Broken rice facts for kids
Broken rice is simply pieces of rice grains that broke during harvesting, drying, moving, or processing. Special machines help separate these broken bits from whole grains and sort them by size.
Even though it's broken, there's nothing wrong with it! It's just as good for you as whole rice. If it still has its outer layers (like bran and germ), it's very nutritious, like brown rice. If those layers are removed, it's like white rice.
People have been eating broken rice for a very long time. For example, a traveler named Ibn Battuta wrote about rice couscous in the area of Mali back in 1350. This was probably made from African rice.
How Rice is Milled
When rice is processed, it goes through different steps. If broken rice comes from a machine that removes the outer husk (a rice huller), it will still be brown. If it comes from a gristmill that removes more layers, it might be white.
When common Asian rice (called Oryza sativa) is milled, about half of it becomes whole rice grains. Around 16% turns into broken rice. The rest is husk, bran, and meal. African rice grains break more easily, so there's usually more broken rice from them.
Eating Broken Rice
Broken rice grains have a different shape and size. This makes them softer than whole rice grains. They also soak up flavors more easily. Because they are smaller, they cook faster and need less cooking fuel. This makes them great for dishes like rice porridges and congees, which usually take a long time to cook.
Often, broken rice is cheaper than whole rice. This makes it a good choice for people who need to save money. However, many people also choose to eat it because they like its texture. Some cookbooks even explain how to break whole rice to get the desired texture or to cook it faster.
Broken rice is a popular food in many places. It's eaten in West Africa, where traditional African rice breaks easily. It's also common in Thailand, Bangladesh, and other parts of Southeast Asia. In Vietnam, a popular dish called cơm tấm (which means "broken rice") is often served with pork. Thieboudienne is a well-known dish in West Africa that often uses broken rice. In Bangladesh, it's called khood. People often eat it with roasted peppers, garlic, and mustard oil, either by itself or with leftovers from the night before. In South Carolina, it's sometimes called rice grist or middlins.
Uses in Industry
Very tiny pieces of broken rice are known as brewers' rice. This is because brewers have traditionally used it to make beer.
But it's not just for brewing! Broken rice is also used in other industries. For example, it can be used to make pet food. It's also fed to farm animals and fish in aquaculture. Another use for broken rice is to make starch. This starch can be used for things like laundry starch, in foods, in beauty products, and in making textiles (fabrics).
See also
In Spanish: Arroz roto para niños
