Your favorite bulk basmati/jasmine rice(s)

I've been holding off on purchasing large bags of basmati and jasmine rice for fear of accidentally picking up a dud. Since they're, what, 5-10kg bags, it lasts me quite a while and I hate the idea of tossing food. I really enjoy the Trader Joes basmati but it's kind of expensive and worse, I keep running out!

What're your picks for basmati and jasmine handle bags? Please keep it to those that are available locally. I'd consider very quality rice shipped if recommendations run high, too. There are other rices I should know about?!? Post them here.

Thanks!
Your friend in rice,
Brendan

We like Tilda basmati rice. I think Cook's Illustrated picked them as the best some time back. It's available on Devon, and I have even seen it at the Jewel on Howard and Kedzie.

I strongly second the Tilda suggestion. It's the best I've had.

The Jewel at Ashland & Wellington has Tilda basmati in both 2lb & 10lb bags. They also sell 2lb & 10lb bags of Swad basmati, for exactly half the price of Tilda...I've had decent luck with Swad-brand stuff, and the significantly lower price wasn't bad either, so that's what I went with.

The Coscto at Clybourn & Division sells 20lb monster bags of basmati rice (I've seen Swad brand there before, but last week I believe they had Royal brand) for about the same price as the 10lb bag from Jewel. If we didn't live in a cramped 1-bedroom condo, I'd go for this in a second.

Khaopaat wrote:The Coscto at Clybourn & Division sells 20lb monster bags of basmati rice ...

See, I'm ok with a large bag but I just need to know it's a good one.

I've added Tilda to my BUY! list. Any recs for jasmine rice?

I like Royal basmati.

I seem to remember a review (perhaps the Cooks Illustrated one) saying that you generally won't go wrong with any of the aged basmatis that come from India.

My 2 cents on jasmine rice (I like basmati, but don't know as much about it) -- to be honest, we've always picked whichever big bag was on sale that day. It usually ends up being either Dynasty or Milagrosa or Rose or whatever, but I don't think we've ever gotten a dud.

I find that one of jasmine's strengths is its versatility. It's an essential side to Thai and Filipino food, as the pandan aroma is as much a part of the meal as the main. If we order in Chinese food, we'll usually toss the freebie rice and cook up a fresh pot of our own because the takeout rice often tastes like nothing. I've also made some really good paella and risotto out of it. Purists may argue it's use in sushi, but I think it works just fine.

All in all, I've never had to buy specialty rice and instead sub in jasmine with excellent results.

can I get some advice on Jasmine rice? I cook mine in my rice cooker and it always turns out mushy (other types of rice, like basmati, always turn out perfect). I wonder if I've got too much water to rice in my ratio. I think my last attempt I used 1.5 or 1.75 cups of water to 1 cup rice. what do you think?

In a rice cooker I've always used 1:1 by volume plus a little of the remaining liquid from washing the rice. Not sure what the exact amount is, but here's the procedure for 3 c. of dry rice:

Rinse the rice 3x in the pot (i.e. fill the cooker + rice with water, stir it around with your hands, and then dump out as much water as you can), and on the third rinse, pour out the rinsing water until it's just under the level of the damp rice. I then measure out 3 c. of water, add it to the cooker, and let 'er rip.

If you can get the water just right, jasmine will be tender and kinda stick together, but it definitely shouldn't be mushy. In fact, the tendency to stick together is a must for Filipino folks that eat with their hands. If we tried this with Uncle Ben's, rice would probably fall down into our sleeves.

(edit - btw, when I say 3 c. each of rice and water, that's using the plastic cup that comes with rice cookers, which I believe is way less than 8 oz. If I used 3 measuring cups in my little rice cooker, I'd probably be swimming in the stuff!)

thanks! I'll try this next time

10 lb bag of Tilda rice on sale at Fresh Farms today for $12.99.

I purchase my jasmine rice in 25# bags on Argyle street and my Basmati at Sam's Club!
I used to purchase Basmati rice and spices on Devon Street but after two outbreaks of bugs, no more.
The only rice that i have noticed a difference in is the super premium Japanese rice which is usually sold in fancy bags, much better than regular short grain rice.-Dick