Nondestructive analysis of water distribution and structural changes in coo
ked rice grains, Oryza sativa cv Koshihikari, was performed with Nuclear Ma
gnetic Resonance (NMR) Micro imaging of protons (H-1). Using a specially de
signed holder, high quality images of cooked rice grains were obtained, eve
n when up to 10 grains were studied simultaneously. Internal hollows were o
bserved in all examined cooked rice grains, and we propose a mechanism to e
xplain their formation. The origin of these hollows was hypothesized to be
cracks or fissures, and hollows resulted from sealing of such lacerations b
y gelatinized starch in the peripheral layer in combination with expansion
of the grain during cooking.