Is Washing Rice Really Necessary?

Hey COOK-es,

Chef J. LeAnn here.

One of my biggest triumphs in life was finally figuring out how to cook rice. I know, doesn't sound like much of a feat, but when you've got it wrong countless of times, it just feels great now that I know what in the world I'm doing.

I worked with so many chefs in my career, and every single one of them will tell you something different about how to cook rice.

One will tell you that you should let it soak then drain it before you cook. Another will tell you that you should avoid washing rice period.

So today, I'll tell you my own chef's perspective. Today, we are going to answer the question of: Is Washing Rice Really Necessary?

Should You Wash Rice?

Let's get straight to the point. Washing rice is not a sin. But, you don't always have to do it.

For example, when making rice for sushi, you want to go for a sticky consistency. In order to do that, the rice needs to keep its starch, meaning you wouldn't wash it.

But, if you were making a dish with rice as a side or used to pair with another ingredient, washing it will benefit you.

That doesn't truly answer the question though.

According to the Culinary Institute of America, the common rice (white rice) should not be washed. Though many cultures and cuisines would disagree. Growing up, I personally never had regular rice. We always ate Minute Rice to compensate for the time. But, I did have family members who washed their rice and the food always came out amazing.

So to answer whether or not you should wash your rice: from a professional standpoint, no. But from a home cook standpoint, it depends.

My Perspective

Like I mentioned before, I never had "bag rice" growing up, we always ate Minute Rice. So when I became a chef and started cooking with "bag rice," I of course struggled at first. I actually struggled for years trying to get it right.

But I finally figured out a way to cook my white rice without getting it being sticky and without washing it.

Watch my video tutorial on how I did it!

Even in the pro kitchen, we never washed the rice and it always came out perfect. But, like I also mentioned, some cuisines and cultures will beg to differ.

My advice? Try to cook your white rice without washing it and see what differences you notice. Or try out my way in the tutorial. Or don't try either and do what works best for you.

That's it from me today. I hope you all continue to grow in your cooking skills and create the most amazing meals you can dream of.

More cooking classes are getting added to the catalog, with pre-registry going live on October 2nd!

Until next time,

Happy Cooking!

~Chef J. LeAnn~