While the starch dust might help thicken your soup, the rice should still be washed before cooking to remove any dirt, chemicals, and bugs that might be present. ... The fortification of rice is done after the grains are dehusked and polished, and washing the rice in water takes away these nutrients.

Is rice healthier if you wash it?

A wash isn't always necessary

Some rice processors also add nutrients to white rice (to make it healthier), and that appears as a dusty white powder on the rice, so washing the rice will most certainly make it less healthy. The Chowhound also warns against confusing rinsing with soaking rice.

Are you supposed to clean rice?

Rinsing the rice removes any debris, and most importantly, it removes the surface starch that otherwise causes the rice to clump together or get gummy as it cooks. ... And while you should be rinsing rice thoroughly, you don't need to worry about keeping at it until the water runs clear.