What Is Rice and How Can I Use It?
Here's everything worth knowing about rice and how to pick it, what it is, how to store it, and what to use instead, plus 1,288 recipes to cook tonight.
What is rice?
Rice come in many varieties. The main distinction is between long- and short-grain rice.
The grains of long-grain rice (high amylose) tend to remain intact after cooking; short-grain rice (high amylopectin) becomes more sticky. Short-grain rice is used for sweet dishes, for risotto in Italy and many arrossos -as arròs negre, etc.- in Spain.
Rice is cooked by boiling or steaming, and absorbs water during cooking. It can be cooked in just as much water as it absorbs (the absorption method), or in a large quantity of water which is drained before serving (the rapid-boil method).
Electric rice cookers, popular in Asia and Latin America, simplify the process of cooking rice. Rice is often heated in oil before boiling, or oil is added to the water; this is thought to make the cooked rice less sticky.
Rice may be soaked prior to cooking, which saves energy, decreases cooking time, minimizes exposure to high temperature and thus decreases the stickiness of the rice. For some varieties, soaking improves the texture of the cooked rice by increasing expansion of the grains.
Instant rice differs from parboiled rice in that it is milled, fully cooked and then dried. There is also a significant degradation in taste and texture.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 cup (185g)Where found
Rice is usually found in the rice & beans section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.
Food group
Rice is a member of the Cereal Grains and Pasta US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.
How much does rice weigh?
| Amount | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1 cup | 185 grams |
Related
Cereal Grains and Pasta
| In Chinese: | 饭 | |
| British (UK) term: | ||
| en français: | riz | |
| en español: | arroz |
Recipes using rice
There are 1288 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Tex-Mex Rice
Tex-Mex rice toasted in olive oil with garlic and onion, simmered in broth with cumin, and finished with diced red bell pepper. A flavorful Mexican-style side dish from scratch.
Yummy Avgolemono (rice soup)
Avgolemono is the classic Greek lemon-egg rice soup, a silky chicken broth thickened with whisked eggs and fresh lemon juice. Light, restorative, and ready in 35 minutes.
Fresh Tomato Soup Ala Terri
Fresh tomato soup with a bouquet garni of parsley, bay leaf, celery, thyme, and marjoram, pureed smooth with caramelized onion and a butter roux. Topped with sour cream and fresh dill.
Homemade Milk Rice with Coconut Stuffing
Milk Rice is a traditional specialty food item of Sri Lanka made for special occasions. Some Sri Lankans believe it is a lucky food. It is simple to make and very tasty.
Bhel Puri
This is the most commonly sold chaat in the streets of Mumbai. Almost every street has its own friendly bhelwala with his inimitable blends of chutneys and masalas. Bhel is a delectable combination of papadis, puffed rice, sev, onions, potatoes, raw mango and chutneys. The proportions of the various chutneys can be changed to adjust to your personal preferences. Toast the puffed rice to make bhel crisp before using it to make bhel. If you store the puffed rice, sev and papadi and refrigerate or freeze the chutneys, you can rustle up a heavy snack in a jiffy for your hungry kids returning from school.
Calico Burgers
Calico burgers are ground beef patties stretched with cooked rice and flecked with onion, green pepper and parsley. The rice keeps the patties juicy while stretching the meat for budget-friendly grilling.
Tamatar Bhat (Tomato Rice Pilaf)
Fresh or in a pinch canned tomatoes add depth to the rice in this fluffy pilaf. A great side dish and I usually finish cooking the rice using my rice cooker while I'm busy watching the Food Network!
Shrimp & Fish with Green Vegetables in Orange Sauce
delicate, a bit spicy dish inspired by Asian cuisine, and stir-fried in my favorite old wok..
Quick Lemon Rice Soup
A vibrant, healthy lemon rice soup with kale and aromatic spices, ready in under 20 minutes. Perfect for a light, flavorful meal. Vegan, low-fat, and packed with nutrients.
Adai (Savory Indian Pancakes)
These pancakes are low in fat and loaded with protein from the lentils AKA dhals. Not to mention quite tasty.
Cheese Please Casserole
Canned salmon and rice casserole with a creamy cheddar mushroom sauce, topped with buttery cornflake crumbs. Retro comfort food baked until golden and bubbling.
Chili with Kidney Beans
Chili with kidney beans is a hearty crowd-size beef chili built on garlic-browned ground beef, peppers, tomatoes, and red kidney beans, simmered low with chili powder, cloves, and bay. Crowd cooker for game day.
Chunky Vegetarian Chili
Chunky vegetarian chili packed with kidney beans, pinto beans, corn, and rice cooked right in the pot. Mexican-style tomatoes plus chili powder and cumin make a hearty one-pot meal in 45 minutes.
Crispy Easter Nests
Feel too lazy to bake any cookies or cake for Easter. Make these crispy Easter nests that will for sure satisfy everyone. They are easy to make, and taste delicious.
Sichuan Fried Rice
An easy yet flavorful sichuan fried rice is packed with goodness. A great week-day meal is all in one pot.
Mangoes with Sticky Rice
Thai mango sticky rice (khao niaow ma muang) with coconut cream sauce poured over warm sticky rice and served with fresh sliced mangoes. The classic Thai street dessert made from scratch.
Mangoes with Sticky Rice
Thai mango sticky rice (khao niaow ma muang) with coconut cream sauce poured over warm sticky rice and served with fresh sliced mangoes. The classic Thai street dessert made from scratch.
Turkey Leftover Soup
Turkey leftover soup is a creamy post-Thanksgiving bisque with wild and white rice, scallions, crumbled bacon, cubed turkey, and a splash of sherry. The Friday lunch that makes Thursday's bird worth it.
Easy Gluten Free Pancakes
Gluten-free pancakes made with a blend of rice flour, soy flour, and cornmeal. A simple wheat-free breakfast batter you can stir together in minutes for a celiac-safe pancake stack with real flavor.
