Is rinsing rice an annoying extra step or an absolute must?
Growing up in a Chinese home, rice was the foundation of nearly every meal.
Rinsing it before cooking was one of my favorite chores.
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn
I loved the feel of the hard, polished grains against my fingertips as I swished and stirred.
Only the floaters would fall into the sink.
Brown, white, long-grain, short-grain, sticky, aromaticit should all be rinsed, right?
Imagine my surprise then, upon realizing this was a wholly ethnocentric view.
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn
Why Do People Rinse Rice?
This is why white rice typically requires more rinsing.
This quality isnt limited to Eastern cuisine.
This leads to a more fluffy texture and longer grain.
Whats the Proper Way to Rinse Rice?
Wed turn off the tap once the water splashed over the edges.
Kargar employs a similar method.
Alternatively, Lundbergs way is simple.
I recommend rinsing rice in a fine-mesh sieve, she says.
Should You Rinse All Types of Rice?
Surprisingly (at least to me), you dont need to rinse all rice!
Depending on the jot down of rice, cuisine and dish, eliminating excess starch isnt necessarily ideal.
Specific European preparations for short-grain rice are the primary outlier.
Risottois another dish where the starch is a benefit to the dish.
Does Rinsing Rice Eliminate Arsenic or Affect the Rices Nutritional Value?
While it may seem like you’re able to rinse away the arsenic, its not that simple.
But theres some good news.
(And, added bonus, brown rice is higher in fiber and protein.)
As you’re free to see, it depends.
you’ve got the option to also rinse your rice to remove dust or dirt from processing.
