10 Types Of Rice And How To Use Them
Rice is a starchy staple that helps keep the world population fed. Along with wheat, it is the most popular grain on the planet, and it’s also quite tasty. While everyone knows what rice is, and just about every adult has cooked it at least once, far fewer people know about the many different varieties of rice you can buy and prepare at home.
Some staple rice varieties that every home cook should store in the kitchen pantry include basmati, jasmine, calrose, and arborio rice. If you love paella, then ensure you have bomba rice on hand, and buy sushi rice if you love Japanese cuisine. Wild rice and brown rice are fantastic healthy rice options, while black rice is a beautiful and fun variety worth trying.
You might think that serving rice as a side dish gets boring after a while. This might be true if you are always using the same white rice night after night. Life doesn’t have to be this bland. To diversify your kitchen pantry and liven up your menu, you should try some (or all) of the unique and interesting rice varieties listed below.
10 Types Of Rice You Should Buy (And When To Use Them)
1. Basmati
Basmati is one of the most popular and distinct grains of rice on the planet. This rice is easy to distinguish from other varieties when it’s cooked due to its signature long grain. It expands lengthwise significantly when cooked, making it one of the longest-grain rices on the planet.
It has a light and fluffy texture, which makes it great when served with saucy dishes or alongside soups. Basmati rice is very popular in Indian and other Eastern cuisines.
You can buy brown or white basmati rice and store it in your pantry. The white is much more commonly used, but the brown variety has more fiber and nutrients, making it a healthier option.
2. Calrose
If you are looking for the perfect rice that you can use for just about any type of cuisine, then Calrose is a great go-to. This rice is so versatile, thanks to its ability to absorb water, and also its size.
Calrose is a medium-grain rice. This makes it large enough to serve as a side dish, and to use in Mexican and or Latin-American cuisines, but also fine enough that you can use it in Japanese cuisine (although it’s not quite a sushi rice).
Calrose is widely available in the United States, and it is also quite affordable. Its pleasant size and texture give it a great mouthfeel. As long as you rinse or toast it first, it’s rather easy to cook, and it makes for a more exciting option than plain white rice.
3. Arborio
If you are looking for a rice that can absorb all the lovely flavors you add to the broth you cook it in, then you need arborio rice. This fat, short-grain rice is the classic Italian grain used in the signature rice dish, risotto.
This is the only rice you should use to make a tasty and creamy risotto, but it has many other uses. You can use it to make paella or other dishes that involve stock and meat or seafood. In short, this option is great when you need a rice that will absorb flavor like a sponge without quickly becoming overcooked.
4. Jasmine
Jasmine rice is another exotic rice that has become more mainstream throughout the years. Known for its very light and sticky texture, and its sweet and nutty flavor, jasmine rice is great to add to your grain arsenal.
It is not as versatile as calrose, but it can be used in several cuisines. It’s great when served on the side of Thai curries and other stew-like Eastern cuisine dishes. It can also be used to make tasty fried rice, especially if it’s been left in the fridge for a day.
If you want to have a slightly more elegant rice, add a kaffir lime leaf or lemongrass to the water to have a lovely and light fragrant rice as a side dish.
5. Black “Forbidden”
One rice that is sure to start a conversation is black, or “forbidden” rice. As its name suggests, this is not your typical white or brown rice. It is, instead, a deep black color.
It is a whole grain rice, and therefore has lots of nutrition. It has the highest antioxidant level of any rice, and also more protein than most other varieties. The flavor is nutty and rich like brown rice, but with more sweetness.
Since this is a whole grain rice, it takes much longer to cook than white rice, but it’s worth the wait. More than any other rice on this list, black rice is sure to start a conversation at the dinner table with its stunning color.
6. Sushi
If you were wondering if you can use any white rice to make sushi, the answer is no. Any sushi chef will tell you that the rice selection is as important as the fish selection when making sushi and other Japanese dishes that involve rice.
This is a short-grain white rice known for its balance of texture and sweetness. It is sticky, but not too sticky, and short but not too short of a grain. It also has a great mouthfeel, where it doesn't taste al dente, but doesn't turn to mush in your mouth.
Cooking sushi rice must be precise. Overcooking it with too much water can turn it into a soft porridge. If you are interested in making sushi at home, you can find this type of rice in most supermarkets and just about any Asian grocery store.
7. Wild
If you want to find rice in its purest form, and the closest to its original ancient grain roots, then you must buy wild rice. Wild rice is a multi-colored and dark rice that you can use in all sorts of wholesome dishes. It’s very popular with roasted chicken, and fish like salmon and trout.
It is arguably the healthiest rice on the planet as well. It is very high in fiber, and also a significant source of protein. This helps balance out the high carbohydrate content found in all rice. It is also rich in nutrients and antioxidants.
This rice can take more than twice as long as to cook as white rice, so don’t wait until the last minute to start this side dish.
8. Glutinous
If you are familiar with Thai cuisine, then you are almost certainly familiar with sticky rice. Glutinous, or “sticky” rice as it is usually called, is the most uniquely textured rice you can prepare. It is so sticky that you usually eat it with your hands, and often use it as a utensil to scoop up food.
Glutinous rice is steamed in a blanket and doesn’t touch water. This means you need a cheesecloth and a steamer basket to cook it.
9. Brown
While there is no single type of brown rice, you can typically find brown medium or long-grain rice sold simply as “brown rice’ in grocery stores. Regardless of its size and exact variety, brown rice is purchased and used for two reasons.
First, people buy brown rice for its health benefits. Brown rice has a lot more fiber and protein than white rice. It also has significantly more nutrients, including magnesium, potassium, and several B vitamins.
The other reason brown rice is great to buy and cook with is its flavor. It has a more nutty and earthy texture than other types of rice, and even the mouth feel has a bit of an al dente chew to it. This rice might take longer to cook, but it’s a great alternative to white rice for those looking for pantry items that can lower cholesterol levels.
10. Bomba
Lastly, if paella is one of your favorite meals to eat, then your kitchen pantry isn’t complete without bomba rice. Like arborio rice, this grain is known for its amazing absorbability and also its lovely chewy texture.
Bomba rice is from Spain, as is paella, which is why this is the ultimate paella rice. It’s ideal for those who like to “eyeball” ingredients rather than use exact measurements, as it won’t turn to mush if you add a little too much liquid to the pot.
Summing Up Rice Types You Should Buy And Use In Your Home
Rice keeps billions of bellies full around the world. It’s safe to say everyone knows about rice, but there is more than just one type of rice worth storing in your kitchen pantry. Some top exotic rice varieties worth buying to zest up your meals include jasmine, basmati, bomba, and sushi rice. Brown rice, black rice, and wild rice have unique colors and are loaded with fiber, protein, and nutrients.
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Tom Gaffey is an expert writer who currently resides in Washington D.C. Tom has a passion for real estate and home improvement writing, as well as travel and lifestyle writing. He lived the last twelve years in Hawaii where he worked closely with luxury resorts and event planners, mastering his knowledge of aesthetics and luxury products. This is where he found his passion for home improvement and a keen interest in DIY projects. Currently, Tom resides in Washington D.C, and also working on his debut fiction novel.
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