The Instant Pot makes a great rice cooker, making perfect Instant Pot Sticky Rice, with glutinous rice, in just 12 minutes, with no soaking necessary.
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Sticky rice is used in many Asian dishes and its one of my favorites in dishes like Mango Sticky Rice and Chinese Sticky Rice. But it’s not always easy to make at home. It usually requires soaking the rice and steaming it in a special rice steamer. It often turns out soggy or not quite fully cooked.
By using an Instant Pot, you get to skip all these steps and still get awesome sticky rice. Use it as a delightful side dish for almost any main dish. It will soak up the flavors of anything that it pairs with, so it’s a great easy recipe for lots of meals.
By the way: you can cook all kinds of rice in the Instant Pot, try cooking jasmine rice, basmati rice, and sushi rice as well.
Ingredients You Need
- Glutinous Rice: Use glutinous rice – also called sticky rice or sweet rice – to make the perfect sticky rice. Other rice variations will not work. This is due to the near absence of amylose and a very high concentration of amylopectin that makes it very sticky when cooked. Other rice types don’t have these same properties.
- Water: The water to rice ratio is very important, so make sure to follow the recipe’s ratios.
Equipment
- Stainless steel bowl: You will need a stainless-steel bowl for the rice in this recipe. It works best as it heats up quickly and more evenly. Using a different type of bowl may change the cooking time and final texture.
- Instant Pot: I use a 6-quart Instant Pot. You can also make it in an 8-quart, but you will have to adjust the amount of water in the base of the pot.
- Trivet – You can use the trivet that comes with the Instant Pot in a pinch, but I prefer to use a steamer basket or tall trivet to keep the stainless steel bowl up out of the water.
No Pre-Soaking or Rinsing
One of the best things about this recipe is that it’s very low effort. You don’t need to pre-soak or rinse the rice before putting it in the stainless steel bowl in the Instant Pot. While many recipes call for you to rinse the rice thoroughly before cooking, I’ve never found that to be necessary for this recipe.
How to Make Instant Pot Sticky Rice
Pour 1 cup of cold water into the inner pot of your Instant Pot (1 1/2 cups for an 8-quart). Then insert a steamer rack into the inner pot.
Pour the rice and 2/3 cup of cold water into a stainless steel bowl and place it on the steamer rack in the inner pot.
Lock the lid in place and set the vent to sealing (if that’s necessary for your model). Pressure cook on high for 12 minutes. When the time is up, allow the pressure to release naturally, which takes about 5 minutes.
Open the lid and carefully remove the bowl. It will still be quite hot to the touch, so you’ll need some mitts. Gently fluff the rice and serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I scale this recipe?
Yes! If your stainless steel bowl is spacious enough to fit more rice, then you can easily double the recipe. For 2 cups of glutinous rice, double the water in the bowl to 1 1/3 cup, with just one cup in the base of the inner pot.
How do I store sticky rice?
Storing sticky rice properly is very important to prevent any bacteria from growing. Let the rice cool completely, then place it in an airtight container in the fridge. You should only store it in the fridge for one or two days.
Can I reheat leftover sticky rice?
Yes, you can reheat sticky rice, but it’s at its best right when it’s made.
When reheating sticky rice, don’t add water to it. The water will take away the “sticky” texture of the rice. The best way I’ve found to reheat it is to put it back in the Instant Pot, in the stainless steel bowl, as if you were making it from scratch, and put it on the steam setting for 5 minutes.
If properly stored, it can last in the refrigerator for 2-5 days. One of the greatest ways to use leftover sticky rice is to turn it into fried rice.
Why Use An Instant Pot?
The Instant Pot is one of the most useful kitchen appliances you can buy, because it drastically cuts down on the cooking time for developing flavors in soups and stews, getting tough cuts of meat tender, and even baking a cheesecake. If you don’t have one, check out our guide on which one to buy. Also see our guide to How to Use an Instant Pot and the many accessories you can buy for it.
- Don’t Have an Instant Pot? This guide can help you choose the right one.
- See reviews and prices for Instant Pots on Amazon.
- Learn some great Instant Pot Tips & Tricks.
- Click to find more recipes to make in your Instant Pot.
Tips and Notes
- Make sure to fluff the sticky rice to get the best texture.
- The water to rice ratio is important, so measure your ingredients carefully. Too much water can make it soggy, while not enough can make it undercooked.
What to Serve It With
Sticky rice goes well with almost any meal. Here are some dishes that you can pair with sticky rice.
- Teriyaki Chicken
- Thai Panang Curry
- Butter Chicken
- Instant Pot Chicken & Broccoli
- Instant Pot Chicken Curry
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Instant Pot Sticky Rice
Note: Made in a 6-qt Instant Pot
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup (185 g) glutinous or sweet rice
- 1 cup (237 ml) water + 2/3 cup water
Instructions
- Pour 1 cup cold water into the inner pot. Insert a steamer rack. Pour the rice and 2/3 cup water into a stainless steel bowl and place it on the steamer rack in the inner pot.
- Lock the lid in place and set the vent to sealing. Pressure Cook on high for 12 minutes. When the time is up, do a natural pressure release, which takes about 5 minutes. Open the lid and remove the bowl.
- Gently fluff the sticky rice and serve.
Nutrition
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Angela is a talented home cook and an expert at creating delicious, nutritious meals that can be prepared quickly and easily using an Instant Pot.