Prep & Assembly
Rinse
Run water over food to clean it or wash away excess starch or salt
Rinsing runs water over food to wash away grit, excess starch, or surplus salt — rinsing rice until the water runs clear, or canned beans for a cleaner taste. It's quick and improves texture. Rinse rice and grains in a sieve, swishing until the cloudiness clears.
Rinsing runs water over food to wash away grit, excess starch, or surplus salt — rinsing rice until it runs clear, or canned beans for a cleaner taste. It's quick and improves texture. Rinse rice and grains in a sieve, swishing until the cloudiness clears.
- Difficulty
- Easy
How to do it
- 1
Place the food in a sieve or colander.
- 2
Run cool water over it, agitating gently.
- 3
Swish and drain until the water runs clear.
- 4
Drain well before cooking or serving.
Common uses
Tips & pitfalls
- Rinsing rice cuts surface starch for fluffier, separate grains.
- Rinse canned beans to ditch the salty, thick liquid.
- Don't rinse risotto or paella rice — you want that starch.
Good to know
- Tool
- Sieve or colander, running water
- Best for
- Rice, grains, canned beans, leafy greens
- Cue
- Water runs clear, grit gone
Also called
wash · rinse off
Dishes that rely on it
Related
Whisk
Beat ingredients smooth and aerated with a looping wire motion
Sift
Pass dry ingredients through mesh to aerate and remove lumps
Strain
Pour through mesh to separate solids from liquid for a smooth result
Filter
Pass liquid through fine material to clarify out the smallest particles
Rice
Press cooked potatoes through small holes for fluffy, lump-free texture
Mash
Crush soft cooked food into a rustic, creamy purée
Grind
Crush food into a coarse to fine texture, from spices to meat
Grate
Shred food into fine bits against a sharp-toothed surface