Instant Pot Basmati Rice

After conducting 2 rice experiments with Instant Pot Rice and Instant Pot Brown Rice, readers have been asking us about cooking Basmati Rice in pressure cooker.

What is Basmati Rice?

Basmati rice is a popular long grained rice traditionally from the Indian subcontinent. They’re extremely aromatic with a light nutty flavor.

What we look for in Perfect Basmati Rice?

As we often mentioned, everyone has different preferences over the same dish. For us, we love al dente and fragrant rice. So, our perfect basmati rice has to be:

• Al dente
• Long
• Separate (not sticky or broken)
• Fluffy (but not soft or mushy)
• Just enough moisture
• Aromatic, Fragrant
• Full of nutty flavors

How to make Perfect Basmati Rice?

There are many discussions around the best way to make perfect Basmati Rice. Besides using a high quality basmati rice, the most important factors for making amazing basmati rice:

• Soaking
• Rinsing
• Water-to-rice ratio
• Cooking method
• Cooking time

So time for another little experiment to find the Perfect Instant Pot Basmati Rice!! 😀

Tools for Instant Pot Basmati Rice

• Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker
• Pyrex Glass Measuring Cup
• Smart Weigh Digital Kitchen Scale

Perfect Instant Pot Basmati Rice Experiment 

We conducted 5 tests with Indian basmati rice using different amounts of liquid, cooking time, and pressure release methods in our Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker. Find the full experiment details and results below the recipe. 🙂

Since we’re al dente fans, our perfect Indian basmati rice is Test 3’s results – fully cooked, firm with a bite, yet has a tint of softness. But if you prefer softer basmati rice, follow Test 5’s ratios and pressure cooking methods.

• Softer Rice: If you enjoy softer rice, increase the liquid amount rather than cooking time.
• Rinsing the Rice: If you’re rinsing the rice, it’ll throw off the rice-to-water ratio. So, be sure to reduce 3 tablespoons of water from the 1 cup of water stated in the recipe.

Watch: How To Make Instant Pot Basmati Rice Video

Can’t see the cooking video? Watch it here.

Perfect Instant Pot Basmati Rice Experiment

We tested 5 batches of Indian Basmati Rice using different amounts of rice, liquid, and cooking method & time. Here are the results!

Basmati Rice Test 1

• Basmati Rice: 230 grams of Indian basmati rice
• Liquid: 1 cup (250 ml) of water
• Cooking Method & Time: High Pressure for 4 minutes +  10 minutes Natural Release
• Result: rice is undercooked – the texture is slightly hard and chewy

Basmati Rice Test 2

• Basmati Rice: 1 cup (210 grams) of Indian basmati rice
• Liquid: 1 cup (250 ml) of water
• Cooking Method & Time: High Pressure for 4 minutes + 10 minutes Natural Release
• Result: rice is undercooked – the texture is still slightly hard and chewy

Basmati Rice Test 3*

• Basmati Rice: 1 cup (210 grams) of Indian basmati rice
• Liquid: 1 cup (250 ml) of water
• Cooking Method & Time: High Pressure for 6 minutes + 10 minutes Natural Release
• Result: fully cooked, al dente (firm, slightly soft and not chewy)

Basmati Rice Test 4

• Basmati Rice: 1 cup (210 grams) of Indian basmati rice
• Liquid: 1 cup (250 ml) of water
• Cooking Method & Time: High Pressure for 10 minutes + 10 minutes Natural Release
• Result: similar result as Test 3 (increasing cooking time at this point didn’t seem to make a difference in texture, like our brown rice experiment)

Basmati Rice Test 5*

• Basmati Rice: 1 cup (210 grams) of Indian basmati rice
• Liquid: 1 1/4 cup of water
• Cooking Method & Time: High Pressure for 6 minutes + 10 minutes Natural Release
• Result: moister and slightly softer & fluffier than Test 3 or 4’s results