How to Make Instant Pot Yellow Rice

Making Instant Pot yellow rice couldn’t be easier! It’s a quick and easy side dish!

white plate with a helping of yellow saffron rice on it, which was cooked in the Instant Pot

You’ll love this easy Instant Pot yellow rice recipe–it’s a super simple side dish!

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Despite my many years of cooking most of our meals at home, I always had trouble making perfect rice.

I have never owned a rice cooker, so I’ve always gone the stove top route.  And it’s always turned out okay, just not perfect

Even though I always followed the directions on the package, the pot would boil over or the rice would be too gummy or otherwise just not ideal.

However, that all changed when I learned how to make rice in the Instant Pot!

I started with basic Instant Pot white rice and Instant Pot brown rice, then progressed to Instant Pot basmati rice and Instant Pot jasmine rice.

Then I got even braver and tried Instant Pot Rice-a-Roni and Instant Pot wild rice!

So of course, next up, I had to make Instant Pot yellow rice.

Instant Pot saffron yellow rice on a white plate, next to a plate of homemade naan bread

How to Cook Mahatma or Vigo Yellow Rice in the Instant Pot

My first introduction to yellow rice was back in my couponing days.

I would often have coupons for Mahatma yellow rice, which I could double at our local grocery store and get the rice for next-to-nothing.

I quickly learned that it’s a super flavorful rice, since it comes packaged with the seasonings.

Since then, I’ve learned that it’s just plain white rice that gets its color from the seasonings, often saffron or turmeric.

Commonly used in Spanish, Moroccan, Portuguese, Indonesian, and Afghan cuisines, yellow rice is a versatile staple that can be served as a side dish or as the base of other dishes.

I often use the Vigo yellow rice to make Instant Pot Spanish chicken and rice!

Regardless of what brand you use or how you serve it, you’ll love just how quick and easy it is to make Instant Pot yellow rice.

Not only that, but you can also reheat rice in the Instant Pot, which is my favorite method of heating up the leftovers!

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    How to Make Failproof Yellow Rice in the Instant Pot

    Follow these simple steps to make perfect yellow rice in your Instant Pot!

    Rice to Water Ratio

    I like to follow a ration of 1 cup of yellow rice (with seasonings added) to 1 1/4 cup of water.

    This ratio allows for rice that is soft and fluffy, but not watery. In my opinion, it’s perfect!

    This ratio is also the same if you double or triple the recipe. For instance, if you’re using 2 cups of dry yellow rice mixture, you’ll use 2 1/2 cups of liquid.

    In general, yellow rice triples in volume when cooked, so that should help you gauge how much you need to make. Just be sure you don’t exceed the recommended maximum capacity of your pressure cooker!

    Since yellow rice comes in different size packages, simply check to see how many cups your package contains.

    Cooking the Yellow Rice in the Pressure Cooker

    Combine the dry rice and water in the insert pot of your Instant Pot. If there are any large clumps of seasoning, break them up with a wooden spoon.

    yellow rice and water in the insert pot of the Instant Pot

    Select a cook time of 4 minutes at high pressure using the Manual/Pressure Cook setting.

    Once the cook time is complete, allow a natural release of pressure.

    Freshly cooked yellow rice in the insert pot of the pressure cooker

    After the pressure has released and the valve has dropped, carefully remove the lid. Fluff the rice with a fork and serve as desired!

    freshly cooked and fluffed yellow rice in the Instant Pot

    How to Make Instant Pot Yellow Rice with the Pot in Pot Method

    If you prefer, you can make the rice using the pot in pot method instead of cooking it directly in the insert pot.

    In the pot in pot method, you combine the yellow rice and liquid in a small baking dish or pan that fits down into the insert pot of your Instant Pot.

    This method can be ideal if you’re cooking a smaller amount, or if you don’t want to have to clean the insert pot, or if you are cooking more than one thing in the Instant Pot at the same time (as described in this Instant Pot Kung Pao Chickpeas recipe).

    You can check out my full list of recommended Instant Pot accessories for pot in pot cooking, but for pot-in-pot yellow rice, you’ll simply need a heatproof container that is small enough to fit into your Instant Pot but will also hold the amount of rice you’re cooking (and do keep in mind that the rice expands!).

    I generally use this bundt pan and cook one cup of dry rice at a time.

    You’ll simply place the trivet into the insert pot of your Instant Pot, then pour a cup of water into the insert pot.

    In your heatproof dish, combine the yellow rice and liquid according to the same ratio as if you were making it directly in the insert pot. You’ll also use the same cook time and pressure release described above.

    Once the pressure has released, carefully lift out the dish and fluff the rice!

    yellow rice from a package, freshly cooked in the Instant Pot and served on a white plate

    How to Freeze Yellow Rice

    Also, did you know that you can freeze leftover yellow rice and then steam it in the microwave later, just like those little bags of frozen rice you can buy at the grocery store? 

    So easy and far less expensive!  All you have to do is put a couple of cups of cooled cooked rice into a zip-top freezer bag, press out excess air, and put it in the freezer. 

    When you are ready to warm the yellow rice, simply open the bag, add in a couple of tablespoons of water to the bag, and put it in the microwave (with the bag open) for about 3-5 minutes. Easy peasy!

    Recommended Equipment:

    • Instant Pot – I have the DUO60 model, which I love.
    • Heatproof dish – if using the pot in pot method (I use this bundt pan).
    • Trivet – if using the pot in pot method.
    Yield: 6 Servings

    Instant Pot Yellow Rice

    plate of yellow rice on a blue and white napkin

    It's a cinch to make yellow rice in your Instant Pot! Grab your favorite packaged variety and enjoy!

    Prep Time 2 minutes
    Cook Time 4 minutes
    Additional Time 25 minutes
    Total Time 31 minutes

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup yellow rice
    • 1 1/4 cup water
    • 1 tsp oil, such as olive, vegetable, or coconut (optional)

    Instructions

    1. Combine rice and water in the insert pot of the Instant Pot. Add oil, if using. Stir to combine.
    2. Close lid and set the vent to the sealed position. Select a cook time of 4 minutes at high pressure.
    3. When the cook time is complete, allow a natural release of pressure.
    4. After pressure has released and the valve has dropped, carefully remove lid and fluff rice with a fork. Serve and enjoy!

    Notes

    The ratio I use is 1 cup of rice to 1 1/4 cup water. Different brands offer different package sizes of yellow rice, so simply measure out how much rice you are cooking from the package and adjust the amount of water according to the ratio.

    Nutrition Information:

    Yield:

    6

    Serving Size:

    1/2 cup

    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 122Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 147mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 2gSugar: 6gProtein: 1g

    Nutrition information is automatically calculated and is not guaranteed for accuracy.

    Want more delicious recipe ideas?

    Check out even more mealtime inspiration on my Pinterest boards!

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      aerial view of a plate of yellow rice ready to be served

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      2 Comments

      1. Have you ever added sausage to it to I need to do anything different?

        1. Chrysti Benner says:

          Hi Jessica! I haven’t tried that, but it sounds delicious! You can brown the sausage first (using the Saute button), then add the rice and water and proceed with the recipe as written. Enjoy! 🙂

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