Good Eats

Rice was first cultivated in Karat Region of Northern Thailand in 5000BC. Chinese were cultivating rice by 2800BC, known through written records. India shipped rice to Greece in 4BC. American slavery was fueled the plantation era in the south, not cotton. Louisiana's soft ground was too wet and soft for heavy machinery to harvest rice. The end of the American Civil War ended the rice cultivation in the Carolina's. Wild Rice isn't a rice at all, but an aquatic grass. Short Grain rice is mostly grown in Asia & California. They give off starch easily, and are sticky when cooked. They are called Sweet Rice or Glutinous rice despite not tasting sweet at all or having no gluten. Medium Grain rice are fluffy when cooked, but become sticky when cooled. Long Grain rice don't release starch. OnScreen Trivia: Due to their popcorn-like fragrance, long grain rices like basmati & jasmine are called "aromatic" rices. Brown Rice, still containing their bran coating, requires three times more water and time in cooking. Brown Rice must be stored in the freezer (unlike white rice with can be kept at room temperature), keeping up to 1-2 years in a zip-lock bag and then stored in an air-tight container. OnScreen Trivia: Rice bran oil is nearly flavourless & has a very high smoke point. For American Long Grain White Rice: 1 Cup of Rice cooks in 1 & 1/2 Cups of Water. 2 Cups of Rice cooks in 2 & 3/4 Cups of Water. 3 Cups of Rice cooks in 3 & 1/2 Cups of Water. OnScreen Trivia: In Japan, rice fields are often named like people. OnScreen Trivia: Pressure steamed prior to milling, converted or par-boiled rice retains many of the brain's nutrients, which explains for its golden colour. OnScreen Trivia: In China, quitting a job is referred to as "breaking the rice bowl". Rice is cultivated on every continent except one, Antarctica. Short is Sticky Long is Fluffy White cooks quickerthan brown. Of all the rice cultures on earth, every one of them holds rice as a symbol of fertility and thus explains why it's thrown at weddings.