Washing rice before cooking it is a common practice in many homes and is usually done out of habit. However, this step can affect both the texture of the rice and some of its nutritional components.
A study published in 2025 in the scientific journal 'Food Chemistry' analyzed different varieties of rice and found that washing reduced the concentration of cadmium and lead in the studied samples by up to 50%.
The study included white, brown and basmati rice, as well as essential minerals such as iron. The research suggests that the practice of washing rice may have significant health benefits by eliminating heavy metal contaminants.
