Better Than Pasta Organic Shirataki Rice – USDA Organic, Zero Net Carbs, Keto & Diabetic Friendly, Gluten-Free, Low-Calorie, Plant-Based, Non-GMO, No Odor, Ready-to-Eat Konjac Noodles – 14oz (Pack of 6)

My husband grew up having rice most days of his life, but can't indulge since we were both diagnosed with diabetes several years ago. I purchased both this as well as another brand to try, and Better Than Rice was the best of the two by far, coming closer to the look and texture of the real thing. Admittedly, it does smell odd upon opening the package, but following the directions by draining, rinsing, and then boiling the product for a few minutes honestly does eliminate that odor completely. Being plant-based, the texture is just a bit different than regular rice, but when mixed with curries, soups, etc., you can hardly tell. The fact that it's high in very low-carb fiber makes it have a minimal impact on blood sugar spikes. High fiber diets also have the benefit of lowering cholesterol and glucose absorption, making this product actually healthy to eat. I did have to buy a mesh strainer because, like normal rice, the 'grains' are small enough that I was losing some down the drain using typical colanders and strainers. I resorted to using a splatter screen temporarily, but that was too flat and some of the product kept washing over the edge while rinsing. Ordering a new, inexpensive mesh one was a small price to pay.The steps that I've found to work best are:1. Rinse using a mesh strainer for 15+ seconds (the pieces are small and will wash out of a regular colander)2. Place into boiling water for 2+ minutes. (You can't really overcook this, so allow the water to return to a boil and then leave it for a few minutes without worry)3. Strain well, then place back into the original pot over medium heat. Stir frequently for 1-2 minutes to eliminate the excess water that's absorbed by the grains. This, again, isn't something that's time sensitive, so just use your personal preference. I simply find that this last step helps make the final dish less soggy, resulting in something more closely resembling regular rice.I've also tried the Better Than Pasta/Noodles versions and we actually had homemade spaghetti sauce last week for the first time in years. The pasta-like products would be great for people who like theirs al dente, as it's just a bit firmer than I'm used to. It was great to enjoy spaghetti again, though, especially while knowing that you weren't 'cheating' at all. I'm hoping that the price will come down gradually because we're enjoying this line of products and could purchase them more frequently if it were less costly.

UPDATED: I now know why it was so bad. It looks like some of the product wasn't completely processed. The bag I initially opened (first photo) looked and tasted like rubber bands. The second bag (second photo) was exactly like I hoped for, it tasted and felt like regular Konnyaku noodles. It was very good! The third photo is the manufacturer codes so they know which batch was affected.It seemed like someone in the processing plant forgot to "cook" half of them and just bagged the raw product. 3 bags in my order were like this, so ½ of my order was inedible. It's still a horrible deal since the manufacturer won't let me return the inedible product to get a replacement, so I am keeping my 1 star review. If they reach out to me to give me a replacement, I will change my review.+++++I had such high hopes for this product. I have tried other brands and liked them but this, by far is the worst out of them all. I followed the directions on the package, rinsed them and boiled them for the recommended 5 minutes. Then I tried the noodles... it's like chewing a rubber bands... I couldn't even break it down by chewing them. THEY GOT STUCK IN MY TEETH! I thought maybe boiling it longer would help. NOPE! This time it was harder to chew, if that is even possible.What really stinks is I cannot return it so I wasted the $28 on garbage!Do yourself a favor and don't buy this product!

I have read a lot of reviews on this product and products just like it. If you are reading a negative review that discusses the “smell”, the liquid it comes in, and/or the chewy texture, understand that the noodles need to be rinsed!!! Yes, it smells like low tide when the package is opened. If you know this fact when you purchase this product, don’t be surprised! If I want a huge meal that will keep me full and has very little prep to satisfy my pasta craving, rinsing the smell for a minute to get rid of the odor is WAY worth the effort!!!Now to attack the “chewy” texture claim. You do not HAVE to boil them. But if you don’t, they WILL BE CHEWEY. Duh. So boil them for 5-10 minutes - less than the time it takes to make traditional pasta. I have made these with scampi, peanut satay, marinara sauce, and stir fry. You don’t have to dry-fry it, but you can.This is designed for people who are on strict low-fat, low-carb dieting and don’t mimd a one-minute rinse to alternatively satisfy a guiltless meal. It is NOT for party entertainment or feeding dinner guests. It’s expensive.Bottom line: I recommend this product to anyone on a low-carb, low fat diet AND someone who can stomach the preparation of a seafood dinner. If you can rinse and clean shrimp, you can rinse these noodles for a minute without crying about it. I love this product so much, I GIVE bags of them to friends for them to try and buy. I have absolutely NO affiliation with this company and I bought these over 6 months ago and have never been in contact with any supplier.