should rice be washed before cooking? Always, sometimes, or never? discuss.?

Answer 1

Sometimes...

Converted Rice (Uncle Ben's) and Pre-Cooked Rice (Minute Rice) does not need to be washed.

Uncooked rice (all types)... I generally wash it to remove any dust, dirt and I look for pebbles that may have made it into the bag.

However, some uncooked rices are fortified with vitamin/minerals (look on ingredients label) do not need to be washed, but I still wash it anyway. The fortification seems to add an off flavor to the rice.

I figure the vitamin/minerals I'm washing off will be made up via a multivitamin I take or in my fruit/veggie consumption.

Answer 2

Wash the rice to remove the talc coating that is often on it. There is a taste difference.

Soak for 30 minutes to make the grains softer before cooking. Don't know why, but the texture is different if you soak rice 30 minutes before you actually turn the rice cooker on.

Don't open the pot while the rice is steaming. It makes the steam escape and changes the texture.

Answer 3

It is a complete and total myth that you will wash away nutrients if you wash rice!

You should always wash white rice because:
1. It gets rid of extra starch that will make your rice gummy and stuck together.
2. It gets rid of foreign matter.
3. It gets rid of talc, which leads to stomach cancer (very important point!)
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/173/4002/1141
4. You have no idea where it's been before and what it's been processed around/with

Exceptions:
Arborio rice used for Risotto is not usually washed, but it's also not packed with talc and it usually comes from reputable suppliers.

Certain companies package pre-washed rice also, so that is not necessary to wash either.

Answer 4

White Rice should be washed before cooking, especially if not organic. Rice farmers are known for their heavy use of chemicals.
Organic rice is very inexpensive and does not have to be washed.

Answer 5

I was raised believing that rice tastes better if its washed, and then in the 70's we didn't wash it because we were concerned that we'd be washing away the good stuff. My understanding is that the rice will be stickier if its not washed, but I think its a matter of taste

Answer 6

Before I make my rice, I wash it in the bowl just to get the dust off. Then I cook it.

Answer 7

yes rice should be washed & at least a couple of rinses before it is soaked prior to cooking,unless the packagaing claims it is not necessary,there is not only surface starch but there could be other undesirable matter which could have settled in milling,packaging & handling.Vitamins are not merely adhering to the suface of the rice grains,so this should not be a problem.

Answer 8

it depends on how u cook it

w/ rice cooker(meaning plain steamed rice): i always wash it, at least rinse two times but never wash it until water runs clear cuz u literally wash all the vitamins rice has and there's no point in eating it then

risotto/jambalaya: don't wash it ....iono but i guess the rice water has starch and since risotto/jambalaya are usually sticky in constintency u need that stuff..

so, yeah...depends on how u cook it....

Answer 9

Never rinse brown rice, for it washes away certain vitamins, minerals, and starches, and is not supposed to cook correctly. White rice can be rinsed, but it isn't necessary.

Answer 10

No, No, No!!! All of the good vitamins get washed right out when you do this! It is best to just cook and let the vitamins seep into the rice.