If you pay attention to the appearance of the rice you buy, you’ll notice that different varieties come in different shapes, colors, and sizes. Moreover, rice variants come with different tastes, too.
In case you’re thinking of switching to rice with longer grains, you’ll want to know beforehand what long-grain rice tastes like. I did the research, and here’s what I found!
What Does Long Grain Rice Taste Like?
Compared to short and medium-grain rice, long-grain rice has less starch, giving long-grain rice a dry but fluffy texture. Additionally, this means long-grain rice doesn’t go mushy when eaten. Moreover, long-grain rice comes in varieties like white, brown, and aromatic. Of the three, it’s aromatic rice that has more nuance, but brown rice tends to have a bolder nutty flavor.
If you’re interested to learn more about the taste of long grain rice and how long grain rice compares to other rice variants, keep reading!
What Does Long Grain Rice Smell Like?
Long-grain rice can have different aromas depending on the variety you buy. If you use Basmati, Jasmine, or other aromatic rice, you’ll detect a mix of floral and nutty aromas.
As for brown long-grain rice, the scent tends to be more nutty and earthy because of the grains’ outer husk.
Meanwhile, white long-grain rice has a predominantly neutral aroma with subtle hints of sweetness.
What Is The Texture Of Long Grain Rice?
Long-grain rice has a firm and dry texture that makes long-grain rice unsuitable for molding, but ideal for rice-based dishes.
When cooked properly, long-grain rice won’t stick together, and long-grain rice will make for great rice when preparing dishes like Chinese fried rice.
Does Long Grain Rice Taste Like White Rice?
White rice comes in different sizes, one of which is long-grain. Typically, white long-grain rice has a neutral flavor profile with very subtly sweet and floral hints.
When aromatic rice like Basmati and Jasmine are refined, aromatic rice tastes similar to regular white rice. However, aromatic rice will have a stronger floral and nutty taste.
Which Is Better, Long Grain Rice Or Basmati?
Technically, Basmati rice is a type of long-grain rice. Compared to other variants of long-grain rice, Basmati has a stronger aroma and a more distinct taste.
Nevertheless, Basmati rice is still neutral enough to complement the same dishes as regular long-grain white rice does.
However, the nutty flavor of Basmati rice is subtle compared to that of long-grain brown rice. In contrast, brown Basmati rice is even nuttier than regular long-grain brown rice.
Which Is Better, Long Grain Rice Or Short Grain?
Long-grain and short-grain rice have their advantages and disadvantages. Additionally, long-grain and short-grain rice are used for different kinds of dishes.
While short-grain rice is ideal for making risotto, paella, sushi, and rice-based desserts, long-grain rice is suitable only for pilafs and as a companion to meat and vegetable dishes.
With the low starch content of long-grain rice, it won’t make a good replacement for dishes like paella, and with the stickiness of short-grain rice, it won’t make a decent pilaf.
Which Is Better, Long Grain Rice Or Medium Grain?
Determining whether long-grain rice is better than medium-grain rice and vice versa depends on the type of dish you’re using the rice for and the experience you’re after.
If you want fluffy rice that doesn’t clump together, long-grain rice is the best choice. However, if you want rice that is more tender and moist, medium-grain rice is the better option.
Is Long Grain Rice Supposed To Be Crunchy?
Long-grain rice is not supposed to be crunchy because ideally, long-grain rice will be light and fluffy after cooking. Additionally, the grains should be easy to separate.
If long-grain rice turns out crunchy after cooking the long-grain rice either on the stove or in a rice cooker, it’s usually because too little water was used.
Is Long Grain Rice Sticky?
Long-grain rice may stick together when overcooked, but when done right, long-grain rice will not be sticky. In fact, long-grain rice should be easy to separate even when moist.
Unlike short-grain rice, which is the stickiest rice variety, long-grain rice typically has high amylose and low amylopectin content. As such, long-grain rice is naturally not sticky.
However, even some varieties of long-grain rice will have high amylopectin content, which is responsible for making rice sticky.
Is Long Grain Rice The Same As Jasmine?
Jasmine rice is long-grain rice. However, Jasmine rice is just one of the many varieties of long-grain rice.
Unlike other types of rice, Jasmine rice tends to have a thinner and longer body, but nowhere as long and slender as the grains of Basmati rice.
What Does Bad Long Grain Rice Taste Like?
Long-grain rice that has gone bad will taste similar to other rice varieties that have begun to spoil. Generally, spoiled rice will have a slightly acidic or bitter taste.
Additionally, spoiled rice has an off-putting smell and excessive moisture that makes the grains clumpy and soggy.
How To Make Long Grain Rice Taste Better?
To make long-grain rice taste better, you have to make sure that you rinse the grains well before cooking them.
Afterward, it’s integral that you add just enough water before turning on the heat, regardless of whether you’re using a stove or a rice cooker.
If you want to enhance the flavor of the rice, you can add pandan leaves of lemongrass to the rice as the rice cooks.
How To Make Long Grain Brown Rice Taste Good?
Long-grain brown rice will taste softer and fluffier if you soak the brown rice for twenty to thirty minutes before cooking it.
Additionally, soaking brown rice also speeds up the cooking process.
If you want to learn what brown rice tastes like, what rice paper is, and why do you need to wash rice, read our related articles.
Conclusion
Long-grain rice comes in the form of white, brown, and aromatic rice. As its name implies, long-grain rice has longer and more slender grains that are easy to separate once cooked.
Compared to medium-grain and short-grain rice, long-grain rice has less starch and is often firm and dry after cooking. Moreover, long-grain rice is often fluffy but not mushy.
If you’re making salty, sour, spicy, or umami dishes, long-grain rice is the ideal rice variant to pair them with.