# Which is Better: Rice or Beans? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 22, 2019, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-rice-or-beans/845213 "2019-12-22T01:21:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-rice-or-beans/845213/1 "2019-12-22T01:21:52Z")
I’m going with rice. Rice is versatile, and good on its own too. Beans are what they are, and that’s it. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-rice-or-beans/845213/2 "2019-12-22T01:24:41Z")
I use rice far more often than beans, but that’s because my wife is not much a fan of beans. On their own… shit … I dunno. I love rice, but I can do without it in a way I can’t do without beans. What I mean is that I could substitute rice with other starches, but I really can’t substitute beans in the same way. I mean, take rice away from me and, hell, I got orzo or generally any pasta that will do. Beans? Not so much. So, I guess, gun to head, I go with beans. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-rice-or-beans/845213/3 "2019-12-22T01:44:26Z")
Depends on what sort(s) and with what they’re being served, I should think. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-rice-or-beans/845213/4 "2019-12-22T01:50:47Z")
I will go with beans. They have a far greater variety and, as **pulykamell** says, you can substitute any other starch. In fact many things that people would have with rice I really like with a slice of good toasted bread. And you can’t make rice and beans without beans. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-rice-or-beans/845213/5 "2019-12-22T01:51:45Z")
Beans ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-rice-or-beans/845213/6 "2019-12-22T03:13:37Z")
Agree, beans bring more flavor. Rice needs help with flavor. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-rice-or-beans/845213/7 "2019-12-22T04:05:07Z")
I personally am not a fan of rice and could do without it altogether (though I do like risotto). On the other hand, I love me some black beans, in all kinds of Mexican/Tex-Mex/Central and South American preparations and black bean soup is one of my favorite soups. Pink and white beans are divine in Tuscan and Italian-American preparations, and I have a couple of recipes for American-style baked beans that are mighty fine too. Black-eyed peas in Southern dishes, Garbanzo beans in salads and dips - I’m all in on those as well. I also think beans are healthier for you than rice, so they get props for that too. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-rice-or-beans/845213/8 "2019-12-22T04:08:49Z")
Beans. Beans are still a meal even if there’s nothing added to them. Rice by itself is so bland it’s hardly worth the bother of eating it. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-rice-or-beans/845213/9 "2019-12-22T04:13:10Z")
What a weird-ass question. “Which is better: milk chocolate or she-crab soup?” I would cheerfully dine on soup beans (pintos) with cornbread once a week. I rarely cook rice. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-rice-or-beans/845213/10 "2019-12-22T04:17:14Z")
Put me on Team Bean too. We eat rice a few times a week, have graduated to jasmine rice most of the time because it’s tasty–but beans, man, they’re **necessary**. Bean burritos are my single favorite food. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-rice-or-beans/845213/11 "2019-12-22T04:18:23Z")
Beans, because better commercials. sfw [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/hKDiPp2aCQk/maxresdefault.jpg "Beans - not for astronauts... Awesome Commercial!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKDiPp2aCQk) ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-rice-or-beans/845213/12 "2019-12-22T04:21:11Z")
Holy crap. I’m the only person who prefers rice. I gotta move to Asia now. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-rice-or-beans/845213/13 "2019-12-22T04:21:37Z")
I cook and eat rice(nearly always brown jasmine if I’m making it) probably 5-6 as much as beans, by volume and frequency. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-rice-or-beans/845213/14 "2019-12-22T04:33:21Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > Holy crap. I’m the only person who prefers rice. I gotta move to Asia now. Too many cats in Asia. I’m particularly frightened of tigers. They bite — they scratch — they make an awful fuss — it’s no use stroking them and saying “puss, puss, puss.” ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-rice-or-beans/845213/15 "2019-12-22T04:34:36Z")
Don’t get me wrong; rice has a lot of potential. But beans achieve that potential. I’d never eat just rice all by itself, but I regular eat just beans. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-rice-or-beans/845213/16 "2019-12-22T04:41:23Z")
Another fan of beans. Rice is easily substituted, but there are no substi-toots for beans. I use them a lot when cooking soups, stews, dips and casseroles. There’s a particular Mexican restaurant nearby and it’s very good, though in general nothing super special. However… they serve a plate of street tacos with a side of pinto beans (not refried) that is nothing short of addictive. It’s the beans. I cannot figure out their secret. A little pork for flavoring, probably, the right amount of salt, sure. But I’m damned if I can work out the combination of seasonings. I can usually recreate a dish by taste, but not these damn beans!! The bite is perfect, soft but not mushy, the bean flavor outstanding, there is no forward taste of spice or herb. But I could eat those damn beans morning, noon and night. The secret is going to turn out to be something odd, like pressure cooking with baking soda. Anyway. Yeah, beans. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-rice-or-beans/845213/17 "2019-12-22T04:47:25Z")
I would like to ask which one people believe is more nutritious. Does anyone know which food is better for long term survival? How long could someone survive if all they had to eat was rice? How long if all they had to eat was beans? Can a person survive on either of those foods if that was all they had to eat? ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-rice-or-beans/845213/18 "2019-12-22T04:52:31Z")
Neither rice or beans are a complete protein on their own. However, when combined, they are. So for long term survival, keep both on hand. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-rice-or-beans/845213/19 "2019-12-22T05:04:03Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Neither rice or beans are a complete protein on their own. However, when combined, they are. So for long term survival, keep both on hand. So THAT’S where Chris McCandless went wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2019, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-rice-or-beans/845213/20 "2019-12-22T05:19:24Z")
GTTH, beans. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-rice-or-beans/845213.md?page=2)