Rice is the world's third largest crop, behind maize (corn) and wheat . Although its species are native to South Asia and certain parts of Africa , centuries of trade and exportation has made it commonplace in many cultures. 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. The raw rice may be ground into flour for many uses as well, including making many kinds of beverages such as amazake , horchata , rice milk , and sake . Rice flour is generally safe for people on a gluten-free diet . Rice may also be made into various types of noodles . Rice is cooked by boiling or steaming . It can be cooked in just enough water to cook it through, or it can be cooked in a large quantity of water which is drained before serving.