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Black Rice: Tips & Advice
What’s the best black rice? To find out, we tried out 8 different brands of black rice, from sticky rice used in Thai-inspired desserts to so-called forbidden rice grown in China. Here are the ones we liked the best. FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!
What is the best black rice? And what is it anyway? How does it vary from other rice varieties?
Native to Asia, there are three basic types of black rice: sticky (used in desserts from Thailand), black Japonica (a short grain rice that is quite sticky) and Chinese black rice. The latter is also called forbidden rice and is grown in Northern China.
Here are some tips and advice on shopping for and cooking with black rice:
• It looks black when dry, but then turns more of a dark purple when cooked.
• It tastes much like brown rice—and you cook it much the same way. Black and brown rice both have a nuttier flavor than white rice, in our opinion.
• If you soak it overnight, you can shorten the cooking time.
After trying out several brands, here are the ones we think are the best bets.
Best Budget Friendly
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Best Forbidden Rice
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Best Black Rice Grown in the USA
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Best Cooked Black Rice
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Why Trust Us
We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do hands-on testing—we buy the products with our own money and evaluate with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.
Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!
best black rice
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