Instant Pot Jasmine Rice

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This how-to recipe is one all Instant Pot owners should learn — perfectly tender Instant Pot Jasmine Rice with a nutty and sweet aroma. Jasmine Rice is a staple food that is an excellent side to add to your homemade meal. So, what’s the secret to perfectly cooked jasmine rice? All you need to know is the correct water-to-rice ratio.

Good news—I’ve figured it out for you! After a few trials and errors, I can confidently say that I have mastered how to cook jasmine rice in the instant pot pressure cooker! Now, it’s time to share it with you.

Jasmine rice is allergy friendly, gluten-free, nut-free, AND dairy-free, making it one of the most versatile side or main dishes.

If you’re looking for more Instant Pot staple recipes, try my Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas, Green Beans, or this Red Beans and Rice recipe.

Key ingredients & substitutions for Electric Pressure Cooker Jasmine Rice Recipe

• Jasmine rice | You’ll want a bag or box of plain jasmine rice for this recipe. The water and cooking time will vary if you use brown jasmine rice or any other type of rice.
• Water | To make rice in the rice cooker, you’ll need water. However, you may substitute the water with vegetable or chicken broth if you want a boost of flavor.
• Kosher salt | Cooking it with a pinch of kosher salt helps to enhance the naturally sweet and nutty flavors of jasmine rice.

Equipment needed

• Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
• Fine Mesh Strainer

How to make Perfect Jasmine Rice in the Instant Pot

This recipe is as easy as it gets! You’ll have perfectly cooked rice in your Instant Pot in just minutes.

STEP 1 | Rinse rice

Before cooking rice, it is important to rinse it and remove the dirt and debris. So, carefully measure the rice using a dry ingredient measuring cup and place it in a fine mesh strainer.

Then, run the rice under cool water. The rice is thoroughly rinsed once the water runs clear. 

STEP 2 | Add the water and rice to the Instant pot

Now, empty the rinsed rice into your instant pot and sprinkle it with a pinch of kosher salt. Next, pour the cold water on top.

Make sure there are no stray grains of rice on the sides of the pot. You want it all to be covered with water to cook properly.

STEP 3 | Cook and natural pressure release

Lock the lid of the Instant Pot and set it to pressure cook for 4 minutes. At the end of cooking, allow 10 minutes of natural release of pressure.

STEP 4 | Fluff and serve!

Then, turn the venting knob to release any remaining pressure before opening the lid. Finally, fluff the fragrant jasmine rice with a fork and serve while it’s still hot and steamy!

Toppings

This Instant Pot jasmine rice recipe is pretty basic, in fact, that is the beauty of it.

The flavor really stands on its own. But, if you’d like to add more flavor to your rice, mix the cooked rice with salted butter, olive oil, extra salt, or pepper.

Turmeric, cumin, or a hint of cinnamon are also great ingredients that bring out the natural flavor of jasmine rice. Of course, you may also use a combination of the above.

Frequently asked questions

Serving suggestions

Jasmine rice is a versatile dish you can add to all kinds of delicious meals.

For example, serve this Hibachi Chicken & Vegetable recipe over your freshly cooked jasmine rice. Or try my Pepper Steak Stir-Fry or the savory Sesame Chicken from this refreshing salad recipe —YUM!

Speaking of ‘yum,’ remember to top it off with delicious homemade Yum Yum Sauce!

Behind the recipe: Instant Pot Jasmine Rice

Have you ever wondered why Jasmine Rice is named as it is? You may be confused when you take a big whiff of the sweet aroma it produces because it certainly doesn’t smell like the floral jasmine fragrance you’d expect.

In fact, this rice is not at all related to jasmine. The only reason it has the name it does is from the color of the plant, which is much like the color of the jasmine plant.

Instead, the aroma is often compared to popcorn! Its taste and smell are nutty, sweet, and light. Since the 1950s, it has been one of Thailand’s biggest exports, where jasmine rice originated.

Now, it is used worldwide, including in the United States, and is a staple dish in many countries.

More fun facts

Did you know that, for centuries, people have used jasmine rice for beauty and self-care? Women worldwide, particularly in Asia, have used leftover rice water to promote healthier skin and hair.

The most impressive example of this historical practice is a small Chinese village, Huangluo. The women here are famous for their stunning, strong, and silky long hair. In fact, the village has even been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as “the world’s longest hair village.”

Women in Huangluo won’t topically see gray hair until their late 80s. The fermented rice water is even known to produce tangle-free hair!