There is some debate over whether or not it's necessary to soak brown rice before cooking. Some people say that it helps to soften the rice and make it cook more evenly, while others claim that there is no real difference between soaked and unsoaked brown rice. In general, I would recommend soaking brown rice if you have the time, since it can help to make it a bit softer and less chewy. However, if you're in a hurry, you can just skip the soaking step and your rice will still cook just fine.