How does rice become white?
In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question “how does rice become white?” with an in-depth analysis of how white rice is manufactured. Moreover, we are going to discuss different types of rice and the proper way to store white rice for the long term.
How does rice become white?
Rice becomes white by a series of processes involving the removal of husk, bran, and germ part of the rice.
To manufacture rice, firstly, the hand-pounding technique is used, in which a huge mortar and pestle type equipment is used before any mechanical technology, but if the mechanical technique is used, it can result in the generation of a large quantity of effort and capital.
The husk, bran, and germ of rice are removed during the milling process. This method extends the shelf life of rice, however, it also removes the majority of the rice’s fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
What are different types of rice?
The most common types of rice are white rice, brown rice, black rice, and red rice.
White rice
Because we have to remove the bran and germ from white rice, therefore there are fewer nutrients in the white rice. On the bright side, it is simple to cook and rice becomes soft after cooking.
Brown rice
The brown rice is high in nutrients along with its paler counterpart. Brown rice is referred to as whole grain rice as they have their bran portion and can also be utilized to lower cholesterol.
It is also good for our bodies because whole grain rice can lower the risk of heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, and stroke.
Brown rice contains more fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants than white rice. Because it is high in fiber, eating brown rice may help us lose weight and shrink our waist size. It also regulates blood sugar levels, which is incredibly important or advantageous to our bodies.
On the downside, brown rice contains antinutrients such as phytic acid, or phytate, which makes it harder to digest. It also lowers your body’s ability to absorb iron and zinc from your diet.
Black rice
When cooked, black rice has a particular texture and can turn purple. We obtain 12g total carbs from one cup of cooked black rice.
It has a lot of fiber, iron, protein, and antioxidants, all of which are good for our health. It is commonly used in desserts and is mildly sweet. If you’re feeling very inventive, you can use black rice as a part of your recipes.
Red rice
Red rice is high in fiber and provides an additional source of nutrients. Cooking one cup of red rice yields 45g of carbohydrates, which are extremely beneficial to the human body. People like it because of its nutty flavor and chewy texture.
White rice vs brown rice
Brown rice is the starting point for all white rice. The white rice has been enriched with nutrients artificially. The refined grain is additionally polished to make it appear more delicious. Both white and brown rice are high in carbs and contain a lot of starch.
Cooking 100 grams of brown rice yields 1.6g of fiber, whereas cooking 100 grams of white rice yields only 0.6g of fiber.
| Nutrients proximate | Brown rice | White rice |
| Energy | 82 calories | 68 calories |
| Protein | 1.83g | 1.42g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.65g | 0.15g |
| Carbohydrates | 17.05g | 14.84g |
| Fibre, total dietary | 1.1g | 0.2g |
| Sugars, total | 0.16g | 0.03g |
| Calcium | 2mg | 5mg |
| Iron | 0.37mg | 0.63mg |
| Sodium | 3mg | 1mg |
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.17g | 0.04g |
| Fatty acid or total trans | 0g | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 0mg | 0mg |
How can you store white rice for long-term use?
Below are given different methods for long-term storage of rice:
PET Bottles (Polyethylene terephthalate)
If you purchase rice per kilo, storing them will be easy. There are a lot of plastic bottles that are made from PET or Polyethylene terephthalate.
Soda bottles, jams, and even water bottles are made from PET. You can dry them out thoroughly and then put the excess uncooked rice inside. Moreover, keep them away from direct light for better and longer storage.
Mylar Bags with Oxygen Absorbents
Mylar bags are common food storage. It is made of a material called a clear ‘mylar’ that is laminated to an aluminum foil.
Mostly beans like coffee are sealed inside the mylar bags to avoid oxidation and seal in the freshness. They usually go along with oxygen absorbents to ensure the freshness and longevity of food.
Resealable airtight containers
If the above two options are not available, you can use any resealable containers as long as you ensure that the lids are secured and airtight. Some use plastic bags with locks and simply remove all the excess air inside by using a vacuum and store it away from direct light.
Buckets
Food-grade buckets are also safe to use when it comes to food storage. Simply add oxygen absorbents inside along with the rice and store them properly.
You can use any type of food-grade bucket by only making sure that you clean it out thoroughly or you can purchase a brand new one.
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we answered the question “how does rice become white?” with an in-depth analysis of how white rice is manufactured. Moreover, we discussed different types of rice and the proper way to store white rice for the long term.
