Instant Pot Lemon Rice Pilaf Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you do the rice finger trick on Instant Pot? ›

How do you measure rice in an Instant Pot with your fingers? You can measure rice in an Instant Pot using your finger. Just add a little less water than usual (to about ¾ of the way up the knuckle on your finger), as less water evaporates during pressure cooking.

Rice can release starchy water as it cooks, and you don't want to risk that starch clogging the vent in the lid of your Instant Pot. Make sure you move the steam release valve to sealing. This is a common mistake, and will result in hard, under-cooked rice that will eventually stick to the bottom of your pot.

1:1 – While you generally use 1 cup rice to 1 ¼ cups water for stovetop rice, in the Instant Pot, that ratio drops down to 1:1, aka 1 cup of water for every one cup of rice.

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.

Place your fingertip on top of the rice and add water until it reaches your first knuckle. Cover the pot with a lid and bring the water to a boil. Turn the heat to low and cook for 18–20 minutes, until all the water is absorbed. (It's OK to check.)

Be careful not to add too much liquid at once, as it can make the rice mushy. Fluff with a Fork: After the rice is cooked, let it sit with the lid on for a few minutes, then fluff it with a fork. Gently separate the grains to break up any clumps and release excess moisture.

By washing white rice (where the bran has been milled), the excess starch is washed off, as well as the oxidized rice bran oil, which adds an unpleasant flavor to the cooked rice." Washing rice will also remove dust and debris and help the grains to be more separated, rather than sticky.

The Instant Pot's rice button is best used for white rice, as it is specifically calibrated to weigh white rice and water and cook the rice accordingly. This is ideal for weeknights when you truly want to set and forget your rice, but not great for cooking different varieties of rice on the fly.

Do you seal or vent an Instant Pot when cooking rice? ›

Secure the lid with the release valve in its “Sealing” position. Cook the rice on low pressure: If cooking white rice: Select the “Rice” cooking program on its low pressure setting. (If your pressure cooker doesn't have high and low pressure settings, just use the default “rice” setting.)

Not adding any liquid to the Instant Pot.

It's necessary for steam to build up, ultimately creating a high-pressure environment used for faster cooking. Without sufficient liquid, pressure won't build — and you'll likely get the dreaded “burn” error.

Only 2 primary reasons. The valve is not turned to the correct position. (Should be facing toward the back). The gasket is either bad or not seated right.

To use the rule, simply place your index finger in the rice, with the tip of your finger touching the bottom of the pot. Then, add water until it comes up to the first knuckle of your finger. This will ensure that the rice cooks evenly and doesn't become too dry or mushy.