How to cook rice in pressure cooker

Benefits of Cooking Rice in the Pressure Cooker

Rice cooker reduces the time taken for cooking. This type of pressure cooked rice is evenly cooked without any hard and mushy rice in the cooked rice. It is a very simple process and a quick one too. It is energy efficient and retains more nutrition. We all want perfect results without any error. This is the best method of rice cooking as you can get that done.

What Kind of Rice should you Cook?

There are different types of rice. Long-grain rice has separate long strands of rice, it is very aromatic in smell and used for making pulao or biryani, so one needs to cook it for lesser time. Short and medium-grain rice are used for everyday meals, it is softer than the long-grain rice. Basmati is also a long-grain rice but a little different from the regular long grain rice.

Brown rice is very healthy and nutritious but takes more time to cook and needs more water too. I cook the regular raw rice and Sona masoori in our home for daily rice as it is easily available. The fresher the rice is the better it gets cooked.

Rinse the Rice

Rinsing the rice means washing the rice thoroughly and it is very important to get rid of the dust, unwanted particles, and extra starch present on the rice grains. Starch makes the rice sticky and mushy while cooking, so it is very essential to rinse the rice properly.

Take a wide bowl, add rice to it and run water over the rice grains. Gently rub and stir with your fingers. Keep on rinsing the rice until the water becomes clear. Some rice varieties need soaking in water for some time so it is better to soak the rice for about 10-15 minutes. Soaking is a good option for long-grain rice as it elongates and gets cooked evenly. This also helps to reduce the cooking time.

Pressure Cooker for the Rice

You can use any pressure cooker you have. A pressure cooker of 2-3-liter size is enough for a small family. The stainless steel pressure cooker is best to use for everyday cooking. I also have an aluminum pressure cooker but the cooking is faster in aluminum as it gets heated faster.

Cooking rice directly in the pressure cooker is very common and used by all. For this make sure that the base of the pressure cooker is thick. To make cooking easier and less messy you can use a vessel inside the pressure cooker. Always ensure the rubber gasket of the cooker is not cracked and working properly, the vent tube should also be properly checked.

The Rice to Water Ratio

The rice to water ratio is an important point. One cup of rice should be cooked in two cups of water. When cooking rice in a vessel inside the pressure cooker, use one cup of rice and 1 & ¾ th cup of water. The ratio is slightly reduced in this method as the rice is steamed inside the vessel.

The water required for cooking the basmati rice is less than the regular rice as the rice gets cooked while soaking. After the soaking period reduce the water to 1 & ½ th cup for one cup of rice.

For brown rice, use double the quantity of water as the bran of the brown rice is tough and needs more water to get cooked. Adjust the water as per the age of the rice. Old rice needs more water than the new one.

Flavor Enhancers and Optional Ingredients

We always use plain rice, it is very simple and tasty as well. I also use oil or ghee while cooking rice to prevent it from sticking to the base. A pinch of salt is also added for taste. I also use whole spices such as bay leaf, cloves, and cardamom pods to give a nice aroma to the rice. You can use peas or sweet corn for a colorful rice dish. Coconut milk is also used instead of water for making mildly flavored rice dishes.

Bring the Pressure Cooker to Pressure

When the rice and water is added to the pressure cooker close the lid and put it on medium heat. Allow it to come to pressure and after the first whistle reduce the flame to medium-low. The cooking time is about 1 or 2 whistles when using a pressure cooker. When rice is cooked in the vessel inside the pressure cooker, it needs 2 to 3 whistles. These whistles regulate the time for which rice is cooked under high pressure. Rice gets mushy when cooked under high pressure for a longer time. Adjust the number of whistles as per the quality of rice.

Allow the Pressure to Release Naturally

The cooking of the rice is not done yet. This is an important point. Allow the pressure to release on its own without opening the whistle. Let the rice remain inside the cooker for some time so that the pressure slowly releases, this allows the rice to complete its cooking. The steam inside the cooker would not escape and retain moisture. It also prevents the rice from becoming dry and hard. Forcefully releasing the steam makes the rice unevenly cooked and mushy. Basmati and other long-grain varieties of rice release the pressure naturally. This also helps the rice to remain separate and intact.

Fluff the Rice and Serve

The next step after opening the cooker is to fluff the rice. For this, use a fork or a wide spoon to separate the grains of the rice, don’t mix it harshly or vigorously as it will turn the rice mushy. Fluffing helps the steam to escape and it also prevents the rice from sticking together. Serve the hot rice as a base for gravies, dals, vegetable stir-fries, or yogurt.

Troubleshooting: Sticking, Burning, and Overcooking

Rice sticking to the bottom of the vessel is a very common problem and it can be avoided if the correct heat and the correct amount of water is used for cooking the rice. Never cook the rice on high heat. It is better to use a few drops of oil or ghee for the rice not to stick. If the rice is always turning out to be mushy, use lesser whistles. Reduce the water slightly. If the rice is not cooked well and remains hard even after the pressure is released then increase the quantity of water the next time.

Different Types of Rice in the Pressure Cooker

White raw rice cooks very fast and the water-rice ratio for this is 2:1. Sona masoori is a medium-grain rice and needs a little less quantity of water than regular raw rice. It is commonly used in South India. Basmati rice needs to be soaked for a while and less water is required for cooking as the rice gets partially cooked while soaking. Brown rice is also a healthy rice variety but needs more water for cooking and the cooking time is longer for this, it should be cooked for at least 15-20 minutes in the pressure cooker.

Storage

Cooked rice can be stored for 1 day in the refrigerator. It is always better to cool down the cooked rice and then store it in airtight containers. To make the rice moist sprinkle some water and reheat it in the microwave or in the steamer. Leftover rice can be used to make different rice varieties.

Conclusion

Cooking rice in the pressure cooker is the easiest, quickest, and fastest method of cooking rice for daily meals. This is very convenient as well as helps in saving time. This is a foolproof method and I am sure you will get perfect results after reading this blog. Practice and the basic guidelines will help you master the art of cooking perfect rice at home. Happy Cooking and Enjoy your meal.