Differences in American Rice & Chinese Rice

Short grain rice is harder to find in the U.S. than long or medium grained rice.

One of the major differences between American rice and Chinese rice is the length of the grain. American cooking often involves the use of long grain rice, while Asian recipes typically call for shorter grain rice, which it is tender and moist when cooked. Short grain rice seems to be best suited for desserts and sushi because the rice is sticky and stays together. Long grain rice tends to separate when cooked and offers a dryer texture.

Grain Length

The most obvious difference between short and long grain rice is the length of the individual grains. Long grain rice is typically 1/2 inch long and short grain rice is often so short it is nearly round.

Water Solubility

Long grain rice has a higher proportion of water soluble starch. The starch makes the grains cook dry and separate; this is why long grain rice is commonly used in pilaf recipes. The outer layer of short grain rice tends to absorb water more easily and the result is sticky rice. When it comes to Asian cuisine that calls for short grain rice, stickiness is not necessarily a bad quality; it makes eating the rice a lot easier when using chopsticks.

Response to Cooking

When long grain rice is prepared properly, it will cook up fluffy, with individual grains. When cooked, long grain rice will fall apart rather than stick together. It also has a firmer texture and feel. Short grain rice is cooked gently over an extended period of time which results in the slow release of starches that yield a creamy texture. This creamy texture helps the rice stay together and form the sticky consistency.

Availability

Short-grain rice is more difficult to find in the U.S. than long-or medium-grain rice. The rice that is commonly available at your local supermarket is long- and medium-grain rice. Brands of rice are typically easier to find and are popular because they require less cooking time. One misconception is that jasmine rice, which is also use in Asian recipes, is short grain rice. Actually, jasmine rice is an type of exotic long-grain rice.

References

• Almost Vegan in Paradise: What's The Difference between Long and Short Grain Rice?
• Whole Vegan: How To Cook Asian Rice

Resources

• U.S. Rice Federation
• Asia Recipe: Cooking Asian Rice
• David Lebovitz: How to Make Perfect Asian Rice