Wild Rice is a type of semi-aquatic grass. It was traditionally grown wild in shallow waters of lakes of the northern US and southern Canada and is still grown this way. Wild rice has a distinctive, nutty flavour and requires more water and cooking time than other rice. Wild Rice Facts Wild rice is the only grain native to North America, growing in shallow northern lake waters. Native peoples traditionally harvested it in canoes using beater sticks to knock the ripe seeds into their canoes. Today's commercial wild rice is "cured" and dried while still in its hull, and then the inedible hull is removed to reveal the black wild rice kernel. Slightly higher in protein than most other whole grains, it's a good source of fiber, folate, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, zinc, Vitamin B6, and niacin. One recent study found that the antioxidant activity of wild rice was 30 times greater than that of the white-rice control. Tasty Tips and Storage Wild rice is terrific in cold salads or hot grain pilafs. To cook wild rice, combine 1 cup uncooked wild rice with about 3 cups water or broth in a 2-3 quart saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. Heat to boiling, then reduces heat, cover and simmer for 35-50 minutes. Wild rice bursts open when it's cooked, making it as attractive to serve as it is delicious to eat! Wild rice is extremely low in fat so that uncooked wild rice can be stored almost indefinitely in a dry, airtight container or our resealable bag. Store cooked, drained, and tightly-covered wild rice in the refrigerator for up to a week, and in the freezer for up to six months