Each month we show you how to waste less and make ingredients work harder for maximum taste and value

Grain tips

Get the most out of storecupboard staples and create delicious breakfast bakes, filling soups and nutritious veggie burgers

Rice

Usually, the shorter the grain the more water the rice will absorb and the stickier it will be. Short grains include arborio rice, sushi rice or pudding rice. Long grain rice such as basmati and jasmine will give you drier, separate grains and are usually a bit easier to cook as they are less likely to stick together. Both types can be used in a variety of different ways from traditional paella and fragrant pilafs to creamy rice puddings and risottos. Give our recipe opposite a try for an easy, hands-off way to cook basmati rice. Store rice in a sealed container in a cool, dark place and wash thoroughly with cold water before cooking. Brown rice has a shorter shelf life and should be used within six months, while white rice can be kept for up to two years.

Oats

Oats are such a versatile ingredient. Instant oats cook quickly and have a smoother texture, and rolled oats mean the whole grain is rolled flat, breaking down the outer husk. Steel-cut are oats that have been chopped. Try stirring a handful into cookie dough or use in a crumble topping to give more texture. Our breakfast muffins (bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/breakfast-muffins) are great for a breakfast on-the-go or try our no-bake flapjacks (p106). Store in a container in a cool place.

Polenta

Polenta and cornmeal are almost the same, but polenta is coarser. Coarse-ground cornmeal can be swapped for polenta, whereas medium- and fine-ground cornmeal should be used where they are called for. You can make polenta both creamy and loose or thick and set, then cut into slices. It makes an excellent accompaniment to grilled meats and you can even grill the sliced polenta. It also adds texture and flavour to cakes – give it a go in our lemon drizzle fingers at bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/swirly-lemon-drizzle-fingers. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.