This easy Instant Pot Calrose Rice recipe helps you achieve perfectly cooked Calrose rice in the electric pressure cooker every time. Serve it as a quick side dish, stir-fries, salads, or even sushi.
Cooking rice on the stovetop can sometimes lead to it being soggy, dry, or burnt, which is frustrating.
I love making staples like basmati rice, jasmine rice, quinoa, or millets in my Instant Pot pressure cooker because they always turn out perfectly. The same goes for this Instant Pot Calrose Rice recipe. The Instant Pot ensures your calrose rice comes out perfectly every time!
If you love rice recipes, check out my popular post on 30+ Instant Pot Indian Rice Recipes.
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What is Calrose Rice?
Calrose rice is a medium-grained white rice that originated in California and is largely produced there. The name "Cal" tributes to California, and "rose" indicates its medium-grain shape.
Calrose rice has a very mild flavor, so it absorbs any bold seasonings easily. Once cooked, it becomes soft and slightly sticky, making it an ideal option for a side dish, stir-fries, salads, or making sushi.
Ingredients
You only need two ingredients for this Instant Pot Calrose rice recipe.
- Calrose rice: This medium grain calrose rice is easily available in local grocery stores like Safeway, Costco, or even on Amazon.
- Water: is required for cooking. You can also use vegetable broth.
Some recipes also call for adding oil or salt to the Instant Pot, but you don't need those.
How to Cook Calrose Rice in Instant Pot
Rinse 1 cup of calrose rice well with cold water (removes excess starch) 2-3 times or until the water runs clear. Drain the remaining water using a mesh strainer or colander.
Add the rinsed rice and 1 cup 2 tablespoons of water to the Instant Pot.
Give a quick stir. Close the lid, and make sure the pressure valve is turned to the "Sealing". Pressure Cook on High Pressure for 5 minutes.
When the Instant Pot beeps, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, and then manually quick-release the remaining pressure.
Open the lid and fluff the rice. Perfect Calrose rice every time!
Stovetop Instructions
The basic water-to-white rice ratio for cooking on a stovetop is 1 ½ cups water to 1 cup rice.
- Bring 1 ½ cups water to boil in a medium pot.
- When the water has returned to boil, add 1 cup of uncooked rice and stir well.
- Cover the pot with a lid and reduce the heat to low. Keep the rice simmering slightly until all the liquid is absorbed, about 17-20 minutes.
- When the rice is cooked, turn off the heat and let it stand for 10 minutes.
- Fluff the rice with a fork and serve.
Tips to make perfect Calrose Rice in Instant Pot
Follow these tips to make perfect Calrose rice in the Instant Pot every time:
- Always rinse uncooked rice before you cook it. This helps to remove excess starch that causes the rice to clump together.
- Use the exact water-to-rice ratio mentioned in the recipe to get perfectly cooked rice.
- Don’t leave the rice in the pot in warm mode. Otherwise, it will overcook. Remove the instant pot insert to the countertop to prevent the rice from further cooking.
- You can double or triple the amount of rice and water if you want to cook more rice. The cooking time will remain the same.
How to Store and Reheat
- Refrigerator: You can store any leftover cooked calrose rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
- Freeze: You can also freeze it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: If the rice is dry, you can microwave it with a few drops of water. You can also steam or use leftover rice for stir-fries over the stovetop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when cooked, Calrose rice becomes slightly soft and sticky.
No. However, if you can't find Japanese rice, the best alternative is Calrose. It is fluffy and slightly sticky, equivalent to authentic Japanese rice, making it ideal for sushi.
Yes, it removes much of the debris and starch that would cause the rice to clump together.
If you liked this Instant Pot calrose rice, then check out some Instant Pot Rice Recipes from my blog.
How to Cook Calrose Rice
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup calrose rice
- 1 cup 2 tablespoons water for cooking, (or 1.5 cups for stovetop)
Instructions
- Rinse the Calrose rice well with cold water (removes excess starch) 2-3 times or until the water runs clear. Drain the remaining water using a mesh strainer or colander.
Instant Pot Instructions
- Add the rinsed rice and water to the Instant Pot.
- Give a quick stir. Close the lid, and make sure the pressure valve is turned to the "Sealing". Pressure Cook on High Pressure for 5 minutes.
- When the instant pot beeps, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, and then Quick Release the remaining pressure manually.Open the lid and fluff the rice. Perfect Calrose rice every time!
Stovetop Instructions
- Bring the water to boil in a medium pot.
- When the water has returned to boil, add the uncooked rice and stir well.
- Cover the pot with a lid and reduce the heat down to low. Keep the rice simmering slightly until all the liquid is absorbed. It will take about 17-20 minutes.
- When the rice is cooked, turn off the heat and let it stand 10 minutes.
- Fluff the rice with a fork and serve.
Video
Notes
- Refrigerator: You can store any leftover cooked Calrose rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
- Freeze: You can also freeze it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: You can microwave with a few drops of water if the rice is dry. You can also steam or use leftover rice for stir-fries over the stovetop.
Tips to make perfect Calrose Rice
Follow these tips to make perfect Calrose rice in the Instant Pot every time:- Always rinse uncooked rice before you cook it. This helps to remove excess starch that causes the rice to clump together.
- Use the exact water to rice ratio mentioned in the recipe to get perfectly cooked rice.
- Don’t leave the rice in the pot in warm mode. Otherwise, it will overcook. So remove the instant pot insert to the countertop to avoid rice from further cooking.
- You can double or triple the amount of rice and water if you want to cook more rice. The cooking time will remain the same.
Nutrition
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Bitta
Thank you I appreciate having two methods. Worked great in Instant Pot.
Bhavana Patil
Hi Bitta, I am glad it turned out great for you, Thank you so much for sharing your feedback.