What has happened to it I always buy the box lots with the 4 boil in bags in it and I can’t get it now . I have tried countdown and paknsave and it has gone

sticky232 - 2019-10-26 16:29:00

sticky232, I know the type you mean but haven't bought or looked for them for years. I wonder if they have been superseded by the many 'heat and eat in pouch' options? :-))

245sam - 2019-10-26 18:26:00

Sticky, not being rude, but wondering why you are after it? time, or inability to cook rice?
(For me, it was a bit of both but had even forgotten about the product, it has been years since I bought it, and we eat lots of rice).

unknowndisorder - 2019-10-26 20:23:00

Whenever we have rice I use it all time to expensive buying pouches .when having stir fry and just cooking rice in pot could go glugy Easy and convenient

Edited by sticky232 at 5:50 am, Sun 27 Oct

sticky232 - 2019-10-27 05:48:00

The best stir fry rice is cooked the day before. why not cook a huge batch of rice up and freeze it in portions? It doesn't stick together and save loads of time.

jan2242 - 2019-10-27 09:24:00

I use Uncle Bens but not those, just the normal uncooked rice packet.

lythande1 - 2019-10-27 11:02:00

Tap up UNCLE BENS they have a toll free NZ Number.
They will know if it is still sold in NZ

snapperheadrkp - 2019-10-27 11:16:00

sticky232 wrote:

Whenever we have rice I use it all time to expensive buying pouches .when having stir fry and just cooking rice in pot could go glugy Easy and convenient

Sweet, I do understand. I bought a pottery pot from here, but the trader has died. But, it is easy to cook rice.

This is for short or medium, and I found with long grain to add five minutes for each step.

2 cups short or medium grain rice

First, wash the rice. Put it in a pot, fill with cold water, swirl around and drain away the milky water.

Now, use the palm of your hand to push the rice around a couple of times (Japanese believe your soul goes into the food). Add water, swirl the rice again and drain the milky water. Repeat a couple more times until the water is clear.

Drain the rice completely and put in a rice cooker or pot. Add 2 cups (500ml) clean water (1 cup rice to 1 cup water) and soak for 30 minutes before cooking.

Turn on the rice cooker.
If using a pot, cover with a lid, place over high heat and bring to the boil. As soon as it boils, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and leave for 5 minutes before removing the lid of the pot. Perfect rice!
(Sachie Nomura)

I do cheat, but do find it works well - for long grain, I am still playing around a bit with times, but think 5 minutes longer boiling works, and leave the lid on for at least 10. I use the pottery pot for cooking 1 cup, but if needing more, use the stove method.

I hope that helps, especially if they have stopped making the bags you use.
(I don't necessarily do the 30 minute soak/drain btw, and not always the rinsing).

unknowndisorder - 2019-10-27 11:28:00

I like brown rice which takes longer to cook and find it cooks up well in my crockpot, I use doongara low GI rice. I usually cook up a big batch and then portion into bags and freeze for later. I have never been good with rice cooking and find this suits me well.

nauru - 2019-10-27 14:24:00

lythande1 wrote:

I use Uncle Bens but not those, just the normal uncooked rice packet.

The Uncle Bens Basmati in the packet has been unavailable for quite a few weeks, the shelf label just says ‘out of stock’ I bought a packet of Sun Rice Basmati and it is awful.

sooseque - 2019-10-29 17:52:00

After decades of finding everyday Basmati rice difficult to cook perfectly I tried some premium Basmati, which is more expensive but not ridiculously so. I bought it at an Indian food market. It was a revelation, it cooked perfectly with long grains, wonderful flavour and a dry flaky texture. The brand I like is Daawat, but there are other brands that are just as good. Do try it if you can.

davidt4 - 2019-10-29 20:23:00

I also liked the Uncle Ben's boil in a bag as it was just the right amount for me and hubby, have since bought the microwave 40 sec one do do in the Microwave, haven't done yet but decided to try the King's Basmati Long Grain boil in a bag, it's was nice so am happy to continue with it. This was New World in Blenheim

crab2 - 2019-10-29 20:38:00

Anyone tried a rice cooker, was thinking of buying one as I have trouble cooking it so that it is not sticky?

Are they better than just a pot and what is a good brand to buy? Thanks.

Will try the method above and see how it goes.

mercury14 - 2019-10-29 22:36:00

mercury14 I bought a Breville Rice cooker which I was really disappointed in. Maybe mine was faulty, but it bubbled over even when only a couple of cups of rice being cooked and the rice was quite sticky.. As if it was cooking too high. I have reverted to using the microwave method, I would love to be able to cook rice like you get at Indian restaurants. Each grain separate etc.
I have recently discovered the Tilda brand of 2min rice. They have some amazing flavours. One of our favourites being the Cocounut Basmati Rice.

lynja - 2019-10-30 06:38:00

https://youtu.be/8_mNyWgDhYU Is a video of Sachie cooking rice :)

unknowndisorder - 2019-10-30 11:11:00

I found the Uncle Ben's Boil in Bag Basmati (also available in Long Grain) at Whakatane NW today. 4x125grm box for $4.49. I didn't think to check the expiry date so I hope it wasn't old stock. The pouch of Basmati is seldom in stock so I buy up when it's usually 2 for $5.00.

sue1955 - 2019-10-30 11:45:00

Used to use Uncle Bens (pre steamed) Rice about 50 years ago for Catering (Rice Salads etc) because it was almost fail safe. Purchased it in large sacks from Edmonds Catering Division (I think) who imported it for those retail boxes of Rice Risotto. I never liked the flavour when eaten on its own.
These days I buy the BEST Basmati I can get and get brilliant results.
A lot of the cheaper Basmati sold in NZ is crap. If you look at the uncooked grains closely you will see they are mostly broken (called splits) and on cooking suck up the water and go lumpy and sticky. I always ask at the Indian Grocery Shop for the best (often costs double or more) BUT a small cost for a huge bowl of fluffy fragrant cooked Basmati Rice. You get what you pay for!!

Edited by snapperheadrkp at 11:46 am, Wed 30 Oct

snapperheadrkp - 2019-10-30 11:45:00

snapperheadrkp wrote:

Used to use Uncle Bens (pre steamed) Rice about 50 years ago for Catering (Rice Salads etc) because it was almost fail safe. Purchased it in large sacks from Edmonds Catering Division (I think) who imported it for those retail boxes of Rice Risotto. I never liked the flavour when eaten on its own.
These days I buy the BEST Basmati I can get and get brilliant results.
A lot of the cheaper Basmati sold in NZ is crap. If you look at the uncooked grains closely you will see they are mostly broken (called splits) and on cooking suck up the water and go lumpy and sticky. I always ask at the Indian Grocery Shop for the best (often costs double or more) BUT a small cost for a huge bowl of fluffy fragrant cooked Basmati Rice. You get what you pay for!!

Interesting. Thank you.

awoftam - 2019-10-30 15:59:00

snapperheadrkp wrote:

....
These days I buy the BEST Basmati I can get and get brilliant results.
A lot of the cheaper Basmati sold in NZ is crap. If you look at the uncooked grains closely you will see they are mostly broken (called splits) and on cooking suck up the water and go lumpy and sticky. I always ask at the Indian Grocery Shop for the best (often costs double or more) BUT a small cost for a huge bowl of fluffy fragrant cooked Basmati Rice. You get what you pay for!!

^^^^ Exactly.

davidt4 - 2019-10-30 16:38:00

davidt4 wrote:

^^^^ Exactly.

Which is what you said @ #11.
Thanks to you & snapperheadrkp ...I've always been reasonably happy with Basmati rice I've bought, but I didn't even know that there were various 'grades', so will look out for the premium ... you learn something every day (if you want to )

samanya - 2019-10-30 17:59:00

We found the Uncle Ben's again in NW today. Been out of stock for weeks. Meanwhile we have an alternative, Kings Choice, just as good, and quite a bit cheaper.

amuso - 2019-10-30 20:44:00