What Kind of Rice Is Uncle Ben's Rice Made Of?

December 12, 2025 •

3 min read

Ben's Original, formerly known as Uncle Ben's, is an American brand of parboiled rice products that were first introduced in 1943. This distinctive process, also known as converted rice, gives the rice its signature texture and nutrient content.

Quick Summary

Ben's Original, previously Uncle Ben's, is primarily made from long-grain parboiled rice. This special steaming process boosts its nutritional profile, results in firm, separate grains when cooked, and prevents stickiness. The parboiling process also reduces overall cook time.

Key Points

Parboiled long-grain rice: Uncle Ben's is primarily long-grain rice that is pre-cooked in its husk through a special steaming process.
Converted rice is parboiled: The terms 'converted rice' and 'parboiled rice' are often used interchangeably, and they refer to the same type of processing.
Nutrient retention: The parboiling process pushes nutrients from the bran into the rice kernel, resulting in a product more nutritious than regular white rice.
Fluffy, separate grains: The steaming and drying process alters the starch, making the cooked rice firmer, fluffier, and less sticky.
New brand name: The brand was renamed Ben's Original in 2020 to address racial stereotyping concerns.

Unveiling the Truth: Parboiled Long-Grain Rice

Ben's Original, the brand formerly known as Uncle Ben's, is made from long-grain white rice that undergoes a specific parboiling process. This means the rice is partially boiled within its husk before milling, which is the key to its unique characteristics, including its fluffy texture and golden color.

The Science Behind Parboiling

Parboiling involves three steps: soaking raw rice in warm water, steaming it under pressure to transfer nutrients inward and gelatinize starch, and then slowly drying it to harden the kernels. This method, developed in the early 20th century and licensed by the brand's founders, results in rice that cooks faster and is less likely to become mushy than regular white rice.

How Converted Rice Retains Nutrients

Unlike standard white rice, where the milling process removes the nutrient-rich bran and germ, parboiling pushes water-soluble vitamins and minerals from the bran into the endosperm before milling. This allows the final product to retain more nutrients like B vitamins and iron, offering a nutritional advantage over regular white rice while being more convenient than brown rice.

The Name Change: From Uncle Ben's to Ben's Original

In response to concerns about racial stereotyping, Mars, Inc. rebranded Uncle Ben's to Ben's Original in 2020. This change reflects a commitment to diversity and inclusion while maintaining the same popular product. Mars Inc. also supports Black students in the food industry through the SEAT AT THE TABLE™ Fund.

Parboiled (Converted) Rice vs. Regular White and Brown Rice


Feature	Parboiled/Converted Rice (Ben's Original)	Regular White Rice	Regular Brown Rice
Preparation	Soaked, steamed, and dried before milling.	Milled to remove bran and germ.	Only the inedible outer husk is removed.
Appearance	Slightly yellow or amber color.	Pale white.	Brown due to intact bran and germ layers.
Texture	Firmer, fluffier, and less sticky.	Softer, can be sticky or clumpy.	Chewy and firm due to the bran.
Cooking Time	Takes slightly longer than white rice (approx. 20-25 mins).	Quickest cooking time (approx. 15-20 mins).	Longest cooking time (approx. 45-50 mins).
Nutritional Profile	More nutrients (B vitamins, iron) than white rice, but less than brown.	Lower nutrient content due to milling.	Highest nutrient content (fiber, vitamins, minerals).

The Versatility of Ben's Original Rice

Ben's Original rice's non-sticky and firm texture makes it excellent for dishes requiring separate, fluffy grains. It's a great choice for side dishes, rice salads, and main courses like jambalaya and stir-fries, where it maintains its structure when cooked with other ingredients.

Why Choose Converted Rice?

Converted rice strikes a balance between the nutritional benefits of brown rice and the quick cooking time of white rice. It's more nutritious than standard white rice, less sticky, and faster to cook than brown rice. These qualities have made Ben's Original a popular and convenient option for home cooks for many years.

Conclusion: The Final Verdict

Uncle Ben's rice, now known as Ben's Original, is a long-grain rice treated with a parboiling process that transfers nutrients from the husk into the kernel before milling. This results in a product that is fluffy, has separate grains, and is more nutritious than typical white rice. The brand remains a popular choice for those seeking a convenient and quality rice option.

Want to learn more about the parboiling process?

For a more in-depth look at the science and health benefits of parboiled rice, visit Healthline's detailed guide: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/parboiled-rice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ben's Original is the new name for the brand formerly known as Uncle Ben's. The company, Mars, Inc., changed the name and logo in 2020 to create a more inclusive brand identity.

Compared to regular white rice, Ben's Original parboiled rice is more nutritious, retaining higher levels of B vitamins and iron due to the parboiling process. However, brown rice remains the most nutritious option overall.

The slight yellow or amber color is a result of the parboiling process, during which some of the natural pigments and nutrients from the bran move into the rice kernel.

Parboiled rice is partially cooked and then dried, while instant rice is fully cooked and then dehydrated. Instant rice cooks much faster but loses more flavor and texture compared to parboiled rice.

The parboiling process gelatinizes the rice's starch, which prevents it from releasing excess surface starch during cooking. This results in separate, firm, and fluffy grains that don't clump together.

Parboiled rice is ideal for dishes where separate, firm grains are desired, such as pilafs, stir-fries, and jambalaya. However, it is not suitable for recipes that require creamy or sticky rice, like risotto or sushi.

The company sources its rice from various locations. For example, its U.S. production has been based in Greenville, Mississippi, for many years, and the brand has also certified basmati rice from local farmers.