Instant Pot Wild Rice
For Instant Pot wild rice, use 1 cup rinsed wild rice and 1¾ cups broth, pressure cook on high for 25 to 28 minutes, then let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes. The grains come out tender and split open, with no draining. Allow about 55 minutes in total, including the time the pot takes to come to pressure.
Quick answer
Rinse 1 cup wild rice. Add it to the Instant Pot with 1¾ cups broth, 1 tbsp butter and ½ tsp salt. Seal and cook on high pressure 25 minutes for chewy grains or 28 minutes for softer ones, then natural release for 10 minutes and fluff. Makes about 3 cups.
Instant Pot Wild Rice
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Instant Pot Wild Rice Ingredients
- 1 cup wild rice, rinsed
- 1 3/4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 1 tbsp butter or olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Optional: 1 bay leaf
How to Cook Wild Rice in an Instant Pot
- Rinse the wild rice in a fine-mesh strainer under cold water until the water runs mostly clear.
- Add the rice, broth, butter, salt and bay leaf, if using, to the Instant Pot and stir once.
- Lock the lid and set the valve to Sealing.
- Pressure cook on high for 25 minutes for chewy grains or 28 minutes for softer ones. The pot takes about 10 minutes to come to pressure first.
- Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then turn the valve to Venting to release the rest.
- Remove the bay leaf and fluff with a fork. Most grains should be split and tender. If a few are still firm, close the lid and let it sit 5 more minutes. Drain any extra liquid.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving (1 of 4, about ¾ cup) (estimated)
- Calories: 170
- Total fat: 3 g
- Saturated fat: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Sugar: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
Estimated from USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy) values with ready-to-serve vegetable broth and salted butter. The optional bay leaf is not included. Low-sodium broth cuts the sodium by more than half. Actual values vary with brands.
Instant Pot Wild Rice Cook Time and Liquid Ratio
Wild rice is the seed of an aquatic grass, not true rice, and its hard outer layer needs a long cook. On the stove it takes 45 to 60 minutes; under pressure it needs 25 to 28 minutes plus a natural release. Wild rice blends that include brown rice cook faster, and blends with white rice faster still, so check the package and use the shorter time.
| What you are cooking | Liquid per 1 cup | High pressure | Release |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100% wild rice, chewy | 1¾ cups | 25 minutes | 10 min natural |
| 100% wild rice, softer | 1¾ cups | 28 minutes | 10 min natural |
| Wild + brown rice blend | 1½ cups | 22 to 25 minutes | 10 min natural |
| Doubled batch (2 cups rice) | 3½ cups | Same time | 10 min natural |
How to Tell When Instant Pot Wild Rice Is Done
Cooked wild rice should be chewy-tender, and most grains should have split open to show the pale inside. Unsplit, hard grains need a few more minutes; grains that have curled back completely are overcooked and turn mushy. A little leftover liquid is normal, so drain it off.
Wild Rice vs. Brown and White Rice
Per cooked cup, USDA FoodData Central lists wild rice at about 166 calories with 6.5 g protein and 3 g fiber, fewer calories and more protein than brown or white rice.
| 1 cup cooked | Calories | Protein | Fiber |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild rice (FDC 168897) | 166 | 6.5 g | 3 g |
| Brown rice, long-grain (FDC 169704) | 248 | 5.5 g | 3.2 g |
| White rice, long-grain (FDC 168878) | 205 | 4.3 g | 0.6 g |
Ways to Serve Instant Pot Wild Rice
Wild rice is a classic holiday side. Stir in sautéed mushrooms and onion, or toasted pecans and dried cranberries, and serve it with roast turkey or alongside our turkey stuffing. It also works in soups: add a cup of cooked wild rice to lemon chicken soup or a creamy chicken soup.
Storing and Freezing Instant Pot Wild Rice
Spread it out to cool and refrigerate within 2 hours. Like other cooked leftovers, it keeps about 3 to 4 days in the fridge, and it freezes well in flat bags for a few months. Reheat with a splash of broth until steaming, at least 165°F, the FoodSafety.gov temperature for leftovers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Instant Pot wild rice take?
25 to 28 minutes on high pressure, plus about 10 minutes to come to pressure and a 10-minute natural release, so about 50 minutes of cooking.
What is the water ratio for wild rice in an Instant Pot?
Use 1¾ cups of broth or water for every 1 cup of wild rice. Pressure cooking loses less liquid than the stovetop, so you need less than the usual 3 to 4 cups.
Do I need to soak wild rice first?
No. Rinsing is enough. Soaking shortens the cook time slightly, but the pressure cooker softens the grains without it.
Can I cook a wild rice blend the same way?
Use a little less liquid (about 1½ cups) and a shorter time, about 22 to 25 minutes for blends with brown rice. Follow the package for blends that include white rice.
Why is my Instant Pot wild rice still hard?
It needs more time. Close the lid and let it sit 5 to 10 minutes on Keep Warm, or pressure cook 3 to 5 more minutes with a splash of liquid.
Sources
Featured photo: Unsplash
