There are many of types of rice and knowing a bit about them can help you decide what type to choose for your recipe. Most types of rice are defined either by the size of their grain, or by their origin. Different varieties need different styles of cooking and they produce different textures and flavors.
Long-Grain Rice cooks dry and fluffy, with tender, separate grains. It is 4 to 5 times as long as it is wide. Carolina is a variety of long-grain grown in the southern U.S.
Basmati is another type of long-grain that is sometimes referred to as the “champagne of riceâ€. It is highly prized for its aromatic fragrance and is a staple in Indian cooking. Basmati rice should be rinsed before cooking.
Pecan Rice is a long-grain brown rice with the flavor of pecans.
Medium-Grain Rice such as Arborio is slightly more round and absorbs more water than the long-grain varieties. This produces moister, stickier rice. Medium-grain rice can be used in recipes the same way as long-grain rice.
Sticky Rice, or Glutinous Rice is a medium to short-grain rice used in Oriental cooking because it is easier to eat with chopsticks.
Thai Fragrant Rice has a wonderful fragrance, and its tender grains are much prized by the Thais and Vietnamese.
Wild Rice is an aquatic grass that grows along rivers and lakes on the Canadian-American border. The long, thin, black grains have a nutty flavor and a chewy texture. Because it is very expensive, it is often mixed with white (especially long-grain) rice. Wild rice takes 15 to 20 minutes longer than white rice to cook and absorbs four times its volume in liquid.
Tags: rice categories