The beauty of the Instant Pot is that it does so many things very well. But today I’m talking about its use as a rice cooker. I’ve owned a Zojirushi rice cooker and when I got my IP, I sold the Zojirushi immediately.
The IP cooks white, brown, and wild rice perfectly, and I saw no need to have two appliances that did the same thing. Especially when the rice cooker was twice the price of an IP. (You can read more about why I think you need an Instant Pot to help with your weight loss and maintenance.)
By the way, have you heard of resistant starch? Letting it develop in your rice, beans, pasta and potatoes is so easy and yields great health benefits. Here’s how to create resistant starch at home so you can eat more of the carbohydrates you crave!
Brown vs. White Rice
I’m going to give instructions for cooking white rice below, but first I have to rhapsodize about brown rice 😀. Brown rice has become my go-to choice over white rice for a bunch of reasons. It’s got a nutty flavor and slightly chewy texture that adds a bit more character to my meals.
But beyond just taste, brown rice is packed with more nutrients, like fiber, vitamins, and minerals because it retains its bran and germ layers, which are stripped away in white rice.
Plus, it’s a slower digesting carbohydrate, so it keeps me feeling full for longer. So, whether I’m looking to boost my overall nutrition or simply enjoy a heartier rice dish, brown rice is the way to go.
But why is brown rice such a pain to make?
No worries. I’ve got the way to make the perfect pot of brown rice, and it only takes about 40 minutes to make a huge batch you can eat right away or put in the freezer. All but a couple of minutes is hands-off as well, so this is quite the win. (Do you want to make white rice? Instructions are in the Notes section below.)
Brown Rice in the Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tsp salt (optional)
- 3 cups brown rice
- 3 ¾ cups water
Equipment
Instructions
- Put ingredients in Instant Pot and stir to combine.
- Set pot to High pressure and cook for 15 minutes.
- First let the pot natural release for 10 minutes, then open the vent.
- Serve immediately, or freeze according to the Notes below.
Notes
- Put 1/2 cup portions into a dozen 8 ounce containers. Then store the containers in the freezer in extra-large freezer bags. That way they don’t get lost in the freezer depths.
- When reheating rice in the microwave, add a splash of water and leave the lid on loosely. The rice will steam up just as good as fresh rice.
- The instructions remain the same, except the cook time is just 5 minutes.
Estimated Nutrition Per Serving
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Don’t have an Instant Pot yet? Here’s why an Instant Pot is great for weight loss.
I currently have a freezer full of brown rice for me and white rice for the kids. I’m working on getting them to eat brown rice, but baby steps…
