Wild rice doesn't need to be soaked before cooking because it has a different composition than many other types of rice. While most rice varieties are starchy and absorbent, wild rice is a type of aquatic grass seed with a tougher outer layer. This outer layer, known as the hull, is less porous than the bran and germ found in white or brown rice. As a result, wild rice doesn't absorb much water, and soaking is not necessary to soften it or reduce cooking time.