I've not tried the brown pastas/rice although I know I should. I don't weigh my pasta cos anything left over goes on a sauce for lunch next day. I have bags of sauces in the freezer ready for this. With the rice I bought a rice cooker- omg! I love it. £15 in currys, 1 cup of rice 3 cups of water (for 2 people) press cook and lovely fluffy rice in 15 mins . Perfect