If you need a last-minute accompaniment for raclette, start by considering how much preparation you can manage. Long-grain parboiled rice in cooking bags makes it easy to count portions, while a pouch of pre-cooked rice saves you from having to boil a pan of water. If you have more time and would like to keep rice for other meals, a pack of dry basmati is another option; just check the pack size and cooking instructions.
If the rice is simply there to accompany the cheese, cured meats and vegetables, cooking bags make it easier to count portions. A ready-to-eat format can save you using a pan, but it’s worth checking the ingredients and packaging.
A pack of dry basmati is a good choice if you want to serve fragrant grains and use any leftovers for other meals. You’ll need to allow time to cook it according to the instructions on the pack.
Choosing between white rice, brown rice and pre-cooked rice means checking the ingredients, any trace warnings and the texture information. Cooking time isn’t the only thing to consider.
For a raclette evening, first decide whether you need rice that’s ready quickly or something you can use after the meal too. Then narrow down your choice based on the number of guests, the flavour you’re after and the information on the packaging.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and serving | Number and weight of bags; cooking time and method. Auchan recommends one bag per person and a five-minute cooking time for its pack of five 90 g bags. | When I’ve already planned several other accompaniments, I want to find it easy to work out how much rice to prepare. Around 31% of consumers would put ease of serving first. |
| Size of pack to keep in reserve | Pack weight, whether you’ll use it after the raclette and storage instructions once opened. | If I eat rice in the weeks after the meal too, I look for an amount I can use up and store properly. Pack size would be the priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Flavour and texture | Variety, description of the grains and cooking instructions; tasting notes vary from one product to another. | I’d rather the rice added a distinctive flavour to the plate than served as an understated side. Around 23% of consumers would put this first. |
| Ingredients and type of rice | Ingredients, allergen or trace warnings, and the nutritional information for the specific product. | If I’m choosing between brown and pre-cooked rice, or if a trace warning matters to my guests, I read the exact product label. Around 15% of consumers would prioritise this information. |
Leftover rice is only practical if you plan to cook it later and can keep the pack away from moisture.
Choose an amount that suits your guests and your meals in the days ahead, and check the product’s storage instructions.
The Ben’s Original express long-grain rice listed by Auchan also contains sunflower oil and carries possible trace warnings. Ingredients depend on the specific product, not just the variety name.
If you’re managing an allergy or prefer a short ingredients list, read the label and warnings on the pack you choose.
The French Ministry of Agriculture distinguishes a minimum durability date (DDM) from a use-by date. Once a DDM has passed, the product may lose some of its quality, but you should still check the condition of the rice. RappelConso also publishes recalls affecting specific batches.
Check what type of date is shown, inspect the packaging and, if in doubt, check the product and batch details on RappelConso. Do not eat a product affected by a recall.
Anses says that Bacillus cereus may be present in rice and can multiply when temperature and nutrient conditions are favourable. Reheating rice that has been stored incorrectly doesn’t guarantee that it’s safe to eat.
Prepare a realistic amount and follow the storage instructions for cooked rice rather than leaving leftovers at room temperature.
Worth considering if pre-cooked long-grain rice, prepared in the microwave or in a frying pan, suits the time you have available.
A range of dry basmati rice to explore if you have time to cook it in a pan and want to choose the texture yourself.
An option if you’re looking for a 500 g pack of dry basmati rather than a larger size.
Long-grain parboiled rice in cooking bags may suit you if portioning matters more than being able to measure out rice for each plate.
A range to explore if you’re deciding between a larger pack to keep in reserve, cooking bags and express rice.
A retailer to check if Taureau Ailé basmati rice is part of your local store’s range.
These packs of dry rice are suitable if you want to prepare ahead and use some after your raclette evening. Compare the variety and pack size in particular: a 500 g pack isn’t the same kind of reserve as a 5 kg pack. For cooking times before serving, follow the instructions for the product you choose.
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A 500 g pack to consider if you’d like to keep some basmati rice to add to a meal now and then. Check the cooking instructions on the pack before planning when to serve it.
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This 5 kg pack is better suited to a household that plans to cook basmati beyond raclette evening. Choose it only if the amount suits your needs and you have space to store it.
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Consider this if you’d prefer Thai rice to basmati and will use the 1 kg pack after your raclette evening too. Check the cooking instructions before choosing it for a meal you’re putting together at short notice.
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This 500 g pack lets you choose Kamalis long-grain rice without opting for a large pack to keep in reserve. Check the cooking instructions if you want to serve the rice alongside the rest of the meal.
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This brown basmati variety may appeal if you’d like to try a different type of rice with your raclette. Check the cooking and storage instructions on the pack before adding it to your meal plans.
No, rice is an optional accompaniment. It can add to the spread or replace another starchy side for some guests; choose the amount according to what else you’re serving.
A pre-cooked format saves you waiting for dry rice to cook in a pan: the Ben’s Original express rice listed by Auchan takes three minutes in the microwave or in a frying pan. If you have boiling water and prefer to count out individual portions, Auchan says its long-grain parboiled rice bags take five minutes to cook. Either way, check the instructions and ingredients for the product you choose.
A minimum durability date that has passed does not, by itself, mean that the rice is unsafe. The French Ministry of Agriculture says that its quality may nevertheless decline. Check the condition of the pack and rice too, and don’t eat any batch affected by a recall.
Follow the storage instructions for the product you’ve bought and reseal the pack properly. The Auchan and Taureau Ailé products described here should be stored in a dry place, away from moisture.
Cooked rice should be stored according to the instructions for the prepared product, rather than left without temperature control. Anses says that Bacillus cereus may be present in rice and can multiply when conditions are favourable; reheating won’t necessarily make up for incorrect storage.