Whether you are a regular rice consumer (like most of the world is), or new to the goodness of rice, there are a few terms you may have come across. Basmati rice, broken rice, parboiled rice, etc. are some of these terms. Basmati is very popular as a rice grain and is one of the most common terms related to rice, and broken rice is self-explanatory. However, what is parboiled rice? Well, we are here to explain.
What is Parboiled Rice?
Parboiled rice is a kind of rice that has been popular in some Asian and African countries for generations. It is essentially rice boiled in the husk before the husk is removed. This makes the rice easier to cook, decreasing the effort and time required in cooking, as well as retaining important nutrients.
How is Rice Parboiled?
The name of this type of rice is exactly what it means, parboiled meaning pre-boiling. This process of pre-boiling consists of three steps:
1. Warm Water Soaking
The paddy rice is first soaked and kept in warm water for an amount of time. This helps soften the grains by the absorption of moisture. Soaking prepares the rice grains for the next step, steaming.
2. Steaming
Steaming is the process of heating moist grains to kill harmful bacteria and soften the starch of the grains into a more gel-like substance.
3. Drying
The moist and steamed rice is then laid out to dry. This can be done in the sun as well as in heated warehouses. This process reduces the moisture to the perfect amount for safer storage and transport.
Nutritional Value
The calories in parboiled rice are lower than in white rice. This makes them a good option for healthy diets and fitness goals. A short comparison between 100 gms of parboiled rice and white rice is as follows:
| White Rice | Parboiled Rice | |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 132 gms | 125 gms |
| Carbohydrates | 30 gms | 26 gms |
| Proteins | 3 gms | 4 gms |
Other than these, parboiled rice also has more vitamins, thiamine, and niacin than white rice.
Being a traditional rice type in some of the most rice-reliant regions of the world, parboiled rice has worked wonders for generations of consumers. It is easy to store, full of nutrients, and tastes just as good as normal white rice!
