The theoretically best technique (IMO) is to dump the rice in a tub of water and let it sit for 30+ min. That starts the hydration without wasting heat (thus a faster cook). Then I grab a handfuls and rub the grains together to wash mechanically. I know it’s working because the water gets quite cloudy on every cycle. After dumping and repeating 3—4 times, the water is still a dirty color.

How many times does it take?

If you don’t wash brown rice at all, there is a nasty ring of mud around the pot at the level the rice expands to. If you wash ~4 cycles, there is still a faint ring of mud (or so it seems).

I’m way too lazy to do 10 wash cycles, or whatever is needed. I used to put the rice in a strainer and run it under the faucet for a while. But I think that wastes water and you cannot readily see any indication of when the washing is done.

The other problem: people wash their rice not just to get the mud out but also to get the starches out. I want the starches. I’m not afraid of getting fat.

  • Baggins [he/him] ( baggins@lemmy.ca ) English
    10·
    5 months ago

    Don’t soak it. Wash it three times for about 30 seconds. The water will be almost clear by the third wash.

    I just re-read your post. Rice doesn’t come with “mud” on it. You only wash it to remove the excess loose starch and any other debris.

  • balsoft ( balsoft@lemmy.ml ) English
    7·
    5 months ago

    Maybe we are handling different kinds of brown rice, but I don’t understand what “mud” you’re talking about. Usually I just put my brown rice in a fine strainer, and then wash it under running water while jiggling the strainer, for 30 seconds or a minute or so. I don’t think it wastes a significant amount of water compared to the other method. And the rice cooks alright afterwards, no mud or anything like that.

  • HubertManne ( HubertManne@piefed.social ) English
    3·
    5 months ago

    I wash because of arsenic. It sorta annoys me that brown rice is more effected by the pesticides but I want all that yummy brown rice goodness. I do the 3-4 times. water in a pot swich around. drain. repeat 3-4x. I hope at that point I got anything nasty out. Like another poster im not sure what the mud ring you are talking about.