No time to make rice on the stovetop? No worries. We tried all kinds of instant rice brands to find the best shortcut to stash in the pantry.
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When cooking up weeknight meals, we often rely on a few staples to form the foundations of our dishes. Pasta, potatoes and rice all lay the base for some great suppers. When it comes to rice, though, some home cooks tend to balk. Making rice takes time and if you don’t have a rice cooker, you always run the risk of it burning. The easiest solution is instant rice.
Yep, we’re talking the rice you can zap in the microwave or boil on your stovetop for a few minutes. But of course, not all rice options are the same. We found the best through some serious testing in our Test Kitchen.
Instant rice is regular rice that’s been cooked and then dehydrated. When you make instant rice at home, all you’re really doing is rehydrating the grains and heating them back up again. The whole process is pretty quick—typically under 10 minutes. That’s a fraction of the time it takes to cook rice right out of the bag.
You’ll find all kinds of instant rice varieties, including jasmine and brown. For our test, though, we focused on basic white rice.
Our Test Kitchen wrangled up every brand of quick white rice they could find. As always, our testing was conducted blindly by a panel of our Test Kitchen staffers, who kept these questions in mind:
Think all rice is the same? No way! These quick-cooking brands were our Test Kitchen’s favorites.
We get it: It’s rice! You aren’t looking for anything flashy—just a good base for your next healthy side dish or easy dinner. For a great basic, go for Target’s Good & Gather Instant White Rice.
This brand had a tender texture and a beautiful snow-white appearance. Testers agreed it would be a great start to any dinner recipe and especially good for soaking up delicious stir-fry sauces.
Oftentimes quick rice products can come off as sticky or claggy when all you really want is fluffy white rice. For that perfect texture, try Minute White Rice.
This rice got high marks for its fluffy texture—in fact, every tester used the term fluffy to describe Minute rice. And it wasn’t mushy or too crunchy. The grains separated easily and tasted like delicious white rice—all without the hassle of making rice on the stovetop.
Getting just the right texture can be challenging with rice. At least it can be if you’re not using Success Boil-in-Bag White Rice.
This rice cooked up with a pleasant texture that was slightly chewy without being sticky or dense. Combined with the lightly toasted flavor and creamy color.
While the sole ingredient in this product is long grain rice, it definitely tasted a bit more like brown rice than we expected (not a bad thing!).
While every brand we tested was plain white rice, some brands had more notable flavors, especially Walmart’s Great Value Instant White Rice.
Great Value tasted slightly nutty to our testers, giving it more personality than its competitors. While we know that rice is just a starting point for most dishes, it never hurts to start with a little extra flavor. Be aware, though, that this tasty rice was a bit stickier than other options—though sticky rice definitely has a place on your table!
Just like with traditional rice, you can use instant rice as the foundation for all sorts of meals. Spend your time and effort making a delicious stir-fry or curry dinner and pop a package of this quick rice in the microwave as you finish it off.
Or try recipes that specifically call for fast-cooking rice. This five-star pizza rice recipe is a great place to start. Then again, so are these recipes for skillet nachos, Spanish rice and speedy burritos.
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Rice-Stuffed Peppers
Mother used to fix this wonderful, easy dish when we had company. She was from a family of fantastic Cajun cooks, so our food was always well-seasoned. In Louisiana, rice is part of many meals. The cheese sauce sets these stuffed peppers apart from any others I've tried. —Lisa Easley, Longview, Texas
Spanish RiceYou'll find my easy Spanish rice is better than any found in grocery stores. Best of all, it can be prepared in the same amount of time as those so-called “quick and easy” boxes. —Anne Yaeger, Washington DC, Washington
Bacon Cheeseburger RiceMy husband and I thought the original skillet dish lacked pizzazz, so we created this tastier version. I've had teenage nieces and nephews request the recipe after their first bite. —Joyce Whipps, West Des Moines, Iowa
Cajun Pork Chops and RiceWe stew Cajun pork chops with rice in a slow cooker to create a hearty, comforting dish that's full of flavor.
Meat Lover’s Pizza Rice SkilletMy son named this "pizza rice" after I threw together a quick dinner from what I had in the fridge and pantry. Add any other pizza topping ingredients you desire. I often add black olive slices or mushrooms. Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan
Mom's PaellaI enjoy cooking ethnic foods, especially those that call for lots of rice. Like my mom, I often prepare this dish for special Sunday get-togethers. Traditional paella uses saffron, but turmeric is a budget-friendly alternative. —Ena Quiggle, Goodhue, Minnesota
Quick Chicken & Broccoli Stir-FryThis Asian chicken and broccoli stir-fry is a household best bet. The spicy sauce works with chicken, seafood, pork or beef. Add whatever veggies you have on hand. —Kristin Rimkus, Snohomish, Washington
Lemony ChickpeasThese saucy chickpeas add just a little heat to meatless Mondays. They're especially good over hot, fluffy brown rice. —April Strevell, Red Bank, New Jersey 
Pork Spanish RiceMy family wasn't fond of pork roast until I used it in this yummy casserole.—Betty Unrau, MacGregor, Manitoba
Gumbo in a JiffyThis is a yummy dish. My husband loves the kick that the sausage gives this quick gumbo, and it’s such a cinch to assemble. —Amy Flack, Homer City, Pennsylvania
Sassy Salsa Meat LoavesHere's a twist on classic meat loaf. You can make these loaves ahead, and they’ll last for a few days. Make meat loaf sandwiches with the leftovers, buns and a little Monterey Jack cheese. —Tasha Tully, Owings Mills, Maryland 
Foil-Packet Shrimp and Sausage JambalayaThis hearty, satisfying dinner has all the flavors of an authentic jambalaya with little effort. The foil packets can be prepared a day ahead and cooked right before serving. These are also good on the grill! —Allison Stroud, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Shrimp CreoleShrimp Creole turns weeknight dinner into a one-dish, southern flavor fest with a rich tomato sauce and succulent shellfish.
Zucchini Beef SkilletThis is a speedy summer recipe that uses up those abundant garden goodies: Zucchini, tomatoes and green peppers. —Becky Calder, Kingston, Missouri 
Turkey Sausage Cabbage RollsI practically grew up in my Polish grandmother's kitchen, watching Babci cook and listening to her stories. I made her cabbage roll recipe healthier with whole grains and turkey, but kept the same rich flavors I remember. —Fay Moreland, Wichita Falls, Texas
Slow-Cooked Stuffed Pepper StewThis is my go-to pepper stew. When my garden yields green peppers, I dice and freeze them for those cold, blustery days to come.—Debbie Johnson, Centertown, Missouri
Chicken Brunch BakeChunks of tender chicken add heartiness to this appealing brunch casserole. This was my son's favorite hot lunch meal from high school. —DeLee Jochum, Dubuque, Iowa 
Lemon Chicken and RiceThis bright and savory lemony chicken and rice recipe is delicious, easy to prepare and so incredibly satisfying that it will have you rethinking your list of go-to comfort foods.
Ham and RiceThis one-pot ham and rice meal combines savory ham, earthy mushrooms and fluffy rice to create a crowd-pleasing dinner that's ready in just 25 minutes.
Salsa RiceSalsa rice adds a little kick of flavor and color to regular ol' rice. What's more, this recipe doesn't require any special tools or techniques—just three ingredients.
Sausage Rice SkilletFlavorful pork sausage, fresh zucchini and instant rice make this stovetop sensation a favorite. Everyone I have shared this recipe with tells me how delicious it is. —Connie Putnam, Clayton, North Carolina
One-Pot Stuffed Pepper DinnerThick like chili and with plenty of stuffed pepper flavor, this dish will
warm you up on chilly days. —Charlotte Smith, McDonald, Pennsylvania
Spinach RiceThis Greek-style spinach rice looks elegant enough to share with guests. To complete the meal, pair it with your choice of protein and veg.
Vegan BurritosThis classic vegan burrito is packed with rice and beans for a filling plant-based meal that's so easy to make.
Inside-Out Stuffed CabbagePreparing stuffed cabbage rolls can be time-consuming, but this version with butternut squash has the classic flavors —and it’s table ready in just 30 minutes. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Peachy Pork with RicePeach preserves sweeten the spicy salsa in this delicious dish that’s nice enough for company. Adjust the heat level to taste by using mild or spicy salsa and seasoning. —Melissa Molaison, Hawkinsville, Georgia
Saucy Pork Chop SkilletSkillet pork chops make easy comfort food. We have them with a salad and fruit. If you've got fresh green beans or steamed broccoli, go for it. —Donna Roberts, Manhattan, Kansas 
Gulf Coast Jambalaya RiceAs the stew of the South, jambalaya is a definite staple. For ages, home cooks have been making their own tweaks on the traditional recipe. This rendition is my favorite. —Judy Batson, Tampa, Florida
Balsamic Pork ChopsRich pork pairs well with tangy sauces and these balsamic pork chops are a slam-dunk. The balsamic-and-honey glaze comes together quickly, and it's pure magic on thick-cut pork loin chops.
Dirty Rice with Ground BeefDirty rice with ground beef is a departure from the typical chicken liver-centric version, but it's just as tasty. This recipe also cooks in just 30 minutes, quick enough for an improvised weeknight meal.
Sausage, Rice and BroccoliA recipe folding in sausage, rice and broccoli is what everyone needs in their weeknight dinner rotation. If fresh zucchini or summer squash is available, add it to the mix!
Skillet NachosTaco-seasoned ground beef with tomatoes and rice makes a fast and easy nacho topping. Melt the cheese in the skillet in the residual heat of the beef, and then pour it onto individual plates of chips. People can customize their own toppings to their liking!
One-Pot Beef & Pepper StewI love most things made with green peppers, tomatoes or green chiles. I wanted to prepare a quick and satisfying dish one evening and came up with this recipe with things I had on hand. —Sandra Clark, Sierra Vista, BC
Mandarin Pork Stir-FryWhen my husband and I were dating, he told me he liked Asian food. I got a wok and discovered the joy of dishes like this pork stir-fry. —Laurie Martignon, Niagara, Wisconsin 
Southern Pork & RiceAt our house, we're big on healthy eating. These ultra tender chops with colorful rice and black-eyed peas are a meal fancy enough for a dinner party. —Annie Holmes, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Curry Chicken and RiceFlavorful, light and nutritious, and happily simple to prepare, this Indian curry chicken and rice recipe is one to bookmark for weeknight meals.
Green Curry Salmon with Green BeansLike a lot of people here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, my boyfriend, Michael, loves to fish. When we have an abundance of fresh salmon on hand, this is one way we cook it. —Amy Paul Maynard, Albany, Oregon
Brown Rice Turkey SoupI don't recall where I got this recipe, but it's my all-time favorite turkey soup. Everyone who has tried it agrees. The sweet red pepper is what gives the soup its distinctive flavor. —Bobby Langley, Rocky Mount, North Carolina
