Impact of Presoaking on Flavor of Cooked Rice

ABSTRACT Soaking rice in water for 30 min or longer before cooking is traditionally practiced in Japan, Korea, and other Asian countries. When soaked, the rice grains hydrate, develop cracks, and water is absorbed. Soaking facilitates uniform cooking and shortens cooking time. The cooked kernel is usually less firm. The present study was undertaken to determine the effects of presoaking on the flavor of cooked rice and whether flavor differences are associated with textural changes that could influence retention of aroma compounds. Eleven samples of short, medium, and long grain milled rice representing scented and nonscented rice and a wide range of amylose contents were presented to a descriptive sensory panel. For the set of all rice samples, undesirable sewer/animal flavor significantly increased and sweet taste significantly decreased with presoaking for 30 min. For individual rice samples, significantly higher sewer/animal intensity was observed with presoaking for the 2 Basmati rice samples and one...