Plastic rice, news newspapers and television are full of such headlines. The worst thing is that this is true. The Chinese have become completely lazy. Instead of growing rice in the fields, they learned to fake it. Yes, it would be fine if such rice were sold in China, but it is successfully sold to Russia. In China, fake rice is sold with ingredients labeled. Such rice enters the territory of the Russian Federation with documentation indicating the content of impurities of plastic, starch, and potatoes. Unscrupulous “repackers” of products buy fake rice.
What happens is that low-quality rice is simply packaged in packaging that doesn’t have a word about plastic, potatoes, or starch. This is how plastic rice from China ends up on shelves.
Plastic rice how to distinguish
As you already understand, the authenticity of rice cannot be determined by the packaging. Let's figure out how to buy real rice:
Plastic rice true or false
Rumor has it that these are stories and there is no fake rice. We invite you to watch the video and find out whether this is true or a myth.
The problem is not only in China and Russia, fake rice has spread all over planet Earth. Be vigilant - check what you eat.
There are a great many types of rice. And each is suitable for very specific purposes. One is good for filling, the other for porridge, the third for pilaf. The Chinese even adulterate rice on an industrial scale. They do this enough: they mix potato starch with synthetic resins and mold “grains”. How to choose a quality product for your table?
There are a great many types of rice. And each is suitable for very specific purposes. One is good for filling, the other for porridge, the third for pilaf. The Chinese even adulterate rice on an industrial scale. This is done quite simply: they mix potato starch with synthetic resins and form “grains”. How to choose a quality product for your table?
Only for pies
When you come to the store, don’t be too lazy to look at the rice through the transparent part of the packaging. For these reasons, it is better to purchase it in a plastic bag rather than in a cardboard box. However, the manufacturer, who has nothing to hide, will definitely make a “window” in the cardboard, through which the buyer can easily see the contents.
“If there are a lot of fragments among the grains, you should put the pack aside - they will spoil the dish, since they will boil faster and more strongly. If the manufacturer worked honestly, he would separate them and sell them as crushed rice - such a product is acceptable for sale according to GOST. But in fact, this is waste production. You can’t make good porridge from it,” says Alexander Miller, nutritionist, candidate of medical sciences.
It’s bad if there are a lot of chalk-white grains in the package. These are the so-called chalky rice kernels - unripe grains of a powdery, opaque consistency. They are more fragile and worsen the taste of the dish. In a word, this rice is clearly not of the highest quality - it will be used as a filling for pies, but as a side dish it will only spoil the mood.
It is very important that there are no yellowed rice kernels in the pack. This is the official name for grains and their fragments, which even when cut are yellow. Yellowness means that before packaging, this rice was stored wet and in large piles - under such conditions, fungi grow that produce harmful mycotoxins, including carcinogens.
Shake the package of rice thoroughly several times, stirring the grains - this is the only way you can really see them. Good rice should always be, as they say, grain to grain, and the grains themselves look like frosted glass. In this case, this is definitely not a rice “double” cobbled together by the Chinese.
No need to rush
In recent years, so-called parboiled rice has begun to be sold. Many people think that it is intended for quick cooking, because other steamed cereals sometimes just need to be poured with boiling water. But with rice it's different. The steamed version needs to be cooked even longer than usual - at least 30 minutes; it is good for a side dish and has a more pronounced taste.
“Fatted” rice, which supposedly cooks quickly, is also a myth. Thanks to flattening, rolled oats, pearl barley and some other cereals actually cook faster. But the rice does not flatten, but splits when pressed - few consumers know about this. Therefore, the inscription on the packages “instant rice” is very conditional: the fastest rice cooks in 8-10 minutes, and not 1-2, like other cereals with the same inscription. To do this, the grains are thinned by grinding. By the way, in these 10 minutes you can cook the famous aromatic basmati rice - because its grains are thin and long, like needles.
But even darker and longer “needles” of wild rice need to be simmered over low heat for a record long time - 40-60 minutes, until they absorb water and their tips crack, exposing the white inside. It is better to take this kind of black rice separately, and not mixed with regular grains, as it is often sold: when the white rice is boiled, the “needles” will still be hard. For dishes made from two of these rices, start with wild rice and add white rice later.
Although you can buy brown, red and even black rice today, be aware that the insides are white.
The color of the grains is given by the fruit and seed coats, which are rich in B groups and antioxidants. When they are removed, and the grains are then polished, freeing them from the remnants of the shells and the germ, the rice becomes completely white - the way we are used to. It is good in cooking, but from the point of view of benefits it is bad, because after peeling there are no useful substances left in it.
By the way
What kind of rice should I use for porridge or soup? Look at the variety.
Arborio is a round or medium grain Italian rice. When cooked, it absorbs the taste of other components of the dish. Suitable for porridge, risotto and paella.
Basmati is a long grain rice grown at the foothills of the Himalayas in India and Pakistan. Basmati has an aromatic taste that makes it considered the king of rice. When cooked, the grains elongate without boiling or sticking together. Good for side dishes and oriental dishes, including pilaf.
Wild rice has very thin, almost black and shiny “needles.” Its homeland is the North American Great Lakes region. Suitable for salads and side dishes.
Jasmine is a long grain rice from Thailand. The grains retain their shape but stick together. It is best to cook it covered.
Indica is a long grain rice that is the most popular in the world. Doesn't boil over, doesn't stick together - for side dishes, pilaf and salads.
Krasnodar - round or medium grain rice. Suitable for soups and milk porridge.
Japonica - round grain rice. It doesn't boil, but sticks together. Ideal for sushi.
What does the packaging tell you?
White short grain rice
According to the form, rice can be long-, medium-, short-grain and crushed. Long is good for side dishes, round and medium are better for porridges.
Based on color, white (polished) rice, brown, red and black (hulled, but not polished types of rice) are distinguished.
First grade
The only characteristic of quality is the grade. There are extra, highest, 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades. However, the last two are rarely found in stores - they are used in industrial cooking, stuffed into rice pies, used on rice cereal, etc.
Krasnodar/indica
etc. (see "By the way")
This is the variety, not the place of origin, of the rice. Even Krasnodar rice can be grown in China or Egypt (read the label carefully, focusing on the “Country of Origin” column. By the way, very often rice is produced in one country, but packaged in a completely different one - this is also indicated).
Top quality
This and similar labels give the impression of a high-quality product, but in reality they mean nothing, since they are not regulated by law.
GOST 6292-93
According to GOST, polished white and rice are produced, other types are produced according to specifications.
Does not meet safety standards. On store shelves you can find a huge number of food products containing various chemical additives, preservatives, and genetically modified substances. Their effects on humans have not been fully studied. One of the products that poses a health threat is artificial rice produced in China.
Description
The appearance of such rice differs little from natural rice. Artificial rice is characterized by the absence of a natural shell. The grains have the same regular shape, a pronounced taste and aroma, achieved with the help of flavoring agents. Experts compare a portion of this rice to plastic packaging.
The most counterfeited variety of rice is Wuchang.
One of the main reasons for the production of artificial rice in China is the large overpopulation.
Mode of production
Producing natural rice is time-consuming and expensive. Therefore, the production of an artificial product was developed. To obtain it, minimal costs and the shortest possible time are required.
The base for artificial rice is made from potato starch. Plastic substances are added to the raw material to give it shape. Rice has no taste or smell, so production cannot do without the use of flavoring agents that impart a natural aroma to the product.
The scale of production of the product is hundreds of times greater than the cultivation of a natural counterfeit species.
Implementation
Despite the dangers of using a synthetic product, it is in great demand. As a rule, Chinese artificial rice is a counterfeit of the most expensive varieties. The counterfeit product costs several times less than natural rice. Unscrupulous buyers take advantage of this.
To sell artificial rice, it is often mixed with real rice to hide the visible differences.
According to known data, the supply of counterfeit rice has been established in India, Vietnam, Indonesia, and other Asian countries.
Raw materials and dishes prepared from artificial rice are not subject to natural decomposition processes. This is another reason for the purchase of such a product by sellers looking for minimal losses on sales and easy profits. Selling artificial rice on an industrial scale brings huge income to suppliers.
In food service establishments, spicy sauces are used to disguise the non-organic product, distracting the taste buds.
Danger of use
The effect of such rice on human health has not been fully studied. There is no doubt about the fact that a synthetic product is used in production, which definitely causes damage to the body.
First of all, the digestive organs suffer from eating such rice. The unnatural product is practically not absorbed by the human body. The consequences of a portion can be unpredictable, ranging from a common disorder to the acquisition of chronic complications.
The plastic substances included in the composition have extremely high toxicity.
The use of chemicals also negatively affects the human reproductive system.
How to distinguish a fake?
To know how to distinguish real rice from artificial rice, you need to know the following features:
1. Artificial rice remains firm when cooked, regardless of cooking time.
2. When preparing a fake, a characteristic film forms on the surface of the water.
3. Natural rice is distinguished by its density. If you fill artificial rice with water, it will float in it or on the surface, while the natural product will sink to the bottom of the container.
4. If stored for a long time, the finished natural product will definitely deteriorate. The fake does not deteriorate and retains its presentation.
5. Artificial rice is easily flammable and burns quickly when interacting with an open fire, due to the content of polyethylene substances in it.
6. The counterfeit product differs from the natural one in its lighter color and ideal grain shape.
7. When cooked for a long time, flavors lose their ability. The dish reveals the taste of plastic substances.
Production of natural product
Artificial rice from China cannot completely replace growing a natural product.
China occupies a leading position in rice cultivation in the world. Over the centuries-old history, there are tens of thousands of varieties cultivated in this country.
The bulk of rice is grown in fields flooded with water. This method allows you to increase the amount of harvest several times, providing it with the necessary microelements for growth. In addition, the aquatic environment creates an optimal temperature. A huge amount of water resources is used to grow this crop.
Such fields do not require fertilization. Aquatic plants saturate the rice crop with useful substances.
Growing technology is a rather labor-intensive process. The fields are cultivated without the use of agricultural machinery. Plowing of the soil occurs with the help of bulls.
Rice grains are first germinated in special greenhouses, to a height of about 10 centimeters. This is a necessary measure for the successful rooting of all sprouts in the soil. When the planting site is ready, the sprouts are planted by hand.
Grain ripening occurs after three months. Such short terms were achieved thanks to selective selection of varieties.
After collecting ripened grains, they must be dried, observing certain temperature and humidity indicators. The implementation of all technologies will allow you to store rice for three years.
Natural rice is not only tasty, but also a healthy crop.
Conclusion
To date, no sales of artificial rice have been registered in Russia. However, this does not guarantee the absence of such a product on store shelves in the future.
The information presented in the article fully answers the question of how to distinguish artificial rice and will help you avoid a dangerous purchase.
Ways to distinguish real rice from fake.
China is a huge country that now produces everything. These are not only affordable and necessary goods with Aliexpress, but also very dangerous products. In this article we will talk about plastic rice.
Not natural rice or Chinese: what is it, is it fake?
There have been repeated cases of fake Chinese rice ending up on the shelves of Russian stores. It would seem that this is a fairly cheap product, so there is no point in counterfeiting it. However, for the Chinese it is much faster and more economical to make a fake than to engage in growing rice, harvesting it and then cleaning it. Not so long ago, a huge amount of rice that did not meet the quality hit the shelves of Asia, as well as Russia. Simply put, they began to add starch, potatoes, chalk, polymers, that is, plastic.
The most interesting thing is that such a product may taste practically no different from the real thing. But at the same time, it can cause colossal harm to the body, causing allergic reactions and various ailments of the gastrointestinal tract. Naturally, consumers have a question: n natural rice or Chinese, fake? This can be done quite simply by running a few tests.
How to distinguish rice from fake: water test
To distinguish rice from fake , you need to soak a handful of the product in cold water. If you have a natural product in front of you, it will swell a little and all the grains will settle to the bottom. If the product is fake, that is, plastic, its weight is much lighter than water, so such products will not sink, but will float on top. This product cannot be eaten.
Instructions:
- Unfortunately, there are a huge number of such products on the shelves of Russian stores, since Russia is the main exporter of this group.
- According to the results of an international investigation, it was found that 1/3 of all rice that is sent to our country from China contains impurities from which ordinary disposable bags are made.
- People do not eat healthy cereals, but plastic bags. But there is no need to worry, you can perform several tests.
How to detect fake rice by fire?
Another good way to check the authenticity of cereals is heat treatment, or rather ignition.
How detect fake rice by fire , instructions:
- When in contact with fire, the plastic begins to smoke and smell unpleasant.
- If you burn real rice, it will give off a pleasant aroma of burnt grain. It's similar to the aroma when popcorn is popped.
- This means that this is a genuine product and can be eaten.
How to distinguish real rice from fake rice at home: lump test
To distinguish real rice from fake rice at home, you can crush it. You need to pour one tablespoon of cereal with cold water overnight.
Instructions:
- In the morning after sleep, try to take the cereal and form something out of it, that is, squeeze it, make a lump. Despite the fact that the product lay for a large amount of time in water, it still remained quite crumbly.
- In this case, when squeezed, natural rice will crumble. If the composition contains potato starch, then such a product will stay in the pile.
- If you press on the lump, it will fall apart, but not in grains, but in incomprehensible fragments and sections. You won't see whole grains.
How to distinguish rice from fake plastic using mold?
Another good waydistinguish rice from fake plastic , is its cooking with the subsequent possibility of mold appearing.
Instructions:
- In order to carry out such a test, you need to boil the cereal, drain the water and leave in a warm place for about two days.
- It is advisable not to cover the product with a cloth or lid. It is necessary that there is constant access to light and air.
- When exposed to heat for a long time, mold and mucus begin to form on the surface of any grain. If the product is made of plastic, you will not see mucus, much less mold.
- This is due to the fact that mold does not grow on artificial materials, or more precisely on polymers.
How to distinguish Chinese plastic rice from real rice using iodine?
Many people advise determining the presence of starch in a product. This can be done in the old and proven way, which is known from chemistry lessons from school.
Instructions:
- To carry out the manipulation, you need to add a few drops of iodine to the food. A regular alcohol solution from a pharmacy will do. If the composition contains starch, the cereal contains impurities that should not be in it, then it will turn blue or purple.
- Some experts say that the difference isChinese plastic rice from real, can be done by rubbing. To do this, use a regular coffee grinder or mortar and pestle for spices. You need to throw a small amount of cereal into a coffee grinder or mortar and grind.
- It is necessary to obtain a fine powder. If the composition contains foreign impurities or polymers, the powder turns out to be cream or yellow in color. Real rice turns into white, slightly translucent flour. This indicates the authenticity of the product.
How to determine whether rice is real or fake by looking at the packaging?
Things are a little better with Chinese rice in Ukraine. The thing is volume, that almost 50% of cereals are imported to Ukraine from the Kherson and Nikolaev regions, where they are grown. Favorable climatic conditions, plenty of sun, promote the growth of this crop. 50% is purchased from other countries, most of it is exported from Vietnam. A small amount of products reaches Ukrainian shelves from China. Therefore, the opportunity to end up with a fake product that is made of plastic is small.
Russia is a fairly large country, there are not many warm regions, so it is not able to fully provide itself with this grain. That is why most of the products are imported from China. This is due to its convenient geographical location, and accordingly the costs of transporting such goods are very low. Entrepreneurs take advantage of this. The most interesting thing is that you can’t always find Chinese characters on the packaging. The fact is that cereals are often sent in huge bags.
Directly in Russia they are packaged in large bags, on which new inscriptions are applied. ABOUTlimit real rice or fake by packaging difficult.The composition on a new pack may not contain any plastic, starch or other additives. Most often, on ordinary bags weighing 1 kg, they write that this is ordinary grain rice. Although in fact the product is not real. Therefore, you should not always trust the labels on the packaging.
Don't be afraid to experiment and do simple tests. This could save your life.
VIDEO: How to distinguish plastic rice from China?
For those who are not in the know, here is the news from the Korean Times. It turns out that they are made in China. plastic rice, which is supplied in large quantities abroad.
This rice is not entirely synthetic. It is based on potato starch, to which plastic is added so that it holds the desired shape. Eating a portion of this rice is equivalent to eating a plastic bag. Therefore, before eating rice, it is advisable to check it. Perhaps such a miracle of the world is already being produced here. We have prepared several tests to help you determine the quality of rice.
Rice Quality Tests
(1) Water test
Add a large tablespoon of rice to a bowl of cold water and stir vigorously. If the rice settles to the bottom after a while, everything is fine. If the grains float on the surface, be careful!
(2) Fire test
Light the rice with a match. The fake one will immediately catch fire and smell like burnt plastic!
