Instant rice
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Instant rice, also known as converted rice, is rice that has been precooked and dehydrated so that it cooks more rapidly. Regular rice requires approximately 20 minutes to cook while instant rice needs anywhere between five and 10 minutes. Because it has already been cooked, all that is necessary to prepare instant rice is to simply re-hydrate it with hot water.
Preparation Process
Instant rice is made by using several methods; the most common one is similar to the home cooking process. The rice is blanched in hot water, steamed and rinsed. It is then placed in large ovens for dehydration until the moisture content reaches approximately twelve percent or less.
The basic principle involves increasing moisture of the milled white rice by using steam or water to form cracks or holes in the kernels. The fast cooking properties come from the fact that, when recooked, water can penetrate into the cracked grain much more quickly.
Advantages
The major advantage of instant rice is the rapid cooking time. Some brands can be ready in as little as three minutes but food experts suggest that instant rice should be cooked for at least five minutes for maximum flavour.
Currently, several companies, Asian as well as American, have developed brands which only require 90 seconds to cook, much like a cup of instant noodles. But here, not only is the nutritional value compromised, but also the flavor and texture. Because of the short cooking time, this type of rice is usually mushy. Another advantage is the variety of flavors available. Items such as chicken, carrots, peas, mushrooms, broccoli, etc., are added to make the meal more complete. Ready to eat in approximately ten minutes. Companies like Uncle Ben's, Kraft, and Rice-A-Roni carry different pre-flavored varieties which are conveniently packaged as well.
Disadvantages
With convenience comes a price: instant rice is more expensive than regular rice. Rice naturally has minerals like phosphorus, magnesium and potassium. Instant rice has fewer of the calories, carbohydrates and protein than regular rice. Due to its processing, it also loses some of the flavour, but companies compensate by adding herbs and exotic spices and aromas to make it more appetizing. They also try to make up for the loss of nutrients by adding their own nutrients such as B-vitamins, thiamin, folic acid, and niacin, as well as iron.
