What is Brown Rice and How to Cook It? Brown rice is milled for less time than white rice and so retains its bran layers, which are brownish in color, hence the color of the rice. Brown rice is a good source of fiber and has a chewy texture and nut-like earthy flavor. There are four different types of brown rice — short grain, medium grain, long grain and light brown — and each takes a different amount of times to cook. Most people are familiar with long grain brown rice, the most common in pilafs and stir fries. But medium grain is actually the best for rice salads. It’s best to soak brown rice for a few hours before using it. This will reduce the cooking time and soften the rice. A medium grain brown rice that’s been soaked will take about 20 minutes to cook.