Rice is a cereal grain food item consisting of the seeds of various grass species, mainly Asian rice (Oryza sativa) but sometimes others such as African rice (Oryza glaberrima) and occasionally rice grasses in the genera Porteresia or Zizania. It is probably the most important food crop in the world, being the most widely-consumed food staple for more than half of the human population, and makes up one-fifth of global human calorie consumption. Rice has a wide range of culinary uses, and can be eaten steamed, fried, cooked, and baked, among other preparation methods.
