White Basmati rice from California, India, or Pakistan
Contains about half the inorganic arsenic of other rices wired.com+15time.com+15consumerreports.org+15.
Thai Jasmine rice likewise has relatively low arsenic levels reddit.com+3health.com+3health.osu.edu+3.
U.S. sushi rice also ranks low in arsenic compared to other U.S.-grown rices .
California-grown rice (especially Basmati) generally has the lowest arsenic of any U.S. regionfoodandwine.com+15health.com+15firststepnutrition.com+15.
Based in Richvale, CA, Lundberg is highly regarded for arsenic testing and transparencytastingspoons.com+4en.wikipedia.org+4reddit.com+4.
Their white Basmati typically has among the lowest tested arsenic levels (approx. 1.3–1.6?ppb in a 1/4?cup uncooked serving) chriskresser.com.
Reddit users consistently recommend “Lundberg California-grown white Basmati”—as one put it:
“Our current favorite is Lundberg Organic white Basmati. … Pretty much anything grown in the southern US is not a good idea.” en.wikipedia.org+7reddit.com+7tastingspoons.com+7
Opt for white over brown rice, as brown retains more arsenic in its branfirststepnutrition.com+15healthline.com+15health.osu.edu+15.
Rinse raw rice thoroughly under running water to remove 10–28% of arsenicreddit.com+4healthline.com+4reddit.com+4.
Boil it like pasta, using 6–10 cups of water per 1 cup of rice, then drain—this can eliminate 40–60%consumerreports.org+4health.osu.edu+4cbsnews.com+4.
Consider soaking overnight in copious water: may remove up to ~80% .
Vary your grains: include quinoa, barley, millet, amaranth, farro—these contain little to no arsenicsites.dartmouth.edu+1health.osu.edu+1.
Choice | Arsenic Profile |
---|---|
White Basmati (CA/India/Pakistan) | Lowest |
Thai Jasmine | Low |
U.S. Sushi Rice | Low |
Lundberg White Basmati | Among the lowest |
Brown Rice (all types) | ~80% higher |
If you're looking for rice with the least arsenic, go for Lundberg California-grown white Basmati, preferably rinsed and boiled with plenty of water. If that’s unavailable, choose white Basmati or Thai Jasmine from California or South Asia, and always use arsenic-reducing cooking techniques. And don’t forget to diversify your grains regularly!