Introduction to Rice
Rice is the dehulled grain of the rice plant and is one of the staple foods for Chinese people. Whether it's for home-cooked meals or dining out, rice is essential. Rice can be divided into three types: japonica rice, indica rice, and glutinous rice. Depending on the processing method, there are also convenient rice, fortified rice, and pre-washed rice, among others.
Benefits and Effects of Rice
1. Nutritional Supplementation: Although the nutrient content in rice is not very high, it still has high nutritional value due to its large consumption. It serves as a basic food for supplementing nutrients in the human body.
2. Prevention of Beriberi and Oral Inflammation: Rice contains abundant B vitamins, which are important dietary materials for preventing beriberi and eliminating oral inflammation.
3. Nourishing the Spleen and Stomach: Rice is easily digestible and can nourish the spleen and stomach. Newly milled rice is more suitable for digestion and absorption by the elderly and children.
Rice porridge has the effect of nourishing the spleen, harmonizing the stomach, and clearing the lungs. Rice soup benefits qi, nourishes yin, and moisturizes dryness. It can stimulate gastric juice secretion and promote the absorption of fat, which is beneficial for the development and health of infants.
Purchasing, Storing, Cooking, and Consuming Rice Tips
1. To maintain the freshness and aroma of rice, it is important to reduce storage time and keep it in a cool and dry place.
2. When cooking rice, it is best to steam it instead of boil it, as boiling will result in the loss of a large amount of vitamins. It is easier to digest and absorb rice when it is made into porridge. However, refined rice loses a lot of nutrients during processing and long-term consumption can lead to nutrient deficiency. Therefore, a combination of refined rice and brown rice should be consumed to achieve nutritional balance in the body. The most popular rice and rice products nowadays are convenient rice, which is rice products that can be consumed after soaking in hot water or heating for a short period of time. Currently, canned rice is the most common in the market. It not only retains the original nutrition and flavor of rice, but is also convenient to eat and store.
3. Rice noodles are made from rice as the main ingredient and processed through soaking, steaming, and pressing. Rice noodles have a tender and elastic texture, do not become mushy when boiled, and are not easily broken when stir-fried. They can be cooked in soup or stir-fried with various vegetables or soup ingredients, providing a smooth and delicious taste that is loved by consumers, especially those in the southern regions. Clean rice, also known as pre-washed rice, is a type of rice that is clean, clear, and meets hygienic requirements. It can be directly steamed and cooked without the need for washing. Clean rice is produced using special techniques to avoid nutrient loss caused by washing. This type of rice is convenient and practical, and has good storage properties.
