A step by step guide to cooking basmati rice in the Instant Pot using the PIP (Pot in Pot) method. Perfectly cooked Instant Pot rice every time, quick and easy.
You may be wondering whether Instant Pot
rice is as quick, easy and perfectly cooked as rice made in a rice cooker. I had used a rice cooker for many years and always loved it.
Once I got my Instant Pot and started making rice in it, I found that I have no need for a rice cooker at all. Making rice in the Instant Pot works just as well as the rice cooker. It’s great because there’s no need to plan ahead.
For instance, last night I realized that we didn’t have enough rice to go with leftover Fish Molee Curry, and I cooked a batch of pot in pot Instant Pot rice on the spot a few minutes before dinner.
There are two ways to make Instant Pot rice:
- You can cook it directly in the inner pot that comes with the Instant Pot
- You can cook it in a smaller oven-safe bowl that’s placed inside the inner pot. This is called the “Pot in Pot” method (often referred to as “PIP”). I use a
Pyrex glass bowl and it works perfectly for one cup of uncooked rice. I think it could easily accommodate 1.5 cups of uncooked rice.
Pyrex glass bowl and it works perfectly for one cup of uncooked rice. I think it could easily accommodate 1.5 cups of uncooked rice.I’ll be showing you how to make Instant Pot rice using the pot in pot method.
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Tips and Substitutions
- If you’d like to make a larger quantity, you can cook the rice directly in the inner pot using my Fragrant Instant Pot Jasmine Rice recipe.
- For Instant Pot basmati rice, I find that using a 1:1 ratio of rice to water works just great.
- If you’d like to make Instant Pot Jasmine rice, increase the quantity of water a bit. I use a 1:1.25 ratio of Jasmine rice to water.
- You could try and substitute chicken broth or coconut milk mixed with water if you’d like to try something different. The coconut milk needs to be thinned out or your Instant Pot may not come to pressure.
[Read More: Instant Pot Jasmine Rice and Instant Pot Brown Rice]
If you’re new to the Instant Pot and aren’t familiar with how to use it, please read the Instant Pot DUO Beginner’s Quick Start Guide or the Instant Pot ULTRA Beginner’s Quick Start Guide first and then come back here to learn how to cook perfect Jasmine Rice in the Instant Pot.
How to make Instant Pot Pot in Pot Rice (Step-by-Step Instructions)
- Rinse out 1 cup of basmati rice in a fine mesh sieve.
- Transfer rice from sieve to a Pyrex glass bowl.
- Add 1 cup water to the bowl.
- Pour 2 cups water into inner pot.
- Place trivet in the inner pot.
- Place glass bowl on trivet.
- Close the Instant Pot.
- Make sure the steam release handle is in the ‘Sealing’ position.
- Press ‘Manual’ (or ‘Pressure Cook’) and ‘+’ or ‘-‘ until the display reads ‘6’.
- Instant Pot display will change to ‘On’.
- Once the Instant Pot is pressurized and the float valve is up, display will count down from 6 to 0.
- Display will read ‘L000’ and start to count up.
- Wait till the count-up timer reads L0:10 (10 minutes.)
- Do a Quick Release: move the steam release handle to ‘Venting’. I like to place a folded towel over the steam release handle and move it to the venting position. Remove the towel after turning the knob.
- When your Instant Pot is depressurized, the float valve will be in the down position.
- It’s now safe to open the Instant Pot. (Press ‘Cancel’ to turn off Instant Pot.)
- Your Instant Pot rice should be perfectly cooked.
- Fluff Instant Pot rice with a fork and serve.
Instant Pot Rice | Pot-in-Pot Method (PIP)
A step by step guide to cooking Instant Pot Pot in Pot (PIP) Rice. Perfectly cooked rice every time, quick and easy.
Print Pin RatePrep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 2
Calories: 206 kcal
Ingredients
- 1 cup basmati rice
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Rinse out 1 cup of basmati rice in a fine mesh sieve.
- Transfer rinsed rice and 1 cup water to an oven-safe glass bowl.
- Pour 2 cups water into the Instant Pot’s main compartment (inner pot) and place trivet in water.
- Place glass bowl on trivet and close Instant Pot. Make sure the steam release handle is in the ‘Sealing’ position.
- Cook on ‘Manual’ (or 'Pressure Cook') mode for 6 minutes. Let the rice stay in ‘Keep Warm’ mode for 10 minutes after cooking is complete.
- Release remaining steam to depressurize Instant Pot.
- Open Instant Pot and fluff rice with fork before serving.
Notes
- To substitute Jasmine rice, change the ratio of rice to water to 1 : 1 1/4 and only cook for 4 minutes.
- See the blog post for more detailed recipe tips.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 cup | Calories: 206 kcal | Carbohydrates: 45 g | Protein: 4 g | Fat: 0.4 g | Sodium: 2 mg
Have you made this recipe?I love seeing your photos! Tag me on Instagram @PaintTheKitchenRed hashtag #paintthekitchenred
I am not a certified nutritionist. I provide my best estimate of nutritional information merely as a courtesy to my readers. If you depend on nutritional information for dietary or health reasons, I suggest using your favorite online nutrition calculator to confirm the nutritional value of this recipe based on the actual ingredients that you use.
If you loved this recipe, please give it a 5 Star rating in the comment section below and please share it on social media using the social media share buttons at the top and bottom of this post. Thank you so much!
You might also like to try these Instant Pot Recipes:
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| Instant Pot Jasmine Rice | Instant Pot Brown Rice | Instant Pot Pot-in-Pot Method |
Carl
You are like a Doctor of cookology!
Thanks for all your hard work!
Paint the Kitchen Red
Carl, lol thank you – that’s so nice 🙂
Lisa
thank you. I just made this and the rice is perfect. It is my first time cooking with my new Instant Pot. I love that I don’t have to clean out the inner pot because I used my Pyrex dish. I appreciate the tip about using a towel over the valve. Thanks again.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Great first recipe for the Instant Pot, a sure success 🙂 Hope you enjoy your Instant Pot adventures.
Jeanine
Hi Neena. I recently purchased the Instant Pot 6 Ultra. It has a rice selection. Can I use that and set it for the 4 or 6 minutes?
Paint the Kitchen Red
Jeanine – the pre-programmed rice setting cooks at low pressure. So you’ll need to leave the time at the default 12 minutes. I don’t ever use that setting, but it does work so it’s definitely an option for you.
Ginger Soule
If I wanted to make 4 servings of rice, that shouldn’t affect the time, is that correct?
Paint the Kitchen Red
Ginger, that’s right. Always keep in mind when adjusting the quantity of rice that the rice + water shouldn’t go over the 1/2 mark due to expansion.
David
I want to try the pot in pot rice recipe. How much water for long grain rice?
Paint the Kitchen Red
David, I do a 1:1 ratio for long grain white rice.
Terry
Thanks for your clear directions. I have long grain white rice to use up before buying basmati. I’ve tried your recipe several times with different tweaks and times and my rice is either underdone or overdone. I’m a seasoned IP user, so haven’t skipped/missed any steps. Today, I tried the 1.5 cups liquid to 1 cup rice and it wasn’t finished, so I added it to a sealed pot on my stovetop on low heat for 10 mins and then left it covered off the burner for another 10 mins and it turned out perfect. This seemed counter productive, as I might as well have done it the old Fashioned way on the stove top from start to finish. I’ll try one more time with 1 cup rice to 1.25 cups liquid as you suggested and failing that, I’ll resume making it straight in the inner pot, which has always worked fantastic for me
Paint the Kitchen Red
Oh, how frustrating for you. Sorry you’ve had trouble. I use the same settings in the inner pot and PIP! Let me know if you have success with your latest try.
Lynda Brown
Thank you rice worked out great been struggling to get it right in a sauce pan on the stove this was perfect
Paint the Kitchen Red
You’re welcome, Lynda! The Instant Pot is the only way I make rice. You may like to try brown rice too – it comes out really well in the IP.
Joan
My Instant Pot Ultra 8qt is on the way. I’m checking recipes to plan first use. I want to try the P-I-P rice method but don’t have a glass bowl. Can I use one of my Ben safe pottery bowls? Thank you.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Hi Joan, thanks for your question. Oven-safe ceramic bowls have worked just fine for me. If it’s something like rice, you might need to figure out the right cooking time. Cooking time can change slightly with different types of bowls. Do you have any stainless steel bowls? Those work too.
Jackie
I want to try this while making beef stroganoff. My recipe calls for high pressure for 12 mins then quick release. Would this work? Any suggestions?
Paint the Kitchen Red
Hi Jackie – great question. Unfortunately the cooking times for rice and the beef are too far apart – if it had been just a couple of minutes, I’d have said ‘go for it’. So your option is: cook the beef for 6 minutes less i.e. for 6 minutes. Do a quick release (QR), put in the steam rack and rice, and then continue cooking for another 6 minutes. Another option is to cook the rice and beef for 6 minutes and do a 10 minute natural release, take out the rice and rack and then continue to cook the beef for another 6 minutes. Hope that makes sense!
Lindsey
Simply perfect! This was my first time using the pot-in-pot method. Your instructions were so clear and easy!
Paint the Kitchen Red
Thanks for letting me know, Lindsey! The first of many times I hope.