Can we all agree that cooking rice can be a chore? Measure the water wrong and you could end up with a soupy or sticky pot of yuck. Fail to season it well and you’re stuck eating a serving of tasteless starch. But the introduction of rice pouches that can be heated to perfect in just 90 seconds in the microwave has been a game changer. With the guesswork taken out, a healthy side dish of rice is ready at a moment’s notice. Here are the four 90-second rice pouches we crave.
There was a time when quinoa and brown rice was under the strict purview of ‘70s-era hard-core health stores. No longer. Many consumers have now embraced the nutty grains of brown rice and the high fiber and vitamin-rich qualities of quinoa. This blend is organic and free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Eat it straight out of the microwave as a side dish or use it as a base in richer dishes.
Jasmine rice might have its roots in Thai cuisine, but it’s steadily gained popularity as an improved alternative to white rice thanks to its fragrant smell and long-grained appearance. Did we mention it’s pretty healthy too? These pouches from Uncle Ben’s have zero grams of trans fat, no saturated fat and zero cholesterol.
You don’t have to travel to the Far East and study rice making under the masters to enjoy the taste of sticky rice at home. These 7.4-ounce bowls of rice taste just like the restaurant’s rice down the street, but are ready in just 90 seconds. They’re also gluten free to enjoy without the guilt.
I’ll confess I’ve rarely enjoyed the challenge of making lentils at home – my attempts at making them flavorful usually fail with stunning consistency. So instead I keep the pantry full of this spicy concoction from Tasty Bite. Their mix of sunflower oil, garlic, coriander, ginger and other ingredients brings the lentils to life and provides the perfect counterpoint to the tender bitefuls of brown rice.
Steve Spears is editor of Florida Travel & Life, an online brand that inspires active, affluent travelers, providing them with insider information on discovering the best of Florida. Informative and engaging, the website showcases travel destinations, arts and cultural venues, vibrant dining scenes, recreational activities, the great outdoors and the revitalized real-estate market. He is based in Orlando and counts St. Augustine, Key West and the Gulf Beaches among his favorite destinations in the state.
