People looking for wholegrain rice
You want to prepare a quick base for lunch and choose wholegrain rice or a wholegrain mix, taking fibre into account when making your choice.
Who are these formats for?
People who put their own lunch together
You’d rather heat plain rice and add your own vegetables, seasoning and other ingredients than buy a ready-made recipe.
People choosing a ready-to-heat recipe
You’re looking for pre-seasoned rice to save time and want to check its ingredients, allergens and stated number of servings.
What should you look for?
Decide whether your priority is fibre, a portion size that suits your lunch or control over the ingredients. The pack weight alone won’t tell you everything.
| What to consider | What to check | Who might prioritise it? |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre | Look for the words ‘wholegrain rice’ and compare the fibre listed per 100 g; check the allergens in any rice mix. | If fibre is my priority, I look for wholegrain rice rather than judging by the look of the pack. Around 42% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Portion and preparation | Compare the net weight, number of servings and heating instructions for the product you’re considering. | For a quick lunch, I want to know whether the pack contains the amount I plan to eat. This would be the priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients | Read the ingredients and allergen information, then check the nutritional values per 100 g, particularly sugar and salt. | If I want to season the rice myself or avoid a particular ingredient, checking the ingredients comes before choosing a ready-made recipe. Around 25% of consumers would put this check first. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming a compact pack is one serving
The products we looked at don’t all have the same number of servings: Auchan states that its 250 g plain basmati serves two, while the Taureau Ailé 220 g basmati listing states one serving.
Check the net weight and number of servings on the pack, then choose an amount that suits the role rice will play in your lunch.
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Relying on the name of a ready-made recipe
A rice recipe may contain ingredients other than rice and spices. The Ben's Original paella listed by Auchan includes chorizo and chicken, for example.
Before buying, read the ingredients and allergen information, especially if you avoid certain foods.
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Using Nutri-Score as your only source of nutritional information
If it appears on the pack, Nutri-Score doesn’t tell you everything about the ingredients, allergens or number of servings.
When comparing rice products for the same purpose, also check the nutritional information per 100 g and the stated serving size.
Brands to know
Ben's Original
The range includes quick-cook plain, wholegrain and flavoured rice pouches.
- The 220 g wholegrain rice pouch listed by Auchan contains 98% steamed parboiled wholegrain rice.
- The number of servings may be shown differently in a product title and its specifications, so check the packaging.
Taureau Ailé
The brand offers quick-cook plain basmati rice in a pouch, among other products.
- Auchan states that the 220 g plain basmati pouch we looked at contains one serving.
- If fibre is guiding your choice, compare its nutritional values with those of wholegrain rice.
Carrefour Classic'
The range includes plain quick-cook rice and ready-made recipes in 250 g pouches.
- The ‘1 min 30’ basmati product we looked at comes in a 250 g pouch.
- Don’t assume the pouch is the right size for your portion based on its weight alone; check the product information.
Auchan
The brand offers quick-cook plain basmati rice in a 250 g pouch.
- The product we looked at is labelled as serving two, which is useful when planning a meal.
- If you’re having lunch on your own, check whether you want to use the whole pouch at once or divide it up, following the storage instructions on the packaging.
Marque Repère / Comptoir du Grain (E.Leclerc)
The range listed by E.Leclerc includes plain quick-cook rice and a mushroom recipe in a 250 g format.
- These two types of recipe let you choose between a plain rice base and rice that’s already been cooked with other ingredients.
- Check the label on the product you choose for its servings, ingredients and preparation instructions.
Ready-to-heat rice formats on Joybuy
These options include cooked rice bowls to use as a base for lunch, as well as a pouch of pre-seasoned rice. Choose the format that suits the ingredients you want to add, and check the serving size on each pack.
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OTOKI Cooked Rice Cup 210 g
A cooked rice bowl to consider if you’d like to add the other ingredients for your lunch yourself.
Format: one 210 g bowl. Check the heating instructions on the packaging.
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Ottogi Cooked Rice 210 g, pack of 3
This pack is a good choice if you plan to use separate cooked rice bowls for several lunches.
The title states that the pack contains three 210 g bowls. Check the serving size and heating instructions on the packaging.
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Ben's Original Express Tomato & Olive Oil 220 g
A ready-seasoned recipe to consider if you don’t want to prepare the rice base yourself.
220 g pouch. If you avoid milk, check the ingredients list; also check the stated number of servings.
Frequently asked questions
Is a pouch of quick-cook rice enough for lunch on its own?
Not necessarily. Consider the stated serving size and what else you want to eat for lunch. Plain rice gives you the freedom to choose which vegetables and other ingredients to add.
How can I tell whether quick-cook rice is intended for one person?
Check the number of servings on the packaging as well as the net weight. Auchan states that its 250 g plain basmati serves two, while the listing for 220 g Taureau Ailé basmati states one serving. The weight alone isn’t enough to tell you.
Where can I check the allergens in a rice recipe?
Check the ingredients list on the packaging of the product you choose. The DGCCRF states that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted there, so don’t rely on the recipe name alone.
Can I split an opened pouch between two meals?
Before planning to use one pouch for two meals, follow the storage instructions for that product. Check the packaging for guidance after opening, particularly for rice that hasn’t yet been reheated.