We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Food

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Boil-In-Bag Rice?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 29,735
Share

Boil-in-bag rice is a convenience food which packages parboiled rice in a ready-to-cook bag. The bag is dropped into boiling water to cook the rice, and then split open so that the rice is ready to serve. The cooking time for this type of rice tends to be shorter than that for conventional rice, and many brands actually have excellent nutritional value, making it a good dietary choice as well as an easily prepared food. Many grocery stores sell boil-in-bag rice, and it can also be ordered directly through the companies which produce it.

When rice is parboiled, it is typically cooked in the husk. The parboiling process forces nutrients into the grain of the rice, and the husk cracks away, leaving the grain behind. The result is a partially cooked rice which tends to be harder and less sticky than plain rice. Parboiled rice is used in many Asian countries. Parboiled rice is also sometimes called “converted” rice, and it tends to have a faint yellowish tinge which does not impact the flavor.

There are two basic types of boil-in-bag rice. One uses parboiled rice which must still be cooked before it can be consumed, although the cooking process is much shorter. Typically, the rice comes in a perforated bag which is dropped into boiling water and cooked for around 10 minutes. The rice can be served directly out of the bag, or it can be fluffed into a serving bowl and allowed to sit for a moment. Some companies also make microwavable boil-in-bag rice.

The other type of boil-in-bag rice uses “instant rice,” rice which has been cooked all the way and then dehydrated. Instant rice takes only a few minutes of rehydration and heating to be edible. However, it tends to have a dramatically different flavor and texture, and it is not always as nutritious as other rice options, unless it is enriched.

Cooking time with regular rice can be shortened to be comparable with boil-in-bag rice by long soaking. Conventional rice should also be washed before it is cooked, to remove some of the starch along with any contaminants which may be present such as pesticides. However, this is not always an option for all cooks, and boil-in-bag rice is an excellent alternative. This type of rice is also relatively shelf stable, as long as it is kept in a cool dry place. Once cooked, the rice should be eaten or refrigerated to discourage the growth of bacteria. The cooked rice should be used within one to two days or discarded.

Share
DelightedCooking is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a DelightedCooking researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Discussion Comments
By whiteplane — On Apr 25, 2012

I have some boil in bag brown rice that I like a lot. Brown rice takes longer to cook than white rice and sometimes I just don't have the patience. The boil in bag stuff takes less than ten minutes to cook. Right about the time that the meat and veggies are done the rice is ready to be served.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.delightedcooking.com/what-is-boil-in-bag-rice.htm
Copy this link
DelightedCooking, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

DelightedCooking, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.