Brown Rice Substitutes

Out of brown rice? These are the swaps that actually work, with conversion ratios for any recipe size and notes on how each one changes the result.

Need to convert brown rice between cups, grams, or ounces first? Open the brown rice converter.

What to use instead of brown rice

  • White Rice

    Ingredient swap

    1 cup brown rice = 1 cup white rice

    White rice swaps 1:1 by volume for brown rice and cooks in roughly 10 fewer minutes using slightly less water. The swap reduces fibre and the nutty bite, but the overall dish will still work.

    See white rice substitutes →

  • Basmati Rice

    Ingredient swap

    1 cup brown rice = 1 cup basmati rice

    Basmati swaps 1:1 by volume for brown rice with a lighter texture and aromatic fragrance. Whole-grain basmati is the closest match when you want the extra fibre; white basmati cooks faster with less water.

    See basmati rice substitutes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I substitute for brown rice?
There are 2 workable substitutes for brown rice, depending on what you have on hand and which property of brown rice matters most for your recipe. The closest swap is usually 1 cup brown rice = 1 cup white rice. Each option below lists the conversion ratio for any recipe size, plus notes on how the swap changes the texture, flavour, rise, or browning.
Will substituting brown rice change how my recipe turns out?
Yes, every swap trades one property for another: fat content, moisture, acidity, or protein. The notes on each substitute describe what changes in texture, flavour, rise, or browning, so you can choose the swap that matters least for your recipe. Open the brown rice converter
How do I measure brown rice accurately?
Weighing in grams is more reliable than scooping cups, especially when a substitute has a different density from what the recipe expects. The brown rice converter on this site converts between cups, grams, ounces, tablespoons, and teaspoons, so you can scale a recipe up or down without losing the ratio. Open the brown rice converter

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