Name: Perfect Instant Pot Brown Rice
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 6 cups
Ingredients: 2 cups brown rice; 2 cups water to cook rice; 2 cups water for inner pot of Instant Pot

A step by step guide on how to cook brown rice in the Instant Pot using the Pot in Pot (PIP) method. The PIP method allows you to cook brown rice in smaller quantities, with minimal cleanup. Perfectly cooked Instant Pot brown rice every time, quick and easy.

Instant Pot Brown Rice P1 turquoise bowl with brown rice with flowered napkin in background - Paint the Kitchen Red

I get frequent questions through email or blog comments asking how to make Instant Pot brown rice so I thought it’s time to post my recipe for brown rice.

Brown rice takes so long to cook on the stovetop, and it can end up imperfect: partly cooked, overcooked, or undercooked. But now you can use the Instant Pot to make perfectly cooked brown rice every time. And it’s so easy.

I really like using the Pot-in-Pot (PIP) method when I’m cooking smaller quantities of rice and I want to serve the rice in the bowl I cooked it in. Cleanup is minimal with the PIP method!

If you’d like to make a larger quantity, you can cook the rice directly in the inner pot using the same timings and ratio. See my Instant Pot Jasmine Rice recipe for more details on the method.

Brown rice is a great choice if, like me, you love rice and are trying to reduce carbs or when you’re looking to add fiber and whole grains to your diet. I like to use brown rice in a rice bowl, topped with Korean Beef, Carne Asada, Carnitas, Chicken Tikka Masala, or Chicken Shawarma.

Tips and Substitutions

Letting the rice sit for about 10 minutes after cooking is complete reduces stickiness and gumminess.

I like brown rice to be tender but a bit on the chewy side rather than well done. If you like your brown rice well done, allow for a full natural pressure release (NPR).

[Also Read: Instant Pot Jasmine Rice and Pot in Pot (PIP) Cooking Method]

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 make this Perfect Instant Pot Brown Rice

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How to Make Instant Pot Brown Rice (Step-by-Step Instructions)

Rinse the brown rice thoroughly.
Add brown rice to the bowl.
Add water to the rice.

Add 2 cups water to the Instant Pot inner pot.
Place trivet in the inner pot.
Place the bowl of rice on the trivet.

Instant Pot DUO Pressure Cook:

Close the lid and make sure steam release handle is in ‘Sealing’ position
Press ‘Manual’ (or ‘Pressure Cook’) and ‘+’ or ‘-‘ until display reads ‘22′ (22 minutes).

Instant Pot ULTRA Pressure Cook:

Close the lid.
Select Pressure Cook mode and adjust time to 22 minutes (00:22).
Press ‘Start’.

Instant Pot display will change to ‘On’.
Once the Instant Pot is pressurized, the float valve will go up.
The display will count down from 22 to 0; it will then switch to ‘Keep Warm’ mode and display ‘L0:00’ or ’00 00′ and begin to count up.

Wait for 10 minutes after cooking is complete, and release any remaining pressure (see below).

Instant Pot DUO 10-minute Natural Pressure Release (NPR):

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.
Press ‘Cancel’ and open the Instant Pot.

Instant Pot ULTRA 10-minute Natural Pressure Release (NPR):

Press down on the Steam Release Button until it locks into place, and steam begins to come out of the Steam Release Valve.
When your Instant Pot is depressurized, the float valve will be in the down position.
Press ‘Cancel’ and open the Instant Pot.

Carefully remove cooked rice from Instant Pot.
Fluff the rice with a fork.

Perfect Instant Pot Brown Rice

A step by step guide on how to cook brown rice in the Instant Pot using the PIP (Pot in Pot) method. The PIP method allows you to cook brown rice in smaller quantities, with minimal cleanup. Perfectly cooked Instant Pot brown rice every time, quick and easy.

5 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Sides

Cuisine: International

Keyword: brown rice, instant pot

Main Ingredient: rice

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Servings: cups

Calories: 200kcal

Author: Paint the Kitchen Red

Ingredients

2 cups brown rice
2 cups water to cook rice
2 cups water for inner pot of Instant Pot

Instructions

Rinse the brown rice thoroughly.
Add brown rice to an oven safe medium bowl.
Add water to the rice.
Add 2 cups water to the Instant Pot inner pot.
Place trivet in the inner pot.
Place bowl on the trivet.
Close the lid and pressure cook for 22 minutes (on high pressure).
Do 10-minutes natural pressure release (NPR 10 minutes).
Press Cancel and open the Instant Pot.
Carefully remove bowl of cooked rice from Instant Pot using silicone gloves.
Fluff the rice with a fork.

Video

Notes

Allow the rice to sit for about 10 minutes after fluffing with fork.
If you like your rice well done, do a full natural pressure release (NPR).

Nutrition

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!

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You might also like to try these Instant Pot Recipes:

Instant Pot Brown Fried Rice

Instant Pot Basmati Rice Pot in Pot

Instant Pot Fried Rice

Comments

Rose
November 4, 2018 at 7:21 am

if we want to make rice in some large quantity than?
- Paint the Kitchen Red
  November 4, 2018 at 7:23 am
  Rose, if you want to make a larger quantity, you should cook it directly in the inner pot. I use the same proportions and timings, maybe slightly more water.
Raj
December 18, 2018 at 4:44 pm
May I know what brand of brown rice you use? Thanks!
- Paint the Kitchen Red
  December 19, 2018 at 10:09 pm
  Raj, I’ve used different brands including Indian brown basmati (e.g. Royal brand) and Mahatma brand
Linda Foster
December 19, 2018 at 6:25 pm

OMG, for the first time cooking brown rice PIP and I previously wouldn’t have had a bowl of brown rice ever (make for the dogs) WELL drum roll, it is fluffy and delicious, SHOCKED, my white rice which I love Jasmine never comes out good (for me). will look at your directions. THANK YOU FOR A DELICIOUS BROWN RICE.
AGAIN THANK YOU
- Paint the Kitchen Red
  December 19, 2018 at 10:00 pm
  Linda, thank you for your review! You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the Jasmine – I make it every week, perfect every time. And you’re pretty funny, btw 🙂
Linda Foster
December 25, 2018 at 10:58 pm

I would have never eaten brown rice before using your PIP instructions, I actually had a big bow very good. Usually cook only for dogs meals…
THANKS
- Paint the Kitchen Red
  December 26, 2018 at 10:38 am
  You’re welcome Linda – your comment made me chuckle 🙂
Carol
December 30, 2018 at 5:24 pm

Super easy and less cleanup, nice
Bergandi
January 4, 2019 at 3:54 pm

What type of bowls do you use when doing the PIP method? Just wanting sure what I use is pressure cooker safe!
- Paint the Kitchen Red
  January 5, 2019 at 11:29 am
  Bergandi, I use oven-safe (thick) Pyrex, ceramic and stainless steel bowls. But I urge you to follow manufacturer’s directions for the glass bowls because some people have had issues with them cracking. I have had no issues myself.
Carl Medgaus
January 5, 2019 at 7:19 am
If I want to substitute brown rice for the white rice in your Jambalaya recipe, how would you adjust the amount of liquid and time to account for the brown rice? Thanks in advance.
- Paint the Kitchen Red
  January 5, 2019 at 11:27 am
  Carl, the only concern would be the vegetables being overcooked. Brown rice cooks in 22 minutes with the same amount of liquid. If you look at previous comments I have mentioned to others that they could par-cook the brown rice, drain, and proceed with the recipe. But this might be a pain….
Suzanne
January 28, 2019 at 3:32 pm
I would like to try Bryani in IP. would you advise it? thank you.
- Paint the Kitchen Red
  January 28, 2019 at 4:57 pm
  Suzanne – yes, you can cook biryani in the Instant Pot but you won’t have the layering that traditional biryani has. I have a lamb biryani recipe that you can look at to get an idea about technique in case you already have a biryani recipe you use. Good luck!
Heide
May 9, 2019 at 4:58 pm

This was my first attempt at cooking brown rice in the IP and it was a total success! Plus I had the IP ready to cook my next item, no need to wash since the rice was in a separate glass container. Thank you!
- Paint the Kitchen Red
  May 15, 2019 at 9:11 am
  Thanks for your comment, Heide! You might want to try out the brown “fried” rice too.