Not All Fried Rice Created Equal
Written: May 06 '09 (Updated May 06 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Long shelf life due to dryness and packaging.
Cons: Pass on Rice A Roni Rice simply too much trouble.
The Bottom Line: Buy the Tai Pei Fried Rice instead. Rice A Roni too much trouble and does not cook well.
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| reasonfaith's Full Review: Rice A Roni Fried Rice with Seasoning 6oz |
Consider this a compare and contrast product review. Rice-A-Roni versus Tai Pei Chicken Fried Rice. Most cooks realize that rice is hard enough to get just right without additional headaches added to the mix and this is why I would like to share my opinion bad and good.
Rice A Roni Fried Rice With Seasoning
Looking at the attractive package and relying upon the Rice A Roni name, you would think this inexpensive ($1-$1.50) grocery-aisle favorite would deliver what it promises. Anytime you see the word "vermicelli" on a product you should run for the hills, because this means that the manufacturer expects you to saute the rice in 2 tablespoons of butter before adding it into the rice and seasoning mixture. Unless you really know what you are doing, this is going to spell disaster with either "blackened" (think Cajun) or undercooked vermicelli.
Also, when you see the rice and seasoning packets separated or an optional freeze dried vegetable packet thrown in, run for your life since this means you will need to coordinate the length of time for the water to boil the dried stuff into some semblance of real food while at the same time adequately lower the burner to steam the rice. No matter what you try to do with this product, it will come out mushy (think school cafeteria) and not fluffy nor flavorfull.
Rice A Roni contains a lot of nasties in its 6-oz product too, like sodium and MSG and soy and milk and wheat. The 310 calorie side-dish is made up of 90 percent fat calories due I presume to the fried vermicelli. You can cook it however you like, it will not improve.
TAI PEI CHICKEN FRIED RICE -a better alternative (not on the Epinions inventory list as yet; the above becoming unavailable)
If you can find this product, stock up. It is frozen and comes in a cute little square cardboard Chinese takeout-like container. The rice is always fluffy and contains real fresh peas, carrots and wonder-of-wonders those luscious baby corns. Also included are real white meat chicken and the wonderful smell and flavor come from authentic oyster sause. The one-cup serving could be a side for 2 people and contains 250 calories, 80 from fat but you get 40% vitamin A. Like most delicious food it is high in carbohydrates 375 grams.
Manufactured by Discovery Foods in Hayward, CA, you can visit them at http://www.discoveryfoods.com. The cost is higher at $2.50 to $3.00 but the ease of cooking - microwave in 5 minutes - and perfect combination of texture, taste and smell will be worth every penny. These also come in Sweet and Sour, Shrimp and Beef. Wonderful.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
reasonfaith
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Location: Ellensburg, WA, USA
Reviews written: 59
Trusted by: 5 members
About Me:
I am a non-profit writer and researcher with Facebook and Myspace and Twitter sites.
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