1. What's In the Mix
Look at the ingredients. Prepackaged rice dish manufacturers tend to put add flavorings and additives to their products that you don't want to eat. In some cases, you may be allergic or sensitive to certain additives, such as MSG. These flavorings may add taste to the make the packaged rice dish, but you can make an even better tasting variety of most packaged mixes at home with a few simple ingredients. Visit your bulk sales bins at your local health food or grocery store and select a few rice grains. If you have severe food allergies, choose single-grained varieties to avoid cross contamination.
2. Cook it Up Quick
If you are interested in getting dinner done with little effort, you might grab the prepackaged rice grain mix for convenience. However, unless the rice is parboiled, it will take just as long to cook as rice you buy in bulk. Throw your bulk rice into the crock pot in the morning with 50% more liquid than the cooking directions call for. Turn your crock pot to low, and your rice should ready to serve with dinner. You won't be tempted to buy the convenience of the quick cooking rice.
3. Count the Cost
Prepackaged rice mixes generally cost more than rice you buy in bulk, and it's not as if you're paying for quality. Instead, your financing the packaging, increased shipping costs (due to box weight), and the marketing and advertising campaigns. When you buy in bulk, you pay only for the rice and none of the frills (all right, the health food store might tack on a penny per pound to cover the cost of the plastic bag).
4. Don't Give Up Control
When you buy a prepackaged rice side dish, you give up something significant, control. The spice, fat and sodium ratios already have been decided for you, and the ingredients aren't fresh. With bulk rice, you can make up your own mix with garlic, basil and oregano for an Italian flair. You also can substitute healthy fats, like olive oil, for fats that can clog your arteries, all while giving the rice a wonderful flavor.
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