Pressure cooker is one of the most underrated kitchen utensils out there. It can cook brown rice, which takes at least 40 minutes to cook in a normal pot, in just 20 minutes. The good thing is that the process also remains effortless once you know your way around pressure cookers.
Yet, the real question is how to cook brown rice in pressure cooker. How much time does it take? Does it require any extra steps? Let’s answer all your questions in this article!
How to Prepare Brown Rice in a Stovetop Pressure Cooker?
I love cooking brown rice in a pressure cooker on days when I don’t have enough patience because of how quick it is.
Using pressure cookers may get complicated, but believe me, the instructions below are pretty straightforward. Here is what you need to do:
Step 1 (Optional): Soak the Rice for 30 Minutes
It doesn’t matter how you cook brown rice. I always recommend soaking it beforehand.
Soaked brown rice takes slightly less time to cook and also turns out softer than unsoaked rice. I recently discovered that overnight-soaked rice has more nutritional content than unsoaked rice!
I prefer soaking rice overnight, but you can do it for three to four hours.
Just take a bowl, add one cup of rice, and soak it in lukewarm water. Don’t forget to cover the bowl with a lid.
Step 2: Wash and Rinse the Rice
You can skip soaking the rice but don’t skip this step.
Rinsing the rice removes the dirt and impurities from your grains. It also removes the excess starch on the outer layer of grains, which causes the cooked rice to turn sticky.
First, strain the soaked rice in a sieve. Then, rinse and wash it under tap water twice or thrice. You need to ensure that the water runs clear, as shown in the picture below.
Step 3: Add Rice and Water to the Pressure Cooker
After you have prepared the rice for cooking, add it to the pressure cooker. Pour two cups of water and half a teaspoon of salt to one cup of brown rice.
Then, close the pressure cooker’s lid tightly to ensure its contents don’t spill.
Tip: I like adding extra ingredients like cloves, bay leaves, or cinnamon along with the rice to make it flavorful. You can also find other ways to make brown rice more delicious.
Step 4: Bring the Cooker to a High Pressure
Place the pressure cooker on the stove and turn the heat to medium-high. Once you notice that the cooker has come to a high pressure, reduce the heat to medium-low.
There are many ways to know if your pressure cooker has achieved high pressure. The pressure regulator or whistle starts shaking and releases steam.
Step 5: Cook for a 15 to 20 Minutes
After turning the heat to medium-low, let the brown rice cook for at least 15 to 20 minutes. It might take around 8 to 9 whistles to cook it entirely.
Keep in mind that the cooking time also differs depending on your pressure cooker model and efficiency.
Caution: Don’t open the lid to check if the rice is done, while using a pressure cooker. The high pressure may cause the cooker to explode, leading to injuries.
Step 6: Turn Off the Stove and Let the Pressure Cooker Rest
It is almost impossible to know if something is done cooking in a pressure cooker. Therefore, I recommend relying on the aroma, along with the time.
When brown rice is fully cooked, it has an intense nutty aroma. Once you notice the fragrance, turn off the stove and let the pressure cooker rest for at least ten minutes. This way, it can release the pressure naturally.
Then, release the extra pressure manually by opening the pressure valve on the lid.
Tip: If you cannot wait for ten minutes, place the pressure cooker in a sink and pour cold water. It is the fastest way to open the pressure cooker.
Transfer the cooked brown rice from the pressure cooker to a bowl. Your tender brown rice is ready to eat!
How to Cook Brown Rice in an Electric Pressure Cooker?
If you have an electric pressure cooker (Instant Pot), the instructions and measurements are slightly different. Let’s take a look at them.
- Soak one cup of brown rice for two to three hours.
- Wash and rinse the brown rice until the water turns clear.
- Then, plug in the electric pressure cooker and switch it on.
- Add the soaked brown rice to the electric pressure cooker.
- Pour one cup of water for one cup of brown rice into the cooker. Note that the water ratio is different from when cooking brown rice in a pot or a stovetop pressure cooker.
- Add half a teaspoon of salt, and close the lid.
- Choose the “rice” or the “manual” mode. Just ensure that you have switched on the “high pressure” setting for your electric pressure cooker.
- Set the timer for 22 to 25 minutes.
- Once the timer is up, let the electric pressure cooker rest for at least 10 minutes. This allows it to release the steam naturally.
- Then, release the steam manually and wait for two minutes.
- You can open the lid once the pressure cooker has released all the steam.
- Fluff the brown rice and serve hot!
I recommend watching this video if you have an Instant Pot electric pressure cooker.
Are There Other Quick Methods to Cook Brown Rice?
Brown rice may turn soft and sticky if you cook it in a pressure cooker. Therefore, it is efficient, but it isn’t for people who prefer fluffy brown rice.
I have found two alternatives to quickly cook fluffy brown rice – microwave and instant brown rice.
Microwave takes less than 30 minutes to cook brown rice. Unlike a pressure cooker, you don’t have to worry about additional settings or the resting period. You can just mix brown rice and water and microwave it!
You can also go for instant brown rice brands, like Minute Rice. Instant brown rice takes about five minutes to cook and requires minimal steps.
Recipe Card – Brown Rice in Pressure Cooker
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Servings: Two to three people
Ingredients
- 1 cup of brown rice (long-grain, short-grain, or any other type)
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- 2 cups of water
Method
- Soak brown rice for three to four hours or overnight (preferable).
- Strain the rice and rinse it until the drained water looks transparent.
- Combine brown rice, two cups of water, and half a teaspoon of salt in the pressure cooker.
- Close the lid tightly.
- Cook the brown rice on medium-high heat until the cooker reaches high pressure.
- Once the pressure regulator or whistle starts shaking, reduce the flame to medium-low.
- Cook the brown rice on medium-low heat for at least 15 to 20 minutes.
- Turn off the stove, and let the pressure cooker rest for 10 minutes.
- Manually release any leftover pressure and open the lid.
- If rice is cooked, transfer it to a bowl! Else, cook for a few more minutes.
Final Thoughts
Cooking brown rice in a pressure cooker is one of the fastest ways.
The only things you need to take care of are the pressure settings and the resting period. Always wait for the pressure cooker to settle and then open the lid.
FAQs
What is the ratio of water to brown rice?
You need to follow the 2:1 ratio of water to brown rice. Therefore, add 2 cups of water to 1 cup of brown rice for the regular cooking method. For a pressure cooker, it is 2 ½ cups water to 1 cup brown rice.
How long to cook brown rice in a pressure cooker?
Brown rice takes 25 to 30 minutes, including the resting time, to cook in a pressure cooker.
How many whistles to cook brown rice in a pressure cooker?
You should pressure-cook brown rice for at least 8-10 whistles, as brown rice takes longer to cook.
How much water for two cups of brown rice in a pressure cooker?
You need 4 cups of water for cooking 2 cups of brown rice in a stovetop pressure cooker. Reduce the water content to 2 ¼ cups for 2 cups of brown rice for an electric pressure cooker.
Should rice be cooked on high or low in pressure cooker?
Initially, let the pressure cooker reach high pressure, and then, cook the rice on low pressure until it cooks.
How do you make rice not mushy in a pressure cooker?
Don’t add too much water to brown rice while cooking it in a pressure cooker. Stick to the standard ratio and measurement cups. Also, avoid cooking the rice for too long.
