by | Feb 22, 2021 | Cooking with Kids, Z

Best Bomba Rice

Last Updated: Apr 11, 2023 @ 10:19 am.

What's the best bomba rice? To find out, we did a blind taste test with batches of arroza con pollo made with 5 different bomba rice brands. Which was best? Here are the ones we'd recommend! FYI: We've been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don't take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!


Best Bomba Rice: The Makings of a Great Paella!

What’s the best bomba rice? And just what is it anyway . . . and why is it so great in paella or arroz con pollo?

This type of rice is shaped like a, well, bomb—short and round, with a pearly sheen.

Grown in the eastern regions of Spain, it is famous for its ability to absorb moisture—it can absorb nearly three its weight in liquid! Hence it is a favorite for paella and other Spanish dishes.

Thanks to a good amount of starch, it isn’t sticky . . . and remains firm in texture when it soaks up liquid. It does expand in width, so it appears round when cooked.

Here’s what bomba rice looks like when it is uncooked:

 

Best Bomba Rice uncooked

To find the best bomba rice, we cooked up batches of arroz con pollo and then started tasting. Here is what that looked like:

Best Bomba Rice arroz con pollo

Yes, it was delicious. Here’s a recipe for arroz con pollo, if you’re interested. After all that food, here are the winners of our taste tests!

Best For Paella

Imported from Spain
Beautiful and tasty, this bomba rice is perfect for paella. We loved its overall flavor profile and texture. Also nice: arrives in burlap bag, which makes for a nice gift presentation.

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Best Budget-Friendly

Fluffy and delicious
Wow! Loved this wonderful bomba rice, with a rich flavor . . . yet is easier on the wallet than others we tested. Cooked up perfectly!

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Best For Arroz Con Pollo

Easy to prepare
Non-GMO rice grown in Valencia, Spain, this bomba rice was a favorite in our taste tests. We loved the flavor, which had a slightly nutty profile.

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Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do hands-on testing—we buy the products with our own money and evaluate with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!

Best bomba rice