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Cooking Rice: How Many Times is Enough? Boiling or Cold Water Method? Avoid These Common Mistakes!

It turns out that cooking rice is not as simple as it seems; whether you cook it with boiling or cold water also determines the deliciousness of the rice.

Administrator

4 March, 2024

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Rice plays a crucial role in our daily lives. It not only provides carbohydrates for energy but also contains various vitamins (B1, B3, B6) and fiber. In addition, the outer layer of the rice grain contains minerals such as magnesium, iron, zinc, etc.

Many people think that cooking rice is simple, just wash the rice, pour water, add the right amount of water, and cook. However, how to wash the rice, whether to cook it with boiling or cold water… is not something that every woman does correctly.

Although rice is relatively clean, washing the rice before cooking is very important. It helps to remove dirt and impurities from the rice. However, this should also be done with technique.

Many people wash the rice too rigorously before cooking, even soaking the rice multiple times until the rice is completely white. At that point, the nutrients on the outer layer of the rice will be lost, and the rice will only contain the starchy core. On the other hand, consuming too much starch can lead to obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. If the rice is rubbed too vigorously during washing, it will lose a lot of nutrients such as carbohydrates, protein, lipids, minerals, vitamins B1, B2, B6…

Therefore, instead of washing the rice multiple times, we should only wash it once, gently rubbing to remove dirt and impurities inside the rice grains.

In addition, when cooking rice, it is recommended to use boiling water because cooking rice with cold water will cause the rice grains to expand. As a result, the nutrients will dissolve in the water and evaporate.

According to Dr. Doãn Thị Tường Vi (Deputy Director – Clinical Nutrition Institute), boiling water helps the rice to cook faster, evenly, and become softer and more fragrant. Moreover, cooking rice with boiling water, covering the pot to retain heat and avoiding contact with air, will help to preserve more than 30% of vitamin B1 compared to cooking with cold water.

Source: Phụ Nữ Việt Nam

Frequently asked questions

While cooking rice may seem straightforward, there are a few common mistakes. Some people may not wash the rice properly, either over-washing and removing essential nutrients or under-washing and leaving dirt and impurities. It’s also important to use boiling water, as cold water can cause the rice grains to expand and nutrients to dissolve and evaporate.

Washing rice before cooking helps remove any dirt or impurities. However, it should be done gently and only once to preserve the nutrients in the outer layer of the grain. Over-washing or soaking multiple times can remove these valuable nutrients, leaving only the starchy core.

Consuming too much starch can lead to health issues such as obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Over-washing rice can also remove essential nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, minerals, and vitamins (B1, B2, and B6), which are necessary for a balanced diet.

Boiling water helps cook rice faster and more evenly, resulting in softer and more fragrant grains. Using boiling water and covering the pot retains heat and minimizes nutrient loss. According to experts, cooking rice with boiling water can preserve over 30% more vitamin B1 compared to using cold water.