Arsenic in brown rice

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Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
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What type of Quinoa did you cook? I had a box of white or tan and it was good. The other night I cooked a tri-colored mixed type (harmony) and it wasn't as good and didn't get transparent or soft. Maybe I didn't cook it long enough.
I just cooked up a batch 1/2 hour ago, finished what I'd cooked yesterday according to my recipe in my last post.

What I have is from Costco: Their Kirkland brand, Organic Quinoa From Andean Farmers (says Bolivia). 4.5 lb, cost was $8.99, ITM. / Art. 1001368. Says "Packed in the USA."

It's the only quinoa I've ever had so can't compare. I just added a trace of salt, nothing more other than water... about 1/4 teaspoon salt to the one cup of uncooked quinoa along with 2 cups water.

Since yesterday I tried a couple of serving methods:

1. Mixed in some home made walnut pesto.

2. Mixed in some of Costco's Kirkland brand organic peanut butter.

Very pleasing.
 

whm1974

Diamond Member
Jul 24, 2016
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I add a little Better than Bullion to my Quinoa or Rice to help give it a little favor. Unfortunately I didn't see that it had salt so I'm just trying to use it up. I want to find some other type of flavoring that doesn't have salt.

What type of Quinoa did you cook? I had a box of white or tan and it was good. The other night I cooked a tri-colored mixed type (harmony) and it wasn't as good and didn't get transparent or soft. Maybe I didn't cook it long enough.
Did you rinse it off before cooking? Not all quinoa is pre-rinsed.
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
41,071
10,314
136
Did you rinse it off before cooking? Not all quinoa is pre-rinsed.
The instructions (with the Costco Kirkland organic) said not to rinse, so I didn't. Maybe I should anyway, what do you think?
 

whm1974

Diamond Member
Jul 24, 2016
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The instructions (with the Costco Kirkland organic) said not to rinse, so I didn't. Maybe I should anyway, what do you think?
I never had quinoa, but I know that most verities have a soapy covering on the seeds, hence the need to rinse. I would give a shot anyway to see if that will improve the taste.
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
41,071
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I never had quinoa, but I know that most verities have a soapy covering on the seeds, hence the need to rinse. I would give a shot anyway to see if that will improve the taste.
Yeah, I'll rinse next time. Thanks.

It is easy and extra quick to cook. It fluffs up very nicely... like nothing I've seen. Has a pleasant taste that's subtle. Funny thing is you see these little twisty white things after cooking... all over. They look like tiny white worms, but it's obviously the roots, which are wound up in the round seeds and are exposed after cooking. It's considered a seed, not a grain. I'm wondering if you can grow it, not that I'd bother.
 
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whm1974

Diamond Member
Jul 24, 2016
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I'm wondering about arsenic in potatoes due to being one of the first crops to have pesticides used on them. How much should I be worried?
 
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Carson Dyle

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2012
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Yeah, I'll rinse next time. Thanks.

It is easy and extra quick to cook. It fluffs up very nicely... like nothing I've seen. Has a pleasant taste that's subtle. Funny thing is you see these little twisty white things after cooking... all over. They look like tiny white worms, but it's obviously the roots, which are wound up in the round seeds and are exposed after cooking. It's considered a seed, not a grain. I'm wondering if you can grow it, not that I'd bother.

That's the endosperm, not "roots". Try not cooking the quinoa as long and they won't separate as badly.
 

balloonshark

Diamond Member
Jun 5, 2008
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Did you rinse it off before cooking? Not all quinoa is pre-rinsed.
No, the box said it was pre-rinsed. Plus I don't have a strainer fine enough.

The little "worm" freaked me out the first time I saw it on youtube. I got over it though once I found out that quinoa is a complete protein. I choose to focus on the health benefits of whole foods like quinoa. And honestly if you think about "normal" foods long enough they are much more gross with additional scary ingredients and health problems associated with their consumption.
 
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Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
41,071
10,314
136
I never had quinoa, but I know that most verities have a soapy covering on the seeds, hence the need to rinse. I would give a shot anyway to see if that will improve the taste.
I recommend it. Tasty, healthy, complete protein, cooks very quickly compared to brown rice (1/3 the time).