Long grain short grain. The grains of long grain varieties stand up as individual pieces so they work well in pilafs in which the rice is combined with other ingredients. Short grain rice generally has a higher level of starch content than the other grains do making it a type of rice that tends to be sticky. You may see the grain direction underlined 11 x 17 would be grain long or 11 x 17 would be grain short. Short grain rice is a staple of many asian dishes such as japanese style rice.
Some dishes simply work best with the firm distinct grain you get with long grain rice while other thrive on chewier medium grain rice or plump sticky short grain rice. Short grain rice is very starchy and cooks up soft and stickyits used in things like sushi paella and risotto. The difference is not just the size but also the texture of the rice so the rice you use in a given recipe really does make a difference. Short grain rice as the name implies these grains are shorter with a slightly rounded kernel.
Long grain rice contains less starch so the cooked grains are drier and more separate. Lastly short grain rice is theshortest of them all. Next combine 2 cups of water 1 teaspoon of salt and 2 tablespoons of unsalted vegetable oil in a heavy bottomed saucepan. To cook short grain brown rice start by running 1 cup of rice under cold water for about 10 seconds in a fine mesh colander which will help get rid of any excess starch.
Sometimes the grain direction is bold 11 x 17 would be grain long or 11 x 17 would be grain short. When cooked they often have a sticky rather than fluffy and separate texture. Sometimes confused with medium grain short grain rice is about the same size in length as it in width. Long grain a slim type of rice that cooks up fluffy and doesnt clump the way say short grain rice does.
Often on the label of a ream of paper you will get multiple indications of the grain direction. It very much lends itself to sticking together making it the perfect option for sushi rice puddings or anything that involves any level of molding the rice. The texture of long grain brown rice is more delicate than that of short grain brown rice although any kind of brown rice will be more dense than white rice. Whereas long grain rice is skinny and tall short grain rice is short and fat.
It often looks round in shape because the width is so close in size to the length with this grain. For example you may see 11 x 17.