"Instant" Rice

ONE

Full Member
Nov 21, 2019
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Does anyone know of a source for plain "just add water" rice in the UK? It's called Minute Rice in the States, and you can get that here in international grocers for silly money. But I'm looking for a UK/Euro source at "normal" prices. There are various flavoured snack pack things that fit the bill, but I'm after just plain long grain rice.
 

ONE

Full Member
Nov 21, 2019
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N. Ireland
If you can not this rice, would cous cous do?
Umm... Yes & no. It would fulfil a similar role if I were simply looking to make an easy meal for sure. But in this instance, I want rice!

I have rat-pack stuff in retort pouches that you just need to heat, but that's comparatively bulky for what I'm after too!
 

Robson Valley

On a new journey
Nov 24, 2014
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McBride, BC
I have a deep drawer in my kitchen with 4 kinds of rice and CDN Wild grass "rice." The cook times vary so much. Wild rice is 60 minutes, my plain basmati is 20 minutes. Which will it be? I can't help but keep thinking about the fuel cost to cook it vs the energy benefit to you, the camper.
Couscous in water + salt & lemon juice needs boiling water then take it off and let it sit to cook. That's a single blast from the stove and I'm done.
 

FerlasDave

Full Member
Jun 18, 2008
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Is it not just called “quick cook rice” over here?

In the past I’ve used the packet microwave ones and just emptied them into a pot with a small amount of water to heat them through. Is that a solution?
 
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Toddy

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Jan 21, 2005
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You can make it yourself.

It's hot soaked and then steamed plain rice that is then oven dried.

The hot soak and steaming cracks the rice grains enough that they re-absorb water quickly.

It's time consuming, it uses energy twice over, and the subsequent grains are lacking in vitamins, minerals, and arguably a lot of rice taste, but it's quick food.

M
 

Toddy

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Is it expensive ?

Indian ladies have a kind of quick cook rice that's like our 'rolled oats'. It's pre-cooked (steamed) and squished into flakes and then dried.

M
 

TLM

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Nov 16, 2019
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Is it expensive ?
No, basically the same price as normal "60 min" rice. As I understand it is pre-steamed and dried, it looks like untreated one.

I use it when eating on treks as it is ready to eat almost instantly, my (very non gourmet) way is that I boil the water and then add the rice, by the time it has cooled to edible temp it is ready to eat.
 
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ONE

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Nov 21, 2019
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N. Ireland
Thanks everyone, the microwave stuff is effectively the same as the rat-pack rice, more or less ready to eat. It's great, but not what I'm after in this instance. I think I'll take a lead from Toddy and DIY, maybe use my dehydrator.

I can distinctly remember suitable products being easily, and cheaply, available here in the past. Perhaps the microwave option has done away with it.
 

Jared

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Sep 8, 2005
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Freeze dried rice £19.90/kg

 
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Toddy

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Jan 21, 2005
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Freeze dried rice £19.90/kg


Nearly twenty quid a kilo ??? I buy ten kilos of Basmati from Sainsbury's for under twelve.
Twenty quid ? what have they added ? gold ?

M....with housewife hat firmly on :rolleyes2:
 
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