Reader question: I have not figured out how to buy parboiled brown rice. Can you please give me some examples of brands? Is this like minute rice? I’ve always thought the nutrition was not as good as whole uncooked rice. ~ Gail H., San Francisco Bay Area, California
Hi Gail. Parboiled rice is rice that has been soaked in the husk, steamed, and dried before sale. Re-cooking parboiled rice does not take as long as cooking raw rice does because it has been partially pre-cooked already. On the stovetop, parboiled rice may cook in one-third the time needed to cook raw rice.
Parboiled white rice retains 80% of the nutrients of brown rice, more than regular white rice, which loses a lot of nutrients when the bran is removed during polishing. During parboiling, the nutrients are pushed from the bran into the endosperm, or kernel, of the rice.
Parboiled rice is often sold as “instant” rice, “minute” rice, “boil-in-a-bag” rice… The sole ingredient in parboiled rice is rice. Rice that has been slightly pre-cooked and then dried out. I can find parboiled brown rice in “boil-in-a-bag”, 1-cup portions in my local Kroger’s grocery store as well as in natural health groceries.
When I want to prepare brown rice in a Glorious One-Pot Meal, I find using parboiled brown rice gives more consistent results than starting with raw brown rice.
What I have not been able to find is parboiled organic brown rice. I’m holding out hope. If anyone finds any, please let me know!
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Which one is better steam rice or raw rice
Hello,
Which one should I choose raw red rice or boiled red rice? Which one is better for weight lose?
Thanks
Parboiled rice is opposite from organic. Rice looses most of it’s qualities because of parboiling and drying.
White rice is acquired by processing (removing husks from) brown rice, the whole point of brown rice is that it contains a lot more micro-nutrients and fiber (in its husk). Parboiling turns rice in more of a ballast than nutrition.
Because of the husk you need to cook brown rice longer than white rice, hence you might need to adjust amount of water too (due to evaporation), knowing that there shouldn’t be any problem cooking it perfectly every time.
Very good site you have here but I was wondering if you knew of any discussion boards that cover the same
topics discussed here? I’d really love to be a part of group where I can get suggestions from other experienced people that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Thank you!
Trader Joe’s carries organic brown basmati rice.
Ooohhh… something to look forward to when we FINALLY get a Trader Joe’s here in Colorado!
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