A multipack of cooked rice is a good choice if you want to keep several portions ready to reheat for quick lunches. Individual pouches let you match your shopping to the number of meals you have planned. Dry rice needs to be cooked, so it serves a different purpose. In every case, check the format, portion size and ingredients of the exact product you choose: rice on its own may not make a complete lunch.
You want a quick rice base that you can serve with other foods to suit your meal. Auchan says its six-pack of 220 g Ben’s Original pouches takes two minutes in the microwave or three minutes in a frying pan. Check the instructions for the exact product you buy.
You want to plan several lunches without mistaking a multipack of individual portions for one large container. Check the number of units, the weight of each one and the storage instructions before buying in bulk.
You want to choose a recipe to suit the whole meal, rather than relying on the word ‘healthy’. Compare the ingredients, allergens, nutrition information and portion size on the exact packaging.
First, decide whether you need cooked rice to reheat or have time to cook dry rice. Then choose between several portions packaged together and buying individual portions.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| What makes up the meal | Read the ingredients, allergens and nutrition information, and check the portion size for the exact recipe. Think about what you’ll serve with the rice. | If I’m building my lunch around rice, I want to know what’s in the recipe and what else I’ll add to my plate. Around 42% of consumers prioritise these ingredients. |
| Speed and stock | Check the number of portions, the stated preparation method and the storage instructions. | When my lunch break is short, I want to be able to grab a cooked portion from the cupboard. This availability comes before other criteria for around 33% of consumers. |
| Choosing the right format | Tell the difference between a multipack of bowls, a multipack of pouches, an individual pouch and dry rice. Compare their weights with the number of meals you actually plan to make. | If I only use express rice occasionally, I’d rather choose an amount that suits my needs than leave unused portions in the cupboard. Format is the priority for around 25% of consumers. |
A pouch makes it easier to prepare the rice base, but it doesn’t tell you everything about the meal. Seasoned recipes can also have different ingredients and allergens from one product to another.
Choose a portion and recipe with what you’ll serve alongside the rice in mind. Check the label before planning several identical meals.
A multipack of cooked rice pouches or bowls isn’t a tin of prepared food. The container and contents affect what you’re buying for your cupboard.
Check the product description, packaging type, number of units and total weight before choosing a multipack.
Dry rice needs to be cooked, while express rice is designed to be reheated. This difference matters if you only have a short lunch break or limited equipment.
Start by choosing a preparation method that works for your lunch, then compare portion sizes for products intended for the same use.
Storage instructions for a sealed product don’t tell you how to store its contents once it’s open.
Check the date on the packaging and follow the instructions for that particular product, especially those that apply after opening.
Auchan lists a six-pack of 220 g express rice pouches, among other options. Other products from the brand are sold individually or in different formats.
The retailer offers own-brand and national-brand microwaveable rice pouches in a range of recipes and formats.
The retailer’s product listings include express rice from Ben’s Original, Taureau Ailé and Lustucru, each in its own format.
These products include cooked rice in multipacks of bowls or as individual portions, as well as an express rice pouch. When stocking up, don’t confuse these packs with tins, and choose the number of portions that suits your meals.
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A multipack to consider if you’d like to keep several portions of cooked rice ready to build your lunches around.
This pack contains three bowls, not tins. Check the packaging for preparation and storage instructions.
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This individual pouch is a good choice if you’d rather plan one lunch at a time than buy a multipack.
It’s a tomato and olive oil recipe. Check the ingredients, allergens, portion size and preparation instructions for this product.
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This bowl of cooked rice is handy when you need an individual portion for a one-off meal.
It’s sold individually, not as part of a multipack. Check the packaging for preparation and storage instructions.
Not necessarily: it provides a base for your meal, and what else you serve with it will affect how complete it is. To plan your lunch, choose the accompaniments you’d like and check the ingredients and portion size on the pouch.
Compare the exact products rather than guessing their ingredients from the recipe name. Read the ingredients, allergens and nutrition information per 100 g, and consider how much you plan to serve.
Follow the instructions on each pack and check the date before stocking up. For the dry Ben’s Original rice listed by Auchan, the product listing says to store it in a dry place at room temperature. Once a product is open, follow the instructions specific to that product.
No: a ‘use by’ date and a ‘best before’ date don’t mean the same thing, as explained by the Ministry of the Economy. Read the exact wording on the product and follow its storage instructions, particularly after opening.