Families who do little cooking during their stay
If you need rice to go with a meal for several people in a hurry, start with the stated number of portions and check whether your rental has a microwave or hob.
Who are these formats suitable for?
Families who like to vary their meals
Plain rice makes a handy base to serve with food you buy locally. A few seasoned recipes give you different options, as long as you work out how much you’ll need for each meal.
Anyone who needs to check the ingredients
If someone in your group avoids certain allergens or ingredients of animal origin, check each recipe separately. Two ready-to-heat rice products from the same brand can have different ingredients.
What should you check before buying?
For a family holiday, start by checking the appliances available and how many people you’re feeding. Then compare recipes based on any ingredients you need to avoid and the role rice will play in your different meals.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Heating | Check whether the pouch is suitable for a microwave, a frying pan or both, then read the instructions for your chosen format. | If I’m not sure what appliances the rental has, I want to be able to prepare the rice using what’s available. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this compatibility. |
| Quantity | Compare the net weight and stated portions, taking into account the other food served with the rice. | To feed everyone at the table, I need to know whether one pouch will be enough or if I’ll need several. Around 27% of consumers prioritise portion sizes. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients, declared allergens and any warnings about traces for each recipe. | If someone needs to avoid an ingredient, I can’t rely on the recipe name alone. This check is a priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Planning meals | Choose between plain rice to serve with other food and seasoned recipes, then plan how many packs you’ll need during your stay. | If every meal is different, I want the flexibility to alternate between plain rice and ready-seasoned options. Around 20% of consumers value this flexibility. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming the stated portions make a complete meal
The portions shown refer to the amount of rice, not necessarily the whole meal. For example, Auchan product pages list a 450 g pouch of Ben's Original as four portions and a 250 g pouch of Auchan rice as two portions.
Count how many people you’re feeding, decide what you’ll serve with the rice and add up the portions in the pouches you plan to use.
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Choosing by flavour without checking the ingredients
Carrefour’s product page for Ben's Original tomato and olive oil rice lists milk, while Auchan’s page for Suzi Wan Cantonese rice lists egg, milk, pork, sesame, soya and wheat, among other ingredients.
Check the ingredients and allergens for the product you’re buying, even if another recipe from the same brand was suitable for your family.
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Assuming all pouches need a microwave
Auchan’s product pages for Ben's Original long-grain express rice and Auchan plain rice also give instructions for cooking in a frying pan. Instructions can still vary from one pouch to another.
Check the rental’s inventory and choose a product with heating instructions that match the appliances available.
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Assuming all leftovers keep for the same length of time
Auchan’s product pages say that the plain rice products mentioned can be kept in the fridge for up to three days after opening, while Joybuy’s page for Ben's Original tomato and olive oil rice says 48 hours.
Keep pouches sealed until you’re ready to use them, and follow the instructions on the pack you’ve bought when storing leftovers.
Brands and ranges to know
Ben's Original
The range includes plain express rice and seasoned recipes that are ready to heat.
- Auchan describes the 450 g long-grain pouch as four portions and says it can be prepared in the microwave or a frying pan.
- Ingredients vary by recipe: Carrefour lists milk in the tomato and olive oil version. Check the flavour you choose.
Auchan
The retailer’s range includes plain parboiled rice in an express pouch.
- Its product page lists 250 g as two portions and gives instructions for heating in the microwave or a frying pan.
- If you’re feeding a larger group, work out how many pouches you’ll need and what you’ll serve with the plain rice.
Suzi Wan
The range includes Cantonese rice in a pouch that’s ready to heat.
- Auchan describes the 220 g product as suitable for two people, with instructions for heating in the microwave or a frying pan.
- The recipe lists egg, milk, pork, sesame, soya and wheat, among other ingredients. Check the ingredients to make sure it suits everyone in your group.
Comptoir du Grain / Marque Repère
E.Leclerc’s range includes 250 g of plain express rice under this brand.
- This format gives you another quantity to consider if you’re looking for plain rice to serve with other food.
- Check which products are available at the shop where you plan to buy your groceries.
ALDI / Bon-Ri
ALDI offers Bon-Ri rice for cooking, including long-grain and basmati varieties.
- These rice varieties can be part of your holiday meals if you plan to cook during your stay.
- Dry rice that needs cooking isn’t prepared in the same way as a pouch of ready-cooked rice, so factor in the time and equipment you’ll need.
Rice and rice dishes on Joybuy
These products include plain rice cups and seasoned dishes. For a family meal in a holiday rental, compare their formats with the number of people you’re feeding and check each product’s preparation method before relying on it.
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ASHOKA Instant Lentils & Cumin Rice 250 g
A lentil and cumin rice dish if you fancy something different from plain rice. The pack contains 250 g; check how many portions you’ll need for everyone at the table, along with the preparation instructions and allergen information on the pack.
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Ben's Original Express Tomato & Olive Oil Rice 220 g
A 220 g seasoned rice pouch to consider as a side dish if your rental has a microwave or frying pan. Carrefour’s product page gives cooking times of two minutes in the microwave or three minutes in a frying pan, and lists milk in the recipe. Work out how many pouches your family will need.
For this product, Joybuy’s page says to keep it in an airtight container in the fridge after opening and use within 48 hours.
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Ottogi Cooked Rice, 3 x 210 g cups
Three cups of cooked rice to share between meals or serve with other food. Check how many people each cup will serve and read the reheating instructions before choosing it for your rental.
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Ottogi Curry Rice Cup 320 g
A 320 g cup of curry rice if you’re looking for a seasoned dish rather than a plain base. Check the pack instructions before planning to prepare it in your rental, as well as the quantity needed per person and the ingredients in the recipe.
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OTOKI Cooked Rice Cup 210 g
A 210 g cup of plain cooked rice to serve with other food. If you’re preparing rice for several people, work out how many cups you’ll need and check the reheating method on the pack.
Frequently asked questions
How many pouches of rice should I get for a family?
Start with the stated portions for the rice, then adjust for the number of people and the other food in your meal. Auchan lists four portions for 450 g of Ben's Original long-grain rice, compared with two for its 250 g plain parboiled rice. These figures don’t mean that the rice alone makes a complete meal.
Can you prepare express rice without a microwave?
Yes, if the product you choose gives instructions for cooking it in a frying pan and your rental has a hob. Auchan’s product pages for Ben's Original long-grain and Auchan plain rice pouches include this option. Follow the instructions for the product you’ve bought, rather than those for a different format.
Which ingredients should I check in a ready-made rice dish?
Check the ingredients and allergens in each recipe, particularly if someone in your group avoids certain ingredients. Carrefour lists milk in Ben's Original tomato and olive oil rice, while Auchan lists egg, milk, pork, sesame, soya and wheat, among other ingredients, in Suzi Wan Cantonese rice. In France, the Ministry of the Economy states that allergens in prepacked foods must be declared and highlighted on the label.
How long can you keep a pouch of rice after opening?
Follow the storage time and instructions on the product you’ve bought, as these vary by product. Auchan’s product pages say that its 450 g Ben's Original long-grain rice and 250 g plain parboiled rice can be kept in the fridge for three days. Joybuy’s page for Ben's Original tomato and olive oil rice says it can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for 48 hours.