What Is Aged Rice and Why Does It Cook Better?
You may have heard that "old rice" or aged rice cooks better. It is not marketing: aged rice is rice that has been stored for months after harvest before it is packed, and it behaves differently in the pot.
Our aged rice
- Kitchidi Ponni Rice — Everyday rice for real veettu saapadu, lunch and dinner.
- Nayara Super Aged Rice — Cooks separate and firm, perfect for lemon rice and lunch boxes.
Why aged rice cooks fluffier
Freshly harvested rice holds more moisture and tends to turn sticky when cooked. As rice is stored after harvest, the grain loses moisture and firms up. Aged rice therefore absorbs more water, swells more and cooks into fluffy, separate grains — which is why many Tamil households prefer it for daily meals and variety rice.
Aged rice from Chennai Rice
| Pack | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchidi Ponni Rice | Kitchidi Ponni, aged for a year | Everyday home meals |
| Nayara Super Aged | Super aged gel cook rice that stays separate and firm | Lemon rice, tamarind rice, lunch boxes |
Cooking aged rice
- Aged rice usually needs a little more water than new rice — start with about 3 cups of water for 1 cup of rice in a cooker and adjust.
- Soaking for about 60 minutes in slightly warm water helps it cook evenly.
- Rest the cooked rice for a few minutes so the grains separate.
Frequently asked questions
What is aged rice?
Aged rice is rice stored for months after harvest before it is packed. It loses moisture, absorbs more water while cooking and turns out fluffy and separate.
Is aged rice better than new rice?
For dishes where you want separate grains — daily meals, lemon rice, tamarind rice, lunch boxes — many people prefer aged rice. New rice can be stickier.
How long is Kitchidi Ponni Rice aged?
Chennai Rice Kitchidi Ponni Rice is aged for a year.
Does aged rice need more water?
Usually a little more. Start with about 3 cups of water for 1 cup of rice in a cooker and adjust for your water and taste.
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About Chennai Rice Industries
- Family-run rice mill at Nasiyanur, Erode, Tamil Nadu, founded in 1980.
- Capacity of 2,44,000 tonnes a year (MTPA), with 61,500 MT of paddy storage in 31 silos.
- Paddy is selected, tested, stored, parboiled (for boiled rice), milled on a 10-stage line (cleaning, husking, polishing, grading, colour sorting) and packed at the Erode plant.
- Sells Ponni rice and idli rice in 5, 10 and 26 kg packs (Rudra and Thaaram Nei Kitchadi in 25 kg) through distributors, shops and online across India.
Contact: WhatsApp +91 70666 46667 · support@chennairiceindustries.com · Contact page