Rice In Restaurants

[mandigirl1]

Hello all,

Does anyone know if the rice you get served in a restaurant has gluten?

I think I am taking a chance when I have it, even though I always tell the server about my celiac disease. I just hate limiting myself so much, now rice, good ol rice isnt safe? Yet of course my health is more important, so if I shouldnt take the chance I wont

Please advise......

Thanks!

[bluelotus]

I guess it would depend on if they cooked it in broth or water - the safest thing to do is ask. I hate having to ask stuff though and always feel like I am being a pain, so I just stopped going out. Hope you have better luck than I do.

[Carriefaith]

Rice in restaurants can contain gluten. You must ask if the rice is cooked in anything other than water like a broth or spices, ect. Plain rice cooked in nothing but water should be fine.

[KaitiUSA]

You definitely need to ask each individual place because it can contain gluten.

[elonwy]

Ahhh rice. Yum.

Safety of restaurant rice is going to depend a lot on what kind of food and how they prepare stuff as several people have already mentioned.

Asian restaurants *tend* to steam rice in plain water, so the white or brown plain rice is usually fine, but its always good to ask. Obviously fried rice is out of the question.

American restaurants tend to do stuff to rice which I always found uneccesary, like cook it in broth or add spices to it, which makes those types of restaurants much more difficult, I tend to not get rice at these places. A rice Pilaf is often made by adding pasta in ( think rice-a-roni), so that ones a big danger no-no usually. The one I look out for at these kinds of places is a wild rice medley, depending on preparation these can often be very good and adds a little pizzaz to the meal. Often they wont add the seasonings until right before it's served, the rice blends tend to be very absorbant, so they wait til the last minute.

The most important detail is grilling the server and making sure they go ask the cook.

I've gone straight to the manager a couple times when the server didn't seem to be getting it.

So, is it cooked in broth or plain water, does it have spices added, does it have pasta mixed in for flavor in texture.

HTH

Elonwy

[PicturePerfect]

You know the rice that is brown.. I am not sure what it is called. They serve it in Chinese restaurants.. is that gluten-free? I mean like the actual rice.. not what it is cooked in or whatever.

[elonwy]

I think you're referring to Jasmine rice? Sortof a longer grain, brownish yellow in color?

Yes it is gluten-free.

Rice is actually always brown before its white ( I'm a fact junky don't mind me.) I found this great wikipedia article on rice. Open Original Shared Link

Here's some excerpts:

The seeds of the rice plant are first milled to remove the outer husks of the grain; this creates brown rice. This process may be continued, removing the germ and the rest of the husk, called bran at this point, creating white rice. The white rice may then be buffed with glucose or talc powder (often called polished rice), parboiled, or processed into flour. The white rice may also be enriched to add nutrients, especially those lost during the milling process. While the cheapest method of enriching involves adding a powdered blend of nutrients that will easily wash off (in the United States, rice which has been so treated requires a label warning against rinsing), more sophisticated methods which apply nutrients directly to the grain and then coat the grain with a water insoluble substance are resistant to washing.

I like this sentence. : Rice flour is generally safe for people on a gluten-free diet.

Thai Jasmine rice is long-grain and relatively less sticky, as long-grain rice contains less amylopectin than short-grain. Chinese restaurants usually serve long-grain as plain unseasoned steamed rice.

And some bizarre Wild Rice facts:

Open Original Shared Link

I love the Wikipedia.

Elonwy

[cdford]

Thanks for the info and links. Those are always helpful.

[VegasCeliacBuckeye]

Fried rice can be ok if cooked in a skillet or clean surface and no soy sauce is added (or you can just bring your own gluten-free soy sauce) .

As far as rice in restaurants, the thing to look out for is if they have combined the rice with water and artificial chicken stock. Artificial chicken stock is normally made from wheat gluten......real chicken stock is ok.

[elonwy]

I disagree actually. I have come across real chicken stock twice now that has had wheat gluten added to it. If they make thier own stock its usually ok, but the pre-packaged stuff real or not, is dangerous.

Elonwy

[VegasCeliacBuckeye]

Elonwy,

I should have clarified.

When I say "Real Chicken stock", I mean the stock that is made at the restaurants by boiling chicken.

You are correct regarding the portion of chicken stocks that are canned/packaged -- some may contain gluten/food starch.

Normally, restaurants that have the "glutenized" chicken stock are mom/pop places and chain restaurants.

Most upscale places make their own chicken stock (which tastes better anyway)...

The biggest lesson to be learned here is that any manufactued/processed chicken should be avoided.

I apologize for my error...

[mandigirl1]

Thank you everyone for the helpful advice and information. Sure learned some interesting facts about rice!!!! I always like learning new things as I am a 4th grade teacher.

Anyway, you guys really confirmed my suspicions. Im going to be more careful and really follow the WHEN IN DOUBT DO WITHOUT! mantra/motto.

I used to follow that idea so carefully, now Ive been too lax.

I wonder about the sushi rice??? I eat a ton of sushi, and the rice, in case some of you dont know, is very sticky. I once heard (somewhere, not sure) that they add flour to make it thicker. Anyone familiar with this?

[VegasCeliacBuckeye]

Glutinous Rice

A Thai Speciality

Also known as : Sticky rice or Sweet Rice

Characteristics : The consistency of what is commonly called "sticky" rice is derived from two kinds of starch in the kernels, namely amylose and amylopectin. A higher amount of the later increases the sticky texture. Glutinous rice can be easily distinguished from other varieties by its milky colour.

Production : The major production areas for glutinous rice are the upper nothern and northeastern regions of thailand where water is scarce. the best known and best quality variety is called "Sanpathong" which is grown mainly in the north.

Market Facts : Glutinous rice is most widely consumed in the ares where it is grown, as well as by certain communities in Laos and Cambodia. In addition to direct consumption, it is often used as an ingredient in sweet dishes, snacks and the brewing industry. It is also very popular in China, Japan and America.

[GFManiac]

I am DF (dairy-free) as well as gluten-free. I was disappointed to learn a lot of Indian restaurants add milk to their rice .

[pixiegirl]

Maybe I missed something but the post about glutinous rice made it sound like it contains gluten, just to clarify it does not contain gluten:

Open Original Shared Link

I just got worried!!

Susan

[Deby]

I am DF (dairy-free) as well as gluten-free.  I was disappointed to learn a lot of Indian restaurants add milk to their rice  .

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

In the disappointment category, Chipolte rice isn't safe either. I was at one near me and saw the line server scrap the unwanted rice off of the flour tortilla of the person in front of me, and put it right back in the bin.

I had been watching Chipolte to see if they are safe. Since they don't touch the spoons to the tortillas, and many of the items on the line are gluten-free, I had hgh hopes, but it seems this chain isn't really safe either.

[nettiebeads]

Maybe I missed something but the post about glutinous rice made it sound like it contains gluten, just to clarify it does not contain gluten:

Open Original Shared Link

I just got worried!!

Susan

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

glutinous means sticky. It's the gluten in wheat, rye, barley and maybe oats that holds together (sticks together) to make bread products. The gluten in other grains is different and digestable for celiacs.

[ravenwoodglass]

If they make thier own stock its usually ok, but the pre-packaged stuff real or not, is dangerous.

Elonwy

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was at one time a professional chef and I would never, ever eat a chicken stock at a restaurant either canned or 'home made' many resaurants use a roux (flour browned with butter) to color or add a institutional soup base to the cooking chickens. I've learned the hard way until restaurants are certified as gluten-free I will eat at home.