If you are thinking of washing your rice after it has been cooked, then don't. Rice is not meant to be washed after it has been cooked unless you want your rice to become soggy and sticky. By washing your rice after it has been cooked you will be rinsing off the nutrients such as carbohydrates and proteins.
It is best to wash it under running water. Use only room temperature water or cold water because warm water will soften the rice resulting in it being soggy.
That friction creates the starchy dust that coats the rice, and it's that starch that is responsible for the grains clumping together and sometimes giving the finished pot a gummy texture. Rinsing or washing rice removes that excess starch, resulting in grains that are more separate when cooked.
After cooking for the recommended period of time, if the rice is still hard or chewy, add a little bit of water to create more steam (for every cup of uncooked rice used, add about 2 tablespoons of water). Cover the pot tightly and place over very low heat for 5 to 10 minutes. Let rest before serving.
Rule #3: Rinse the Rice
A quick dunk and shake in a bowl of cold water, or a 30-second rinse under a cold tap while agitating the rice, is plenty.
White rice generally needs a good rinse before cooking, to remove its starchy coating – not washing it leads to smellier rice that spoils faster. You put the rice in a bowl, cover with cold water and swirl around with your hand, repeating this several times until the water runs clear.
If too much rice water is used very frequently or left in the hair for too long, it can cause damage. Use rice water not more than once a week, and do not use it as a leave-in spray if it's not suiting your hair.
If you think your rice is cooked but there's still water, simply drain the water out and keep cooking on low heat, uncovered. This will help the water evaporate. As soon as it's dry, remove it from heat, or maybe even transfer it to a bowl to aerate. Fluff it up with a spoon!
Why You Should Always Wash Rice. The reason for washing rice (or any food, for that matter) is cleanliness. Rinsing rice removes dirt, dust, debris, chemicals, and bugs—in short, you're getting rid of the types of things you probably don't want to eat in your finished rice dish.
This will help remove starch from the surface of the grains. Starch is what makes cooked rice sticky and gummy, so for fluffy rice, it is important to remove the starch.
Rinsing rice before cooking is an Asian practice to remove dirt, dust and excess starch; but it's actually optional. However, we recommend cooking with a little less water if you rinse, because, without the starch to absorb the bit of extra water, your white rice may turn out too mushy.
It separates the grains and allows for a more fluffy, less sticky rice. I soak and drain basmati and all imported rice for 2 hours in cold water prior to cooking. It really makes a big difference in texture and in taste.
If you have time, soak the rice in cold water for at least 30 minutes. This will help the grains cook more evenly. Tip the rice into a pan over a low heat. Add double the volume of water to rice (2 cups, or 150ml water for a 75g serving) plus some salt, if you like.
How long does rice water last? Rice water can be stored for up to 24 hours at room temperature and between four to five days in the refrigerator. If the rice water is kept any longer, the batch will ferment and degrade and can cause damage to the hair.
At worst, soaking rice will make it gummier. Likewise, rinsing white rice washes away many of its nutrients along with some of its excess starch. Whether you choose to rinse, soak, both, or neither, pick a method and do it the same way every time for consistency.
To avoid any adverse reactions from the high sugar content, make sure to completely rinse out your rice water after use.
01/8Here's why you must not throw away rice water!
Interestingly, the rice water is loaded with nutrients and starch which can be used in many ways. In fact, rice water has been used as a magical potion in many ancient civilizations to improve health, achieve a flawless skin and get shiny hair.
Rinse Rice Under Running Water
Dump the water out of the bowl when it fills up. Note the color of the water. It will initially look milky white, but as you continue to rinse the rice, the water should turn clearer, which indicates the rice is clean and ready to use.
When you wash the rice, that surface starch kind of separates from the rice, and it stays in the water. When you actually wash, rinse, or soak white rice, it becomes less sticky. And when you cook it up, the kernels of rice separate and get more fluffy.
In the context of rice, rinsing means exposing grains to water until that water runs clear, a task that requires more of a thorough washing. At first, the tap water will appear cloudy. But soon, that water will lose its milky tint and turn clear as a windowpane. When it does, you're done rinsing.
When rice is shipped, grains jostle around and rub against one another; some of the outer starch scratches off. When the now starch-coated rice hits the boiling water, the starch blooms and gets sticky.