Food - Drink
Enriched Rice Vs. Regular: What's The Difference?
By CAITLYN NICHOLS
Shopping for rice affords you plenty of options, including basic white and brown varieties, basmati, jasmine, extra-long grain, and short grain, and you might also see the word “enriched” on the label of packaged white rice. The difference between regular white rice and enriched rice comes down to nutritional content, rather than flavor.
The USDA states that 100 grams of white rice contain 115 milligrams of potassium, but only 0.8 milligrams of iron, 1.6 milligrams of niacin, .07 milligrams of thiamine, and no folic acid. Since white rice is devoid of most nutrients found in brown rice, its whole-grain counterpart, some producers enrich the rice to add some nutrition back into the grain.
Most rice should be washed before cooking in order to remove dirt, debris, and excess starch, but washing enriched white rice erases some of its added nutrients. When preparing enriched rice, don't rinse it unless the label on the product specifically calls for a washing step, so you don't waste any precious vitamins and minerals.