I Tried 8 Brands of Microwavable White Rice — This Is the One I’ll Be Buying Again

My roommate and I keep a giant unopened sack of white rice above our fridge. While rice is something I make on the regular, I’ve always thought of that particular bag as our “just in case rice.” As in “just in case we have nothing left in the house.” But when the occasion arises, will I really be in the right headspace to rinse, boil, steam, and fluff? 

While regular stovetop rice isn’t really that hard to make (it’s a daily routine for so many people!) it does take around 25 minutes from start to finish. For me, a microwaveable version is just better in a pinch. It’s certainly handy on a busy weeknight. In fact, those microwavable pouches and bowls of white rice are life-savers any day of the week.

Which brings me to my latest deep question: What’s the best microwavable white rice out there? I had to find out, so I staged a taste test and picked up as many different versions as I could find in grocery stores. I picked up cups, shelf-stable pouches, and frozen bags — and then I got to work.

I split the brands into two categories, just for the sake of organizing: those that required additional water to rehydrate, and those that were completely hydrated and only needed to be heated. I made each package according to the directions and noted how easy they were to make, any issues with the microwaving (for example, did they boil over? Did anything burn?), and of course, taste and texture. If we’re talking sheer ease of preparation, the heat-and-eat options reign supreme — and one came out on top as the clear winner, which I’ll certainly be buying again.

The closest to a perfect 10 was Birds Eye Steamfresh Selects Long Grain Rice ReadySteam because it was the “riciest.” This is likely because instantly freezing cooked rice allows it to keep its naturally occurring moisture. (Yes, it’s frozen, so look for it in the freezer section at your local grocery store!) I also liked that it didn’t contain any added preservatives, salt, or oil, which meant I could really taste the rice. It was pleasantly chewy too!

I liked that the microwaveable bag allows for steam to escape (no bubbling over!) and the cook time was only three minutes. If you’re looking for a super-quick rice option, Birds Eye is bullseye. It will never replace rice cooked on the stovetop, but it’s a great option when rinsing, boiling, steaming, and fluffing feels like too much. 

Do you have a go-to microwaveable rice brand? Tell us about it in the comments below!