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**The Mystery of the Small Grains on the Rice Scoop: What You Need to Know**
### What Are the Small Grains on the Rice Scoop?
The small grains you see on a rice scoop are typically referred to as **”broken grains”** or **”fragments”** of rice. They are pieces of rice that have broken off from the larger, whole grains during the milling or packaging process. These broken grains may not be as perfect as the whole grains, but they’re still fully edible and contain the same nutrients. The small fragments are often seen on the scoop when you’re measuring rice or transferring it to the pot.
Rice is typically milled to remove the outer husk, leaving behind the edible grain. During this process, some rice grains inevitably break due to friction or rough handling. While the majority of rice is usually in whole or nearly-whole form, it’s nearly impossible to completely avoid these small broken pieces. These broken grains may be smaller than the whole grains, but they still hold nutritional value.
Broken rice is sometimes intentionally packaged or sold separately for certain dishes, as it has unique cooking properties and can be more affordable. It’s important to note that broken grains are not a sign of poor quality rice—they’re a natural byproduct of the milling process and can actually be just as flavorful as the whole grains.