Hey Louisiana, Do You Wash Your Rice Before Cooking?
Rice is an incredibly important staple in the world of Louisiana cuisine, culture, and economy. According to USARice.com, Louisiana is the 3rd largest rice-producing state in the country with more than 800 rice farms covering over 425,000 acres. Rice production contributes $308 million dollars to the Louisiana economy.
Some of Louisianians favorite dishes, ettouffe, jambalaya, gumbo, and of course, red beans and rice, all start with rice. But how do you prepare your rice? And did you know you should really wash your rice before cooking it?
Although, depending on who you talk to, opinions vary on whether or not to wash your rice before you cook it, there are definite benefits to washing your rice.
Reasons You Should Wash Rice
- Removes debris- Washing rice removes dirt, dust, bugs, and other debris that might be on the surface of the rice or in the package.
- Reduces starch- Rinsing removes excess starch from the rice grains, which can be seen in the cloudy water.
- Prepares for fluffier rice- Washing rice helps the grains stay separate and results in fluffier cooked rice.
- Removes microplastics- Washing rice can remove up to 20% of microplastics from uncooked rice.
Reasons Not to Wash Rice
However, you might not want to wash rice if you want it to be stickier or creamier, like for dishes like risotto or paella. You should also avoid rinsing rice until the water runs completely clear, as this can cause you to lose nutrients and compromise the flavor and texture.
The type of rice you're using can also make a difference. For example, long-grain rice absorbs a lot of water, so it's often washed and then soaked before cooking.
According to a recent thread on Reddit, consensus seems to be in favor of washing rice.
My grandpa was the farm manager for the LSU Rice Research station, my mom grew up on the farm and later worked and retired from it, and for what it’s worth I worked there when I was in high school. So from a third generation rice man, always wash your rice.
“From a third generation rice man” might be the most Louisiana thing I’ve ever heard, and I’m related to a boudin salesman and a shrimp boat operator.
- 6d ago•Edited 6d ago•
I wash it until it runs more or less clear.
I will say this though - I spend 3m in the Philippines diving each year, and cook a lot of rice there as well. It takes a lot longer for the water to become more clear when washing the rice there than it does in LA. Although to be fair, I’m buying kilos at a time from a giant open sack in front of a neighborhood grocery store, but still.
But yeah, in most situations it’s a good idea to wash it. See below for a list of reasons:
Remove debris: To remove dirt, dust, bugs, and other debris from the rice
Reduce starch: To remove excess starch so the rice grains stay separate and have a consistent texture
Remove microplastics: To remove up to 20% of microplastics from uncooked rice
Prevent boiling over: To prevent the rice cooker from boiling over
For certain dishes: To achieve separated grains for some dishes, like Southern dry rice
Skip washing: For creamy dishes like rice porridge, risotto, or rice pudding, where you want the starch’s sticky nature
Other factors that can influence whether to wash rice include: the type of rice, family tradition, local health warnings, and perceived time and effort required.
Brown rice contains more arsenic than white rice, but rinsing it only has a minimal effect on the arsenic content of the cooked grains. Cooking rice in a lot of water can eliminate more arsenic, but it also rinses away more nutrients.
LMAO... freaking reddit.... of course there's a 3rd generation rice guy! LOL
A quick informal survey in the building here at the radio station seems to favor NOT washing. But one said: "If I'm buying a box of Uncle Ben's, or a bag of Mahatma, no I'm not going to wash it. But if I'm buying a burlap bag of bulk rice, then yes, I'll wash it."
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