There are so many reasons why brown rice is a healthier choice for many of us. But for me, my main reason for eating brown rice is weight management.
When I eat brown rice, I do not bloat and I feel like I’m treating myself to a nutritious meal versus feeling guilty of eating white rice. It is also mandatory for me to eat brown rice when I want to look more fit and toned especially for our family beach adventures. You can research the other benefits of eating brown rice but nowadays, most millennials know it is the better and healthier choice.
If you are a brown rice eater like me or about to switch to eating brown rice, here are some cooking and rice saving tips that I want to share with you.
What brown rice to buy
Brown rice is readily available in supermarkets now. Unlike before when you have to go to specialty health stores. Brown rice is even available in public markets. I choose to buy my brown rice from the grocery in 5kg pack. My brand of choice since 2014 is Harvester’s Healthy Brown Rice. It is vacuum-packed so it’s very easy to transport and store in the pantry. It will be buk-bok free for a long time. Harvester’s brand of brown rice is organic and is locally grown too. If Harvester’s is not available, you can look for Jordan Farm’s brown rice which is also good.
How to store brown rice
Speaking of buk-bok, weevil in English – proper storage of rice helps prevent this and will save you money. I transfer enough rice grains that I will cook for a week in an airtight container. Mine look like jars. I have separate ones for brown rice and red rice because I eat both variants and sometimes, mix them together.
Having a jar of brown rice in the kitchen makes cooking healthy rice easier compared to dipping into a 5kg sack of rice every time you need cook. Wholegrains in jars double as kitchen display because they look so nice!
Brown Rice Cooking Tips & Hacks
Some people don’t eat brown rice even when they like it because they think it’s so hard to cook. When brown rice was first introduced, everyone said it needs to be soaked in water 30 minutes before cooking. I don’t do this and still end up with delicious, fluffy, and nutritious brown rice!
No need to soak
Maybe it depends on the brand of your rice but feel free to experiment. So I believe that soaking brown rice for 30 minutes before cooking is not mandatory.
Brown rice to water ratio
The safest ratio to follow is 1:2 so if you are cooking 1 cup of rice, you need to add 2 cups of water.
The fastest, easiest way to cook brown rice
I cook brown rice using a normal pot, uncovered and under low heat for 30 minutes. You have to fluff or stir the brown rice once it looks like it’s cooked. The top part will usually look like you need to add more water, no. You just need to fluff it and you will see that the inside is actually moist. Let it sit for a few minutes and you will get a perfectly cooked brown rice. It’s so easy. No need to adjust the heat, I cook with low fire all throughout.
Proper storage of cooked rice
Unlike what most people think, brown rice isn’t that expensive. You know what’s more expensive? Throwing left over rice away. Improper storage of leftover rice is an expensive habit. Not storing cooked rice properly means you have to throw spoiled rice and cook more.
I immediately store leftover brown rice in a ziplock bag. Remember to let most of the air out to have a vacuum sealed effect. Store in the cold part of your refrigerator, not in the vegetable drawer or chiller. Believe it or not, I only cook brown rice once or twice a week. I just get what I need for the next meals and reheat. This is also part of a healthy meal preparation or meal-prep that will help you stick to a healthy, nutritious diet.
Brown rice is the easiest way to be healthier. Let me share with you that I am also in the process of getting back in shape and having brown rice as a nutritious option is one less thing to worry about. It inspires me to eat healthy the rest of the day and select healthy “ulam” or viands. Please give brown rice a try if you haven’t and be on your way to a more healthy and fit lifestyle.
Happy eating!
