Is Rice Cakes Ultra Processed?
Not Typically Ultra-Processed
Plain rice cakes are Level 2 and not ultra-processed. They are made from puffed rice and salt using a mechanical puffing process — no chemical additives required. Flavored rice cakes (caramel, cheddar, chocolate) are Level 3-4 with added sugars, artificial flavors, and coatings.
Key Findings
- •The puffing process is purely mechanical — high-pressure steam expansion fuses rice grains without any chemical binders or adhesives
- •Plain rice cakes with 1-2 ingredients are Level 2; flavored varieties with 10+ ingredients can reach Level 4
- •Chocolate-drizzled, caramel, and cheddar-flavored rice cakes are a different product category from plain rice cakes despite sharing the name
Why Is Rice Cakes Level 2?
Rice cake manufacturing uses a process called expansion puffing: rice grains are placed in a heated mold under high pressure, and when the mold opens, the sudden pressure drop causes the moisture inside each grain to flash into steam, puffing the rice to several times its original volume and fusing the grains together. This is entirely mechanical and thermal — no chemicals, binders, or adhesives are involved. The resulting cake is just puffed rice held together by its own gelatinized starch. Plain rice cakes (Lundberg, Quaker plain) list only "whole grain brown rice" or "rice" and sometimes salt. The processing divergence happens with flavored varieties: caramel rice cakes add sugar, corn syrup, and caramel color; cheddar varieties add maltodextrin, autolyzed yeast extract, and artificial cheese flavoring; chocolate-drizzled versions add hydrogenated palm kernel oil and soy lecithin. The plain version and the chocolate-drizzled version share a name but are fundamentally different products.
Rice Cakes Processing Level Distribution
How 829 rice cakes products break down by processing level:
Average ingredient count: 6.9 · Average nutrition score: 6.1/10
Rice Cakes Brand Comparison
Comparing the least to most processed rice cakes products in our database:
| Product | Brand | Level | Score | Ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Free Rice Cakes | Full Circle Market | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Salt Free Rice Cakes, Salt Free | Food Club | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Spartan, Salt Free Rice Cakes, Plain, Plain | Spartan | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Thin Quinoa Rice Cakes, Thin Quinoa | Lieber's | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Salt Free Rice Cakes | Full Circle Market | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Salt Free Rice Cakes, Salt Free | Food Club | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Salt Free Rice Cakes, Salt Free | Our Family | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| 100% Organic No Salt Rice Cakes | Brad's Organic | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Sodium Free Plain Whole Grain Brown Rice Cakes, Plain | Mother's | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Organic Brown Rice Salt-free Whole Grain Rice Cakes | Lundberg Family Farms | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
How to Read Rice Cakes Labels
- 1
Plain rice cakes should list only rice (or whole grain rice) and possibly salt — nothing else needed
- 2
Flavored rice cakes often list sugar, corn syrup, maltodextrin, and "natural flavors" as added ingredients
- 3
Chocolate or yogurt coatings add hydrogenated oils and emulsifiers that push the product to Level 3-4
- 4
Brown rice cakes and white rice cakes are equally minimally processed — the difference is nutritional, not processing-based
Frequently Asked Questions
Are rice cakes a healthy snack?
Plain rice cakes are minimally processed (Level 2) but are nutritionally sparse — mostly starch with little protein, fiber, or fat. They work best as a vehicle for nutrient-dense toppings like nut butter, avocado, or hummus. Flavored rice cakes are more processed and add sugar without adding nutritional value.
Are Quaker rice cakes ultra-processed?
Quaker plain rice cakes (rice, salt) are Level 2 — not ultra-processed. Quaker flavored rice cakes (caramel, cheddar, chocolate) are Level 3-4 with added corn syrup, maltodextrin, and artificial flavors. The brand makes both simple and heavily processed versions.
How are rice cakes puffed?
Rice is placed in a heated mold under high pressure. When the mold opens, the pressure drop causes water inside the grains to flash into steam, expanding and fusing them. This is the same principle as popcorn — entirely mechanical with no chemical processing.
Are rice cakes better than bread?
From a processing standpoint, plain rice cakes (Level 2, 1-2 ingredients) are simpler than most commercial bread (Level 3-4, 15-25 ingredients). Nutritionally, bread provides more protein and fiber. The comparison depends on what you put on the rice cake and which bread you are replacing.