How Long Does It Take To Pressure Cook Rice

How To Cook Rice in the Electric Pressure Cooker

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Rice seems to flummox so many home cooks, and even more so when we want our rice in a rush. Stovetop rice, rice cookers, rice in the oven — many methods promise perfect rice, but few offer rice that is ready almost as soon as we want it. An electric pressure cooker is the key to perfect rice in a rush.

(Image credit: Christine Han)

Pressure Cooker, Not a Rice Cooker

Rice cookers are fine (even industrious) appliances, but a pressure cooker can cook rice in half the time while also shortening a myriad of other kitchen tasks. Rice cookers are designed to turn off when the water inside reaches a boil, while pressure cookers are designed to bring water (and food stuff) above the boiling point. While many electric pressure cookers include a rice-cooking function, the results will be faster and more consistent if the rice is cooked on a manual pressure setting.

Natural Release

Good pressure-cooking recipes will instruct you on whether the pressure of the cooker should be released by natural release or rapid release. Natural release is considered part of the recipe's cook time, especially with foods like rice and beans that continue cooking during natural release. Rapid release of rice will result in a foamy spurt from the pressure cooker and under-done rice.

Water-to-Rice-to-Release Ratios

Successful rice cooking depends on a specific water-to-rice ratio. This remains true for cooking rice in an electric pressure cooker too, but natural release time also becomes a factor and needs to be accounted for. Below is a guideline for cooking common rice types, including water-to-rice-to-release ratios. Times may vary by rice manufacturer and electric pressure-cooker brand. We use basmati in our recipe here, but use this chart if you cook a different variety of rice.

Rice: 1 cup	Liquid	Time	Pressure	Release
Basmati	1 1/2 cups	4 minutes	High	10 minutes natural release
Brown	1 1/4 cups	22 minutes	High	10 minutes natural release
Jasmine	1 cup	1 minute	High	10 minutes natural release
Wild	3 cups	25 minutes	High	Natural release

alcohol-free
egg-free
kidney-friendly
peanut-free
low-potassium
pork-free
pescatarian
gluten-free
tree-nut-free
red-meat-free
low-fat
fish-free
vegetarian
shellfish-free
sugar-conscious
soy-free
wheat-free

Per serving, based on

servings. (% daily value)

Calories 225
Fat 0.4 g (0.6%)
Saturated 0.1 g (0.6%)
Carbs 49.3 g (16.4%)
Fiber 0.8 g (3.2%)
Sugars 0.1 g
Protein 4.4 g (8.8%)
Sodium 321.4 mg (13.4%)

Ingredients

2 cups
basmati rice
3 cups
water
1 teaspoon
kosher salt
1 teaspoon
unsalted butter (optional)

Instructions

Combine the rice and water: Place the rice, water, and salt in the bowl of an electric pressure cooker. Lock the lid on.
Set and cook: Set the pressure cooker to HIGH and set the timer for 4 minutes.
Natural release: Let the steam release naturally for 10 minutes. Do not open the release valve.
Open and serve: Carefully quick release the remaining pressure until the lid can open. Add the butter, if using, and fluff with a fork.

Meghan Splawn

Food Editor, Skills

Meghan is the Food Editor for Kitchn's Skills content. She's a master of everyday baking, family cooking, and harnessing good light. Meghan approaches food with an eye towards budgeting — both time and money — and having fun. Meghan has a baking and pastry degree, and spent the first 10 years of her career as part of Alton Brown's culinary team. She co-hosts a weekly podcast about food and family called Didn't I Just Feed You.

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