Brown Basmati Rice Instant Pot Recipe

This Brown Basmati Rice Instant Pot recipe is hands down the easiest way to get perfect brown rice. And it’s so tasty, you may never go back to white rice.

I’m shocked it took me so long to appreciate the health benefits of brown rice. I’ve been a rice fanatic my entire life and it wasn’t until the last couple of years when I started my clean eating diet that I fully understood the extraordinary difference between white and brown rice. Mind blown.

There are lots of great articles about the benefits of brown rice, but in a nutshell, brown rice is WAY better for you than white.

The bran and germ outer layers of brown rice are removed to make white rice. And those layers hold the secret to the health benefits found in brown rice. The extra fiber, vitamins, and minerals make brown rice a much healthier choice than white.

Most people are familiar with white basmati rice. It’s been popular for many years. But only recently has brown basmati rice really begun to take hold in the American diet. (And it goes great with my Air Fryer Chicken Thighs or Air Fryer Tofu!)

It is a long grain brown rice with great texture and flavor. And this brown basmati rice Instant Pot recipe is by far the easiest way to get the best and most consistent results.

What is the Water to Rice Ratio for Brown Basmati Rice?

The wonderful thing about making this brown basmati rice Instant Pot recipe is that once you nail it down, it’s perfectly consistent every single time. No guessing. No babysitting a pot on the stove.

But it’s important to note that brands of rice may differ in how they cook. Some require a little more water, others require a little more time.

Here is my basic guideline for water to rice ratio for brown basmati rice in an Instant Pot. For every 1 cup of rinsed brown rice, use 1 1/4 cups of water. Once you do your first batch, you’ll know if you need to adjust the water depending on your particular brand of rice.

If you like it a little chewier, use a tad less water. If you like it softer, add a little more. Once you get it to your liking, do it the same way every time for perfect results and you’ll never cook Instant Pot brown rice any other way.

How Long Does Brown Basmati Rice Take to Cook?

Much like the amount of water required, the amount of time can also vary depending on the brand and texture of your rice. It also depends on your own personal taste.

A good starting place for the brown basmati rice Instant Pot recipe is 20 minutes of high pressure and then a 10 minute natural pressure release.

Add 2-3 minutes to the cook time if you want softer rice. Reduce the time for firmer rice. You can also shorten the natural release time for rice that is a little less soft.

Do You Need to Rinse Brown Basmati Rice Before Cooking?

There are two schools of thought about rinsing rice before cooking. On the one hand, it does rinse away some of the additional nutrients that brown basmati rice is known for.

On the other hand, rice is often packaged with external dustings of various substances to help preserve the grains during packaging and shipping. While these substances are thought to be harmless, it doesn’t hurt to get rid of them.

Also the grains rub together during packaging and shipping, leaving starchy particles throughout the package. Rinsing will remove most of this external starch and leave your rice less gummy.

Pressure cooking rice can also add to the gummy texture of rice. This brown basmati rice Instant Pot recipe will reduce that gumminess because the rice should be rinsed first.

Overall, I do believe you will get better results if you rinse your brown rice before pressure cooking. But it is optional and in the end, your call.

Ingredients in Brown Basmati Rice Instant Pot Recipe

• Basmati Brown Rice – full of flavor and nutrition. Plus the fiber helps you stay full for a long time. Win-win!
• Water – both to rinse the rice and to cook the rice.
• Salt – optional but I do recommend it.

How to Make Brown Basmati Rice Instant Pot Version

1. Rinse the brown rice thoroughly then add to the Instant Pot inner pot.
2. Add water and salt if using. Stir well.
3. Pressure cook on high for 20 minutes then naturally release the pressure for 10 minutes.
4. Release remaining pressure and remove lid. Fluff with a fork and serve your perfect brown basmati rice.

Can I Freeze Brown Rice?

Yes! Cooked brown basmati rice freezes well. Once it is cooked, cool it to room temperature. Then place in an air tight container or zip top bag. Remove as much air as possible and freeze.

Brown rice will keep in your freezer up to 6 months. Simply thaw and either microwave or reheat on the stove (add a couple of tablespoons of water if you’re reheating on the stove). It’s also great in soups!

If you are not going to freeze it, the brown basmati rice will stay fresh in an airtight container in your refrigerator for 5-7 days. I absolutely love using these Glasslock containers for all of my leftovers. Including rice!

My new-ish clean eating journey led me to brown rice. I only wish I had known about all the health benefits sooner. If you are looking for more info on clean eating, check out my free PDF – Anti-Inflammatory foods – the 10 foods you should eat and the 10 you should avoid. This way of eating has made a remarkable difference in my life.

Enjoy your Instant Pot brown basmati rice. I hope it didn’t take you as look as it took me to understand just how great it is for you!

Other Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Recipes You Might Like:

• Instant Pot Kidney Beans
• Instant Pot Chicken Thighs in Creamy Mushroom Sauce
• Pressure Cooker Beets

Tools Used in This Recipe:

• Instant Pot
• Glasslock Storage Containers

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