For a quick lunch at work, choose plain rice if you plan to add other ingredients, or a ready-made recipe if you want to bring fewer separate ingredients. Either way, check that you can prepare it using the equipment available. If you’re stocking up, also check the storage instructions before opening, the date on the pack and the number of servings.
If you have access to a microwave, a pouch you can heat up saves you having to cook dried rice. Carrefour France says its 250 g Carrefour Classic express basmati rice takes 1 min 30, while Auchan gives a cooking time of 2 minutes for its 220 g Suzi Wan basmati rice. Check the instructions for the product you choose.
If you want to keep a pouch in a cupboard, look for instructions confirming it can be stored at room temperature before opening, and check the date on the packaging. Storage instructions may change once it’s opened.
To compare plain rice with a seasoned recipe, check the ingredients and allergen information for each variety. The examples from Carrefour France and Auchan show that ingredients vary from one recipe to another; you can’t tell what’s in a product from the brand name alone.
Start by checking how you can prepare it at work. If you also want to keep the pouch as a back-up meal, check its storage instructions and the date on the pack.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Time and equipment | Preparation time and the equipment required, according to the instructions. | When my break is short, I look for a pouch I can prepare using the equipment available at work. This would be the top priority for around 46% of consumers. |
| Storage | Storage instructions before and after opening, and the date on the pouch. | If I’m keeping an emergency lunch in a cupboard, I need to know whether an unopened pouch can be stored there and what to do with any leftovers. Around 27% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Ingredients | Ingredients and allergens in the specific recipe. | If I’m comparing plain rice with a seasoned recipe, I want to know what ingredients each one contains. Around 18% of consumers would put this first. |
| Pack size | The weight of the pouch and the number of servings stated. | When I’m having lunch alone at work, I look for an amount I can use without needing to store any leftovers. Around 9% of consumers would put this need first. |
Dried rice that needs cooking isn’t the same as a pouch you can heat up during a short break.
Check the preparation time and instructions on the packaging, especially if you only have access to a microwave.
The weight of the pack alone doesn’t tell you how many servings it contains. Auchan says its 220 g Suzi Wan basmati rice serves two.
Check the number of servings and decide whether you’ll bring anything else to eat with the rice.
If you only use part of the pouch, you’ll need to store the rest according to the instructions for that product.
Ingredients vary between plain and ready-made rice, and from one seasoned recipe to another. The product information for Céréal Bio teriyaki rice published by Carrefour France lists soya, among other ingredients.
Check the ingredients list and any allergens highlighted on the specific pack you’re buying.
Instructions to store a product at room temperature before opening don’t necessarily apply once it’s been opened. For its plain rice with a hint of butter, Auchan’s product information says to keep it in the fridge for up to three days after opening.
Follow the instructions on your pouch as soon as you open it; don’t assume the storage time given for another product applies.
Ben’s Original is the name to look for if you’re searching for pouches previously known as Uncle Ben’s.
Carrefour France lists, among other products, a 250 g pouch of express basmati rice that’s ready in 1 min 30.
Auchan’s microwave rice range includes plain options and a variety of ready-made recipes.
E.Leclerc lists a 250 g pouch of plain Comptoir du Grain express rice among its rice products.
Check that the packaging says it can be stored at room temperature before opening, then check the date and any accompanying storage instructions. The words “quick rice” alone aren’t enough to tell you where to store it.
Yes, as long as the instructions describe a preparation method that suits the equipment you have. Auchan says its 220 g Suzi Wan basmati rice can be prepared in a frying pan, although you’ll need access to a suitably equipped kitchen. Check the instructions for the product you choose.
No. The number of servings depends on the product, not just its weight. Auchan says its 220 g Suzi Wan basmati rice serves two. Check the serving information on the pouch and think about what you’re planning to eat with the rice.
No, they depend on the specific recipe. Carrefour France’s product information for Céréal Bio teriyaki rice lists soya, while Auchan’s information for Lustucru rice with a hint of butter lists milk. Check the details on the packaging you’re buying.
Follow the storage instructions for that specific pouch after opening, and don’t automatically put it back in the cupboard. For Lustucru rice with a hint of butter, Auchan’s product information says to keep it in the fridge for up to three days after opening. This doesn’t apply to every product.