How To Choose a Good Quality Basmati Rice?
Most of us know what is Basmati Rice and where does it come from, so we’re going to go straight to the point i.e. How to choose a good quality basmati rice?
Is India Gate and Daawat the best quality basmati rice in the market? While these are great good brands that have earned their “rice perception” in the market, they do come at a price. India Gate Basmati and Daawat Basmati Rice have been in the global market for many years, and you now see them available in bigger retail giants such as Coles and Woolworths. Well, we do sell them too! But they are not the only great quality rice you should try!
WHAT MAKES A GOOD BASMATI?
How big is the grain size?
Just like wine, the older the rice the better the quality! While all rice bags in Australia come with an expiry date, this honestly doesn’t matter when it comes to basmati rice. What’s important is how to store your rice. i.e. away from moisture and ideally in an air tight container.
There are many brands apart from India Gate Basmati and Daawat Basmati that can give you long, thin grain – however many people are skeptical to try out new brands and stick to their comfort zone.
How to tell if the basmati rice has good aroma?
Even before you cook, you can tell if the basmati rice has good aroma. Simply hold the raw rice in your hands and take a deep breath. It should not smell musty! If there is no aroma at this stage, that is fine too. It should not smell like there is mold in it.
What would be the measurement for cooking basmati rice in a rice cooker?
The standard measure for cooking basmati rice in a rice cooker is 1 cup of Rice equals to 1.5 cups of tap water. Too easy!
A lot of rice packages these days have see-through packaging. This makes it a lot easier to pick the right rice for you. A good quality basmati rice doesn’t mean pearly white grains. Since the older the rice the better, off white (very slightly yellowish) rice are the ones that are not polished and just right!
What’s the best way of cooking basmati rice for great results?
Ideally if you can soak them in a bowl full of tap water for 30 mins before you start cooking them it would be fab. However a good quality basmati rice can give you great results even if you bypass the soaking process.
We would strongly recommend you cook your basmati rice the old fashion way. Simply fill a big pot full of water. Once the water boils, add in the soaked (or washed) basmati rice. Stir occasionally and keep an eye on the grains getting bigger. Time to time, scoop up some rice grains and use your fingers to press them. If they smash easily the rice is cooked! Throw away access water, which is full of starch. Your rice is ready!
Tip: Add salt to the water for your rice to have a bit of flavour.
RECCOMENDATIONS FOR GOOD BASMATIC RICE
Basmati Rice Worth It
Long Thin Grain, Value for Money
Chef Choice Tasty Basmati Rice 5kg
We strongly recommend you give this new brand a try! The Chef Choice Tasty Rice is starting to become a very popular choice for many of our customers. The basmati rice has excellent aroma, good size grains, value for money @16.99 for 5kg, and cooks without sticking to each other!
Good long grain rice, good aroma, value for money
Parliament Gold Basmati Rice 5kg
Another excellent quality rice you should consider. When it comes to quality and value for money, this is another great option to consider and the results are as good as the Chef Choice Tasty Rice 5kg. In fact, we would strongly recommend you try both and decide for yourself which one suits your cooking style better!
We hope you found our rice guide helpful! If you ever have any questions on rices, lentils or anything Indian, you can leave a comment and we’d be sure to reply. Thank you for taking the time to read this article! We’ll see you again!
PS: To stay tuned on the latest going on at Tales Of India – Follow us on Facebook & Insta.
