Instant Pot Fried Rice Recipe (Pressure Cooker Fried Rice) (2024)

FAQs

What is the ratio of rice to water in a pressure cooker? ›

Why Rice Needs Less Water in a Pressure Cooker. In tests, we've found that all varieties of rice hydrate properly with a 1:1 ratio of rice to water; additional water is added to account for evaporation. In a conventional covered pot, where water evaporates during the entire cooking time, we add an extra ½ cup water.

Every time I make rice, I achieve the same results: separate grains, with a pleasing, chewy texture. Pressure cooking does give rice a slightly different texture than stovetop cooking, and I have actually grown to prefer it prepared this way.

Pressure Cook Rice: Add 1 cup (230g) rice and 1 cup (250ml) cold water in Instant Pot Pressure Cooker. Close the lid, turn Venting Knob to Sealing Position. Pressure Cook at High Pressure for 3 minutes, then Natural Release for 10 minutes. Turn Venting Knob to Venting position to release the remaining pressure.

Our general rec for long-grain white rice is a ratio of 1:1 so for 2 cups of rice, add 2 cups of water. Following our ratio for brown rice (1:2 1/4), you would start with 2 cups of brown rice then add 4 ½ cups of 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!

To give your dish that signature fried rice taste, you'll need to drizzle in sesame oil and soy sauce, but feel free to use as much or as little as you wish. You can even mix in things like garlic powder, ginger root, or Sriracha sauce and chili pepper for a bit of a kick.

Too much water or liquid can cause mushy rice. Overcooking can also make the rice mushy. Be sure to pay attention to cook time. Cooking on low pressure instead of high pressure can also result in mushy rice.

You might notice that this ratio of water to rice is lower than what you'd use if you were cooking the rice on the stove. That's because much less water evaporates from the Instant Pot, so you don't need as much to cook fluffy, tender rice. Once you add the water, it's time to cook!

Rinsing rice removes any dirt and excess starch that can make the rice sticky, and, I've found, makes the rice taste better. According to Instant Pot's manual, rinsing the rice also makes up for the small amount of moisture lost in evaporation during the cooking process.

Rice can release starchy water as it cooks, and you don't want to risk that starch clogging the vent in the lid of your Instant Pot. 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.

How much water for 1 cup of rice? ›

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.

A 2-to-1 ratio, liquid to rice, produces soft, tender rice. Chewier rice will result from using a 1-to-1 ratio, or from adding a bit more water. I usually go with a 2-to-1 ratio for cooking a long-grain rice like basmati. Traditionally, basmati rice first is soaked for 30 minutes to as long as two hours.

Most models direct you to combine 1 cup of rice with 1-1/2 to 2 cups of liquid to make roughly 3 cups of fully cooked rice. That's enough for 6 half-cup servings (or typical side dish portions). If you double the recipe and make even more rice, you'll be able to try this 7-day meal plan for a big batch of rice.

Add Liquid

“Jiggle top” cookers need a minimum of one cup of water, while valve cookers need at least half a cup. Put food in the cooker first, then add water. When learning how to use a pressure cooker, make sure the unit is never more than two-thirds full of liquid, so the steam has enough space to accumulate.