A detailed step-by-step post on how to cook a soft, fluffy, and perfect Indian white Sona masoori rice recipe every time using the instant pot pressure cooker. Sona Masuri Rice is generally served with lentils (dal), curry, or any side dish in India.
I am from Karnataka (South India), and rice is our staple food, and we use sona masoori for our everyday cooking.
I usually buy a bag of royal sona masoori rice from Costco or any Indian grocery store. Cooking sona masuri is easy and can be done on the stovetop, stovetop pressure cooker, rice cooker, and Instant Pot.
Today, I will share how to cook white sona masoori rice in an Instant Pot in two methods—one directly inside the inner pot and the other by the pot-in-pot method. When I want to cook multiple items simultaneously, I use the pot-in-pot method (for example, curry and rice). You can also check out my Instant Pot basmati rice recipe.
Other rice recipes made from sona masoori rice are carrot rice, peanut rice, pongal, curd rice, coconut rice, and raw mango rice.
Jump to:
- What is Sona Masoori?
- Ingredients
- How to Cook White Sona Masoori Rice in Instant Pot
- Pot-in-Pot Method
- Brown Sona Masoori Rice
- How to Serve Sona Masoori Rice?
- How to Store Sona Masoori Rice?
- Can I freeze Sona Masoori rice?
- Expert Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Instant Pot Basic Recipes
- Instant Pot Sona Masoori Rice
What is Sona Masoori?
Sona Masoori is a lightweight and aromatic medium-grain rice resulting from a cross combination of the rice varieties Sona and Mahsuri.
It is grown mainly in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka. This rice comes in both varieties, white rice and brown rice. - Source Wiki
Ingredients
You will need only two main ingredients, to make this perfectly cooked sona masuri rice recipe in a pressure cooker.
- Sona Masoori Rice – This medium-grain rice is easily available in local Indian grocery stores. I like the Royal Sona Masoori brand.
- Water – I prefer using plain water for this recipe. You can also use low-sodium vegetable broth to make it more flavorful (adjust salt in this case).
- Salt (optional) – You can add a little to season the rice. It is optional.
How to Cook White Sona Masoori Rice in Instant Pot
Firstly, rinse 1 cup of sona masoori rice 2-3 times until the water runs clear (removes extra starch), and drain the remaining water.
Note: This is a no-soak method, and my rice always turns out soft, fluffy, and separated.
Add the rinsed sona masuri rice, 2 cups water, and 1 pinch of salt (optional) to the Instant Pot steel insert. Give a quick stir.
Close the lid securely, and turn the vent to "SEALING". Select the PRESSURE COOK/MANUAL (High Pressure) setting and set the cooking time to 5 minutes.
When the instant pot beeps, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then release any remaining pressure before removing the lid.
Open the lid and use a fork or ladle, to fluff up the rice. Serve hot with curry, or lentils of your choice. Yields 4 cups of cooked rice.
Pot-in-Pot Method
- Add the rinsed rice and water to a stainless steel container or pyrex glass bowl.
- Add 1 cup of water to the Instant Pot insert and place the rice bowl over the trivet in the Instant Pot.
- Close the lid securely, and turn the vent to "SEALING". Select the PRESSURE COOK/MANUAL (High Pressure) setting and set the cooking time to 5 minutes.
- When the instant pot beeps, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then release any remaining pressure before removing the lid.
- Open the lid, fluff the rice with a fork or ladle and serve with your favorite side dish.
Brown Sona Masoori Rice
- Follow the same steps as above and Pressure cook on HIGH for 22 minutes.
How to Serve Sona Masoori Rice?
Serve Sona masuri rice with any Indian curry, spinach dal, sambar, rasam, or gujarati kadhi. You can use leftover cooked rice in making rice dishes.
Other recipes that you can serve with white sona masuri rice are
How to Store Sona Masoori Rice?
Store the leftover cooked sona masuri rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. You can sprinkle some water and reheat it in the microwave or stovetop until warm.
Can I freeze Sona Masoori rice?
Yes, You can freeze the leftover rice in a freezer-safe ziplock or container for up to 3 months.
Allow it to defrost in the refrigerator for a few hours. Sprinkle some water and reheat in the microwave on high for 2-3 minutes or on the stovetop to get steamy fresh rice.
Expert Tips
- Rice to water ratio: this is very important for cooking any kind of rice. For soft, fluffy, nonsticky sona masuri rice, I use 2 cups of water for 1 cup of rice. For curd (yogurt) rice, I use 2.5-3 cups of water for 1 cup of rice. For fried rice, you can use 1 ¾ cups of water for 1 cup of rice.
- Cooking time: The water and cooking time also depends on the variety, age of the rice, and altitude of the location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, It helps to remove dirt and impurities. It also removes excessive starch making each rice grain super soft, nonsticky, and fluffy.
No. You don't have to soak the sona masuri rice when cooking in the electric pressure cooker. However, it will help to reduce the cooking time when you cook rice on the stovetop pot, making the rice really soft and fluffy.
You will get 4 cups of cooked rice.
If you have brown sona masuri rice, it will take 20 minutes on high pressure for firm rice or 22 minutes for softer rice in the Instant Pot.
For every cup of uncooked sona masoori rice, you will need 2 cups of water to cook in an Instant Pot Pressure Cooker. Therefore, you can easily double or triple this recipe.
More Instant Pot Basic Recipes
Check for more rice recipes from 25+ instant pot Indian rice recipes collections.
Instant Pot Sona Masoori Rice
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup sona masoori rice
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Firstly, rinse the rice 2-3 times until the water runs clear (removes extra starch), and drain the remaining water.Note: This is a no-soak method, and my rice always turns out soft, fluffy, and separated.
Main Pot Method:
- Add the rinsed sona masuri rice, water, and salt (optional) to the Instant Pot steel insert. Give a quick stir.
- Close the lid securely, and turn the vent to "SEALING". Select the PRESSURE COOK/MANUAL (High Pressure) setting and set the cooking time to 5 minutes.
- When the instant pot beeps, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then release any remaining pressure before removing the lid.
- Open the lid and use a fork or ladle, to fluff up the rice. Serve hot with curry, or lentils of your choice.
Pot in Pot Method:
- Add the rinsed rice and water in a stainless steel bowl.
- Add 1 cup of water to the Instant Pot insert and place the rice bowl over the trivet in the Instant Pot.
- Close the lid securely, and turn the vent to "SEALING". Select the PRESSURE COOK/MANUAL (High Pressure) setting and set the cooking time to 5 minutes.When the instant pot beeps, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then release any remaining pressure before removing the lid.
- Open the lid and use a fork or ladle, to fluff up the rice. Serve hot with curry, or lentils of your choice.
Brown Sona Masoori Rice:
- Follow the same steps as above and Pressure Cook on HIGH for 22 minutes.
Notes
- Rice to water ratio: this is very important for cooking any kind of rice. For soft, fluffy, nonsticky sona masuri rice, I use 2 cups of water for 1 cup of rice. For curd (yogurt) rice, I use 2.5-3 cups of water for 1 cup of rice. For fried rice, you can use 1 ¾ cups of water for 1 cup of rice.
- The water and cooking time also depends on the variety, age of the rice, and altitude of the location.
Nutrition
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