With one exception, Robo. The nukable (Uncle Bens and Zatarains make them) are completely cooked, converted rice. You're just heating them up. The exception comes in just about now. If you live in hurricane country (or any emergency that is likely to take away your water, electricity, AND gas), they're are great to have on your shelf. They can be heated any old way or even NOT heated. They can be tossed into a can of soup to make it heartier. They just make great emergency rations. Rice, pasta and even potatoes are pretty difficult to cook if you have limited water rations and your only heat source is the charcoal, sterno, or propane (and you're running out of that). I've been there and wish those nukable rice packets were on my shelf (they weren't invented yet).