Forums > Specific Focus > Mexican Kitchen

wendy devlin

Feb 23, 2003, 7:52 PM

Post #1 of 11 (1150 views)

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Uncle Jack's Rice

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Hola Uncle Jack,

Sometime ago, somewhere on these forums, you mentioned something about the age of rice.

Could you tell us, what you meant by this?

Heaven forbid, that I've been cooking 'old' rice all these years.

Unless of course, that's a good thing;^) Thanks in advance Wendy

jennifer rose

Feb 23, 2003, 8:19 PM

Post #2 of 11 (1065 views)

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Re: [wendy devlin] Old Rice v. New

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Old rice (more than 2 years since it was harvested) is drier than new rice (less than one year since harvest), and it requires more water.

The rule of thumb for old rice is 1 cup of rice to 2 cups of water; for new rice, it's a 1:1 ratio. But all of that will vary, depending upon whether you're cooking Arborio or basmati -- as well as the altitude. And while we're talking about thumbs, there is the rule of inserting a thumb, preferably one which is still attached to a living hand, perpendicular to the rice and adding water to the level of the first knuckle.

(This post was edited by jennifer rose on Feb 23, 2003, 8:20 PM)

Rolly

Feb 24, 2003, 5:30 PM

Post #3 of 11 (1052 views)

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Re: [jennifer rose] Old Rice v. New

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Is that a first knuckle on Majic Johnson or Robert Riech?

Rolly Pirate

sparks

Feb 25, 2003, 5:41 PM

Post #4 of 11 (1032 views)

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Re: [jennifer rose] Old Rice v. New

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Interesting ... never heard of new vs. old, probably 'cause I've lived near rice. Everything is just off the shelf. Is this a gourmet option in some stores or do you need to live close to local production.

Uncle Jack

Feb 26, 2003, 6:25 AM

Post #5 of 11 (1023 views)

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Re: [sparks] Old Rice v. New

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If you buy rice in small quantities off the shelf of your local grocery store, the age of the rice is not much of a concern. It's usually sealed in a plastic bag and will age pretty well and the inventory turns over pretty fast.

When you buy rice in larger amounts, like 25 and 50 pound sacks commonly found in Asian markets, the age of the rice becomes a small issue. As Ms. jennifer stated above, it's just a matter of adjusting the amount of water and the cooking time to compensate for the additional dryness. A lot depends upon where you live. A 25 pound sack of rice will stay fresher longer at sea level in Seattle than it will at 5500 feet in Prescott, AZ

The only time I am really concerned with the age of a bag of rice is with some of the more exotics. Jasmine rice has a wonderful aroma and delicate flavor that does deteriorate with age. In many Asian stores, you will often find rice advertised as "This year's harvest". If you eat rice often as most Asians do, a 25 pound sack of rice won't last long enough to dry out.

UJ

(This post was edited by Uncle Jack on Feb 26, 2003, 6:46 AM)

sparks

Feb 26, 2003, 9:07 AM

Post #6 of 11 (1004 views)

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Re: [Uncle Jack] Old Rice v. New

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I'm a brown rice fan myself but like them all ... just try to avoid the typical white. I remember back in Eugene Ore in the hippie days we used to buy a short grain whole rice. It was bulk and many grains had a little green to them like they were almost ready to sprout ... smelled wonderful! Would like to try a truly fresh rice sometime.

Uncle Jack

Feb 26, 2003, 9:17 AM

Post #7 of 11 (1006 views)

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Buried alive in the 60's

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Brown rice and Hippie Days and Eugene, OR..............did that really exist, or as my friend David Crosby used to say, "If you remember the 60's, you really weren't there!"

UJ

wendy devlin

Feb 26, 2003, 12:26 PM

Post #8 of 11 (999 views)

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Re: [Uncle Jack] Rice is nice...

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with... or without spice.

Thanks all...for the discussion...it would appear...

that I have probably been eating 'older' rice...since I have been following the 2 to 1 ration for some decades now...with favorable results....from rice generally... from10kg bags.

But not likely being.... too 'old' as when feeding an 'extending' family of six...

a sack doesn't last too long. Ricely yours Wendy

jennifer rose

Feb 26, 2003, 12:39 PM

Post #9 of 11 (989 views)

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Re: [Uncle Jack] Speaking of Rice....

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At any given time, I probably have at least 7 different kinds in my pantry. I buy broken rice in 50 kilo sacks to cook for the dogs. I've got basmati that's 2 years old, and it's just fine. (When one depends upon the kindness of others to bring basmati, one tends to count every grain carefully and not waste any.) I was very parsimonious with my CalRose, because it's expensive at the gourmet store....until I found a source for it, in all places, the tianguis in Patzcuaro. Grown in Veracruz and Sinaloa from imported seed, 10 pesos/kilo. Now, if I could just convince some of the folks over in Lombardia to start growing basmati and jasmine....

sparks

Feb 26, 2003, 2:08 PM

Post #10 of 11 (990 views)

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Re: [Uncle Jack] Buried alive in the 60's

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Jack ... you've never hear of flashbacks? They come in all the 5 senses if only fleeting

Uncle Jack

Feb 26, 2003, 2:27 PM

Post #11 of 11 (987 views)

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Re: [sparks] Buried alive in the 60's

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Flashbacks.................years of good drugs and bad wine.

UJ