Farro and Rice Blends: A Guide for Food Manufacturers and Foodservice
Fully cooked IQF farro and rice blends: ratios, texture, wheat labeling, uses in bowls, salads and sides, pack formats and custom blends.
Key takeaways
- Farro adds chew; rice keeps the blend familiar; red rice and red quinoa add color.
- Farro is wheat, so every farro blend contains wheat and gluten.
- Ratios are held to spec, and any blend can be adjusted to your brief.
Short answer: a farro and rice blend combines farro, an ancient wheat grain with a firm, chewy bite, with rice and sometimes red quinoa. The rice keeps it familiar, the farro adds chew and the red grains add color. Bought fully cooked and IQF (individually quick frozen), a farro blend goes straight from the freezer into grain bowls, salads and sides. One thing to know up front: farro is wheat, so every farro blend contains wheat and gluten.
This guide covers the farro blends we make, how the ratio changes the eating experience, labeling, how to use them and how to build your own ratio.
Our farro blends at a glance
| Blend | Ratio by weight | Character | Protein / fiber per 100 g* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown Rice, Red Quinoa & Farro (70/15/15) | 70% brown rice, 15% red quinoa, 15% farro | Mild and rice-led, with a little chew and color | 3 g / 2 g |
| Brown Rice, Red Quinoa & Farro (40/30/30) | 40% brown rice, 30% red quinoa, 30% farro | Balanced, with more chew and more color | 4.1 g / 2.7 g |
| Red Rice & Farro (60/40) | 60% red rice, 40% farro | No quinoa; the most farro, with a deep red-brown color | 4 g / 2 g |
| IQF Farro | 100% farro | Firm, chewy, the full farro bite | 5.5 g / 3.9 g |
*Calculated values from our spec sheets. Ingredients are water plus the listed grains.
How the ratio changes the blend
- More farro means more chew. Farro keeps a firm bite after cooking and freezing, so higher-farro blends feel heartier in bowls and salads.
- More rice means a milder, more familiar base. A rice-led blend such as 70/15/15 suits sides and menus where you want a hint of whole grain without changing the dish much.
- Red quinoa and red rice add color. They make a bowl or salad look multi-grain at a glance.
- The ratio is set to spec. Whatever the blend, the ratio is held run after run, so your recipe and nutrition panel stay consistent.
Where farro blends work best
- Grain bowls: a base that holds its texture under hot or cold toppings. See all IQF grains and our guide to IQF rice and grains.
- Grain salads: thawed and dressed, the grains stay separate instead of clumping.
- Sides: heat from frozen in a skillet, combi oven or steam kettle.
- Frozen meals and meal kits: free-flowing grains portion accurately into trays and pouches.
Labeling: farro contains wheat
Farro is a type of wheat, so every farro blend is labeled contains wheat and gluten and cannot be sold as gluten-free. If you need a gluten-free multi-grain base, look at our rice and quinoa blends without farro and check the allergen statement on each spec sheet.
Our farro blends are vegan, made with no GMO ingredients and kosher certified (COR 579), and are produced in FSSC 22000 (GFSI) certified plants. Organic is not currently available on these items.
How to use IQF farro blends
- Hot dishes: add straight from frozen and heat until steaming hot.
- Salads and cold bowls: thaw under refrigeration and use as is.
- Shelf life: 18 months frozen at 0°F (−18°C). Keep unused product frozen.
Pack formats
| Format | Size |
|---|---|
| Retail bags | 8 oz, 10 oz or 2 lb |
| Foodservice case | 20–24 lb, depending on item |
| Bulk case | 40 lb |
| Bulk tote | 1,300 lb |
See all packaging formats, including private label retail bags.
Want a different ratio?
Any of these blends can be a starting point. We can change the ratio, swap a component, add seasoning or blend in IQF vegetables, then prove it on a plant trial before production. Start with our custom blends page, and see what to include in a custom blend brief.
Frequently asked questions
What is a farro blend?
A farro blend mixes farro, a chewy ancient wheat grain, with other grains such as brown rice, red rice or red quinoa. Seenergy makes farro blends fully cooked and individually quick frozen.
Is a farro and rice blend gluten-free?
No. Farro is wheat, so any blend that contains farro contains wheat and gluten.
Are IQF farro blends fully cooked?
Yes. They are fully cooked, then individually quick frozen, so they only need heating, or thawing for cold dishes.
Can you make a farro blend with a custom ratio?
Yes. We can adjust the ratio, components, seasoning and vegetable inclusions, and hold the ratio to spec on every run.
How are farro blends packed?
In 8 oz to 2 lb retail bags, 20–24 lb foodservice cases, 40 lb bulk cases and 1,300 lb totes.
Next step: request free samples of our farro blends to test in your own recipe.
Sources: Seenergy Foods product specifications.
Next step
See how it runs in your process.
Request a sample of fully cooked IQF beans, grains, rice or pasta and test it on your own line or menu.