Busy families on weeknights
You want a side dish that’s quick to divide between several plates, with a stated number of portions and reheating instructions that suit your kitchen.
Who are these formats for?
Households with changing portion needs
Sometimes there are two of you at the table, sometimes more, and you want to prepare only the number of pouches you need.
Shoppers who check the recipe
You compare the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for each recipe before choosing a format.
What should you check first?
Start with the number of portions you need to serve, then check whether the recipe suits your household and how to prepare each pouch. The weight alone won’t tell you how many portions the pack contains.
| What matters | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Quick family serving | The stated number of portions and the heating time at the power setting shown on the pack. | I want to serve rice to everyone at the table without having to prepare several batches. Around 31% of shoppers put quick serving at the top of their list. |
| Flexible portions | The number of portions per pouch and how many pouches can be prepared separately. | When the number of guests changes, I’d rather prepare only the amount I need. This flexibility is the top priority for around 25% of shoppers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | The ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ information for the exact recipe. | If someone in my household needs to avoid an ingredient, I check the recipe before considering its format. Around 25% of shoppers make this their main criterion. |
| What’s on the dinner menu | Nutritional information per 100 g and per portion, particularly salt, and how the rice fits alongside the other parts of the meal. | I want to know what the recipe adds to dinner before deciding what to serve with the rice. For around 19% of shoppers, this is their main concern. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming ‘family-size’ means there’ll be enough rice for everyone
Auchan’s range includes pouches for one person as well as a Ben’s Original multipack stated to serve four. The weight alone won’t tell you how many plates you can serve.
Compare the number of portions stated on the pack with the number of people at the table and the role rice will play in your meal.
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Assuming another recipe in the range has the same allergens
Ingredients vary from one cooked rice recipe to another. In France, the Ministry of the Economy reminds shoppers that allergens must be listed and highlighted on the label.
Read the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ information for the product and format you’re buying.
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Choosing based only on flavour or Nutri-Score
These details alone don’t tell you how much rice you’ll serve or what the whole dinner contains. Anses recommends reading food labels to check, among other things, the salt content.
Compare the nutritional values per 100 g and per portion, then decide what else you’d like to serve.
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Using the heating time from a different pouch
Heating times can vary depending on the product and microwave power. For example, Auchan’s product information for the Ben’s Original Chinese-style Sauté multipack gives a heating time of 3 minutes at 700 W or 2 min 30 at 900 W.
Follow the instructions printed on the pouch you’ve chosen, rather than those for another product.
Brands to know when comparing formats
Ben’s Original
The range includes pouches of rice to heat up, including multipacks designed to serve several portions.
- According to Auchan’s product information, the Chinese-style Sauté multipack is stated to serve four, with a heating time of 3 minutes at 700 W or 2 min 30 at 900 W.
- Recipes and their allergens vary, so check the label for the product you choose.
Auchan
The express rice range includes plain pouches and cooked rice recipes.
- In the range shown by Auchan, some 250 g products are stated to serve two.
- Check the stated portions for each recipe rather than estimating them from the weight.
Taureau Ailé
The express rice range shown by Auchan includes plain basmati and flavoured recipes in 220 g pouches.
- The choice of recipes makes it easy to find a side dish to suit the dinner you have planned.
- If you’re serving several people, work out how many pouches you need using the portions stated for each product.
Suzi Wan
The range shown by Auchan includes 220 g rice pouches to heat up, including basmati and recipes inspired by Asian cuisines.
- The pouch format lets you adjust how many products you prepare.
- Check the number of portions per pouch before planning a meal for the whole family.
Céréal Bio
The Teriyaki recipe shown by Carrefour combines wholegrain rice, vegetables and soya protein in a 220 g pack.
- Its ingredients list makes it easy to compare with plain rice, depending on what else you’re planning to serve for dinner.
- This recipe contains soya, wheat and sesame, among other ingredients. Check the label if you need to avoid them.
A product on Joybuy for sharing
This 900 g risotto is presented as a dish to share, rather than as a pouch of express rice. For a weeknight dinner, check the number of portions and the preparation instructions before counting on it for a quick meal.
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Marie Risotto Plet Champ, 900 g
This pack is presented as a dish to share. Check the number of portions before choosing it for everyone at the table.
Keep frozen at −18 °C. Check the packaging for preparation method and time, as well as ingredients and allergens.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose enough cooked rice for four people?
Check the stated number of portions rather than looking at the weight alone. Auchan’s product information for the Ben’s Original Chinese-style Sauté multipack states that it serves four, with four 450 g pouches. Then adjust the quantity to suit the role rice will play in your meal.
Do all cooked rice products heat up in the same way?
No. Follow the instructions for the product you’ve bought and the microwave power setting stated. For the Ben’s Original Chinese-style Sauté multipack shown by Auchan, the heating times are 3 minutes at 700 W or 2 min 30 at 900 W.
What should I check if I have an allergy to an ingredient?
Check the allergens highlighted in the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ information on the exact product packaging. The recipes mentioned here may contain soya, wheat, celery or sesame, among other ingredients. The ingredients in one recipe don’t tell you what’s in the others.