Rice provides us with many nutrients, it is a source of potassium, iron, magnesium and various vitamins, among other benefits.
In fact, rice gives our meals a special flavor and becomes a true complement to our dishes.
However, some wash the rice before cooking it as it is a custom inherited from our grandmothers. A practice that should be abandoned immediately, simply because it is not necessary.
The custom of doing this procedure is due to the fact that in previous years, when white rice was processed, it was covered with talcum powder so that it had a clearer and neater appearance. Because of this, many were forced to wash the rice well so they could cook it and then consume it.
According to an Italian expert, he gave his opinion on the matter, that it should not be washed because the secret to preparing a perfect risotto is to maintain all the starch it contains to achieve a creamy texture.
Another example is to prepare a traditional rice pudding for dessert or a pudding that requires creaminess.
Why is it wrong to wash rice before cooking it?
First of all, we must understand that rice is a non-perishable food, which is why bacteria choose it as their preferred environment. And even if it were, the high temperature when cooking it will eliminate any microorganisms present in the rice grain.
It should precisely be taken into account that rice is a food full of starch, a substance that can sometimes work against the chef’s aspirations. When you pass the rice grains through a sieve and plenty of water, it releases the layer of starch that covers it and as a result, its behavior during the cooking time will not be the same.
Continued on next page (page 2)
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