How to Cook Black Rice in the Instant Pot Perfectly Every Time

Did you know that you can cook black rice in the Instant Pot in less than 20 minutes? Choosing an Instant Pot to cook your black rice will allow you to prepare the rest of your meal and still have perfectly cooked rice with minimal effort.

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Black rice is a medium-grain rice with a dramatic purplish-black hue when cooked. It is often called “forbidden rice” since this rice was only reserved for the emperors in ancient times in China. Black rice is a whole grain and is very nutritious and high in antioxidants.

What Is Black Rice?

Black rice is a medium-grain rice with a dark purple and black hue. It gets its color from anthocyanins, a natural colorant with fantastic health benefits. 

This rice is often called “forbidden rice” or even “emperor’s rice,” which describes how this rice was reserved for the emperors of China in ancient times. 

Today, it can be found in specialty grocery stores, some supermarkets, or online.

Black rice has a hearty and nutty flavor, making it an excellent choice for salads, bowls, or even rice puddings. 

Benefits of Black Rice

Black rice is high in protein, with 9 grams per 3.5 ounce serving, 2 grams higher than brown rice. It is also very high in iron, an essential nutrient for a healthy diet. 

The anthocyanins present in black rice are the same found in other blue, purple, and black-colored foods, such as blueberries and purple potatoes, which have incredible health benefits. 

The anthocyanins that give black rice its color have excellent anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties. It can also help with heart health, weight control, and diabetes control. 

This type of rice has a low glycemic index as well. In addition, black rice is a whole grain, making it a great healthy choice when eating a whole foods diet.

Is Black Rice the Same as Wild Rice? 

While similar in color, wild rice is technically the seeds of marshy grass, while rice is a grain. 

Wild rice also tends to be much more expensive than black rice. 

Black rice is much more similar to brown rice and can be traced back thousands of years in China.

Nutritionally, wild rice and black rice are pretty identical.

Is Black Rice Gluten-Free?

Black rice is naturally gluten-free and safe to eat for those sensitive to gluten and celiac. 

Gluten can cause stomach sensitivity, bloating, and gas, and for those with celiac can cause damage to the intestines. 

Many whole grains must be avoided with gluten sensitivity, but black rice and all other types of rice are gluten-free. 

Does Black Rice Need to Be Washed First? 

Some types of rice should not be rinsed before cooking, such as rice enriched with vitamins or nutrients. 

However, most types of rice should generally be rinsed before cooking to remove dust, debris, and excess starch, and black rice is no exception! 

Use a fine sieve, a fine colander, or a rice washing bowl that is designed explicitly for this task to rinse the rice. 

Add water and swish with a clean hand to loosen and sift the rice. 

Drain and repeat until the water runs mostly clear. This process usually takes 3 to 4 rinses. Thoroughly drain the rice after rinsing to ensure proper water-to-rice ratio is achieved.

Does Black Rice Need to Be Soaked First? 

Black rice does not typically need to be soaked in water before cooking, especially when using the Instant Pot. 

While whole grain rice can occasionally benefit from soaking to help reduce cooking time, the Instant Pot uses pressure to help reduce the cooking time. 

To achieve the best results when cooking black rice in an Instant Pot, simply wash the rice to remove excess starch and dust and follow the appropriate ratio, pressure settings, and cooking time. No soaking is needed.

Recipes You Can Try with Black Rice:

• Sticky Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken
• Instant Pot Filipino Chicken Adobo
• Korean Soft Tofu Soup
• Silky Chinese Steamed Eggs

Rice to Water Ratio in the Instant Pot

The Instant Pot retains water and steam while cooking, so the ratio of water to rice is much lower than when cooking rice in a pot on the stovetop. 

Because the water won’t evaporate, using a ratio of 1:1 when cooking rice in the Instant Pot will yield the best results. You will want to ensure that the water fully covers the rice, so flatten out any heaps of rice in the Instant Pot before sealing the lid. 

Common Rice Ratios (Water: Rice)

These common ratios decide how much water to rice to use, whether cooking in the Instant Pot or stovetop. You will typically use at least equal water to rice, but some cooking methods or types of rice might require more water. 

Instant Pot any Rice – 1:1 

Brown Rice on Stove – 2:1

Black Rice on Stove – 2:1

Medium-Grain White Rice on Stove 1.5:1

What is an Instant Pot?

The Instant Pot is a programmable pressure cooker that speeds up cooking by 2 to 10 times while using up to 70% less energy.

In short, it’s a very multi-purpose cooking appliance and has been a kitchen appliance staple of mine for the last two years. As a result, it’s simply the perfect go-to appliance for busy weeknights!

If you’re unsure what size Instant Pot to get, here is my size recommendation:

• 1 to 2 people, get the Instant Pot Mini 3 Quart
• 2 to 4 people, get the Instant Pot 6 Quart
• More than 4 people, get the Instant Pot 8 Quart

I’m using the Instant Pot Mini 3 Quart for all my Instant Pot recipes.

How to Cook Black Rice in the Instant Pot Recipe

Ingredients

Servings: 2

• 3/4 cup black rice
• 1/4 tsp salt (optional for seasoning)
• 3/4 cups water

Cookware and Tools

• Instant Pot
• Rice washing bowl

How to Cook Black Rice in the Instant Pot (Step-by-Step)

Step 1. Measure and Wash the Rice

Measure 3/4 cup of black rice and wash in a rice washing bowl until the water is clear. It took me about 3 to 4 rinses.

Step 2. Transfer Rice Mixture to Rice Bowl Insert

Transfer the washed rice to the Instant Pot insert. Add 3/4 cup water and ensure all of the rice is fully submerged. As an option, you can also add 1/4 tsp of salt for seasoning.

Step 3. Cook the Rice

Place the Instant Pot insert it into the Instant Pot and set it to Pressure Cook (or Manual) on Normal High for 18 minutes. After the Instant Pot beeps, allow the pressure to naturally release for about 10 minutes (do not touch it!).

Step 4. Serve the Black Rice

Fluff and serve with any of your favorite dishes!

How to Store and Reheat Black Rice

Any leftover cooked rice should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to use. 

You can use leftover rice to make fried rice and puddings or reheat it for another meal. 

Keep leftover rice for up to a week in the fridge, tightly sealed. 

To reheat leftover black rice, place the rice in a container with a microwave-safe lid. Then, add about 1 tablespoon of water to the container and the rice. 

Place the top on the container but don’t seal it to help the rice steam reheat. Microwave for 1 minute, then fluff the rice, heating in 10 to 20-second intervals. 

Once heated, the rice can be used for your meal. For preparations such as fried rice or pudding, you will not need to heat the rice first but simply fluff it with a fork before using it.

The Takeaway

Black rice is excellent in many dishes with a hearty and nutty flavor and thick, fluffy texture. Nutritionally, black rice is a wonderful addition to any diet, with a low glycemic index and many antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. 

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment and star rating below! I’d love to hear from you.