Rice: The World’s Most Versatile Grain
Rice is the world’s most versatile grain, with over 80,000 varieties, and is a staple food that provides more calories to people than any other food source. It can be used in various dishes, has multiple uses, and is consumed globally, with the US being a large consumer. Rice comes in different forms, such as brown, white, and black, and its diversity is showcased in international cuisine, with various dishes like Jamaican jerk wings and Pad Thai.
History and Cultivation of Rice
Rice is a staple dish in Thailand and a crucial grain worldwide, first cultivated 10,000 years ago in China. Today, it’s the most important grain globally, with 90% of the world’s rice being in Asia, where people consume up to 200 pounds per year, compared to 25 pounds per person in the US. Rice is cultivated on every continent except Antarctica, using both traditional and mechanized techniques, with labor costs varying greatly between Asia and the US.
Rice Production Process
Uncle Ben’s produces a million pounds of packaged rice every 24 hours at their facility in Greenville, Mississippi. The process starts with fresh rice from the field, which is stored in silos until production. The rice is then parboiled, a process that partially boils the rice, forcing B vitamins and minerals from the outer layers into the starchy center. After parboiling, the rice goes through a drying process and is then milled to remove the husk and bran layer, resulting in a white rice grain with similar nutritional value to whole grain brown rice.
Quality Control and Packaging
After milling, rice grains are scanned to ensure uniformity and quality, with a machine detecting discolored grains and removing them. The scanned rice is then evaluated by a quality control specialist, who checks for any imperfections and adjusts the scan machine’s sensitivity if necessary. The rice is then sifted to remove debris and broken grains before being moved to a finished rice bin, where it waits to be packaged on one of six packaging lines.
Types of Rice and Their Uses
Brown rice is more nutritious than white rice because the bran layer is not milled off, but parboiling can make white rice nearly as nutritious as brown rice. Rice is used in various products like Rice Krispies and Quaker oats. The unique sound of Rice Krispies is due to the structure of the crispy sugar and rice powder, which creates a glass-like substance with air pockets that shatter when milk is added.
Rice Cakes and Puffed Rice
Quaker oats produces puffed rice cakes using whole grain brown rice. Rice puff production involves adding steam and water to achieve the right moisture, then popping the rice in a specialized area, a trade secret process. Popping rice is more difficult than popcorn due to its softer bran layer, requiring a precise quantity of raw wet rice to be heated in cake-shaped molds, which keeps the grain under pressure until it suddenly releases and puffs out, a process taking around 15 seconds.
Sushi and Sake
Sushi originated with rice preserving raw fish, but the rice was discarded. Today, sushi is popular in America, with most sushi rice grown in California. Sake is an ancient Japanese beverage with a modern twist, offering various flavors and types, including sparkling, fruit-flavored, and low-alcohol options, to attract a younger generation beyond traditional sake drinkers.
Rice in Brewing and Building
About 10% of US rice is used in beer, particularly in American-style brewing, which adds a lighter taste. Craft breweries use rice in their recipes, along with traditional ingredients like water, barley, hops, and yeast, to create a distinctive flavor and higher alcohol content. Rice straw can also be used to build houses, and is becoming a more mainstream building material, used in various structures such as police headquarters and schools.
Flood-Resistant Rice and Scientific Breakthroughs
Pamela Ronald’s team aimed to create a flood-resistant rice variety to help feed 30 million people affected by flooding in Bangladesh and India. They identified a unique gene in an unpopular rice variety that could withstand two weeks of submergence and isolated it over 10 years. The team then inserted this gene into a tastier rice variety using a bacterium, creating a new flood-resistant rice strain. Scientists discovered a “waterproof” gene and used it to create a new variety of rice that can survive underwater for up to 17 days.
Conclusion
Rice is a crucial crop for feeding the world, and increasing efficiency in farming is necessary to produce more. With its versatility, nutritional value, and various uses, rice will continue to play a vital role in global food production and consumption.
Key Facts About Rice
- Rice is the world’s most versatile grain, with over 80,000 varieties.
- 90% of the world’s rice is produced in Asia.
- Rice is cultivated on every continent except Antarctica.
- Brown rice is more nutritious than white rice due to its bran layer.
- Rice is used in various products like Rice Krispies, Quaker oats, and sake.
- About 10% of US rice is used in beer production.
- Rice straw can be used as a building material.
- Scientists have discovered a “waterproof” gene to create flood-resistant rice varieties.
Key Vocabulary
| Term | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Parboiling | A process that partially boils rice to force B vitamins and minerals from the outer layers into the starchy center. | Uncle Ben’s uses parboiling to make white rice more nutritious. |
| Brown Rice | A type of rice that is more nutritious than white rice because the bran layer is not milled off. | Quaker oats produces puffed rice cakes using whole grain brown rice. |
| Puffed Rice | A type of rice that is made by adding steam and water to achieve the right moisture, then popping the rice in a specialized area. | Rice Krispies is a popular breakfast cereal made from puffed rice. |
| Sushi Rice | A type of rice that is specifically grown and prepared for making sushi. | Most sushi rice in the US is grown in California. |
| Sake | A traditional Japanese beverage made from fermented rice. | Sake is often served with sushi and other Japanese dishes. |
| Flood-Resistant Rice | A type of rice that is genetically engineered to withstand flooding and can survive underwater for up to 17 days. | Scientists have discovered a “waterproof” gene to create flood-resistant rice varieties. |
| Rice Straw | The dried stalks of rice plants that can be used as a building material. | Rice straw is being used to build houses and other structures. |
| Genetic Engineering | The process of using biotechnology to introduce new traits into an organism, such as flood resistance in rice. | Genetic engineering has been used to create flood-resistant rice varieties. |
| Food Production | The process of growing, harvesting, and processing food crops, such as rice. | Rice is a crucial crop for feeding the world, and increasing efficiency in farming is necessary to produce more. |
| Nutritional Value | The amount of nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, that a food provides. | Brown rice has a higher nutritional value than white rice due to its bran layer. |
Watch The Video
Vocabulary Quiz
1. Which word means ‘a food that is regularly eaten by people in a particular area or culture’?
A) Grain
B) Staple
C) Cuisine
D) Ingredient
2. What is the term for the process that partially boils the rice, forcing B vitamins and minerals from the outer layers into the starchy center?
A) Milling
B) Parboiling
C) Drying
D) Sifting
3. What is the name of the ancient Japanese beverage that is made from rice and has various flavors and types?
A) Sushi
B) Sake
C) Miso
D) Ramen
4. What percentage of the world’s rice is produced in Asia?
A) 50%
B) 70%
C) 80%
D) 90%
5. What is the term for the process of adding steam and water to achieve the right moisture, then popping the rice in a specialized area to produce puffed rice cakes?
A) Popping
B) Steaming
C) Milling
D) Parboiling
Answer Key:
1. B
2. B
3. B
4. D
5. A
Grammar Focus
Grammar Focus: Passive Voice
Grammar Quiz:
1. The new flood-resistant rice variety ______ by Pamela Ronald’s team using a bacterium.
- was created
- is creating
- has been created
- will be created
2. Rice ______ in various dishes, such as Jamaican jerk wings and Pad Thai.
- is used
- was used
- has been used
- will be used
3. The rice ______ and then milled to remove the husk and bran layer.
- is parboiled
- was parboiled
- has been parboiled
- will be parboiled
4. About 10% of US rice ______ in beer production.
- is used
- was used
- has been used
- will be used
5. The “waterproof” gene ______ by scientists to create a new variety of rice that can survive underwater for up to 17 days.
- was discovered
- is discovering
- has been discovered
- will be discovered
Answer Key:
1. was created
2. is used
3. is parboiled
4. is used
5. was discovered