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What is Rice?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Rice is a keystone of the grass family that produces a vast number of grains consumed by humans. It has been under intensive cultivation originating in Asia for over 4,000 years and has since spread across the world, where almost a third of the population depends on rice for vital nutrition. This grass is in the genus Oryza, which is separate from that of wheat, spelt, and similar grass crops, although it resembles them in structure.

Like most grasses cultivated for human consumption, rice is an annual crop that needs to be resown for harvest each year. It is grown in partially submerged fields, also called paddies, and when mature, the plant reaches a height of approximately 3 feet (1 meter). Rice has a classically grass-like appearance, with a small cluster of kernels at the top of a long stalk. It's harvested when it turns golden, and the resulting crop is threshed to remove the hulls. Many developing nations use the chaff as fuel for electricity generation.

Nigiri sushi assortment made with sushi rice.
Nigiri sushi assortment made with sushi rice.

There are many cultivars of rice grown around the world, although they can primarily be broken up into long grain varieties such as jasmine and basmati and short grain styles such as those used to make sushi. If the bran, or outer part of the grain, is left on, the resulting product is considered to be brown rice. If removed, the grain is white rice. Many cultures prefer brown because it has a higher nutritional value than white, including important levels of vitamin B.

A rice plant.
A rice plant.

Rice is a very versatile grain, which can be ground into flour for the gluten intolerant, cooked slowly in paella, or steamed to accompany a wide array of Asian dishes. Popular dishes with it include sticky rice with mango, which uses a special type of short grain rice that comes in white, brown, and black varieties. The black variety is known in Thailand as “forbidden rice.”

Cooked jasmine rice in a bowl with chopsticks.
Cooked jasmine rice in a bowl with chopsticks.

Shorter grain rices tend to stick together better and are used for sushi and other dishes in which it needs to be shaped. Longer grain, such as basmati, is looser and frequently appears as a side dish. Rice is also used in the production of grain alcohols such as sake, popular in Japan.

Some white rice is sold enriched with vitamins and minerals in an attempt to provide more complete nutrition to the purchaser, especially in impoverished regions where it is the primary staple food. Some companies have genetically modified rice in an effort to make it retain more nutrients, but these efforts have not been entirely successful.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a DelightedCooking researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a DelightedCooking researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

ceilingcat

I think it's really neat the developing countries use the chaff from rice milling as fuel. I know here in the United States, some companies use factory by-product corn oil to fuel their trucks.

This is really great from an environmental perspective. If more countries would start using the by-products of their industrial processes as fuel, we could start getting away from using so much petroleum.

Monika

@sunnySkys - I don't really like sushi myself, but I do like white rice. Unfortunately, I've heard that white rice isn't that good for you. Brown rice is supposed to be better for you because it has more nutrients, like the article said.

I've also heard that basmati rice is a bit better for you than white rice, although I'm not sure why. Either way, I try to keep a few different varieties of rice on hand and not eat the same kind all the time.

sunnySkys

I had no idea that sake was made by rice processing! It definitely doesn't taste anything like rice. I guess you can make alcohol out of almost anything that can be fermented though, so I guess I shouldn't be so surprised.

I do like sake, but my favorite way to eat rice is on a sushi roll. I absolutely love sushi, but I don't really like the rolls that are just wrapped in plain seaweed. The rice adds more texture to counteract the sliminess of the seaweed, and I think it just makes the roll taste better.

anon10019

what is a rice product?

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    • Nigiri sushi assortment made with sushi rice.
      Nigiri sushi assortment made with sushi rice.
    • A rice plant.
      A rice plant.
    • Cooked jasmine rice in a bowl with chopsticks.
      Cooked jasmine rice in a bowl with chopsticks.
    • A field of rice.
      A field of rice.
    • Uncooked rice.
      By: airborne77
      Uncooked rice.
    • Red rice.
      By: IngridHS
      Red rice.
    • Forbidden rice.
      By: Marek
      Forbidden rice.
    • Different types of rice.
      By: Elena Schweitzer
      Different types of rice.
    • Rice is grown in partially submerged fields called paddies.
      By: kamonrat
      Rice is grown in partially submerged fields called paddies.
    • Converted rice has the nutritional benefits of brown rice but the flavor and texture of white rice.
      By: Birgit Brandlhuber
      Converted rice has the nutritional benefits of brown rice but the flavor and texture of white rice.
    • Impoverished areas can benefit from enriched white rice.
      By: TheFinalMiracle
      Impoverished areas can benefit from enriched white rice.
    • Sticky rice is used in sushi rolls.
      By: nalineimages
      Sticky rice is used in sushi rolls.
    • Brown rice has more nutritional benefits than white rice.
      By: Ekaterina Garyuk
      Brown rice has more nutritional benefits than white rice.