UNCLE BEN'S EXPRESS RICE
Uncle Ben's have been producing rice for over 50 years. They have a vast range of products and the Express Rice range is one of their newest and cleverest products.
I have been using their products for many years. I have also found their website (www.unclebens.co.uk) ... Read review
Advantages: quick and easy Disadvantages: may need extra peas
UNCLE BEN'S EXPRESS RICE
Uncle Ben's have been producing rice for over 50 years. They have a vast range of products and the Express Rice range is one of their newest and cleverest products.
I have been using their products for many years. I have also found their website (www.unclebens.co.uk) useful for ideas and information on products and recipes.
What makes this range so popular is the speed of which ... ...a hurry can be difficult. Uncle Ben's Express range will provide the carbohydrates needed within minutes, whilst guaranteeing a delightful taste feast.
The Express range has 12 different flavours that have been inspired by exotic flavours from all over the world. These are:
Long Grain and Wild,
Thai Sweet Chilli
Wholegrain
Special Fried Rice
Savoury Chicken
Long Grain
Egg Fried ... more
UNCLE BEN'S EXPRESS RICE
Uncle Ben's have been producing rice for over 50 years. They have a vast range of products and the Express Rice range is one of their newest and cleverest products.
I have been using their products for many years. I have also found their website (www.unclebens.co.uk) useful for ideas and information on products and recipes.
What makes this range so popular is the speed of which it can be prepared and the quality of its taste. In today's busy world trying to prepare healthy well balanced meals in a hurry can be difficult. Uncle Ben's Express range will provide the carbohydrates needed within minutes, whilst guaranteeing a delightful taste feast.
The Express range has 12 different flavours that have been inspired by exotic flavours from all over the world. These are:
Long Grain and Wild, Thai Sweet Chilli Wholegrain Special Fried Rice Savoury Chicken Long Grain Egg Fried Basmati Pilau Chinese Vegetable Pilau Mushroom Golden Vegetable.
I have often used the Golden Vegetable, Savoury Chicken and Special Fried Rice due the quickness of being able to prepare this part of a stable diet.
At the moment I have quiet a collection of this range because they are on offer in my local CO-OP at 3 packets for £3.50.
PACKAGE
The whole range of Uncle Ben's Express Rice come in a bright, Orange plastic package. This has been sealed in a protective atmosphere to ensure healthy and safety measures are met. What I particularly like is the display pictures on the front. Each variety shows beautifully displayed ingredients that reflect the particular flavour contained within the package. Beside the ingredient is a large bowl flaunting the tantalising product complete and ready for you to enjoy.
Under Uncle Ben's big, blue, bold title is the famous picture of the gentleman whose face represents Uncle Ben with their logo 'PERFECT EVERY TIME'. I personally do agree with this catch phase, as with all these products (including the boil in the bag range) perfection has always been the final result.
All of the flavours mentioned above contain no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. So everyone trying to balance a busy life and healthy diet can be happy knowing this is a great meal or as an accompaniment.
Each packet weighs 250g. INSTRUCTIONS
There are 2 methods for cooking the rice and both are quick and easy. These cooking instructions are clearly set out on the back of the package. The microwave instructions are so simple, with the aid of little pictures, that a 4 yr could cook this meal. Not that I would recommend you send your little ones off to do the tea on their own. However, Mr Couch Potato (now very happy the footie had started), even you can cook a meal during half time.
I must admit I also use the Microwave method because of the ease and lack of dishes needed. You literally cook it in the bag for 2 minutes.
However, if you don't own a microwave you can use the good old pan on hob method. This too is clearly set out explaining how much water to use and how to cook the rice.
To complete the information given on the rear of the packets, each variety has its own Nutritional value chart, information on whether its suitable for vegetarians and then a list of all ingredients.
NUTRITIONAL VALUES
The charts all give the typical value in 125g or 100g. This makes is very easy to work out your intake if you are going to eat the whole packet as a main meal.
I have also found this very helpful when working out the POINTS system for WEIGHTWATCHERS. For those on Weightwatchers points system each sachet as a whole meal is 5 ½ points which is equivalent to some of their suggested meals (and tastier).
To help give you an idea of the information on the charts I have listed the Nutritional value for the Golden Vegetable Rice, Mushroom Rice & Savoury Chicken Flavour Rice so you can see for yourselves that they don't vary that much.
GOLDEN VEGETABLE RICE
Per 125g per 100g Energy 795 kl/ 636 kl/ 188 kcal 150 kcal
Protein 4.3g 3.4g
Carbohydrate 37.5g 30.0g Of which is sugars 0.9g 0.7g
Fat 2.4g 1.9g Of which saturates 0.4g 0.3g
Fibre 0.9g 0.7g
Sodium 0.6g/645mg 0.5g/ 516mgMUSHROOM RICE
Per 125g per 100g Energy 833 kl/ 666 kl/ 196 kcal 157 kcal
Protein 4.1g 3.3g
Carbohydrate 39.8g 31.8g Of which is sugars 0.6g 0.5g
Fat 2.4g 1.9g Of which saturates 0.4g 0.3g
Fibre 0.6g 0.5g
Sodium 0.5g/534mg 0.4g/ 427mg
SAVOURY CHICKEN FLAVOUR RICE
Per 125g per 100g Energy 764 kl/ 611 kl/ 180 kcal 144 kcal
Protein 3.6g 2.9g
Carbohydrate 36.4g 29.1g Of which is sugars 1.1g 0.9g
Fat 2.3g 1.8g Of which saturates 0.4g 0.3g
Fibre 0.8g 0.6g
Sodium 0.4g/321mg 0.3g/ 257mg
As you can see the differences are very slight.
COOKING - THE GOLDEN VEGETABLE RICE
As previously mentioned I have always used the microwave method. After cutting a small tear ( about 3cm) in the top of the pack you simply pop it in the micro and zap it for 2 mins at 700watts. I would recommend that you are careful when pulling back the rest of the strip because the steam coming out can be very hot.
APPEARNCE
The Golden vegetable flavour, I must admit is probably the least attractive of all the varieties. I say this because there never seemed to be many peas, sweetcorn or red peppers to give it the vibrant colourful sight of the picture on the front. I have on some occasions added more peas and corn to overcome this. However, the rice in a beautiful golden colour and looks soft and fluffy.
TASTE
My daughter always likes to add salt to these packs but I don't feel they need it. The taste obviously varies with each type, but all have a good texture to the rice itself. I have also found that the vegetables added are not overcooked or tasteless.
The pilau rice flavours in particular are really tasty and full of spices.
The chicken rice has good quality pieces of the while meat that are tender and not overcooked.
The rice has a good soft texture that is fluffy to the mouth. I couldn't believe that all my children enjoy this so it makes a great meal for all in the flash of a ping.
CONCLUSION
I would recommend this product to all who like rice. It is so simple to cook and the variety of tastes reflect the colourful appearances that will brighten up any meal. The nutritional value contributes well to the stable diet and the quickest helps those with the busiest of lives.
I hope you have found my review useful and have enjoyed the read. Many thanks x hev
Advantages: Quick Disadvantages: No Vegetables and Expensive
...Week, so here goes.
Uncle Ben's are well known for making cooking sauces for Chinese, Indian, Mexican and Thai food along with a selection of rices to accompany these sauces. I can remember years ago, long before the microwave was in every home, it would be boil in the bag rice, which they still in fact sell. They have now however added the more convenient version of Uncle Ben's Express Rice. This rice is available in 18 flavours and they also make ... ...and seeing a box of Uncle Ben's boil in the bag rice next to the dried Vista Curry packs, how convenience food has come on. It used to be so exciting having a curry in the days when there would only be one Chinese and one Indian restaurant in the town and having a takeaway was about a once in every six month treat. Now the takeaways are on every corner even in small villages. This review is about '''Uncle Ben's Express Golden Vegetable Rice.'''
...
paulpry118 14.08.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Uncle Ben's Express Golden Vegetable Rice
Advantages: Filling, Quite Yummy, Fairly Cheap Disadvantages: Peppers do nothing for it.
...in a rush. I discovered Uncle Ben's rice about a year ago when I bought their express rice and sweet and sour chicken sauce. It was quite nice and did fill me up nicely but it has never been as good as the homemade stuff. I had been buying it mostly when there was nothing to eat in the house and all it needed was to be heated up. I quite fancied trying the rest of the range and gave the Golden Vegetable Rice ago. ===Uncle Ben's Express Rice===
Uncle ... ...or Tescos. Both supply the Uncle Ben's rices and sauces and also supply this product. It seems to be fairly common to see in shops and even the local shops. What I did notice when buying this was there wasn't very much of it compared to other packs. There was only one row compared to plain and brown which has 2/3 rows. So it is obviously not the most popular in the range. However it can be found in most shops and should be around rice products or ...
scotlandizdabest 12.08.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Uncle Ben's Express Golden Vegetable Rice
Advantages: very quick and easy Disadvantages: tasteless,expensive and to easy just to do you own really
...So when i heard of Uncle Ben's express rice i couldn't have been more enthusiastic to try it and so on the next shopping run i went on the prowl. Low and behold there it was shining like the sun at the end of the isle its bright orange packaging glimmering in the distance!!! I couldn't believe my luck buy one get one free it was as if it new i was coming!! For the two bags it cost £1.20 so 60p each which is pretty cheap however if it wasn't buy one ... ...being a student.
So i got home around lunch time and so thought to my self well why not try one of them now. So i followed the very simple instructions cut of the corner, popped it in the microwave for two minutes and then left to stand for a further minute got a bowl and poured it in. I have to say not the most appetizing bowl of food i have ever seen plain rice with peas and tiny pieces of sloppy red pepper yummy!! Neither the less i tucked in ...
digitalsea 13.08.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Uncle Ben's Express Golden Vegetable Rice
Advantages: Quick, easy to cook, great on the go Disadvantages: Quite tasteless, Lack of Vegetables, boring
...BENS***
For over 50 years, Uncle Ben's rice has been famous worldwide for its premium quality, tasty and easy-to-cook rice which is guaranteed to turn out perfectly every time.
Because of this, their long grain rice has remained a must-have store cupboard staple. Over the years, Uncle Ben's has also developed Boil in the Bag Rice and most recently Express Rice, which cooks in just 2 minutes in the microwave, making it even easier and quicker to ... ...even more ways to enjoy Uncle Ben's rice at mealtimes - whether as an accompaniment to your meal, or as the main ingredient.
***RICE FACTS***
* Most White Rice has only 5% of the goodness of the whole grain - but because Uncle Ben's is pre-steamed, it retains up to 80% of its natural goodness.
* It's well known, that rice is a great provider of carbohydrates. But it's complex carbohydrates - not the simple carbohydrates of denatured grains - that ...
kiss_me2070 16.08.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Uncle Ben's Express Golden Vegetable Rice
Advantages: Quick, easy, tasty Disadvantages: Can be hot when you rip open the packet fully
...my mum suggested I try Uncle Ben's Express Rice.
I found it hard to believe that this rice would be any good, seeing as they obviously had to half boil the rice at least before it stood in the packet for an age waiting for you to taking your chances on it. And then it had to be drowned in flavour at the bottom by the time the sauce/flavouring had all settled there.
But as I'm willing to try almost anything once, I took one to work (which just happened ... ...peppers.
Background Info
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Uncle Ben's name and logo came from the American slave trade, when white people used to call black workers "Uncle". Although it was later seen as patronising and demeaning and eventually whittled out, there was one Texan rice grower who went by the name of "Uncle Ben". Apparently his rice was so good, his name was taken to represent the rice range created by Masterfoods and Mars inc.
The other flavours ...
Luvlylana 16.08.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Uncle Ben's Express Golden Vegetable Rice
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Advantages: Quick and easy to cook. Good choice of flavours. Disadvantages: A tad pricey.
Although in general I try to eat freshly cooked foods, working nights lately has meant that I have to eat either sandwiches or microwave meals. One of my staple foods has become UncleBensExpressRice.
The range itself is rather large with many different flavours to choose from. These include mushroom, Chinese, goldenvegetable and Thai style, however my personal favourite has to be the vegetable pilau flavour and this is the one which my review will concentrate on.
The product itself is available from all good supermarkets and convenience stores and is normally located in the aisle with the other pasta and rice products. It costs £1.19 in Sainsbury's but is frequently available on special 2 for 1 offers. It is available in pouches of 250g only.
It is packaged in a bright orange plastic pouches so it is very hard to miss ...
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