How to store cooked rice safely

Summary

• When rice is cooked some of its starch and nutrients move into the cooking water.
• Arsenic is a substance found naturally in soil and water that can enter rice as it grows.  The amount removed depends on the type of rice and the cooking method.
• Boiling rice in plenty of water and draining it may remove some starch, but it can also reduce certain nutrients.

AI Generated Summary

Rice is a common food in many homes. From simple rice and lentils to biryani and pulao, people enjoy rice in different ways. However few people think about how the cooking method can affect its nutritional value.

Many people use a pressure cooker because it saves time while others prefer boiling rice in a pot and draining the extra water.

But which method is healthier?

Does draining the water reduce starch? Does cooking rice in a pressure cooker help preserve more nutrients?

The answer depends on the type of rice the amount of water used and the cooking method.

Neither method is always the best choice for everyone.

Cooking rice in a pressure cooker

One of the main benefits of using a pressure cooker is that it cooks rice quickly. The rice absorbs most of the water during cooking so the starch and some water soluble nutrients remain in the food.

When rice is cooked some of its starch and nutrients move into the cooking water. If the water stays in the rice some of these nutrients are still consumed. However draining the water may cause some nutrients to be lost.

Still cooking rice in a pressure cooker does not automatically make it more nutritious or lower in calories.  The type of rice and the amount you eat also matter.

What happens when you boil rice and drain the water?

In this method, rice is boiled in plenty of water. Once it is cooked the extra water is poured away.

Some of the starch moves into the water during cooking. Draining it can remove some of this starch along with certain water soluble vitamins and other nutrients.