Rice is rich in essential nutrients for the human body and is one of the staple foods for the Chinese people. To cook rice, you must first wash it to rinse away the sand, dirt, and debris mixed in with the grains. However, improper washing methods can easily cause the nutrients on the surface of the rice grains to be lost with the water during the washing process.
Experiments have shown that after one round of washing and kneading in water, the rice will lose 4% of its protein, 10% of its fat, and 5% of its inorganic salts. Experts from the China Grain Industry Association provide the correct method for washing rice as follows:
1. Use cold water to wash rice; do not use hot water or running water.
2. Control the number of washings appropriately, just enough to remove the sand, dirt, and debris.
3. Do not rub the rice grains vigorously.
4. Do not soak the rice in water before washing to prevent the loss of a large amount of soluble nutrients from the surface of the grains.