Instant Pot Brown Rice

This totally hands-off recipe nets you the perfect base for any lunch or dinner meal-prep recipes. We love to top with a basic-seasoned protein and veggie (either leftover roasted veg or frozen, right out of the bag) and a flavorful, healthy sauce (see notes) for the perfect, pack-for-work meal!

Instant Pot Brown Rice

Instant Pot Brown Rice

Yield: 12
Author:
Prep time: 3 MinCook time: 20 MinInactive time: 30 MinTotal time: 53 Min

This totally hands-off recipe nets you the perfect base for any lunch or dinner meal-prep recipes. We love to top with a basic-seasoned protein and veggie (either leftover roasted veg or frozen, right out of the bag) and a flavorful, healthy sauce (see notes) for the perfect, pack-for-work meal!

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. (Optional step: Rinse rice in a fine, mesh colander. This helps the rice become less sticky once cooked and can remove some contaminants- see notes- but I sometimes skip this step to make it even easier!)
  2. Combine rice, water, and seasonings in a 8-quart Instant Pot. Secure the lid and Pressure Cook on High for 20 minutes.
  3. Allow the Instant Pot to release pressure naturally. This will take 20 to 30 minutes. When the float valve drops, remove the lid and fluff the rice.

Notes

  1. Technically, a half cup of brown rice is a serving, so this recipe would make 24 servings. But we like to eat in my family, so between my hubby and I this makes about 10-12 lunch-size servings.
  2. Organic is important here! Research shows rice may have potentially high levels of arsenic in it. Arsenic occurs naturally in soil and groundwater, and, since rice is very porous, it can absorb a lot of that arsenic from the flooded fields where it’s grown. In fact, rice can soak up more arsenic than any other food crop! So I consider it part of the 'dirty dozen' list for our family and buy Lundberg Organic Short Grain Brown Rice from Costco. Rinsing before cooking can also help, removing about 10% of the arsenic load.
  3. Healthy Pre-Made Sauce Recommendations: Kinders Buffalo Sauce, 505 Southwestern Green Chili Sauce, Kinders Fire Roasted Jalepeno Wing Sauce, Melinda's Green Sauce