BEST Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

Why is my rice in Instant Pot too hard? ›

Why is the rice hard? If your Instant Pot rice is too hard or undercooked, you didn't cook it for long enough. Make sure you're using the right amount of cooking time followed by a natural pressure release.

Nothing against the stovetop or the rice cooker, of course, but the convenience and reliable results of this Instant Pot rice recipe just can't be beat. It's super quick and easy, and the rice comes out tender, fluffy, and flavorful every time.

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!

No matter what kind of rice I'm cooking, I use the same 1:1 ratio of rice to water or broth. This is probably less water than you're used to using for cooking stovetop rice, and that's because there's very little evaporation when you're using the pressure cooker.

Rice is Hard and Dry Because It's Overcooked

Just like how undercooked rice can burn to the bottom of the pan if it runs out of water, overcooked rice can also burn to the bottom of the pan when it's out of water, yet still cooking. Best case scenario, this results in hard, dried out rice.

High pressure steam destroys the starch - protein network and makes rice stickier.

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.

One (1) cup raw rice yields 3 ½ cups cooked rice, or enough for 3 light eaters. To be sure you have enough rice, prepare 1 ½ cups raw rice for 3 or 4 people and 2 cups raw rice for 4 to 6 people. Time required to cook a pot of rice? Plan on 30 minutes from the moment you turn on the heat to when the rice is cooked.

Measure one cup of long grain white rice into a cup and level it off. One cup of dry rice will make enough cooked rice for two to three adult servings. (Or two adults and two small children.)

How many minutes to cook rice in a pressure cooker? ›

As a general rule, 1 cup of uncooked rice will equal about 3 cups of cooked rice. Leftover rice can be used later in the week to make fried rice or chicken rice casserole.

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.

If you don't add enough water, the rice ends up dry and crunchy.

Maybe you didn't add enough liquid to begin with. Whatever the case, if your rice is looking dried out, or the texture is still hard or crunchy when all the liquid has been absorbed, add up to ½ cup water and return to a simmer with the lid on. Be patient.

After cooking for the recommended period of time, if the rice is still hard or chewy, add a little bit of water to create more steam (for every cup of uncooked rice used, add about 2 tablespoons of water). Cover the pot tightly and place over very low heat for 5 to 10 minutes. Let rest before serving.

The rice's starch cells collapse, squeezing out moisture and causing a realignment of starch molecules that results in the texture changing from soft and tender to hard and chewy. There's no way to prevent retrogradation, but it can be easily reversed by reheating the rice.