For a New Year's Eve dinner with a large group, start by choosing the variety of rice your menu calls for, then select a pack size that suits the number of guests and what you can store after the meal. A large bag of long-grain rice is a good choice if you want to serve plenty as a side dish. Basmati, fragrant rice or rice from a specific region will suit different recipes, so the heaviest pack isn’t necessarily the best option.
If rice is part of a buffet or served alongside several dishes on New Year's Eve, estimate how much you’ll need before choosing between one large bag and several smaller packs. Also think about how you’ll use any leftover rice.
If your recipe calls for basmati, fragrant rice or Camargue rice, choose the variety before deciding on the pack size. Standard long-grain rice won’t necessarily meet the same culinary needs.
When you need to serve several dishes at the same time, the cooking instructions and storage guidance on the pack are just as important as its weight when planning the meal.
For a New Year's Eve meal that includes rice, start with the dish you’re making, estimate how much you’ll serve, then check how to cook and store the variety you’ve chosen.
| What to consider | What to check | Who should consider it? |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity | The net quantity and how many packs you’ll need for the meal you’re planning. | If I’m serving rice to lots of guests, I want to buy enough without ending up with more than I’ll use afterwards. Around 31% of consumers would prioritise quantity. |
| Variety and recipe | The name of the rice, the grain type and, if the recipe calls for it, the stated origin. | If a dish calls for basmati or fragrant rice, I look for the right variety first rather than any large pack. Variety would be the top priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Cooking schedule | The cooking time, amount of water and method stated on the pack you’ve chosen. | When several dishes need to be served together, I need to fit the rice cooking into the serving schedule. Around 23% of consumers would put this at the top of their list. |
| Label and storage | The ingredients, date, condition of the pack and storage instructions. | If I buy a large bag before New Year's Eve, I want to know what’s in it and how to store the rest once it’s open. Around 15% of consumers would make this their priority. |
Standard long-grain rice and basmati may both be available in large packs, but they aren’t suited to the same recipes. The weight of the pack won’t tell you whether the rice is right for your dish.
Choose the variety you want before deciding how much to buy.
A pack that’s too large for the meal also leaves you with more rice to store and use later.
Cooking instructions can vary depending on the rice and the method used. For example, the Taureau Ailé fragrant rice sold by Auchan has a stated cooking time of 10 to 12 minutes; this shouldn’t be assumed for all fragrant rice.
Read the instructions on the pack you’ll be serving and factor in any batches when planning your meal.
The net quantity, ingredients, date and storage instructions will help you plan your purchase and manage any rice left over after New Year's Eve.
Check these details on the product you buy, as well as the condition of its packaging.
These products show a range of varieties and pack sizes. Compare the individual products rather than assuming a brand will suit every recipe.
Carrefour’s product listing includes a 2 kg pack of long-grain rice.
The E.Leclerc range includes a 2 kg pack of parboiled long-grain rice with a stated cooking time of 10 minutes.
The Carrefour listings we checked include 1 kg packs of parboiled long-grain rice and parboiled brown rice.
The 1 kg products listed by Auchan include fragrant long-grain rice and Camargue rice.
These products include long-grain rice, basmati — including one variety with broken grains — and fragrant rice for New Year's Eve. Pack sizes range from 2 to 20 kg. Choose a variety to suit your dish first, then pick a quantity you’ll use.
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Worth considering if your menu calls for basmati for a large gathering, rather than standard long-grain rice.
The product title describes extra-long-grain basmati rice in a 5 kg bag. Check the cooking instructions on the pack before planning when to serve it.
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Worth considering if you need plenty of long-grain rice to serve with your meal and your recipe doesn’t call for basmati or fragrant rice.
The product title states that the pack contains 2,5 kg. Check the cooking instructions on the pack before deciding when to start preparing it.
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This bag is only suitable for New Year's Eve if you need a very large quantity of basmati or plan to use the rest after the meal.
The stated pack size is 20 kg. Before buying, make sure you have somewhere suitable to store it and check the instructions on the packaging.
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Worth considering if you’d prefer fragrant rice rather than standard long-grain rice to serve with your menu.
The product title states that it’s from Cambodia and comes in a 2 kg pack. Read the instructions on the pack to plan how to cook it.
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Only choose this if your recipe is suitable for broken basmati grains. It’s not the same as whole-grain basmati served as a side dish.
The product title states that the bag contains 10 kg. Check that this quantity and the cooking instructions on the pack suit your dish.
No. A 2 kg pack is suitable if the variety matches your dish and you’ll use that quantity. If your recipe calls for basmati, fragrant rice or rice from a specific region, choose the type of rice first, then adjust the number of packs.
First check the name of the rice and the net quantity, then look at the ingredients, date and storage instructions for the product you’ve chosen. The DGCCRF highlights the importance of the product name and ingredients list on food labels.
No. Dry rice may have a best-before date (DDM), which is different from a use-by date (DLC). The Ministry of the Economy describes a DDM as an indication of durability. Also check the condition of the pack and follow its storage instructions.
Follow the instructions on the pack you’ve bought and seal it carefully after opening. The Taureau Ailé products listed by Auchan state that they should be stored in a dry place. Check the instructions for your own product before putting away a large pack.