Rinse rice 2-3 times, until water runs clear. Then, soak the rice in 2 cups of water for 10-15 minutes (this varies among different brands and lengths of long grain rice). Rinse again after soaking to remove the excess starch.
Pressure Cook ONE of Two ways
Main Pot: Turn on the Instant Pot. Add rinsed rice, water, salt and oil (if using). Close the lid and set the vent to sealing mode. Pressure cook for 6 minutes at high pressure on Pressure cook or Manual mode.
Pot-in-Pot Method: Assemble the rinsed rice, water, salt and olive oil (if using) in an oven safe bowl that fits easily in your Instant Pot. Depending on the size of your pot, add 1-2 cups of water in the inner pot. Place a trivet. Place the rice bowl on top of that. Close the lid and pressure cook for 6 minutes at high pressure, sealing mode.
Release Pressure and Fluff Rice
Once cooking time is up, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes. Release the remaining pressure by following the quick release instructions of your model. Open the lid after the pin drops.Using a fork, gently fluff the rice. No stirring. Then, let the rice rest for 5 minutes, uncovered. This evaporates any excess moisture and the end result is fluffier.
Notes
Soak: Soak the rice for 10-15 minutes to remove excess starch. It makes the end result very light and fluffy.
Liquid to Rice Ratio: The water-to-rice ratio is way different in the Instant Pot as compared to the stovetop recipe. For best and accurate results, it is important to use the same cup measure for both rice and water.
Cook Time: In my test runs, results were exactly the same when cooking rice at high pressure for 6 mins, or, on the Rice mode. So, pick a mode based on your convenience.
NPR vs QR: For best results, I let the pressure release naturally for 5-10 minutes, after which I manually release the remaining pressure. However, I perform a quick pressure release when making biryani.
Pot-in-Pot Method: Add water to the inner pot based on the size of your pot. For 3 qt and 6qt, add 1 cup. For 8qt, add 2 cups. Note: You still have to add water to the rice bowl as per the recipe instructions.
Fluff: No stirring. Gently fluff the grains with a fork.
Rest: Let the rice rest for 5 minutes, uncovered. This evaporates any excess moisture and the end result is fluffier. If the moisture content seems too much after opening the lid, remove the steel insert from the base and let it sit uncovered for 5 minutes before fluffing.
Note: The nutrition facts below are my estimates. If you are following any diet plan, I recommend cross-checking with your preferred nutrition calculator.