Is there any difference with a 40p bag of own brand lg rice and a dearer bag, other than price of course ?
Unless the cheap one is what was Swept up off the floor.
Unless the cheap one is what was Swept up off the floor.
long grain rice
I use Tesco value long grain rice at 40p a bag (1KG). No difference from other branded premium quality long grain rice, it smells just as aromatic when the lid is lifted after steaming for 30 minutes. I would use basmati rice though for dinner parties.
I wouldn't have thought they'd wash raw rice before selling - sounds like a recipe for encouraging mould and bacteria. There will be different varieties, with varying taste and textures, but whether you can tell the difference I don't know. Perhaps cheap brands are hulled more crudely, resulting in broken grains, stodgy rice etc... just a guess.
When it comes to basmati, though, that certainly does have a different, appetising taste and smell to regular long grain. Worth the extra, IMO.
When it comes to basmati, though, that certainly does have a different, appetising taste and smell to regular long grain. Worth the extra, IMO.
I find different brands of rice do have varying flavours, with some cheap ones being very bland.
It's no different to fruit and vegetables. Some fields will grow better rice whilst others have poor soil and water, and are run on the cheap. It's also interesting how some brands tell you not to wash the rice before use and others make a fuss about washing it thoroughly. It's almost an admission that your rice was kept in rancid conditions with rats and mice peeing all over it.
It's no different to fruit and vegetables. Some fields will grow better rice whilst others have poor soil and water, and are run on the cheap. It's also interesting how some brands tell you not to wash the rice before use and others make a fuss about washing it thoroughly. It's almost an admission that your rice was kept in rancid conditions with rats and mice peeing all over it.
Originally Posted by Isambard Brunel:
“I find different brands of rice do have varying flavours, with some cheap ones being very bland.
It's no different to fruit and vegetables. Some fields will grow better rice whilst others have poor soil and water, and are run on the cheap. It's also interesting how some brands tell you not to wash the rice before use and others make a fuss about washing it thoroughly. It's almost an admission that your rice was kept in rancid conditions with rats and mice peeing all over it.”
“I find different brands of rice do have varying flavours, with some cheap ones being very bland.
It's no different to fruit and vegetables. Some fields will grow better rice whilst others have poor soil and water, and are run on the cheap. It's also interesting how some brands tell you not to wash the rice before use and others make a fuss about washing it thoroughly. It's almost an admission that your rice was kept in rancid conditions with rats and mice peeing all over it.”
I think that's more to do with removing the starchy powder coating the grains, particularly important when cooking by absorption.
Originally Posted by lombard:
“I wouldn't have thought they'd wash raw rice before selling - sounds like a recipe for encouraging mould and bacteria. There will be different varieties, with varying taste and textures, but whether you can tell the difference I don't know. Perhaps cheap brands are hulled more crudely, resulting in broken grains, stodgy rice etc... just a guess.
When it comes to basmati, though, that certainly does have a different, appetising taste and smell to regular long grain. Worth the extra, IMO.”
“I wouldn't have thought they'd wash raw rice before selling - sounds like a recipe for encouraging mould and bacteria. There will be different varieties, with varying taste and textures, but whether you can tell the difference I don't know. Perhaps cheap brands are hulled more crudely, resulting in broken grains, stodgy rice etc... just a guess.
When it comes to basmati, though, that certainly does have a different, appetising taste and smell to regular long grain. Worth the extra, IMO.”
I wonder about that with quick cook rice
Well rice is one of those things where I won't buy the value ranges IME the value range rice is often broken grains so it absorbs masses of water and becomes very mushy. Even my dogs don't like it.
I find tilda rice to be a big rip off, 1KG is about 4 quid,when You can get decent 5KG bags of rice for about 5-6 pound
Originally Posted by evil c:
“Try vintage basmati rice if you can afford it.”
“Try vintage basmati rice if you can afford it.”
or the best Basmati - there is a huge difference in flavour. Cheap stuff is a filler.
Originally Posted by Thunderfoot:
“I find tilda rice to be a big rip off, 1KG is about 4 quid,when You can get decent 5KG bags of rice for about 5-6 pound”
“I find tilda rice to be a big rip off, 1KG is about 4 quid,when You can get decent 5KG bags of rice for about 5-6 pound”
Lidl do a premium rice called 'Golden Sun', the packaging of which looks to me like it's styled on Tilda, except it's red instead of blue. It tastes the same to me, except it costs £2 for a 1KG bag rather than whatever the big supermarkets charge for Tilda.
You can get good rice that works out less in huge bags, but I have nowhere to store it!
Aldi are weak when it comes to pasta and rice. They only occasionally bring in one batch of good egg pasta, and I've not once seen good rice.
If the cooked rice is going to be covered in a rich curry, its own taste is lost and will taste good as long as you get the right texture by adding the correct amount of water when cooking by the absorption method.
personally, I think rice is markedly different in quality.
When we use Uncle Ben's, it never goes "sticky", and seems to have a wide cooking point between firm and soft (ie 12 to 15 minutes or so).
To me, cheaper rices to me, seem to go soft and sticky very quickly after they are "just right".
We also like M&S long grain, cheaper than Uncle Bens, but not quite as good, but still cooks well.
When we use Uncle Ben's, it never goes "sticky", and seems to have a wide cooking point between firm and soft (ie 12 to 15 minutes or so).
To me, cheaper rices to me, seem to go soft and sticky very quickly after they are "just right".
We also like M&S long grain, cheaper than Uncle Bens, but not quite as good, but still cooks well.
