Extension for Real Life

Types of Rice

Did you know there are more than 120,000 varieties of rice in the world? It’s true. And they can all be produced in the U.S.

Rice is classified by how much it’s milled, its kernel size, starch content, and size.

Degrees of Milling:

• Rough rice is straight out of the rice paddy. It’s just been harvested. It’s unprocessed and not suitable for human consumption because it can’t be digested.
• Whole-grain rice is also called brown rice. The hull has been removed but the bran layer remains. It contains the bran, endosperm, and germ, which makes it 100% whole grain.
• White rice has only the endosperm. Milling removes the outer husk, bran layers, and germ.

Size:

• Long-grain rice has long, slender kernels and works well in stir-fry, salad, pilafs, and soup.
• Medium-grain rice has shorter and wider kernels that work well in creamy and sweet dishes, including risotto.
• Short-grain rice has kernels that are short, plump and almost round. Like medium grain rice, this size works well for creamy and sweet dishes, as well as Asian dishes.

Have you seen recipes that call for Jasmine or Basmati rice or seen these products on grocery store shelves? Well, these varieties, along with some others, are classified as specialty and aromatic rice. They have different flavor profiles that include a popcorn flavor with subtle floral or nutty notes, sweet spiciness, and sweet nuttiness.

You can find rice in all kinds of forms:

• Parboiled: Because of the way this rice is milled, the grains are fluffier and firmer in texture, which makes it perfect for food service, frozen products, and dry soup mixes.
• Precooked: Also called quick-cooking or instant rice, it has been fully cooked and dehydrated.
• Retort: Packaged in pouches or cups, it is ready to be eaten after briefly heating.

Fun fact: Wild rice isn’t really rice! It’s a semi-aquatic grass that is 100% whole grain and native to North America.

For more information about rice and all its types and forms, visit the USA Rice website.

This content is compiled from USARice.com.