why is my rice mushy in instant pot

After weeks of experimenting, I got it right. Here is your fail-proof guide for Instant Pot Rice. White rice, brown rice, wild rice, and many more, basically an encyclopedia about cooking rice in a pressure cooker.

If you’ve followed along for a while, you know I’m a huuuuge fan of pressure cooking. My Instant Pot Chicken and Rice recipe is not only a hit at my house but thousands of others now, too. YAY!

Too much water or liquid can cause mushy rice. Overcooking can also make the rice mushy. Be sure to pay attention to cook time. Cooking on low pressure instead of high pressure can also result in mushy rice.
why is my rice mushy in instant pot

Does 1:1 Apply For 1 Cup Just As It Does For 4 Cups?

YES! When making Instant Pot Rice you need 1 cup of water for every cup of rice, regardless of if you cook just 1 cup or 4 cups.

This is different when you cook rice on the stovetop where evaporation happens. The more rice you cook the less water you need when using a regular pot on the stove.

What Is The Best Rice To Water Ratio?

You’ll be surprised but it is always and for ALL sorts 1:1. Yes, you read that right.

You wonder why on the stove different ratios are called for. Well, the secret to rice cooking is that the darker or wilder the rice the longer it needs to cook and the longer something needs to cook, the more water evaporates during the process.

This leads us to the conclusion, that different kinds of rice do not necessarily need different kinds of amounts of water to “cook” but rather more water to evaporate.

Since the Instant Pot gives a tight seal and high pressure, no water evaporates at all.

So yes, brown rice and even wild rice need the exact same amount of water as white rice in an evaporation-proof environment. *mind-blown*

No More Mushy Rice: Perfect Instant Pot Rice

FAQ

What to do if my Instant Pot rice is mushy?

Drain out as much of the water as possible. With the rice back in the pot, set it on the stove on low heat and place two to three slices of bread on top of the rice. Close the lid and allow the pot of rice to cook for a minute or two, depending on how wet the rice is.

Why is my rice coming out mushy?

Excess Water and Incorrect Water Ratio: Too much water during cooking often results in mushy rice. The water ratio is critical; too much water causes the rice grains to absorb more liquid than they can handle, leading to a breakdown in their structure.

How do you keep rice from drying out in an Instant Pot?

If needing to keep warm, leave rice in pot after natural pressure release without opening the lid to avoid steam being released and drying out the rice > making it stick to the bottom.

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