Most people grew up on short-grain or long-grain white rice, but as they’ve gotten older, they’ve come to appreciate brown rice for its nutty flavor and fiber content. But what’s the best brown rice? There are many different types of brown rice, each with its own unique flavors and textures. The overall aesthetic is a chewy texture and a nutty, earthy flavor. The most important criteria for brown rice are taste and texture. The texture should be chewy yet firm, and the taste should be natural, grassy, and nutty.
This article explores the best brown rice brands, their nutritional benefits, and how they can contribute to a healthy diet, including weight loss.
Nutritional Benefits of Brown Rice
Brown rice is a whole grain that retains the bran layer and germ, unlike white rice. This makes it a more nutritious choice, offering several health benefits.
Fiber and Protein Content
Brown rice provides similar amounts of calories and carbs to white rice. However, the brown variety is slightly higher in fiber and protein. Fiber promotes feelings of fullness and can help in maintaining a moderate weight. It also aids in regulating blood sugar and insulin levels. Research indicates that consuming brown rice in place of white rice can reduce body weight, although its effect on blood sugar control may vary.
Antioxidant Properties
Brown rice bran contains flavonoid antioxidants like apigenin, quercetin, and luteolin. These compounds play an important role in disease prevention.
Read also: The Ultimate Guide to Male Diet Supplements
Comparison with Other Rice Varieties
Black rice, red rice, and wild rice offer unique nutritional profiles compared to brown and white rice. Black rice is rich in anthocyanins, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Red rice is also high in flavonoid antioxidants. Wild rice is a good source of vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins, magnesium, and manganese.
White rice, on the other hand, has the husk, bran, and germ removed, resulting in a loss of nutrients. However, it is often enriched with B vitamins and iron.
Top Brown Rice Brands
Here is a list of some of the best brown rice brands available in the market, based on expert reviews and taste tests:
- Seeds of Change: This brand is known for its convenience and simplicity. Their microwaveable brown rice pouches offer a quick and easy way to enjoy flavorful rice. The grains are coated in a delicious, fatty oil, making it quite addictive. Sporked raves about the “sheer simplicity” of their microwaveable rice, praising its texture and flavor compared to other mushy and bland options. It is also the best organic brown rice. This deliciously buttery, earthy, and nutty rice only asks that you microwave it for 90 seconds. Ninety seconds! The sheer simplicity of this excellent product is the reason it’s number one. A lot of microwavable rice has a mushy texture and a bland taste, but not Seeds of Change. Each grain feels like it’s coated in deliciously fatty oil, which makes it quite addicting. This is a real win for microwave brown rice.
- Sukoyaka Genmai Brown Rice: This Japanese brand offers a unique flavor profile, blending the sweetness of white rice with the earthiness of brown rice. It is starchier than other brown rice varieties, making it suitable for dishes like yaki onigiri (grilled rice balls). Sporked delves deeper into its unique qualities, describing it as an “amalgamation of the best parts of both kinds of rice.” They find it “noticeably starchier” than other brown rice varieties, which translates to a satisfying texture, especially when seared into pan-fried rice balls. Sukoyaka is super starchy, sweet, earthy, nutty, and delicious. It’s my new favorite rice. I’m so excited to explore all the possibilities with it at home.
- Lundberg Family Farms: Lundberg is a trusted brand known for its organic farming practices. Their long-grain brown rice is rich, nutty, and versatile, pairing well with various dishes. Lundberg Family Farms has been around for so long that when they first started, most rice crops were grown organically by default. This brand offers great products that are high quality and reasonably priced. You can rest easy when you enjoy this brand because they have their rice products analyzed for several environmental contaminants, including arsenic. “This is the perfect example of the versatility of brown rice, which, as the product of a processing method, can be applied to several varieties of rice grain.
- Dynasty Jasmine Brown Rice: Dynasty combines the fragrant aroma of jasmine rice with the wholesome texture of brown rice. It has a firm texture and can be used in various Asian-inspired dishes. Dynasty Jasmine Brown Rice promises a unique culinary experience by combining the fragrant aroma of jasmine and the wholesome texture of brown rice. Beyond taste, Dynasty offers health benefits. The texture of Dynasty Jasmine Brown Rice deserves its own mention. Chef’s Pencil describes it as “firm,” so much so that some people freeze leftover cooked rice for later use.
- Nishiki Brown Rice: Nishiki offers great quality rice with a firm yet tender texture and a slight nutty flavor. It is an affordable and versatile option for various dishes. Nishiki manages to make its rice firm, yet tender with a slight nutty flavor. When it comes to brown rice, this brand emerges as a top contender, praised for its affordability, distinctive quality, and versatility. Gessell Frisbee highlights its accessibility and convenience, available in large 15 lb. But affordability isn’t its only strength. Culinary versatility is another key aspect. Chef’s Pencil describes its nutty, rich flavor and adaptability to various dishes.
- Minute Brown Rice: For those seeking convenience, Minute Brown Rice is a great option. It is pre-cooked and dried, offering a fluffy texture and delicious brown rice flavor without the stovetop hassle. Minute Brown Rice understands the modern need for speed and convenience without sacrificing taste or health. The secret behind its speed lies in pre-cooking and drying, as Chef’s Pencil reveals. The “fluffy” texture is another key draw, described by Taste of Home as having perfectly separated grains and delivering delicious brown rice flavor without the stovetop hassle.
- Pride of India: This brand emphasizes sustainability and quality. Their rice is sourced directly from farms and undergoes a special aging process to enhance its aroma and flavor.
How to Incorporate Brown Rice into Your Diet for Weight Loss
To maximize the weight loss benefits of brown rice, consider the following tips:
- Replace White Rice: Substitute brown rice for white rice in your meals to increase your fiber and nutrient intake.
- Control Portion Sizes: Be mindful of portion sizes to manage your calorie intake.
- Combine with Other Healthy Foods: Pair brown rice with lean proteins, vegetables, and legumes to create balanced and filling meals.
- Choose Whole Grain Varieties: Opt for whole grain varieties of rice to increase your intake of antioxidants.
- Limit Processed Products: Be cautious of packaged rice blends that may be high in calories, sodium, or added sugar.
Different Types of Brown Rice
- Brown Basmati Rice (Long Grain): Basmati rice has long, thin grains that cook up dry, soft, and fluffy. It is native to the Indian subcontinent and remains the most popular rice in India. Brown basmati rice is also the obvious choice for Indian recipes, such as biryani. It also works well for soups, casseroles, and rice pilaf-anywhere you want rice to hold its shape and texture.
- Best substitutes: Any other long-grain brown or whole grain rice
- Brown Texmati Rice (Long Grain): Texmati rice is a basmati hybrid grown in America that is tender and light with a toasty popcorn flavor. As the name implies, Texmati rice’s texture is similar to basmati, and it can be used interchangeably in any recipe that calls for basmati or long-grain brown rice.
- Best substitutes: basmati rice, Carolina Gold rice (another American hybrid), or any other long-grain brown rice
- Brown Jasmine Rice (Long Grain): Super aromatic jasmine rice cooks up light and slightly firm. It’s the most popular rice in Thailand, where “new crop” jasmine rice is prized for its distinctive fragrance and taste. We specifically call for jasmine rice in our Oil-Free Tofu Fried Rice, but you shouldn’t reserve it solely for Asian dishes: Jasmine rice’s moist, tender texture makes it an excellent all-purpose rice option.
- Best substitutes: any long- or medium-grain brown rice
- Black ‘Forbidden’ Rice (Short, Medium, and Long Grain): Black rice is an heirloom variety from China that contains anthocyanins, the same natural pigments that give eggplants their stunning black or purplish color. The grains have an earthy, robust, whole grain flavor that’s stronger than most other rice varieties. Try black rice in grain bowls, rice salads, and sushi rolls to add a splash of dramatic color.
- Best substitutes: medium-grain brown rice or red rice
- Red Rice (Short, Medium, and Long Grain): Red rice is native to different regions around the world and can be short-, medium-, or long-grain, depending on where it is grown. Its ruddy-hued bran coating keeps the grains firm and distinct and gives them a nutty, slightly sweet flavor that is similar to wild rice. Try blending red rice with brown rice to add texture, or use it on its own in grain bowls, salads, pilafs, and soups.
- Best substitutes: wild rice, Calrose brown rice, and black “forbidden” rice
- Brown Sushi Rice (Short Grain): High-starch sushi rice is extremely mild-flavored, soft and sticky. It is sometimes called Japanese rice and can be easily shaped for sushi. Use it to make sushi and in any recipe that calls for short-grain rice, including rice pudding and risotto.
- Best substitutes: short-grain brown rice, black “forbidden” rice, and Calrose brown rice
- Brown Arborio or Carnaroli Rice (Short Grain): Arborio and Carnaroli are Italian rice varieties that are used for risotto. Their starchy, creamy texture when cooked also make them good for breakfast porridges and rice puddings.
- Best substitutes: short-grain brown rice, brown sushi rice, and Calrose brown rice
- Calrose Brown Rice (Medium Grain): This ultimate all-purpose rice bridges the gap between fluffy long-grain and sticky short-grain varieties to be firm but creamy. Its mild flavor and creaminess make it a delicious option for risotto when brown arborio rice is unavailable.
- Best substitutes: red rice, sprouted rice, sushi rice
- Carolina Gold Rice (Long Grain): This heirloom variety from South Carolina was reintroduced on the rice market by Anson Mills in 1998. It has an earthy fragrance and flavor that is highly sought after by chefs. If you can find it, try Carolina Gold rice in any recipe that calls for basmati or long-grain brown rice.
- Best substitutes: brown basmati, Texmati rice
- Black Sticky Rice (Long Grain): Also called glutinous or sweet rice, sticky rice is a cultivar that is high in amylopectin, a plant starch that makes the grains stick together when cooked. Whole grain sticky rice is black or purple. Sticky rice is usually soaked and steamed before it’s added to sweet and savory recipes, but it can also be used to make risotto or rice pudding.
- Best substitutes: short grain brown rice, sushi rice
- Sprouted Brown Rice (Long or Short Grain): Sprouted rice isn’t a specific rice varietal. Any type of brown rice can be allowed to germinate before it is dried to become sprouted rice. It has to be brown rice, though, as refined white rice won’t germinate. The sprouting process gives it a robust, hearty flavor while increasing the bioavailability of the grains’ nutrients.
Read also: Meal replacement guide for women
Read also: Chlorine Brand Comparison