Myths: Rice can make a pigeon explode

After years, this one's still kicking around...no matter how many times someone tries to set the record straight, it resurfaces time and again.  Let's set the record straight.

Bear with me for a moment here -- imagine cooking rice.  Rocket science, I know.

Typically, you'll take 1 cup of rice, and add 1 to 2 cups of water (depending on the type of rice, method used, and desired outcome...none of that's really relevant here, though -- you'll see).  Bring it to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 20 to 40 minutes. 

Voila.  Rice.  Complexity right up there with the International Space Station.

Now, let's say you were using 1 cup rice to 2 cups water.  How much rice did you finish with?  Roughly 3 cups worth.

Stop the presses!  What happened?  What?  The rice absorbed the water?!?  Say it isn't so!  [What?  You don't cook rice in a pot twice the size of the rice+water for that rapid expansion?]

Well, of course it's so.  It didn't magically expand to umpteen times its original volume...the total volume of the water and rice remained pretty close to the same, until you stirred it and got more air into the mix.

So, with a little rice and a little fluid in a bird's belly, nothing bad's going to happen.

Heck, even tossing them alka-seltzer won't harm them, although they may regurgitate it at you or belch forth some foam.

Want more?  Try here or here.