Brown Rice – Make It A Healthy Part of Every Day

Arlington, VA, September 20, 2004 —

Buying

Because brown rice contains the healthy natural oils of the germ, it has a shorter shelf-life than refined white rice. The shelf-life is about six months, although that time can be extended considerably if the rice is refrigerated. Check for usability dates on packages or when buying in bulk, choose a store that has a high turnover.

Storing

Cooked brown rice, when not eaten immediately, should be cooled quickly. To store cooked rice, place in a shallow container, cover, and place in the refrigerator. Cooked rice may be stored in the refrigerator for up to seven days, or in the freezer for over six months!

Varieties

As is the case for white rice, brown rice is available in three sizes: short-, medium-, and long-grain.

When cooked, long-grain rice produces light, dry grains that separate easily. Short-grain rice has fat, almost round grains that have a higher starch content than either the long- or medium-grain varieties, and the grains stick together when cooked. Medium-grain rice, as could be expected from its name, has a size and character between the other two.

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