Is anyone else noticing lower quality rice? ■ Each time I cook rice, I examine it and pick out black pieces, like with this bag of Uncle Ben's parboiled whole grain rice. In other brands of whole rice I have found green pieces, as if the rice did not fully ripen.

submitted by In-the-clouds from john1126.com

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[–]Brewdabier 4 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 2 fun -  (5 children)

Why would anyone buy overpriced Uncle Ben's parboiled whole grain rice, just buy a bag of regular rice. For less

[–]In-the-clouds[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

That does not answer my question, which was about the quality of any rice. But I will answer your question anyway. When I have the time to soak the rice overnight and the next day simmer it for 45 minutes, then I choose organic, whole grain rice. When I want to cook a batch of whole grain rice, at the same speed as white rice, I choose parboiled rice. Parboiled rice has the benefit of cooking as fast as white rice, while retaining some of the health benefits of whole grain.

[–]Brewdabier 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (3 children)

Little trick, when you soak the rice overnight just do twice as much then cook it and what you don't use just put in the freezer. We do a half bag of rice and that will last us a month and it takes the same time as a cup of rice.

As for your question, It is likely the result of the rice grain having been fed upon by an insect while it was still on the stalk in the field. Some bugs will suck the germ out and just leave the grain on the stem to be harvested. It will have a black spot on it. now buying bag rice you can see the grains whereas box rice you don't know what you get.

[–]In-the-clouds[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

I appreciate your response. I do not doubt that pests could be spoiling some of our grains. But the food companies inspect the grains before packaging it. I wonder if they are lowering their quality standards.

Regarding the freezing of rice, I am not convinced that it is worth the trouble, but if it works for you, that is fine with me. So, do you put fully cooked rice into the freezer? When it is time to eat it, do you cook it again to get it hot?

The freezer takes electricity, and electricity costs money. Freezing rice adds to your cost, as long as you store it. Parboiled rice could sit on the shelf at room temperature and cost nothing to store. Rice is one of the cheapest foods, so any increase in cost is significant, if cost is something you judge. You are concerned with the cost of parboiled rice, but you are adding cost to your electric bill to freeze rice and then to thaw it again. If you use the microwave oven or stove to thaw the rice, there is more of an electricity cost you are adding to your rice.

When the power goes out, dry rice does not perish. I can cook dry rice outside in a pot of water with fire, using free wood from my property as fuel.

If you judged convenience as more important than cost, then freezing rice might have that advantage for you, although I would not want to be bothered with thawing the rice. And I prefer fresh cooked rice for better flavor and texture, and fresh rice might have a better nutritional value, since some of the nutrients could be spoiled over time while in the freezer, especially the longer it has remained frozen.

[–]Brewdabier 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Yes they do inspect at the factory when packaging, how long does the product sit in a Wearhouse ?.

Yes we put fully cooked rice rice and any other food in the freezer, one example is fully cooked rice. Eggs, pottoes and meat is cooked then goes into individual bags for the full week. Luch and dinner we do the same, leftovers go into single servings containers for lunch the next day at work.

The freezer takes electricity, and electricity costs money. Freezing rice adds to your cost, so if you don't pre make food the freezer is off ?. It runs anyway so if you don't pre cook food it cost the same to have the freezer on. "are adding cost to your electric bill to freeze rice", the freezer still runs if you have food in it or not.

If you use the microwave oven or stove to thaw the rice, there is more of an electricity cost you are adding to your rice. When you cook a meal and have leftovers do you toss the leftovers in the trash ?.

Do as you like but please don't bother me with lazy poor excuses.

[–]In-the-clouds[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I hate to waste food and do not throw leftovers in the trash. I put them in the refrigerator and eat them later. I have no problem with however you want to cook and preserve your leftovers. But since you started our conversation here demanding to know why anyone buys parboiled rice when you can but regular rice for less, I brought to your attention some of the hidden costs to your method.

[–]HeyBobby 4 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

There is rice that gets mixed with plastic to increase the volume. Pretty common. A lot of fraud in the food industry. It reminds me of the study that found target brand parmesan was like entirely wood pulp and contained no cheese.

[–]rubberbiscuit 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (6 children)

I'm not sure where Uncle Ben's comes from, but I read to never buy rice grown in the US because it is mainly grown on fields that used to grow cotton (pretty sure it was cotton but whatever it was they used ->) where they sprayed lots of Roundup which if you regularly are exposed to it you will have lots of health problems. So I go to the closest Asian market and buy 50 pound bags of Thailand rice. Those Thai people live long lives so I am hopeful that it is better.

[–]CreditKnifeMan 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I read to never buy rice grown in the US because it is mainly grown on fields that used to grow cotton (pretty sure it was cotton but whatever it was they used ->) where they sprayed lots of Roundup which if you regularly are exposed to it you will have lots of health problems.

Cotton fields were sprayed with arsenic pesticides.

It's still in the soil, so it contaminates the rice with residual arsenic.

[–]rubberbiscuit 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Yes that was it - arsenic. Sorry, I am developing Biden... i mean dementia. The roundup was probably another article. haha.

[–]In-the-clouds[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Interesting. I do want to avoid toxic chemicals. All the other rice I buy is labeled organic, both white and whole grain. And like you, I also buy organic Thai rice - here's some in my pantry, which I bought at the local Neighborhood Walmart.

[–]jet199 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

Buy thai black rice and mix a little in with your white and you will get purple rice.

[–]rubberbiscuit 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

FYI My memory was messed up and the other reply reminded me it is arsenic they sprayed on cotton that remains in the fields in the US now growing rice. Still, nice to avoid US grown rice. Check the labeling carefully it could be branded Thai rice but actually be grown somewhere else. I had to search lots of bags before finding one actually grown where I wanted it from!

[–]In-the-clouds[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Thai people live long lives

Thailand's life expectancy is less than the United States. If you want rice from a country with a long life expectancy, you could choose Japanese rice. Japan and Hong Kong are tied for having the longest life expectancy. But no one lives very long on this earth. It's a short temporary life. The spirit realm awaits everyone.

[–]CreditKnifeMan 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

If you still don't have surplus foodstuffs in you're home then yer almost out of time.

Shit's going to hit the fan in Sept when grain deliveries are well below expected; with black specs in everything cause no pesticides/herbicides.

Biden brags about our net food exports. Time is running out to stock up.

If it's on the shelf and you need it, then consider the sticker price, a sale price, because for won't get cheaper.
Everything that's available is on sale.

The economy is teetering on wooden legs, and infiltrators of western govt are hacking away at each leg.

Imagine if they short the farmers their fuel to operate needed harvesting equipment.

It's not entirely improbable.

[–]In-the-clouds[S] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I believe you are giving good advice to stock up. I expect hyperinflation and a collapsed economy, so like you said, everything is going up in price, which means everything on the shelf today is a bargain compared with tomorrow's prices. I urge everyone to prepare, physically and spiritually. With God, nothing is impossible, but who has faith any more to receive his help in times of need?

[–]CreditKnifeMan 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

but who has faith any more to receive his help in times of need?

Good question.

Who has the wisdom to recognize the help he's sent in times of need?

I think I was given a sign recently.

Now, I count myself among the most free in the USA.

I'm trying to show everyone I know what to do, but they can't see it.

Many are much more financially free, but money cannot buy access to legal status info the lawyers never knew existed.

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I noticed they did not have any long grain rice at the store. I bought medium grain rice.

[–]RichardsonDavis 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

We have rice that needs to be tested how much water it is per cup. It's delicious though. Don't know if they have it where you're from OP. It's local rice.

[–]iamonlyoneman 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

My store-brand cheap rice is fine. Maybe spend less for a better product next time