大米是不是愈白愈好？
精米度愈高，磨出來的大米的顏色也會愈來愈白，但大米的營養主要在胚皮層，所以磨得愈白，失去的營養愈多，米味也會變得淡白。因此大米並非越白越好。大黑屋商店提供不同精米度的大米，顧客可按照自己的口味和需要選擇最合適的精米度。
怎麼洗米才能煮出好吃的米？
白米的味道很大程度取決於米糠是否充分洗掉。先用大量的冷水快速打圈，再浸泡在少量冷水中，用手掌輕輕搓揉。每一次混濁的洗米水都應該盡快倒掉。在寒冷乾燥的季節，我們建議顧客改用溫水堅持用手洗米，避免利用工具輔助。乾燥會產生靜電，導致米糠黏得更緊，因此也建議多洗一次。
需要先浸米嗎？
讓大米從內到外吸滿水份，可煮出更飽滿、甘甜和軟糯的大米。夏天浸泡至少 30 分鐘，冬天 1 小時，當米粒膨脹、變白就是吸飽水的信號。但切記浸泡時間不應超過90分鐘，因為時間過長澱粉會開始流失，使大米變得黐笠笠。
大米應如何保存？
大米應存放在高度密封的容器，以防止氧化，濕氣，異味和昆蟲入侵，並收在濕度低，避免陽光直射的地方。要符合以上條件，雪櫃的保鮮格是非常適合的選擇。
有穀牛還可以吃嗎？
穀牛會在米粒中產卵，遇上合適的溫度孵化。本質上，穀牛只會侵食稻米，不會對人體構成損害，因此從健康層面看，發現一兩隻穀牛的話只要沖掉便可繼續食用。但穀牛的繁殖速度很快，從家居層面看發現多隻穀牛的話還是丟掉比較好。要避免穀牛，需將大米儲存在温凉乾爽的地方，切忌屯糧。
常見問題
Q. Is rice the whiter the better?
A. Higher polishing degree brings more aesthetically appealing rice and cleaner flavor, at the same time removes much of its nutrition. The mild flavor of white rice makes it ideal for delicate foods while brown rice is widely recognized as a healthier option. In short, whitening rice is not necessarily better, it is more a matter of personal preference.
Q. How to wash rice?
A. Properly cleaning residue, starch and bran from each grain is very important in making a good rice dish. Pour plenty of water into the inner pan, make a claw with your hand and quickly stir the rice in a circular motion, then drain. Soak it again in a bowl of cold water and gently rub it with your palm. Repeat this step twice to ensure the rice is clean. Be sure to dump the water as early as possible in each rinse, otherwise rice will absorb the starchy water. During winter time, we recommend you use warm water to wash the rice by hand and never use a whisk or other tool. Drier conditions tend to result in static electricity buildup, which will cause the bran to stick more tightly, so we also recommend you to wash the rice once more.
Q. Do I need to rest the rice in the water before cooking?
A. Drain the rice thoroughly is important in making plump, sweet and fluffy grains. We recommend you to soak the rice for half an hour in summer (storing in the fridge can shorten the waiting time) and an hour in winter. Rice grains swell and turn white, meaning that they are fully drained. Be sure not to rest the rice for more than 90 minutes, otherwise, it will start becoming mushy.
Q. How to store rice?
A. We recommend you store the rice container in the fridge. Once opened, rice should be stored in a cool, dry place in an airtight container to avoid oxidation and keep out from dust, moisture and other contaminants.
Q. What should I do if rice weevils are found in my rice?
A. Rice weevils actually live and feed inside the food, they thrive in warm conditions and mature more quickly under higher temperatures. Rice weevils are not harmful and non-toxic to humans if ingested. If 1-2 weevils are found, it is safe to skim them out and eat the rice. But rice weevils are very pesky because they can spawn further and further in a short period of time. To get rid of rice weevils, we recommend you store your rice in a cool, dry place. Be sure to buy grains in small quantities and eat within a reasonable period of time.
