2024-02-29 07:00:37
Rice is considered the staple food of half of humanity. Its versatility in cooking and its nutritional value make it a fundamental ingredient in the diet of many cultures around the world. However, before cooking it, we often wonder whether we need to wash the rice. In fact, some people wash and drain cereals before cooking them, in order to reduce the starch and then clean them of any impurities they may contain.. Others cook them directly in water. What do the experts say?
Should you wash rice before cooking?
The short answer to this question is that, according to science, it might be safer to wash the rice before cooking it. However, the main reason goes beyond reducing starch (the carbohydrate that seems to be responsible for the stickiness of rice after cooking). Below, let’s look at some of the reasons given by science that recommend washing rice.
Reduction of plastic
Soaking rice can reduce the amount of plastic present. A 2021 study, published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, examined the level of plastic contamination in store-bought rice. The study identified the presence of polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene.
According to the report, the plastic intake would be 3.7 milligrams per 100 gram serving of rice if it is not washed before cooking. Then 2.8 milligrams if washed.
This fact may seem very surprising, but the truth is that we consume microplastics constantly and without realizing it. According to a study by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), we use the equivalent of a credit card every week.
The effects of using these substances include the possibility of developing cancer and leukemia, as well as genetic impacts. In addition, you should know that the plastic content is four times higher in pre-cooked instant rice that you buy in stores than in raw rice.
Also read: 2 healthy rice recipes
Arsenic reduction
Washing rice has also been shown to remove up to 90% of arsenic organic accessible. One of the substances that the World Health Organization (WHO) considers to be of greatest public health concern. According to this organization, arsenic is carcinogenic and constitutes one of the most common chemical contaminants in water throughout the world.
You may be wondering: How does arsenic get into rice? The truth is that this cereal absorbs it naturally, since the crops recover it from the soil. However, the amount of arsenic present in this food varies according to geographic area (the United States has one of the highest percentages, according to a study), and according to the types of rice.
According to a report produced by the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU), this is the average arsenic content per kilogram depending on the type of rice:
Whole grains : 131 micrograms.
Precooked : 3 micrograms.
Sprayed : 79 micrograms.
Asian/ basmati : 58 micrograms.
Blanc grain long : 75 micrograms.
Blanc grain court : 86 micrograms.
Elimination of fatty acids
Other research has shown that washing rice 5 to 10 minutes before cooking can remove 60 to 80 percent of free fatty acids. Such as lipids, which are attached to the surface of this cereal.
This is beneficial to improve the quality of rice. Indeed, lipid oxidation contributes to the breakdown of fats and oilscausing an off-flavor to develop in food.
Hygiene
You should know that washing rice before cooking will not kill bacteria. Boiling will take care of this. However, It is true that washing rice contributes to better hygiene in the kitchen. Since it helps eliminate impurities, such as insects, dust, pieces of husk or any unwanted element.
Starch reduction
This is perhaps the main reason why many people decide to wash rice before cooking it. The truth is that we tend to believe that starch is the component that sticks and binds rice together. Unless we want to make a risotto, this is usually not what we are looking for.
Certainly, washing rice reduces the amount of amylase, an enzyme that helps digest carbohydrates. However, contrary to what many chefs believe, a study published in Food Chemistry showed that the process of washing rice did not affect its hardness. It is the variety of this cereal itself, not the washing, that primarily affects stickiness.
Does washing rice remove nutrients?
Although science seems to agree that washing rice before cooking is a good idea, that doesn’t mean there are studies that consider the negative aspect of this process.
First of all, rice contains selenium. An antioxidant that has multiple benefits for the human body, such as protecting it from infections or reducing the risk of prostate cancer. In fact, an 80-gram serving of brown rice provides a quarter of the selenium we need every day.
A magazine survey Technology in Progress found that washing rice reduces selenium content by 51-79%. Because it is a water-soluble material.
Finally, washing rice before cooking causes the food to lose other essential nutrients, such as zinc, iron or vitamin B.
How to wash rice before cooking?
Although some studies suggest that there is no direct relationship between starch removal and rice clumping after cooking, anecdotal evidence suggests that washing rice could make it less clumpy.
It is therefore preferable to wash the rice before cooking it if you plan to make recipes with rice that require greater separation of the grains. The procedure is very simple:
1. Put the rice in a container in the kitchen sink.
2. Open the tap then rinse the rice with cold water. Stir the rice with your hands or using a ladle.
3. Starch will make the water cloudy. Discard this water and repeat the process until the water runs clear.
4. Then drain the rice with a strainer.
5. Finally let the rice rest for a few minutes before transferring it to a saucepan. This will help the rice grains absorb the cooking liquid better.
Washing rice before cooking has benefits
So far, although there are debates about it, the science leans towards this practice. Although this process may result in a loss of some nutrients, the elimination of products harmful to the human body could be a sufficiently valid reason.
In conclusion, following good food hygiene practices and then cooking them correctly is essential to enjoy the nutritional benefits of this staple food.
The post Should you wash rice before cooking? What do the experts say? appeared first on Improve your Health.
1709329630
#wash #rice #cooking #experts