The rice grains you see when you open a bag or container have traveled quite a distance. They continuously rub against one another while being processed, packed, transported, and stored. The rice grains are covered in starch dust due to the friction between the dry grains. This leftover starch will gelatinize in the hot cooking water if the grains aren't washed before cooking, causing the cooked grains of rice to stick to one another. This can result in a very gummy texture in some cases, particularly with sticky rice varieties like glutinous rice and arborio rice.

According to some studies, washing rice significantly lowers the number of heavy metals that build up in the plant (toxic heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and cadmium, if present in the soil, can collect in plants). The U.S. Food and Agriculture Organization warns that washing rice before cooking could result in the loss of important protein and other water-soluble elements. However, washing doesn't completely remove the grain's nutritional content. However, according to Manoj Menon, an environmental soil scientist at the University of Sheffield, it might help cleanse rice of dangerous arsenic.

Take note that some rice brands that are marked as "enriched" will have instructions to not rinse them before cooking. This rice is already cleaned and enhanced with a variety of nutrients, including vitamins and minerals. Following dehusking and polishing, rice is fortified, and washing the rice in water removes the fortified rice's nutrients. Another method of enrichment involves the introduction or modification of genes to raise the nutritional value of rice and even address medical problems.

You may also be familiar with the practice of soaking rice before cooking it. To begin with, washing and soaking have different functions, making them distinct tasks. Accordingly, washing removes dirt and extra starch, whereas soaking shortens the total cooking time. Additionally, it might aid in lowering the amount of arsenic in the rice. This is significant because, according to the Food and Drug Administration, rice absorbs more arsenic than other grains.

The main benefit of rinsing rice is to get rid of the surface starch that can make the grains sticky during cooking. Soaking rice gives it an advantage over cooking by allowing it to absorb water. This prevents it from drying out while the inside is unevenly cooked and fluffed and improves the texture.

PDO I Kimberly M. Tanador, RND

References:

Why You Should Always Rinse Your Rice

https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/cooking-tips-techniques/how-to-rinse-rice

SHOULD YOU WASH RICE? THE SCIENTIFIC ANSWER HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH TEXTURE

https://www.inverse.com/science/wash-your-rice

https://www.fao.org/3/t0567e/T0567E0i.htm#:~:text=Washing%20of%20milled%20rice%20prior,are%20leached%20out%20and%20removed.

What You Can Do to Limit Exposure to Arsenic

https://www.fda.gov/food/metals-and-your-food/what-you-can-do-limit-exposure-arsenic