Rice mix, cheese flavor, dry mix, unprepared
Whole food · Meals, Entrees, and Side Dishes
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a dry, shelf-stable rice blend designed for quick preparation, typically combining white rice grains with a powdered cheese seasoning mix. The uncooked grains are coated in a fine, orange-hued powder that transforms into a savory, creamy, and distinctly cheesy sauce when boiled with water or milk. Nutritionally, it's a high-carbohydrate energy source, delivering over 73g of carbs per 100g of dry mix.
Calorie split: 10% protein · 82% carbs · 9% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for its comforting, nostalgic, and intensely savory cheese flavor that coats every grain of rice, making it a satisfying and fast comfort food. Its versatility as a standalone side dish or a base for quick one-pot meals makes it a staple in many busy households.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The high carbohydrate and low fiber content can lead to rapid blood-sugar spikes, making it less ideal for diabetics or those managing blood glucose. It is also typically high in sodium and may contain common allergens like milk derivatives. To counteract this, pair it with a source of protein (like grilled chicken or beans) and non-starchy vegetables to slow digestion and add nutritional balance.
Key benefits
- Excellent shelf-stable pantry staple for quick meals
- Provides quick-release energy from high carbohydrate content
- Simple preparation requires only boiling water
- Consistent, familiar cheesy flavor profile
- Can be a base for adding other proteins or vegetables
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The powdered cheese flavoring often uses a combination of whey, cheddar cheese cultures, and annatto extract—a natural dye from the achiote tree seed—to achieve its signature orange color.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 8.7 g |
| Energy | 362 kcal |
| Energy | 1515 kj |
| Protein | 8.8 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 3.5 g |
| Ash | 5.1 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 73.9 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 1.8 g |
| Total Sugars | 5.3 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 140 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 4.7 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 88.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 369 mg |
| Potassium, K | 351 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 1193 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 1.4 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.19 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 24.8 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 2.1 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.26 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.67 mg |
| Niacin | 5.3 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.40 mg |
| Folate, total | 175 ug |
| Folic acid | 92.0 ug |
| Folate, food | 84.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 240 ug |
| Choline, total | 67.9 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.56 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 6.0 ug |
| Retinol | 6.0 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 3.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 25.0 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 72.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.50 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 20.5 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 1.8 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.04 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.02 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.03 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.03 g |
| SFA 13:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.13 g |
| SFA 15:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 1.1 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.33 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 24:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.75 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 15:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 17:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.73 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 24:1 c | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.67 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.61 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.05 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:2 n-6 c,c | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 9.0 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Rice and vermicelli mix, rice pilaf flavor, unprepared — USDA does not publish this profile for Rice mix.
| Tryptophan | 0.09 g |
| Threonine | 0.22 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.28 g |
| Leucine | 0.52 g |
| Lysine | 0.19 g |
| Methionine | 0.14 g |
| Cystine | 0.13 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.32 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.18 g |
| Valine | 0.37 g |
| Arginine | 0.57 g |
| Histidine | 0.15 g |
| Alanine | 0.35 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.64 g |
| Glutamic acid | 1.2 g |
| Glycine | 0.30 g |
| Proline | 0.39 g |
| Serine | 0.30 g |
| Hydroxyproline | 0.00 g |
FAQ
How do you prepare this rice mix?
Typically, you combine the dry mix with a specific amount of water (and sometimes butter or milk) in a saucepan, bring to a boil, then simmer covered until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender, usually about 15-20 minutes.
Can I use milk instead of water?
Yes, using milk or a mix of milk and water will create a richer, creamier sauce and enhance the cheesy flavor, though it will increase the calorie and fat content.
Is this the same as instant rice?
Not exactly. While both are quick-cooking, this is a 'rice mix' or 'rice side' where the rice is often par-cooked and then dried with a seasoning blend. Instant rice is simply pre-cooked and dehydrated rice with no added seasonings.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 3.62 kcal/g · 10% calories from protein · 1.8 g fiber · 5.3 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 3.40 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.