Everything to Know About Long Grain Rice

Though India is the largest producer of rice, it is a staple in every kitchen worldwide. The different varieties of rice allow the preparation of a limitless number of recipes. It’s because the taste, texture, and other unique properties of rice varieties give a different perspective to different cooking applications.

With so many options available in the market, the one that’s very popular and tastes amazing is long grain rice. The other options based on size are medium grain rice and small grain rice. Though all the three are best in their applications, long-grain rice is often preferred due to different reasons.

In this post, we will discuss long-grain rice in detail considering different perspectives.

Characteristics of long grain rice

In India, the popular variety of long-grain rice is Basmati. Whether you lookout for the best quality long grain rice online or in stores, the result will be Basmati (both by search engines and sellers in the store). There might be other variety but Basmati is on the top of the list.

This rice variety is aromatic, fragrant, and slender with a nutty flavour. The length of rice ranges between 6.61 and 7.5 mm. Sometimes, a few brands offer very long grain rice that is more than 7.50 mm.

The long-grain rice, especially Basmati comes as dry and separate grains. On cooking, the texture becomes tender but remains firm without splitting. Also, it is non-sticky. Often, the size of the long-grain rice is twice after cooking and the aroma is mesmerizing.

Cooking instruction for long-grain rice

For a quality result, you should soak the rice for 20 to 30 minutes before cooking. At the time of cooking, the soaking water is discarded and twice the amount of water by volume is added to rice. You can cook this rice variety either in the pressure cooker or open pan. The only difference is you need to add more water when cooking the pan and drain the excess water once cooked. To keep the rice separate and fluffy, leave the rice a little less than done.

Things to consider when buying long grain rice

· If you are buying the best quality long grain rice online, prefer pre-packaged cans and check the manufacture and expiry date (use-by date). If packed for long, rice has the potential to become rancid. Bulk purchase is a bit suspicious during online shopping. It’s because you are unaware of the storage condition of the product.

· If you are buying from a store, you can choose a pre-packed or bulk section. It’s because you can determine the condition of the product on the spot. For bulk buying, you should ensure that the bin containing rice is duly covered and the store has a good turnover to maintain the freshness.

· Whether you purchase pre-packed cans or in bulk, there should be no evidence of moisture, contamination with stones and debris, or infestation by insects.

Lastly, there are lots of benefits of including long grain rice or dishes prepared using the same in your meal, but you can enjoy the benefits only if you buy the best quality rice.