Different Types of Rice

There are a variety of factors involved in choosing what rice will best suit your establishment's needs. Take a look at these 10 common types of rice to determine which grain size, texture, and flavor profile will work best for your next recipe.

1. Arborio Rice is a medium grain rice that is wider in size and has a characteristic white dot at the center of the grain. It is named after the town of Arborio in the Po Valley of Italy, where it is grown. Due to the high starch content of Arborio rice, it has a slightly chewy and sticky consistency and develops a creamy texture when cooked.

Arborio rice length: Medium grain

Arborio rice flavor: Creamy

What is arborio rice used for?: Risotto, rice pudding, and soup

2. Basmati Rice

When cooked, grains are long, dry, and separate. They impart a pleasant, nutty aroma and flavor in any dish. It is common in Indian and Asian cuisine, but it can be used in a variety of flavorful recipes.

Basmati rice length: Long grain

Basmati rice flavor: Nutty

3. Black Rice also known as forbidden rice, gets its color from anthocyanins, the same antioxidant that's found in blueberries and blackberries. Black rice features a mildly nutty, earthy flavor and has long been used in Chinese cuisine for its health-promoting properties.

Black rice length: Long, medium, or short grain

Black rice flavor: Mild, nutty, and earthy

What is black rice used for?: Bowls, rice pudding, soups, rice salads, and Chinese black rice cake

4. Bomba Rice is a short grain rice that is cultivated in the Valencia region of Spain. It has a firm texture that lends itself well to Spanish paella, as it needs more liquid to asborb when cooking than other rice varieties. 

Bomba rice length: Short

Bomba rice flavor: Mild; absorbs the flavor and aroma of the stock and spices it's cooked with

What is bomba rice used for?: Paella, Meditteranean dishes, and risotto

5. Brown Rice is a whole grain that has its bran and germ layers still intact, which gives the rice its characteristic tan color. It has a firmer texture and nuttier flavor than white rice, and it provides more fiber, vitamins, and minerals per serving. Brown rice can be substituted in any recipe that calls for white rice to increase its nutritional content.

Brown rice length: Long grain

Brown rice flavor: Mild, nutty, and earthy

What is brown rice used for?: Stuffing, bowls, casseroles, stir fries, and rice pilaf

6. Jasmine Rice

Cultivated in Thailand, will bring an exotic flair and flavorful accent to any dish. It develops a pleasant floral aroma and a moist, soft texture when cooked. Use it when making a variety of traditional Asian dishes, including curries and stir-frys.

Jasmine rice length: Long grain

Jasmine rice flavor: Floral, nutty, and aromatic

What is jasmine rice used for?: Curry, stir-fry dishes, and other Thai and Asian dishes

7. Long Grain White Rice

Long grain is most common rice used in traditional American recipes, and it's also popular in Asian and Mexican cuisine. Compared to brown rice, it has a mild flavor and a lighter, fluffier texture when cooked. It also takes much less time to cook white rice than brown rice, but the trade-off is that it has a lower nutritional content due to its milling process. Carolina Gold rice, a variety that originated in Africa but can now only be found in the United States, is known as the grandfather of all of America’s long grains.

White rice length: Long grain

White rice flavor: Mild

What is white rice used for?: Stuffing, bowls, casseroles, stir-fry dishes, rice pilaf

Different Types of Rice

There are a variety of factors involved in choosing what rice will best suit your establishment's needs. Take a look at these 10 common types of rice to determine which grain size, texture, and flavor profile will work best for your next recipe.

1. Arborio Rice is a medium grain rice that is wider in size and has a characteristic white dot at the center of the grain. It is named after the town of Arborio in the Po Valley of Italy, where it is grown. Due to the high starch content of Arborio rice, it has a slightly chewy and sticky consistency and develops a creamy texture when cooked.

Arborio rice length: Medium grain

Arborio rice flavor: Creamy

What is arborio rice used for?: Risotto, rice pudding, and soup

2. Basmati Rice

When cooked, grains are long, dry, and separate. They impart a pleasant, nutty aroma and flavor in any dish. It is common in Indian and Asian cuisine, but it can be used in a variety of flavorful recipes.

Basmati rice length: Long grain

Basmati rice flavor: Nutty

3. Black Rice also known as forbidden rice, gets its color from anthocyanins, the same antioxidant that's found in blueberries and blackberries. Black rice features a mildly nutty, earthy flavor and has long been used in Chinese cuisine for its health-promoting properties.

Black rice length: Long, medium, or short grain

Black rice flavor: Mild, nutty, and earthy

What is black rice used for?: Bowls, rice pudding, soups, rice salads, and Chinese black rice cake

4. Bomba Rice is a short grain rice that is cultivated in the Valencia region of Spain. It has a firm texture that lends itself well to Spanish paella, as it needs more liquid to asborb when cooking than other rice varieties. 

Bomba rice length: Short

Bomba rice flavor: Mild; absorbs the flavor and aroma of the stock and spices it's cooked with

What is bomba rice used for?: Paella, Meditteranean dishes, and risotto

5. Brown Rice is a whole grain that has its bran and germ layers still intact, which gives the rice its characteristic tan color. It has a firmer texture and nuttier flavor than white rice, and it provides more fiber, vitamins, and minerals per serving. Brown rice can be substituted in any recipe that calls for white rice to increase its nutritional content.

Brown rice length: Long grain

Brown rice flavor: Mild, nutty, and earthy

What is brown rice used for?: Stuffing, bowls, casseroles, stir fries, and rice pilaf

6. Jasmine Rice

Cultivated in Thailand, will bring an exotic flair and flavorful accent to any dish. It develops a pleasant floral aroma and a moist, soft texture when cooked. Use it when making a variety of traditional Asian dishes, including curries and stir-frys.

Jasmine rice length: Long grain

Jasmine rice flavor: Floral, nutty, and aromatic

What is jasmine rice used for?: Curry, stir-fry dishes, and other Thai and Asian dishes

7. Long Grain White Rice

Long grain is most common rice used in traditional American recipes, and it's also popular in Asian and Mexican cuisine. Compared to brown rice, it has a mild flavor and a lighter, fluffier texture when cooked. It also takes much less time to cook white rice than brown rice, but the trade-off is that it has a lower nutritional content due to its milling process. Carolina Gold rice, a variety that originated in Africa but can now only be found in the United States, is known as the grandfather of all of America’s long grains.

White rice length: Long grain

White rice flavor: Mild

What is white rice used for?: Stuffing, bowls, casseroles, stir-fry dishes, rice pilaf