Opinions differ on this question: Washing rice - yes or no? Completely overdone or absolutely necessary? Here comes the answer!
Rice is one of the most popular side dishes, along with pasta and potatoes.
Worldwide, it is a staple food for about half of the population. Logically, it also tastes really delicious with almost everything!
But did you know that you should wash rice before cooking it? When, which types and how to wash rice properly, we tell you now here.
Table of contents
When I'm cooking, these familiar basic questions always come up: Does olive oil go into the pasta water? Do I have to bathe potatoes in cold water before cooking?
Or, like the other day when I was cooking Asian, do I have to wash rice before I prepare it?
From today, you no longer have to stand in front of the stove at a loss, because we have found all the answers around the topic of washing rice for you.
And this is not only about the taste aspects, but also about a healthy preparation of your rice dishes.
If, which and how you should wash rice, you learn here!
Do you have to wash rice?
The answer is clear: yes, before preparing rice you should wash and also soak it.
Here with us, or at least with me, the cooking of rice has always been very pragmatic. In other countries, it is made into an extensive ceremony. The rice is thoroughly washed, cooked and then individually seasoned and even blessed. These rituals are particularly widespread in Asian countries.
We should now also take this as an example and pay more attention to rice. Why?
One advantage is that you remove residues such as excess starch. Too much starch causes the rice to stick together during cooking, it can't fully develop and you get a mushy result. Cleaning ensures that the rice becomes much looser.
The most important reason you should wash rice is to remove impurities.
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Unfortunately, in recent years, some studies and research have found that arsenic residues are increasingly present in many rice varieties.
Arsenic is a semi-metal that is classified as "carcinogenic to humans" according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Nothing that should hang on your rice!
Arsenic is released from the soil of rice fields when they are flooded during rice cultivation. Arsenic is often deposited in the outer layers of brown rice and parboiled rice.
Don't panic in the kitchen, you don't have to give up rice. The correct way of preparation can significantly reduce arsenic residues.
For this, it is very important that you wash rice and soak it.
As a general rule, it can be said on the basis of a study that the arsenic content in rice is minimized with higher water content (during washing, soaking and cooking).
For cooking, many take twice as much water as rice (ratio 2 to 1), recommended by the American news portal BBC, among others, a ratio of 5 to 1 to reduce the arsenic content.
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Do you really have to wash all rice?
Not all rice is the same. There are now over 8000 different varieties. The diverse selection is therefore already there.
But not every type of rice is prepared the same way. Of course, it also depends on what you want to do with your rice.
Basically, you should give each type of rice at least one quick rinse before you cook it.
If you want to conjure up a dish that requires rather mushy rice, such as risotto or rice pudding, then you can still leave some starch on the grains. For such delicacies you need mostly round grain rice.
After all, a delicious mushroom risotto must be creamy and stick properly. The rice you need for fresh sushi should also stick.
The rule here is that a short but very careful wash cycle is enough to keep the adhesive properties for the special meals.
Basmati, Thai, wild and long-grain rice, on the other hand, will be especially fluffy and delicious if you soak them for 30 to 60 minutes before cooking. Trust me, you'll taste the difference with the first fork!
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How to wash rice properly?
In order to remove starch, impurities such as arsenic or dust from your rice before cooking, you should rinse it with cold, clean water.
How to wash rice in five easy steps
- Put the desired amount of uncooked rice in a pot.
- Then pour cold water into the pot until the rice is completely covered.
- Then move your hand in circular motions in the pot and stir the rice. You will see how the water turns milky when you wash the rice like this.
- Tilt the water when it becomes opaque. For a purer result, repeat the "rice bath" until the water is no longer too cloudy when stirred. Caution: The water should not become completely clear, otherwise the rice would already lose too many nutrients during washing.
- Finally, pour the rice into a sieve. Then you can boil it in new, fresh water.
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Soak rice: This is what you need to keep in mind
The patient rice fans among us can let the rice soak. This often improves the cleaning result even more.
After you have washed the rice, you can soak it for 20 to 30 minutes.
To do this, rinse it in a sieve under running water and put it back into a pot. Pour new water over the rice and cover it completely until the water is about 2 centimeters above the rice. Leave to soak for 20 to 30 minutes.
During this half hour, the rice grains expand in the water.
This has two advantages: The risk of the rice breaking during cooking is relatively small and the cooking time is shortened. In this way, the rice succeeds with certainty!
Once the soaking time is over, you should drain the rice thoroughly. This may even take a few minutes.
Then you put it in a pot with the cooking water (ratio 5 to 1) and you can cook it, feeling good that the rice has been carefully washed.
Do not forget that the cooking time has now decreased.
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Our conclusion
Rice tastes delicious and is a great side dish, even if you want to lose weight or eat gluten-free.
We were finally able to settle the basic question about washing rice.
To make your food really tasty, fluffy and clean, you should wash rice before you cook it. It's quick and can significantly improve your taste experience.
Plus, you don't have to worry about dirt residue or arsenic. The rice pan or sushi tastes twice as good.
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