Black Rice Instant Pot

This is how to cook Instant Pot black rice to tender. This is a delicious fiber rich side dish we love serving as a savory side dish or sweet like our black rice pudding.

Instant Pot black rice turns out so good, and faster than any other method. If you love this type of grain but don’t enjoy how long it takes on the stovetop, try this instead. Just one of many easy Instant Pot recipes we have shared on our site.

If you have always relied on white long grain rice Instant Pot style, this is much better for you for sure. It’s the texture that is different for sure. With white the husk on the outside is completely stripped. Basically you are discarding the most nutritious part of it, but rather here it is kept in tact.

Ninja Foodi Black Rice

You can make this in any electric pressure cooker you might have. Mealthy, Crockpot Express and Ninja Foodi recipe works just the same using the same instructions below but with the lid that is not attached.

What is the ratio of water to black rice?

2:1 cups so basically you need double the amount. Adding a pinch of salt is a good touch since otherwise it is quite bland. You can use broth instead of water for more flavor too.

Does black rice need to be soaked?

It is recommended if using a pot on the stovetop but when cooking in Instant Pot it is not necessary, and the quickest method out of them all. I would recommend rinsing the rice first though as you would with a brown or white sticky rice variety.

Is black rice the same as forbidden rice?

Yes they generally refer to the same grain, a type of whole-grain rice with a deep purplish black color that turns dark purple when cooked. The term forbidden comes from China, where legend says it was once reserved exclusively for royalty due to its rarity and nutritional value.

How to Add Flavor

You will definitely want to add some seasonings and butter is a must for us when done. Ingredients you could add into the pot to add to the yum would be garlic salt, beef broth, onion powder and/or red pepper flakes for some heat.

Like butter on it? Add a pat right on top as well as a bit once it is tender so it melts and adds a bit of creaminess. If you have never had this but want to try it because of it’s so healthy, it is a bit like our Ninja Foodi wild rice but with more of the dark stiffer pieces.

There are several other ways you can get this to tender. They will take much longer as this one but if you were making a complete meal and were using this to make your main dish, you could use a rice cooker. Mine has a button for different varieties, if yours doesn’t I would refer to it’s instruction manual for timing.

Black rice on stovetop will take at least 45 minutes to tenderize. Getting the heat just right where the contents will not burn, yet consistently boiling just enough for it to not overflow it difficult. That is why pressure cooking is just so much easier. The machine adjusts appropriately and a natural release allows it to get as fluffy as it could be.

Here are all 4 ways and how long does rice take to cook this tough grain perfectly to try those too.

Is Black Rice Healthier than Brown Rice?

Yep, you can tell just by looking at the two side by side that the darker the color the more fiber rich it is going to be. This is also a better source of antioxidants, and great for lowering cholesterol if eaten on a regular basis. You could mix the two in order to lighten the black and make it more palatable too.

Instant Pot brown rice and this would have to be cooked separately though since the cooking time is not the same. If thrown in together the lighter variety would become mushy and overcooked if you used the timing below.

Jump to recipe and see how you get started. There is nutritional information listed below too. It takes into account the exact ingredients listed below and nothing additional.

How do you store cooked black rice?

You always want to wait until it has completely cooled first. I will say that grains like this one don’t save all that well as it will dry out no matter how you store it. You can though, and add some butter to freshen it up the next day. Spoon it into a smaller freezer bag and squeeze all the air out before storing in your fridge.

When you reheat, first leave on the counter for 20 minutes. Then pour into a microwave safe dish and heat for 45 seconds. I would suggest adding a pat of butter on top or 1 tbsp of broth over the top to add back in some moisture that it lost while being stored in a cold area.