How to Make Instant Pot Rice Sticky Style

Instant Pot rice is the reason I originally bought an electric pressure cooker. Let’s learn how to make it and why our family ditched our rice cooker for the Instant Pot.

My dad is Japanese and growing up we had rice with every meal, even spaghetti. Spaghetti and rice is not a good combo, just in case you were wondering.

Cooking Rice in the Instant Pot

We ALWAYS used a rice cooker so when I got married, I bought a rice cooker and it lasted for years. When it broke, I was trying to find the best rice cooker for making Japanese rice.

I came across the electric pressure cooker for making Japanese rice, and wow that search changed how I cook rice and let’s be honest, everything else as well!

If you love Japanese steamed rice, here is the best recipe for Japanese rice. Let’s look at cooking rice in the Instant Pot.

It’s very simple to do and while cooking short grain rice and medium grain rice (the rice typically used in Japanese restaurants) – we now make Instant Pot rice for a wide variety of meals with a variey of types of rice.

If you are looking for a good rice Instant Pot recipe, look no further!

Electric Pressure Cooker Rice

While we use an Instant Pot – it’s technically an electric pressure cooker. Let’s start with the basics of electric pressure cooker rice. Here is a simple how-to instant pot rice. It’s super simple and the rice turns out amazing.

It reminds me of the steamed rice you get at Japanese restaurants!

Learn How to Make Sticky Rice in the Instant Pot

Here are the 3 things you will need:

• Short-grain or medium-grain white rice
  • Keep reading as we share our FAVORITE Japanese rice brands for making sticky and sushi rice
• 1 part water – 1 part rice
• Instant Pot (duh – we use the Instant Pot 8 qt) or another electric pressure cooker

Cooking rice in the Instant Pot is super simple. Let’s look at how to make rice in Instant Pot!

First, we need to determine how much rice you need to make.

How Much Rice to Cook

How Much Rice Should I Cook Per Person? Check out our helpful rice infographic to determine how much rice to cook per person.

If you are using the rice as a side dish, I cook 1/3 to 1/2 cup of rice per person. So for our family of 6, I typically cook 3 cups of dried rice.

• On a 2000 calorie diet? Rice is a great addition to your menu. On a KETO diet? Avoid rice at all costs and look at our Keto Instant Pot Recipes

We like to make a simple rice dessert so I usually cook 4-5 cups to that we can use the excess for a sweet treat. Keep reading for more on our sweet rice dessert recipe.

Dried rice doubles when cooked! So if you cook 1 cup dried rice, you will have 2 cups of cooked rice!

Wash Rice

Once you have determined how much rice you need to make, place the rice you are going to cook into a colander.

Next, wash the rice with cold running water. Depending on the type of rice you use, you will want to wash until the water runs mostly clear. Typically, Calrose rice requires just a quick rinse.

Dump Rice into Instant Pot

Dump your washed rice into the Instant Pot.

Just remember this – the ratio for cooking rice in Instant Pot is 1 part rice, 1 part water.

How Much Water Do I Use for Cooking Rice?

Next, let’s look at how much water for cooking rice in the IP.

You will want to next add equal parts water to your rice. So if you are cooking 1 cup rice add 1 cup water. 3 cups rice – 3 cups water.

This rice meme kills me! This is exactly how I was raised to measure water when cooking rice.

Press Instant Pot Rice Button

First, please make sure your Instant Pot is plugged in. I will not confess to how many times I have attempted to make a dish and me walk away thinking it’s cooking, when in actuality – I FORGOT TO PLUG in the appliance to cook the meal.

If you are looking to learn how to use instant pot rice button or the instant pot rice setting – here is how. I’m telling you, it’s super easy.

Next, after you have plugged in your Instant Pot and have your equal parts rice and water, just press the Instant Pot rice button! That’s right, IP knows whats up. They have made this super easy!

Wait for Natural Pressure Release

After your Instant Pot beeps, you can let it pressure release naturally (so don’t push the valve to let the steam come out!)

Natural pressure release is when the Instant Pot decompresses itself. This takes around 10 minutes in the Instant Pot Duo60. In the Instant Pot Duo80 – it’s around 18 minutes to natural release.

If you are in a hurry – I’d wait 3-5 minutes at least from the time it has stopped cooking. It won’t natural pressure release in that time. If you Instant Pot rice too sticky – it may be because it didn’t pressure release enough.

Enjoy Your Instant Pot Rice!

Finally, let’s enjoy your delicious Japanese Instant Pot rice! Tastes just like steamed rice from a Japanese restaurant, right? Or if you are making sushi, isn’t this sticky rice amazing?

I am telling you, cooking rice in the Instant Pot is a game changer. And the type of rice you use can make or break a meal.

The sushi rice seriously ups your sushi game and the Japanese rice, well we eat that with just about rice dish! One of our favorite recipes is Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole.

How Long Does Instant Pot Rice Take?

25 minutes cooking time!

Rice in the Instant Pot will take approximately 25 minutes total time. Your rice will cook and steam for approximately 15 minutes before it comes to pressure. I typically like to wait for the IP to natural release, so in total around 30-40 minutes to cook rice in the Instant Pot.

If you enjoyed this recipe, please make sure to pin and share it! We want to share with the world how to make perfectly cooked rice using an Instant Pot pressure cooker!

• We regularly share our favoriteInstant Pot recipes– so make sure to join our Instant Pot list!

Instant Pot Japanese Steamed Rice

Learn how to Instant Pot Japanese steamed rice and sushi rice! It will tastes just like the rice at a Japanese restaurant. Here is what you will need.

• 2 Cups Dry Calrose Japanese Rice
• 2 Cups Cold Water

Rinse the Rice

1. Rinse rice in a colander using cold water. Wash the rice until water runs clear. Close Instant Pot,

Add to Instant Pot

1. Once done rinsing rice, place the 2 cups of dry Calrose Japanese rice into the Instant Pot with 2 cups of cold water. Mix rice and water with a spoon.

Close Lid – Press Button

1. Close Instant Pot, make sure it’s plugged in! Press rice button on Instant Pot.

Prepare to Enjoy

1. The rice will cook under pressure for approximately 15 minutes. Wait until the Instant Pot naturally releases before opening the top. Natural release takes 10 minutes.

Here is our tried and true Instant Pot Japanese rice recipe. This works for both sushi rice and making Japanese steam rice. Make sure to check out our recommendation on which rice to purchase.

The type of rice you use makes a HUGE difference in how your dish will taste!

Rice Instant Pot Recipes

Take your perfectly cooked rice and make one of these delicious recipes:

Instant Pot Rice Pudding

Okay, we might be SLIGHTLY bias because well, this is our recipe. Based off our beloved Rice to Riches rice pudding, we are using the rice you make in the Instant Pot in some yummy Instant Pot Rice Pudding.

Instant Pot Rice and Chicken

Learn how to make rice and chicken from My Montana Kitchen. You will love eating this as leftovers, so make extras!

Instant Pot Rice and Beans

These Instant Pot rice and beans from In My Bowl look delicious!

Instant Pot Rice Pilaf

Try adapting this version from Alton Brown of Rice Pilaf Recipe Instant Pot style. This would be easily adaptable!

Cilantro Lime Instant Pot Rice Basmati Recipe

This rice recipe reminded me of Chipotle’s rice! Try Boulder Locavoure’s version and tell us what you think!

Beef Broth or Chicken Broth Rice

My daughter likes to substitute chicken stock. When cooking Instant Pot rice brown color is normal when using chicken stock or beef stock!

Types of Rice to Pressure Cook

While in the above we are making Instant Pot white rice, here are other types of rices that we’ve pressure cooked.

• Jasmine Rice
• Wild Rice
• Brown Rice
• Brown Basmati Rice
• Basami Rice

If your Instant Pot rice sticking you may want to add a little more water. You can do this after you cook to help dish it out.

Instant Pot rice too sticky – this is probably because it needed a little more time releasing. Next time let it pressure release more, or add a TAD bit less water. If you like sticky rice, keep reading!

I haven’t made minute rice in Instant Pot, but I’m sure it can be done.

Best Rice for Steam Rice

My favorite Japanese rice is Botan Calrose rice. This is a medium grain rice that makes the most excellent steamed rice!

Buy Calrose Rice on Amazon delivered to your door!

Botan Calrose Rice has an amazing flavor and consistency. It is sticky, but NOT near as sticky as the rice we recommend for sushi (keep reading!) It makes the perfect rice.

Best Rice for Sushi Rice

If you are making sushi, you will want to use a sticky rice.This mom says this is the best sushi rice is Soeos sushi rice.

Buy Soeos Rice on Amazon delivered to your door!

Random Rice Facts

As someone who loves rice, I found these rice facts fascinating. Here’s a grain of info about rice that you never know – may come in handy for trivia someday!

• According to the February 2018 USDA report, India Is Projected To Export a Record 12.5 Million Tons of Rice in 2018.
• A cup of enriched white rice provides 108 micrograms of folate, or 26 percent of the daily recommended intake, per serving.
• Enriched rice has 0.3 milligrams of thiamin, or 20 percent of the daily value, and 3.4 milligrams of niacin, or 17 percent of the daily value.
• Did you know percent daily values are based on a 2000 calorie diet? Now you know!

Instant Pot Rice Frequently Asked Questions

Wow, okay – so I guess a lot of you want to know how you cook rice. I am adding in a little FAQ or Rice Frequently Asked Questions to get you some answers.

How rice cooker compare to the Instant Pot rice cooker?

We moved from a traditional rice cooker, that we used for years – to using the IP. Our rice cooker died several years ago, and when looking how to make the best rice is when I found out about electric pressure cookers!

What is your favorite recipe instant pot makes with rice?

We eat a LOT of white rice, of course we use Japanese rice! Though I am eating KETO – so no rice for me… womp womp. I would say we make rice at least twice a week – in some form or fashion.

There you have it – a rundown of making Instant Pot Rice! Got a pressure cooker rice question? We want to help you make perfectly cooked rice – ask away! Leave it in the comments below and we’ll add it to our Rice FAQ

Here are a few more instantpot recipes that you won’t want to miss out on!

• July 4th Instant Pot Recipes
• Mexican Instant Pot Recipes
• Healthy Instant Pot Recipes

How to Make Instant Pot Rice is part of the Digital Mom Blog series of Instant Pot Recipes