How to choose the best basmati rice?
Let’s come to the point. Rice eaters worldwide know what Basmati Rice is and from where it comes. However, not many people know how to choose the best basmati rice. So, how to choose a good quality basmati rice?
If you are a fan of Indian food, you would have probably enjoyed a bowl or two of basmati rice. Rice is one of the world’s most popular grains and a staple diet in the south and East Asia. The grain is rich in fiber and carbohydrates and is known to control high blood pressure and reduce cholesterol levels. The best basmati rice is known for its fragrance, doesn’t stick together, and gels perfectly with curry dishes.
What is basmati rice?
It’s long-grain rice that has both brown and white varieties. Basmati rice is well known for its use in Indian and South Asian cuisines because most basmati rice is grown in this part of the world. To make a nice rice dish, it can be added with ingredients like Garlic, mint, and peas. Some dishes also contain spices like turmeric, coconut, and saffron.
Essential qualities of a good basmati Rice
The grain size
What is true of good wine is also true of Basmati rice. Like wine, the older the Rice, the better the quality! Australia imports the best Basmati rice from India. Although Rice isn’t the number one grain in Australia in terms of total consumption, a sizeable number of people there love Rice. Although all rice bags in Australia have an expiry date mentioned, this doesn’t matter when it comes to basmati rice. The important thing is how to store your Rice. Are you keeping it safe from moisture in an air-tight container?
Many premium brands from India are exported to countries like Australia. Long grain Basmati rice is considered the best quality. However, people generally stick to their favorite brands and are skeptical about trying new varieties.
How do I choose the best basmati rice?
There is a simple test to know whether Basmati rice is of good quality. The best basmati rice has a good aroma. The best Basmati rice had an incredible aroma. Even before you start cooking, you can easily tell whether the basmati rice has a good aroma. Hold a few grains of Rice and take a deep breath. The smell shouldn’t be musty! If the Rice has no aroma at this stage, that is alright.
How much water should you add to cooking basmati rice in a rice cooker?
If you are cooking basmati rice in a rice cooker, take 1 cup of Rice, and add 1.5 cups of tap water.
What is the importance of color for good basmati rice?
Basmati rice packages these days are done in see-through packaging. It makes the job easier to pick the best quality Rice. Good quality basmati rice shouldn’t have pearly white grains. We know the older the Rice, the better; therefore, off-white and slightly yellowish Rice is perfect!
What’s the best way to cook basmati rice?
To begin with, we should soak basmati rice in a bowl full of tap water for 30 minutes before cooking them. However, good-quality basmati rice will still yield great results without soaking. It’s always better to cook basmati rice the old-fashioned way.
Just fill a big pot full of water on the gas burner. Once the water starts boiling, add the soaked basmati rice. Stir it occasionally and keep a close eye on the grains getting bigger. In between, scoop up some rice grains with a spoon, and press them using your fingers. If they break easily, the rice is cooked! Get rid of excess water, which is full of starch. If you add a little salt to the water, your rice will get a nice flavor. Your rice is ready to be served!
Gluten-free basmati rice
Gluten is a protein found in every wheat product. It’s like glue that helps to hold wheat, barley, rye, and semolina together to give them their shape. Gluten is found in whole grains and also in many processed foods.
Basmati rice is gluten-free. However, basmati rice is like any other grain and can be processed with other gluten-containing grains. If you are looking for gluten-free basmati rice, consider buying a brand that shows a gluten-free label on the packaging. A gluten-free label indicates that the product contains no more than 20ppm of gluten in that product. Another important thing that needs to be noticed is that even if basmati rice is naturally gluten-free, the other ingredients usually added to make a rice dish should also be gluten-free. For instance, ingredients like soy sauce or any other sauce containing flour will have gluten. Therefore, it’s better to be aware of all the ingredients in a dish while preparing recipes at home.
