Many people rinse rice before cooking, but is it really necessary? According to recent research, washing rice does not significantly affect how sticky the cooked rice becomes. Instead, stickiness depends mainly on the type of rice and its starch composition.
However, rinsing rice still offers some benefits. A gentle wash can help remove dust, small debris, traces of arsenic, and even microplastics that may be present on the grain surface. Studies have shown that washing rice can reduce plastic contamination by up to 40%.
While rinsing may also remove small amounts of certain nutrients, the loss is minimal. Experts recommend a quick rinse once or twice before cooking as a simple way to improve rice quality and cleanliness.
Read more at LiveScience