The best rice can make or break your stir-frys, grain bowls, and flavorful comfort food sides. We’ve been taste-testing all kinds of rice over the years—instant rice, boxed rice, and even just the plain old grain—to find the best rice brands on the market. We’ve ranked everything from fluffy white rice to hearty brown rice, spicy and rich Mexican rice, aromatic yellow rice, and even the best frozen fried rice. Here’s our running list of the best rice brands to store in your pantry for easy and delicious meals.
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- Mahatma Extra Long Grain Enriched Rice
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Spooning fluffy white rice out of a rice cooker is, in my correct opinion, one of the most comforting ways to start any meal. Mahatma is one of the best rice brands to buy, and their classic long grain white rice is no exception. It’s an all-around good choice for just about any cuisine; you can trust it for your Japanese-inspired breakfast dishes or slow-cooked curries or anything you want to drench in delicious flavors. Obviously, different recipes call for different white rice varieties, so if you’re looking for other options, check out our full list of the best white rice.
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- Seeds of Change Brown Basmati Rice
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We’re just as surprised as you are that an instant rice look the #1 spot in our ranking of the best brown rice. But Seeds of Change is that good. It’s buttery and nutty, with a perfect texture and unique oily quality to every grain. Yes, the convenience is great, but the flavor is what really makes it one of the best rice pouches to keep around.
Read our full ranking of the best brown rice
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- Mahatma Yellow Rice
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I’m a staunch defender of store-bought yellow rice, even if the whole concept feels like false advertising—most brands primarily use food dyes to get that yellow coloring, not saffron or turmeric. Mahatma Yellow Rice does list saffron and turmeric as ingredients—and while that may be a plus, it’s definitely not the reason we’ve named it the best yellow rice. We tried cult-favorite brands like Goya and Zatarain’s, which are both pretty great, but Mahatma’s tender, fluffy long-grain rice (our #1 white rice, too) really harmonizes with the aromatic spices in a way that feels extra special. Be warned: Since this long-grain rice can be a little more finicky, you do need to get that water-to-rice ratio right, or you might run into some issues. For extra flavor, replace water with chicken broth and toss in some diced onion, too.
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- Vigo Authentic Mexican Rice with Corn
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Vigo proves that packaged Mexican rice mix can absolutely taste authentic. This has the perfect blend of spices, including actual saffron, plus a kick of heat that enhances all the other flavors. The rice is fluffy and moist without being too squishy. The corn and pepper bites are also so satisfying and flavorful—if anything, we just wish there were more of them in the mix!
Read our full ranking of the best boxed Mexican rice
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- 365 Whole Foods Market Wild Rice
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When we set out to find the best wild rice at the grocery store, we included rice blends in our taste test because, let’s face it, black, dense, aggressively nutty rice isn’t for everyone. That said, if it’s for you, try 365’s wild rice. Its flavor is complex and the texture is delightfully chewy and firm—this is great for wild rice soup, but we think you could also use it to brew a take on brown rice tea at home.
Read the full ranking of the best wild rice
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- Tony Chachere’s Creole Dirty Rice
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Don’t have time to fry up some giblets or ground beef to pair with your cajun rice? Hey, no worries. You won’t be wanting for savory flavor in this Louisiana-style dirty rice from Tony Chachere’s. With rich ingredients like bell peppers, chili powder, and worcestershire powder (and that’s just naming a few), this stuff satisfies all on its own.
Read our full ranking of the best best cajun rice
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- Grain Trust Hibachi Fried Rice
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A lot of frozen fried rice can taste too one note, lacking the umami quality you really look for in Japanese stir-fry, but Grain Trust’s Hibachi Fried Rice has great depth of flavor. Plus, the rice grains have the perfect texture: a slight stickiness that gives them an authentic, fresh-off-the-wok taste. (Bonus: This rice is vegan and gluten-free!)
Read our full ranking of the best frozen fried rice
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- GliAironi Carnaroli
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Instead of the typical arborio risotto rice you find more commonly at the grocery store, Gli Aironi’s risotto uses the slightly starchier, more al dente carnaroli rice. The result is a firmer, fuller risotto that tastes authentic and rich. Be warned: Once you try it, you won’t want to go back.
Read our ranking of the best rice for risotto
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- Green Giant Riced Veggies Cauliflower
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We see you, grain bowl fanatics. Trust us when we tell you that Green Giant makes the perfect plain cauliflower rice base to whatever healthy, vibrant, Sweetgreen-inspired creation you want to dream up. It’s fluffy and still a little bit crunchy, with just the right amount of salt. You don’t have to use the whole packet when you cook it, either, since it comes with a very handy resealable bag that makes it easy to store right back in the freezer.
Read our ranking of the best cauliflower rice
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Best White Rice
Rating:
9/10
Sporks
Best Brown Rice
Rating:
9/10
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Best Yellow Rice
Rating:
9.5/10
Sporks
Best Boxed Mexican Rice
Rating:
9.5/10
Sporks
Best Wild Rice
Rating:
9/10
Sporks
Best Cajun Rice
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Best Frozen Fried Rice
Rating:
9/10
Sporks
Best Rice for Risotto
Rating:
9/10
Sporks
Best Cauliflower Rice
Rating:
9/10
Sporks
