For fluffy rice, you have to rinse it! This removes the outer starch and prevents the grains from clumping. This is how the rice is rinsed!
Have you ever noticed that some recipes call for “rinsing” the rice before cooking? It’s not always listed in a recipe, but many people say it’s best to rinse these grains before cooking a rice casserole. But is it really necessary? Need to get a colander dirty and waste precious minutes in the kitchen? Since Alex and I are kitchen minimalists and hate extra steps, we decided to find out.
So… do you really have to rinse the rice?
Here’s the thing. If you want the fluffiest pot of rice: Rinse before cooking! Luckily it only takes a minute! So it’s quick and easy to do. The only caveat: if you’re making something creamy like risotto or rice pudding, you can skip the rinse. If not, it’s useful here:
- Rinsing the rice removes the starch from the outside of the grains. This will avoid creating a sticky, gooey, gummy rice pot.
- It can also remove some debris. Secondary benefit: Deposits can sometimes form in the rice, which can also be removed by washing.
How to wash rice
Are you convinced? Rinsing the rice takes a snap (probably long enough to read this guide!). That’s how it’s done:
- Put the rice in a sieve. You can use a bowl if you don’t have one.
- Hold it under cold water for about 15 to 20 seconds. Unlike many springs, you don’t even have to wait for the water to run clear. it’s quick and easy.
Rinse white rice against brown rice
Are brown rice and white rice the same when it comes to rinsing? Brown rice has less starch on the grains (you’ll notice less “rice dust”). But it is good practice for rinsing brown rice too! It always helps to make the fluffiest rice casserole.
The best rice recipes
Ready to cook? Here are all of our master rice making recipes!
