Instant Pot Lemon Rice Pilaf Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make rice in Instant Pot without burning? ›

Use slightly more water when cooking brown rice and wild rice to prevent undercooking and scorching. Plus, it's better to err on the side of more water, since most rice varieties can be drained if there's excess moisture.

If the rice is cooked too long, the grains can break down and release more starch, resulting in stickiness.

Make sure you move the steam release valve to sealing.

This is a common mistake, and will result in hard, under-cooked rice that will eventually stick to the bottom of your pot. You need to seal the pot so that the steam will be locked in and will cook the rice properly.

If your Instant Pot rice is still hard or chewy, you didn't cook it for long enough. Unfortunately, when this happens you can't return the rice to the Instant Pot and cook it a second time.

Here are my preferred cooking times for rice in the pressure cooker: Brown rice: 20 minutes on high pressure for firm rice, or 22 minutes for softer grains. White rice: 15 minutes on low pressure for firm rice, or 17 minutes for softer grains.

For tender grains of rice that easily separate, such as in a pilaf, use 2 cups of water for every 1 cup of rice. You can also use another liquid like stock in this 2:1 ratio. For slightly chewier, fluffy white rice, use 1 1/2 cups of water for every cup of rice, or a 1.5:1 ratio.

If you are someone who is lucky enough to have a rice cooker or another similar gadget like the Instant Pot, the problem of burnt rice is incredibly easy to fix. In many cases where a dedicated rice cooker produces burned grains, the rice just doesn't have enough water, says Cooking Chops.

There's literally a "rice" button on it! But keep in mind, the button is only for white rice. If you're cooking brown rice, the rice button isn't the best. Instead, set the timer for 25 minutes on manual and high pressure.

Ensure it's simmering and not boiling or the rice can cook too quickly. Simmer until water is completely absorbed and rice is tender – about 15-25 minutes (will depend on size and freshness of rice). Drain off any excess water if there is any (there shouldn't be).

Brown rice has a slight advantage over white rice when it comes to nutrient content. It has more fiber and antioxidants, as well as more vitamins and minerals. However, these differences aren't hugely significant.

What is the ratio of instant rice to water? ›

Simple Water to Rice Ratio

The first thing you need to know when it comes to cooking ANY of our Instant varieties is that you will use equal amounts of water and rice, for a 1:1 ratio. It's as simple as that!

So for example, brown rice is milled one less step than white rice, which preserves some of its nutritional value. But instant rice, on the other hand, has been processed like this: milled from a seed on the plant down to white rice, then fully cooked and then dehydrated.

Drain out as much of the water as possible. With the rice back in the pot, set it on the stove on low heat and place two to three slices of bread on top of the rice. Close the lid and allow the pot of rice to cook for a minute or two, depending on how wet the rice is.

But keep in mind, the button is only for white rice. If you're cooking brown rice, the rice button isn't the best. Instead, set the timer for 25 minutes on manual and high pressure. For long grain rice like jasmine and basmati, 10 minutes is perfect with the rice button.