For a group, a large bag of frozen cooked rice is a good choice if your holiday rental has a freezer and the necessary cooking equipment. If there’s no freezer, opt for an express portion that suits the appliances available. Dry rice can also be stored at room temperature, but it needs cooking and ingredients to go with it. Whichever you choose, check the portion sizes, ingredients and preparation instructions for the product.
If you have access to a freezer and a frying pan, 900 g bags of frozen rice can serve several people. Check the number of portions stated for the recipe you choose: this varies between the products shown by E.Leclerc and Auchan.
An express portion that can be stored at room temperature before opening means you don’t need a freezer. However, check how it needs to be heated: even a quick meal may require a specific appliance.
Cantonese rice and risotto recipes don’t use the same ingredients. If you avoid pork, fish, dairy products or certain allergens, read the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ warnings for each product.
Start with the equipment actually available in your holiday rental, then choose a format to suit the number of people and how much time you want to spend preparing the meal.
Worth considering: when you’re serving several people and can transport the product chilled, store it in a freezer and follow its cooking instructions.
Bear in mind: the bag takes up freezer space, and its ingredients may not suit everyone.
Worth considering: for an individual meal when there’s no freezer, provided you have the appliance needed to prepare it.
Bear in mind: you may need several portions for a group; also check the instructions for what to do after opening.
Worth considering: if you have a saucepan and would rather put the meal together yourself, without needing freezer space.
Bear in mind: dry rice isn’t a ready-made meal: you’ll need to cook it and prepare a separate accompaniment.
| Factor | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity to serve | Compare the weight with the stated number of portions, then consider whether you’ll use the whole bag. | When I’m cooking for several people, I want enough rice without buying lots of small portions or ending up with leftovers that are hard to store; around 29% of consumers would put quantity at the top of their list of concerns. |
| Storage and transport | Make sure there’s a freezer and read the storage instructions. For frozen products, use an insulated bag and keep the journey short, as advised by the DGCCRF. | If I’m not sure whether the rental has a freezer, I prefer a format I can store when I arrive; storage would be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Preparation | Check that the instructions match the frying pan, saucepan or microwave you’ll actually have, and note the preparation time stated for that product. | After a long journey, I mainly want a meal that takes little preparation; around 24% of consumers would put ease of cooking ahead of other factors. |
| Ingredients | Check the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the exact packaging, rather than assuming they’ll be the same as another recipe. | If some ingredients aren’t suitable for the people I’m eating with, I need to be able to check the recipe before buying; this would be a priority for around 18% of consumers. |
A large bag can be difficult to store if the accommodation doesn’t have a suitable freezer.
Check what equipment is available before you set off. If there’s no suitable freezer, consider a portion that can be stored at room temperature or dry rice, and check how each needs to be prepared.
Ingredients vary. The Marie Cantonese rice shown by Carrefour contains pork, egg and fish sauce, among other ingredients, while Auchan’s risotto verde contains dairy products.
Check the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings for the exact product. If you’re making a meal with plain rice, check the ingredients you’re adding too.
Transport is part of keeping a frozen meal safely stored. Carrefour says not to refreeze its Marie Cantonese rice once it has thawed.
Buy frozen products last, use an insulated bag and keep the journey as short as possible, in line with the DGCCRF’s advice. Put them away as soon as you arrive and follow the instructions on the packaging.
E.Leclerc lists a 900 g bag of frozen Cantonese rice as serving four people.
Carrefour’s range includes a 900 g bag of frozen Carrefour Sensation rice and a 250 g Carrefour Classic' express portion.
Carrefour lists a 900 g bag of frozen Marie Cantonese rice, which is prepared in a frying pan.
Auchan lists a 900 g bag of frozen risotto verde, serving three people.
The long-grain rice in cooking bags shown by Auchan is another option if you’d like to prepare the meal yourself.
ALDI stocks frozen products and dry rice—two categories to distinguish from ready-made rice dishes.
These products suit different needs in a holiday rental: rice to prepare without cooking equipment, portions to heat up, plain cooked rice and frozen risottos. Plain rice isn’t the same as a ready-made dish. Before choosing a frozen product, make sure there’s room in the freezer.
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Worth considering if your rental doesn’t have cooking equipment. Check the instructions for the self-heating pack before use, and check whether it contains pork, soya and wheat if these ingredients matter to anyone in your group.
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This frozen meal is suitable for a rental with a freezer and a microwave that can be used as instructed. Check the storage instructions and ingredients, particularly whether it contains milk.
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This prepared rice could be a good option for a meal that doesn’t need to be stored in the freezer before opening. Choose a heating method that suits the equipment in your rental, and check whether it contains milk and how to store it after opening.
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These portions of plain cooked rice can be used as a base for meals you put together separately. Before taking them to a kitchen with limited equipment, check the packaging for preparation instructions and any equipment needed.
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This 900 g frozen risotto is worth considering for a meal to share if your rental has a freezer. Check the packaging for cooking or heating instructions before relying on the equipment available in your accommodation.
Yes, if you can transport it in an insulated bag, keep the journey short and put it in a suitable freezer as soon as you arrive. The DGCCRF advises keeping the time between buying and storing it to a minimum. Follow the instructions on the packaging too.
No. Carrefour’s instructions for its Marie Cantonese rice say not to refreeze the product once it has thawed. Plan how you’ll transport and store it before buying, then follow the instructions for the specific bag you choose.
Not for every product: the equipment needed depends on what you buy. Auchan’s risotto verde takes 12 minutes to prepare in a frying pan, while Ben's Original dry rice cooking bags need a saucepan. Check the instructions for an express portion to find out how to heat it.
Don’t assume it is: the recipes shown by Carrefour and E.Leclerc differ, and some contain pork, egg, fish or soya. Check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings for the exact product before buying.