Taste The Nutritional Goodness Of Brown Rice

Enjoy Daily Nutrition With Brown Rice

When you stock your pantry with brown rice, you are not only filling your family's tummies, you are providing a food that rightly deserves the title 'Superfood.' Not only does brown rice provide necessary nutrients to meet the daily requirements for whole grains, but it's versatile and delicious, too!

We know that whole grains are considered one of the foundations for a healthy diet, and brown rice fits this need very well. The recommended allowance for whole grains is three servings daily, and with just one and a half cups of cooked brown rice, the three servings are already met! And, with the light, nutty taste and slightly chewy texture, it's easy to envision adding more brown rice into your meals.

Now that we have you convinced of the nutrition and goodness of brown rice, the next step is to stock up and start cooking. But, before you start cooking your first batch, let's take a look at a few other things to know about brown rice.

How to Store

Unprocessed whole grain brown rice has some natural oil, so the shelf life is somewhat shorter than processed white rice. Keep uncooked rice in an airtight container in your pantry for no longer than 6 months. For longer storage (and peace of mind), keep your brown rice in airtight jars or plastic food bags in the refrigerator or freezer.

If you cook large batches of rice for quicker meals, (and you should!) you can store it in the refrigerator for about four or five days before it starts to lose its texture and taste. For even better results, put your cooked rice in airtight containers and throw it in the freezer, where it will keep for about 6 months. You can reheat the cooked rice easily in the microwave or on top of the stove with a few tablespoons of added water. Or you can just add it to the dish you are preparing and it will heat along with the other ingredients.

How to Choose

There are several varieties of brown rice, each with different textures. Your preference will depend on how you like your rice to taste and feel. You'll choose from short grain, medium grain, or long grain brown rice. There are brown rice products now that are faster cooking, too.

An unprocessed, all natural, long grain brown rice will have a nuttier taste and somewhat crunchier texture. This rice is often preferred in hearty dishes and cold salads since it stands up to tossing and stays separated better than other varieties. Medium grain and short grain brown rice are more tender and will clump, making them a nice choice to serve with creamy or saucy dishes spooned on top.

Incorporating brown rice into several meals throughout your day is a great way to add whole grains to your diet. Here are a few suggestions for easy ways to enjoy the nutritional goodness of brown rice every day.

Breakfast - Keep cooked brown rice in your refrigerator for quick morning meals. Put some rice and milk in a microwave proof bowl and heat briefly, stirring several times. Add dried fruit and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup and let sit for a few minutes before serving. For egg lovers, put brown rice in a skillet and cook until just crisped up a little, then add lightly beaten eggs and scramble as usual.

Lunch - Add chilled cooked brown rice to any sandwich wrap you like for extra body and nutrition. For a hot lunch, put a small skillet over medium heat, add cooked brown rice and fry until hot and slightly crisp, then add any leftover vegetables, meat, or nuts and stir until heated through. Brown rice works well in cold salads, too. Prepare a bowl of fresh garden vegetables and brown rice ahead of time, then toss with salad dressing when you're ready to eat for an interesting twist on an old favorite.

Dinner - Stir-fry dishes are a traditional way to add rice to your dinner plans, but think about other ways to work brown rice into your meal. Remember, long grain brown rice works perfectly for hearty meals like soup, stew, and chowder. Consider making a brown rice layered casserole, or use cooked brown rice instead of bread crumbs in meatloaf.

Snack - Whether you are looking for a sweet or savory snack, brown rice can be used to create delicious snacking choices. Rice pudding with raisins and cinnamon is a sweet classic, but spicy rice patties are a great choice for your savory snack lovers.

There are plenty of ways to enjoy three or more servings of brown rice each and every day. From morning to night, this versatile rice just might be the answer to your family's nutritional needs, and all in a tasty way!