AskCalories
Get the app

Quinoa (cooked) vs White rice (cooked)

Quinoa (cooked) vs White rice (cooked) compared per 100 g — use protein density, fat profile, and the goal of the swap to pick.

Macro table

MetricQuinoa (cooked)White rice (cooked)
Calories120 kcal130 kcal
Protein4.4 g2.7 g
Carbs21 g28 g
Fat1.9 g0.3 g
Fiber2.8 g
Protein per 100 kcal3.7 g2.1 g

Reference macros from AskCalories food pages (USDA FoodData Central where available). Your plate still needs portion and cooking-fat edits.

Decision rule

Pick quinoa when you want more protein and fiber in the grain slot. Pick white rice when you want a cheaper, more neutral, faster-digesting carb.

Pick Quinoa (cooked) when

Plant-forward plates where the grain should contribute meaningful protein.

Pick White rice (cooked) when

Training carbs, sushi-style bowls, or recipes built around white rice texture.

Caveats

  • Both are cooked references — dry weights are not interchangeable with cooked cups.

Food notes

🌾 Quinoa (cooked)

Higher protein than rice (4.4g vs 2.7g per 100g). Only common grain that's a complete protein.

🍚 White rice (cooked)

Easy to digest, fast-acting carb — great around training. Brown rice has more fiber but similar calories.

AskCalories

Track meals with editable AI estimates

Use a photo, type what you ate, or dictate into chat. Review the estimated portions, calories, protein, carbs, fat, and fiber before saving.

FAQ

Is quinoa lower calorie than white rice?
Per 100 g cooked, quinoa is slightly lower calorie and higher protein and fiber than white rice in our data. Portion size still dominates the day.
Does quinoa have more protein than white rice?
Yes per 100 g cooked in our data — quinoa also brings more fiber. White rice still wins for cheap, fast training carbs.