Instant Pot Fried Rice

This Instant Pot Fried Rice is like the one you get at your local Chinese restaurant. This Chinese restaurant style fried rice is easy, one-pot dish made from scratch in a pressure cooker in under 20 minutes!!  It's great on its own or serve it as a side dish.  

 

 

FRIED RICE

Fried rice is a popular Asian dish made with cooked rice. Rice is stir-fried at a high heat in a wok or a fry pan, with some vegetables, eggs or some kind of meat. Fried rice is usually served as side dish or can also be eaten by itself.

Fried rice is one of the most popular rice dish served in Asian restaurants around the globe. We all love fried rice. 

Today,  I am sharing my recipe for Chinese restaurant style Fried Rice. I have been making this recipe for many years now and I must say this recipe has never disappointed me. The taste and the flavors are just like the one you get at your local Chinese restaurant. 

Ever since, I started making this Fried Rice at home, it's in huge demand in my family. Early on I used to make this recipe using day old rice, which is great for stir fries. Ever since I tried this recipe in Instant Pot, I have never looked back again.

Making Fried Rice is so convenient and the best part is I no longer need day old rice for this recipe. I can use straight uncooked rice and make this awesome Chinese restaurant style Fried Rice.

 

 

INGREDIENTS FOR FRIED RICE

LONG GRAIN RICE - I prefer long grain white rice for this recipe. It seems to be perfect rice for Fried Rice. Each grain comes out moist and fluffy. You can find long grain white rice in most grocery stores or order it on Amazon

VEGGIES - I like combination of carrots and green peas. However, you can add veggies of your choice, such as onion, corn, green beans.

Recipe uses frozen carrots and peas, feel free to use fresh.

SOY SAUCE - I prefer premium soy sauce, it is richer and is less salty. Also, gives a nice color and a bold flavor to this fried rice. You can find premium soy sauce in most of the grocery stores or order it on Amazon

However, you can also use light soy sauce. If using light soy sauce, use a low-sodium lite soy sauce. Or use Tamari for gluten-free. You can find Tamari in most grocery stores or order it on Amazon

PURE SESAME OIL - Few drops of sesame oil is all you need to add a burst of flavor to this fried rice.  You can easily find pure sesame oil in Asian grocery stores or order it on Amazon

BROTH - You can use water or broth, both would do just fine. I prefer low sodium broth as it adds an additional layer of flavor. Low sodium broth helps control the sodium intake.

Pic Shown: Instant Pot Fried Rice

 

 

HOW TO MAKE FRIED RICE

This is a very quick and easy recipe to make restaurant style Fried Rice at home. It takes under 20 minutes to make this Instant Pot Fried Rice from scratch. The best part of this recipe is that you don't need day old rice to make this recipe. 

INSTANT POT FRIED RICE

You will need INSTANT POT, FINE MESH SIEVE

Using a fine mesh sieve, rinse the rice under cold running water for couple of minutes or until the water runs clear. Drain the rice well.

Add rinsed, and drained rice, water, soy sauce, sesame oil, and cooking oil. Mix well.

Turn ON Instant Pot to MANUAL / PRESSURE COOK mode (high) for 6 minutes. Turn OFF "keep warm" mode. Let pressure release naturally, around 10 minutes.
 

 

Open the Instant Pot lid, add veggies - carrots, peas. Adjust the seasoning - salt and pepper. Gently mix the veggies, close the IP lid.
Note: The carrots and peas will get cooked from the steam of the rice. Do NOT turn ON the IP.

Allow 5 minutes before opening the lid. Now open the lid, mix gently.

Optional: Add some green onions (green part only)

 

 
Fried Rice is ready to served. Enjoy!!  

Pic Shown: Instant Pot Fried Rice

 

 

PRO TIPS FOR PERFECT INSTANT POT FRIED RICE

Some of the things I think really helps me achieve non-sticky, flavorful Chinese restaurant style Fried Rice are:

USE LONG GRAIN WHITE RICE - The grains have a firm, dry texture, and are best for side dishes, pilafs, fried rice. Produces distinct firm grains that stay fluffy and separate even after cooking.

You can find it in most grocery stores or order it on Amazon

RINSE RICE - rinse the rice thoroughly. Use a fine mesh strainer, rinse the rice under cold running water for couple of minutes or until the water runs clear. Drain the rice well.

SOY SAUCE - I prefer premium soy sauce, it is rich in taste and is less salty. Also, gives a nice color and a bold flavor to this fried rice. You can find premium soy sauce in most of the grocery stores or order it on Amazon

However, you can also use light soy sauce. If using light soy sauce, use a low-sodium lite soy sauce.

Use Tamari for gluten-free. You can find Tamari in most grocery stores or order it on Amazon

PURE SESAME OIL - sesame oil has a great aroma and tastes wonderful in Fried Rice. I think sesame oil makes a huge difference in flavor and good fried rice, a little goes a long way.

You can easily find pure sesame oil in Asian grocery stores or order it on Amazon

VEGGIES - veggies add nice color, flavor and freshness to the fried rice. Feel free to add stir-fried veggies such as green peas, corn, baby corn, bell peppers, spring onions.

Since this recipe is created in a pressure cooker, the only vegetable that I feel holds texture is carrots, all other veggies may be added later once the pressure cooking is done to retain the texture and flavor of the veggies.

However, if using frozen veggies, defrost the veggies, for 30-60 seconds in a microwave. Add the veggies after the rice is pressure cooked. The veggies will get cooked with the residual heat from the rice.

BROTH - You can use water or broth, both would do just fine. Broth adds an additional layer of flavors to the fried rice. You can easily find broth in stores or order it on Amazon

Pic Shown: Instant Pot Fried Rice 

 

 

EASY FRIED RICE VARIATIONS

When it comes to fried rice, there are so many variations. The best part of this fried rice is that you can add any ingredient and still end with a bowl full of  awesomeness. Some of the variations that my family enjoys are:

VEGETABLE FRIED RICE - veggies add nice color, flavor and freshness to the Fried Rice.

Add stir-fry veggies such as carrots, onion, green peas, corn, baby corn, bell peppers, spring onions.

EGG FRIED RICE - I add some pan fried eggs to the fried rice.

TOFU FRIED RICE - saute or air fry some tofu and add it to the fried rice. 

CHICKEN FRIED RICE - saute some chicken pieces and than cook it with rice.

Alternatively, you can also use some precooked chicken. 

PINEAPPLE FRIED RICE - once the fried rice is pressure cooked, add some fresh chopped pineapple and stir it in to combine.

FRIED BROWN RICE - for a healthier version of fried rice, use brown rice instead of white.

QUINOA FRIED RICE - this is my favorite. I often use quinoa instead of rice and it tastes amazing.

Pic Shown: Instant Pot Fried Rice

 

 

FAQ ABOUT FRIED RICE

HOW TO MAKE FRIED RICE GLUTEN-FREE

To make Fried Rice gluten-free, substitute Tamari instead of soy sauce.

HOW TO MAKE FRIED RICE WITH LEFTOVER RICE

Making fried rice using leftover rice is a great way of using those day old rice. I normally make extra white rice and next day I make fried rice with it.

Super quick and a great for lunch boxes. My kids absolutely love fried rice.

In a fry pan or a wok, on a high heat, add oil, veggies, soy sauce, sesame oil, and saute for 2-3 minutes.

Add the cooked rice, adjust the seasoning - salt and black pepper, give it a quick stir.

Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and let the rice warm through.

Turn off the heat. Add some green onions (green part) and serve. 

You can also add egg, chicken or meat. Just cook it before adding the rice. Remove from the wok and set it aside. In the same wok,  stir fry the rice.

Once rice is heated through, add the egg or meat, mix well  and serve.

CAN FRIED RICE BE FROZEN

Yes, you can easily freeze this fried rice for up to a month. If planning on freezing, I don't add any egg or meat.

Divide the rice into freezer safe containers of Ziploc bags and freeze it. 

Defrost the fried rice in the refrigerator or on a counter top. Reheat and serve.

HOW TO REHEAT FRIED RICE

You can reheat the fried rice in Instant pot, Stove top or in a microwave.

FOR INSTANT POT REHEATING - make sure you have enough quantity of rice to reheat.

Add rice in the inner pot, for a cup of rice add around 2-3 tablespoon of water, mix and set it to Manual /Pressure cook mode (high) for "ZERO" minutes.

Let pressure release naturally, around 5 minutes, open the lid and serve.

FOR STOVE TOP REHEATING - On a medium heat, in a skillet, add rice, couple of tablespoon of water, mix and cover for 3-5 minutes. Mix and serve.

FOR MICROWAVE REHEATING - In a microwave safe bowl, add rice, couple of tablespoon of water, cover the bowl with some lid or plate, so that moisture will be trapped inside and steam the rice. 

HOW LONG DOES FRIED RICE STAY GOOD

Fried rice stays good for 3-5 days in the refrigerator. Store it a airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat and serve.

Fried rice can also be frozen for up to a month. Defrost in the refrigerator, reheat and serve.

Pic Shown: Instant Pot Fried Rice

 

 

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