Which brand of Basmati Rice?

[NotAPenguin]

Can anyone advise me on which are good brands of basmati rice to buy in 5 or 10 kg bags. Have realised that I've been crazy buying expensive little bags all these years. However, I bought a bag of 'Laila' rice which is I'm finding impossible to get nice and fluffy no matter how much I wash and soak.

I like Akash, but can't find it at the moment, or tilda which is expensive. What other brands are good? Don't want to make another expensive mistake.

Tilda. Hands down the best.

If you want fluffy then all you need to do is chuck the rice in boiling water for 10-12 minutes. No need to measure. Then drain and leave for a few minutes and voila!

Sorry just saw you dont want tilda. Try Laila again, you can get it fluffy.

We only buy Tilda. Cheaper in the pillow size bag.

I find all basmati rice much the same.

I use Laila all the time and it's great - I use the absorbtion method.

I've also used Tesco, Aldi, Kohinoor..all cook the same.

I must admit, Tilda is too expensive, so not tried that.

Laila extra long basmati rice, wouldn't use anything else!

Absorption method is supposed to be a no no now.

I usually find that rice sold to the Asian market in the world food aisle is much better than the rice that’s told in the tiny bags in the rice aisle. I normally get whatever is on offer.

You need to wash it a good 5 times and if you have the time soak for 10mins. If I'm making 2 cups of rice I will use 3.5 cups of water (not double, ever with any rice) and then bring to the boil before adding the rice, once rice is reduce heat to med/low with the lid on for 10 mins then turn off the heat while the lid is still on for another 5 mins.

Sorry I'm shit at writing methods of cooking

Absorption method is supposed to be a no no now

Why?

@Unshriven basically the levels of arsenic in rice cooked that way are now too high.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2F1MDzyW55pg97Tdpp7gqLN/should-i-be-concerned-about-arsenic-in-my-rice

Thanks very much for all the advice, although I'm feeling a bit dismayed that you can all get laila fluffy but I can't! Maybe I got a bad bag I use the absorption method and usually have no problems. But I'm using twice the water not 3.5x as east mids mum says, will try that.

Or if not just do it in a big pan of water instead, specially if it's healthier.

Or fry some cardamom pods and then the dry rice before adding the water

You'll get lovely, fluffy basmati rice (from any brand) if you do the following:
give it a quick wash,
cook it in lots of boiling water for 10 minutes,
drain it
return it to the pan (put some butter or oil in the bottom of the pan ideally, this will give you a great crust if you leave it long enough)
cover very tightly
leave to steam (over a low heat, or even just with the lid on) for 10 minutes or more (40 minutes over a very low heat will produce a lovely, golden crust, and that's the best bit)

Works every time, and requires no measuring or anything.

Also if you are struggling with Laila theres a brand called veetee sold in the world food aisles, I've used that on occasions when I've not been able to get laila and it's quite easy to cook!

Second to what @SporadicNamechange has said if you want to add a nice flavour add some cumin seeds to the oil before adding the rice, gives it a lovely aromatic flavour.

The absorption method for me always works. Never liked the method where you boil in lots of water, it's more faff with the draining and I find it's much harder to get the rice dry and fluffy. Didn't know about the arsenic issue though.

That's not the point of the thread though is it!! Oops. I use the cheap one from Aldi or Lidl usually, but I do think Tilda is the best.

Interesting article about arsenic levels in rice. If we ate rice every day I'd change the way I cooked it, but as we have rice at most once a week, and it's always white basmati, I don't plan to abandon the absorption method. It always works for me.

I use Waitrose own brand at the moment. I find it perfectly fine.

I get on well with veetee as well. There’s one called mega that even I can’t cock up!

Veetee basmati...... excellent

Soaking rice overnight and draining removes lots of the arsenic. It also then cooks quicker.