fridge for 3 days.
Allow the cooked rice to cool down fully. Spread the rice on a plate to help cool faster. Transfer cooled rice to an air tight container and refrigerate.
How to freeze Basmati rice?
You can also freeze Basmati rice. To freeze, divide completely cooled basmati rice into small portions and transfer to Ziploc or freezer safe bags. Label and freeze for 2 months.
To thaw, leave it overnight in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave or steam it in the Instant Pot for 2 minutes and do a quick pressure release.
Why should we soak Basmati before cooking?
Logically speaking, this variety of rice is quite quick to cook. Then, you may wonder- what is the need to soak the rice? Let me explain.
- Soaking Basmati prior to cooking helps get rid of any starch. Starch makes rice clumpy. Hence, it is important to get rid of it as much as possible.
- When you soak the rice, the grains tend to be longer and fluffier after cooking.
Basmati rice and water ratio
More often than not, rice and water ratio can be a hit or miss. A lot depends on the age, quality and nature of the rice. This is why this ratio can be a hit or miss.
Having said that, use the following ratios confidently for cooking plain basmati since I have tested them time and again with different brands and using different soaking times.
- If you are cooking just 1 cup of rice ( 1 cup= 240 ml), you will need 1.25 cups water. (1 and 1/4 cups water)
- When cooking 1.5 cups Basmati, you will need 2 cups water.
- In case you are cooking more than 1.5 cups of Basmati, then use 1 cup of water for every 1 cup of rice. For example, 3 cups Basmati rice will need 3 cups water.
Tips for getting fluffy basmati every time
Making perfect rice is not just about cooking it. It also depends on how you handle the rice after it is cooked. Soaking time is another factor that alters cooking time and water ratio.
Here are some tips for perfect rice-
- Wash the rice thoroughly until the water runs clear. This helps in removing the starch.
- Use the same measuring cup for both rice and water for accurate and consistent results.
- If you are cooking a small quantity of Basmati rice using the Instant Pot, then I recommend doing this using pot in pot method.
- When using basmati in Pulao and biryani, do factor in the other liquid ingredients like yogurt and tomato puree while adding water. If you have any liquid ingredients in the recipe, the thumb rule is to use 1 cup water for every 1 cup rice.
- Soak the rice in double the quantity of water.
- After the rice has soaked, discard the water used for soaking.
- Drain the soaked rice completely in a colander.
- Measure fresh water and add it to the rice for cooking.
Timings for cooking Basmati
As I mentioned earlier, soaking time plays a crucial role in deciding how long to cook Basmati. Here is what I follow- I soak for a minimum of 20 minutes.
For every 10 minutes more of soaking time, I decrease the cooking time by 1 minute. If I happen to soak the rice for less than 20 minutes, then I pressure cook on high for 6 minutes and do a 10 min NPR.
Recipe Notes
- Always rinse the rice 2 to 3 times to get rid of starch. This step helps in preventing the rice from clumping up.
- Soak the Basmati rice in twice the quantity of water. For example, every 1 cup rice has to be soaked in 2 cups water.
- Use a kitchen timer to prevent over soaking.
- Pot in pot method works great for 1 to 1.5 cups Basmati rice.
- If you are cooking more than 1.5 cups rice, then you can do it in the inner pot directly.
- For al dente rice, use 1.25 cups water for every 1 cup of rice.
- Softer grains of rice need 1.5 cups water for every 1 cup of rice.
- If you happen to soak the rice for longer than 20 minutes, then you will need only 1 cup water for 1 cup rice.
No soak Basmati Rice in Instant Pot
Yes, you can cook perfect Basmati without prior soaking too. Here is how to do it-
- Measure the rice and add it to a large bowl.
- Add water and rinse it well. Go in with your hands and gently rub the rice grains into the water.
- When done, strain the rice in a colander to get rid of any excess water.
- Insert the inner pot into the Instant Pot. Add the strained rice along with 1.25 cups water for every 1 cup water. You may add salt at this stage, if you prefer. I do not add salt to my rice.
- Using a spatula, mix everything up gently.
- Ensure that the sealing ring has been fitted properly into the lid. Close the Instant Pot and turn the VALVE to SEALING.
- Plug in the Instant Pot, press PRESSURE COOK- HIGH PRESSURE and set the timer to 6 minutes.
- Wait for the cooking cycle to complete.
- When done, wait for 10 minutes before doing a quick pressure release.
- Once the pressure releases fully, remove the inner pot from the Instant Pot and allow the rice to cool for a few minutes.
- When the rice has cooled down a bit, fluff it using a fork or a silicone spatula.
Prep Work
If you are cooking a small quantity of basmati, then I highly recommend doing it using the pot in pot method.This method is ideal for cooking 1 to 1.5 cups of rice.
Follow these steps to prep the rice before cooking-
- Measure the rice into a large bowl. Add water to this and rinse thoroughly. Rub the rice gently into the water using your hands to wash off starch.
- Drain the washed rice into a colander and strain to remove all the water used for washing. Now, add the washed rice to a bowl. Soak the rice in twice the quantity of water for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, strain the soaked rice in a colander and get rid of any excess water.
Method 1-using pot in pot method
Insert the inner pot into the Instant Pot. Add 1.5 cups water. Place a tall trivet into the inner pot.
Now, place a tall container on the trivet. Add the soaked and drained rice to the container.
Measure fresh water and add to the rice. Using a spatula, give it a gentle stir.
Ensure that the sealing ring has been fitted properly into the Instant Pot lid. Close the instant pot and turn the VALVE to SEALING.
Plug in the Instant Pot, press PRESSURE COOK- HIGH PRESSURE and set the timer to 4 minutes. Allow the cooking cycle to complete.
Once the cooking cycle has completed, do a quick pressure release after 10 minutes ( 10 minutes QPR) by turning the VALVE to VENTING.
Open the lid and let the rice sit for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, gently run a silicon spatula along the sides of the pot to loosen up the rice. Fluff gently with a fork.
Method 2- Cooking directly in the inner pot
Cooking Basmati directly in the inner pot works beautifully if you are cooking more than 1.5 cups of rice.
Insert the inner pot into the Instant Pot. Transfer the soaked and drained rice into the inner pot.
Measure fresh water according to the quantity of rice and add it to the inner pot. Add salt at this stage if you prefer. Gently stir everything.
Ensure that the sealing ring has been fitted properly into the Instant Pot lid. Close the instant pot and turn the VALVE to SEALING.
Plug in the Instant Pot, press PRESSURE COOK- HIGH PRESSURE and set the timer to 4 minutes. Allow the cooking cycle to complete.
Once the cooking cycle has completed, do a quick pressure release after 10 minutes ( 10 minutes QPR) by turning the VALVE to VENTING.
Open the lid and let the rice sit undisturbed for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, gently run a silicon spatula along the sides of the pot and fluff with a fork.
After cooking
- Remove the pot of rice (pot in pot method) from the inner pot after fluffing the rice and set aside. This prevents rice from overcooking or drying out and becoming brittle.
- If you have cooked the rice in the inner pot directly, then remove the inner pot from the Instant Pot as soon as you have done the quick pressure release. This prevents the rice from sticking to the bottom.
- In case your rice looks undercooked, simply put the lid back on, turn the VALVE to SEALING and switch on the KEEP WARM mode for 10 minutes. The rice will get cooked in the residual heat.
- Even after following this method, your rice is mushy, you can fix this by reducing the water by 1/4 cup. For the next batch you cook, use only 1 cup water for 1 cup rice.
- Do not stir the rice immediately after opening the lid. Grains break easily when they are hot. Instead, let the cooked rice cool down a bit and then fluff with a fork or a silicon spatula.
- If you are cooking rice for a party or a get together, you can cook this ahead of time and let it cool by spreading it out on a large plate.
- When the rice cools down fully, it may become sticky. In this case wet your hands and gently fluff it up using your fingers.
Instant Pot Basmati Rice
Equipment
- 1 six quart Instant Pot
- 1 Tall trivet
- 1 tall stainless steel container ( 2 quart capacity)
Ingredients
- 1 cup Basmati rice
- 1.25 cups water
- 1 tsp Kosher Salt or adjust to taste
Instructions
Prep Work
- If you are cooking a small quantity of basmati, then I highly recommend doing it using the pot in pot method. This method is ideal for cooking 1 to 1.5 cups of rice.
- Follow these steps to prep the rice before cooking-
- Measure the rice into a large bowl. Add water to this and rinse thoroughly. Rub the rice gently into the water using your hands to wash off starch.
- Drain the washed rice into a colander and strain to remove all the water used for washing. Now, add the washed rice to a bowl. Soak the rice in twice the quantity of water for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, strain the soaked rice in a colander and get rid of any excess water.
Method 1-using pot in pot method
- Insert the inner pot into the Instant Pot. Add 1.5 cups water. Place a tall trivet into the inner pot.
- Now, place a tall container on the trivet. Add the soaked and drained rice to the container. Measure fresh water and add to the rice. Using a spatula, give it a gentle stir.
- Ensure that the sealing ring has been fitted properly into the Instant Pot lid. Close the instant pot and turn the VALVE to SEALING.
- Plug in the Instant Pot, press PRESSURE COOK- HIGH PRESSURE and set the timer to 4 minutes. Allow the cooking cycle to complete.
- Once the cooking cycle has completed, do a quick pressure release after 10 minutes ( 10 minutes QPR) by turning the VALVE to VENTING.
- Open the lid and let the rice sit for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, gently run a silicon spatula along the sides of the pot and fluff with a fork.
Method 2- Cooking directly in the inner pot
- Cooking Basmati in the inner pot works beautifully if you are cooking more than 1.5 cups of rice.
- Insert the inner pot into the Instant Pot. Transfer the soaked and drained rice into the inner pot.
- Measure fresh water according to the quantity of rice and add it to the inner pot. Add salt at this stage if you prefer. Gently stir everything.
- Ensure that the sealing ring has been fitted properly into the Instant Pot lid. Close the instant pot and turn the VALVE to SEALING.
- Plug in the Instant Pot, press PRESSURE COOK- HIGH PRESSURE and set the timer to 4 minutes. Allow the cooking cycle to complete.
- Once the cooking cycle has completed, do a quick pressure release after 10 minutes ( 10 minutes QPR) by turning the VALVE to VENTING.
- Open the lid and let the rice sit untouched for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, gently run a silicon spatula along the sides of the pot and fluff with a fork.
Notes
- Always rinse the rice 2 to 3 times to get rid of starch. This step helps in preventing the rice from clumping up.
- Soak the Basmati rice in twice the quantity of water. For example, every 1 cup rice has to be soaked in 2 cups water.
- Use a kitchen timer to prevent over soaking.
- Pot in pot method works great for 1 to 1.5 cups Basmati rice.
- If you are cooking more than 1.5 cups rice, then you can do it in the inner pot directly.
- For al dente rice, use 1.25 cups water for every 1 cup of rice.
- Softer grains of rice need 1.5 cups water for every 1 cup of rice.
- If you happen to soak the rice for longer than 20 minutes, then you will need only 1 cup water for 1 cup rice.
For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes
Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.
Disclaimer
Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.
Nutrition
Serving suggestions
Plain basmati is so versatile and is a fabulous side that can be paired with so many curries and vegetables. Here are some recipes that go well with this rice.
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