How to Cook Brown Rice

It’s no secret that we absolutely adore using brown rice in many of our favorite plant-based dishes, no wonder, it is delicious, filling, and has a very distinctive nutty flavor (unlike the white varieties of rice out there). This amazing wholesome grain can help you complete a nutritious meal, it’s a great option for batch cooking, and as if it didn’t have enough great qualities, it is extremely affordable. This is why we are delighted to bring you this How to Cook Brown Rice Guide, and we are hopeful it will help you make the most of this incredibly versatile ingredient.

What Are The Benefits of Eating Brown Rice over White Rice?

Knowing the best to cook it is great but maybe we should learn a few interesting facts about it first. It is widely known that brown rice is a very healthy plant-based diet staple and that it is a better option than white rice, but have you ever wondered why? There are so many fantastic health benefits that come with consuming it, so let’s list a few:

• It is a great source of fiber, plant protein, and slow-digesting carbohydrates (this means that it keeps you full for longer)
• Brown Rice packed with important vitamins and minerals, such as magnesium (which is vital for many metabolic processes, bone and heart health, as well as managing levels of stress in the body).
• Contains a good amount of phenols and flavonoids, which are antioxidants extremely helpful to prevent oxidative stress.
• Helps to keep blood sugar levels in check
• Is naturally gluten-free which makes it a great option for those avoiding gluten

Best Ways to Cook Brown Rice

On the Stove Top

Cooking Time: -40 minutes
Ratio: 1 cup of brown rice to 2 cups of water

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of short or long-grain brown rice
• 2 cups of water
• Salt (optional)

Directions:

1. Rinse your rice in a mesh colander for 1 minute under running water. This will remove the excess starch and help cook the rice more evenly. (If you’re in a hurry, you can skip this step).
2. Place the water and rice in a medium saucepan, and bring to a boil, once boiling, lower the heat to a simmer and cover.
3. Cook for about 30 minutes.
4. Once the water has evaporated, take off the heat (still covered) and let it sit for another 10 minutes.

On the Instant Pot

Cooking Time: 20 mins
Ratio: 1 cup of brown rice to 1 ½ cups of water

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of brown rice
• 1 ½ cup of water
• Salt (optional)

Directions:

1. Rinse your rice in a mesh colander for 1 minute under running water. This will remove the excess starch and help cook the rice more evenly. (If you’re in a hurry, you can skip this step).
2. Add water and rinsed rice to the Instant Pot. Pressure cook on high for 20 minutes (it will take about 8 minutes for the Instant Pot to pressurize before cooking begins).
3. Once the timer goes off, press the quick release (or if not in a hurry, allow it to naturally release for 10 minutes, then release any remaining pressure). Carefully remove the lid once the steam has fully escaped.

We hope you can master these simple ways of cooking brown rice in no time. It is likely that after following these recipes a few times, you’ll know them by heart and run with them. Brown rice is such a versatile grain and can be used for countless healthy and delicious recipes, like stir-fries, buddha bowls, rice salads, curries and so much more! You’ll never wonder again how to cook brown rice!

Our Favorite Recipes Using Brown Rice

• Brown Rice Stir Fry
• Brown Fried Rice
• Veggie Kung Pao
• Bean & Rice Burrito
• Southwest Stuffed Bell Peppers