Scientific revelations: Dangers of cooking rice in plastic bags

Do you occasionally cook rice in a bag? You might be interested to know that it's not a very healthy solution. Scientific studies have finally confirmed what has long been suspected. And maybe we knew it, but it still feels a bit deceiving.

The culture of eating rice in Poland might not be as strong as in Far Eastern countries, but we still consume quite a lot by European standards. This is very good because these white grains are excellent support for health and the proper functioning of the body. There is only one tiny problem. Out of nowhere, rice producers decided to sell it in an unusual form: divided into plastic bags. Many people didn't like this approach from the beginning.

Throwing plastic along with food into boiling water at first glance seems like an idea from the category of — to put it mildly — unnecessary. But do our concerns reflect the facts? Unfortunately, yes. Scientific studies confirm this. Their results ultimately confirmed the inevitable. Cooking rice in plastic bags is simply unhealthy.

Even rice that isn't packed in bags but is of poor quality has a composition that's hard to praise. According to scientific research, such grains often contain microplastic particles: polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate. Meanwhile, packing it in plastic packaging is an actual crime.

First of all, when heating plastic bags, chemicals migrate into the food enclosed in them. The situation becomes severe for the body when fat ends up in the pot with boiling rice. Just a bit of oil will cause the chemical compounds from the plastic to dissolve easily, and we'll end up having risotto with bisphenol for dinner.

The effects of regularly consuming rice cooked in a bag can be truly severe. According to scientists, this can include, among other things, negative impacts on the hormonal system, reproductive organ diseases, and fertility issues.

So, how should you cook rice? Besides getting rid of the bags, one thing is worth remembering. It's best to add the grains to less water than usual. This way, no health-beneficial substances will "escape," and we can enjoy their benefits for the body. About 375 millilitres of water (1.5 cups) is enough for a cup of grains. Of course, be careful not to burn it!