Couscous, cooked
Couscous, cooked is a grain at 112 calories per 100g. It is an excellent source of Selenium, providing 27.5 µg (50% of the Daily Value) per 100g serving. This grain is virtually fat-free. Grains are a primary source of carbohydrates, B vitamins, and minerals. Whole grains retain the bran and germ, providing substantially more fiber and micronutrients than refined grains. Our database tracks 81 nutrients for this food, plus glycemic index, insulin index, environmental footprint data.
Top Nutrients
Data for 81 of 150 tracked nutrients
Nutrient Fingerprint
How this food scores across key nutrient categories, as a percentage of the daily recommended value per 100 g. Based on USDA DRIs for adults.
Complete Nutrient Profile
Macronutrients 9
| Nutrient | Per 100g | Unit | Per Serving | % DV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water SR | 72.6 | g | — | 2% |
| Calories SR | 112 | kcal | — | — |
| Energy (kJ) SR | 469 | kj | — | — |
| Protein SR | 3.8 | g | — | 7% |
| Total Fat SR | 0.16 | g | — | — |
| Carbohydrate SR | 23.2 | g | — | 18% |
| Fiber SR | 1.4 | g | — | 4% |
| Total Sugars SR | 0.10 | g | — | — |
| Ash SR | 0.26 | g | — | — |
Minerals 10
| Nutrient | Per 100g | Unit | Per Serving | % DV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calcium SR | 8.0 | mg | — | 1% |
| Iron SR | 0.38 | mg | — | 5% |
| Magnesium SR | 8.0 | mg | — | 2% |
| Phosphorus SR | 22.0 | mg | — | 3% |
| Potassium SR | 58.0 | mg | — | 2% |
| Sodium SR | 5.0 | mg | — | 0% |
| Zinc SR | 0.26 | mg | — | 2% |
| Copper SR | 0.04 | mg | — | 5% |
| Manganese SR | 0.08 | mg | — | 4% |
| Selenium SR | 27.5 | µg | — | 50% |
Vitamins 24
| Nutrient | Per 100g | Unit | Per Serving | % DV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A (RAE) SR | 0 | µg | — | — |
| Vitamin A (IU) SR | 0 | IU | — | — |
| Retinol SR | 0 | µg | — | — |
| Beta-Carotene SR | 0 | µg | — | — |
| Alpha-Carotene SR | 0 | µg | — | — |
| Beta-Cryptoxanthin SR | 0 | µg | — | — |
| Lycopene SR | 0 | µg | — | — |
| Lutein + Zeaxanthin SR | 25.0 | µg | — | — |
| Vitamin C SR | 0 | mg | — | — |
| Vitamin D SR | 0 | µg | — | — |
| Vitamin D (IU) SR | 0 | IU | — | — |
| Vitamin E SR | 0.13 | mg | — | 1% |
| Vitamin K1 SR | 0.10 | µg | — | 0% |
| Thiamin (B1) SR | 0.06 | mg | — | 5% |
| Riboflavin (B2) SR | 0.03 | mg | — | 2% |
| Niacin (B3) SR | 0.98 | mg | — | 6% |
| Pantothenic Acid (B5) SR | 0.37 | mg | — | 7% |
| Vitamin B6 SR | 0.05 | mg | — | 4% |
| Folate SR | 15.0 | µg | — | 4% |
| Folic Acid SR | 0 | µg | — | — |
| Folate (food) SR | 15.0 | µg | — | — |
| Folate (DFE) SR | 15.0 | µg | — | — |
| Vitamin B12 SR | 0 | µg | — | — |
| Choline SR | 3.3 | mg | — | 1% |
Fatty Acids 7
| Nutrient | Per 100g | Unit | Per Serving | % DV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturated Fat SR | 0.03 | g | — | — |
| Monounsaturated Fat SR | 0.02 | g | — | — |
| Polyunsaturated Fat SR | 0.06 | g | — | — |
| Cholesterol SR | 0 | mg | — | — |
| Omega-3 EPA SR | 0 | g | — | — |
| Omega-3 DPA SR | 0 | g | — | — |
| Omega-3 DHA SR | 0 | g | — | — |
Individual Fatty Acids 10
| Nutrient | Per 100g | Unit | Per Serving | % DV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butyric Acid (4:0) SR | 0 | g | — | — |
| Caproic Acid (6:0) SR | 0 | g | — | — |
| Caprylic Acid (8:0) SR | 0 | g | — | — |
| Capric Acid (10:0) SR | 0 | g | — | — |
| Lauric Acid (12:0) SR | 0 | g | — | — |
| Myristic Acid (14:0) SR | 0 | g | — | — |
| Palmitic Acid (16:0) SR | 0.03 | g | — | — |
| Stearic Acid (18:0) SR | 0.001 | g | — | — |
| Linoleic Acid (18:2) SR | 0.06 | g | — | 0% |
| Linolenic Acid (18:3) SR | 0.003 | g | — | — |
Amino Acids 18
| Nutrient | Per 100g | Unit | Per Serving | % DV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tryptophan SR | 0.05 | g | — | — |
| Threonine SR | 0.10 | g | — | — |
| Isoleucine SR | 0.15 | g | — | — |
| Leucine SR | 0.26 | g | — | — |
| Lysine SR | 0.07 | g | — | — |
| Methionine SR | 0.06 | g | — | — |
| Cystine SR | 0.11 | g | — | — |
| Phenylalanine SR | 0.18 | g | — | — |
| Tyrosine SR | 0.10 | g | — | — |
| Valine SR | 0.16 | g | — | — |
| Arginine SR | 0.14 | g | — | — |
| Histidine SR | 0.08 | g | — | — |
| Alanine SR | 0.11 | g | — | — |
| Aspartic Acid SR | 0.15 | g | — | — |
| Glutamic Acid SR | 1.4 | g | — | — |
| Glycine SR | 0.12 | g | — | — |
| Proline SR | 0.42 | g | — | — |
| Serine SR | 0.18 | g | — | — |
Nutrient Density Score
The NRF9.3 score measures overall nutritional quality per 100 kcal. It rewards 9 nutrients to encourage (protein, fiber, vitamins A, C, E, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium) and penalizes 3 to limit (saturated fat, added sugars, sodium). Higher is better; negative scores indicate the food is high in limit nutrients relative to its beneficial content.
NRF9.3 index: Fulgoni et al. (2009), J Nutr 139(8). DVs based on FDA 2020 reference values.
Amino Acid Profile
Essential amino acid composition compared to the WHO/FAO adult reference pattern. The Amino Acid Score indicates protein quality — 100 means all essential amino acid requirements are met.
Tip: The limiting amino acid is Lysine. Pair with legumes, dairy, and soy for a complete amino acid profile.
All Amino Acids (18)
| Amino Acid | g / 100g | mg / g protein |
|---|---|---|
| Tryptophan | 0.05 | 12.9 |
| Threonine | 0.10 | 26.4 |
| Isoleucine | 0.15 | 38.8 |
| Leucine | 0.26 | 68.3 |
| Lysine | 0.07 | 19.3 |
| Methionine | 0.06 | 15.6 |
| Cystine | 0.11 | 28.2 |
| Phenylalanine | 0.18 | 48.5 |
| Tyrosine | 0.10 | 26.4 |
| Valine | 0.16 | 42.7 |
| Arginine | 0.14 | 36.9 |
| Histidine | 0.08 | 20.3 |
| Alanine | 0.11 | 29.3 |
| Aspartic Acid | 0.15 | 40.9 |
| Glutamic Acid | 1.4 | 360.7 |
| Glycine | 0.12 | 31.7 |
| Proline | 0.42 | 110.0 |
| Serine | 0.18 | 47.2 |
How Cooking Changes Nutrients
Estimated percentage of each nutrient retained after cooking, based on USDA retention factors for the “Rice” food category. Values of 100% mean no loss; lower values indicate nutrients lost to heat, water, or oxidation.
Source: USDA Table of Nutrient Retention Factors, Release 6 (2007). Retention values are category-level averages — actual retention depends on cooking time, temperature, and water volume.
Glycemic & Insulin Response
The Glycemic Index (GI) measures how quickly a food raises blood sugar on a 0–100 scale. The Insulin Index (II) measures the insulin response directly, which can differ from GI — notably, dairy and high-protein foods often trigger a higher insulin response than their GI suggests. White bread = 100 for both scales.
GI data matched from: “Couscous, boiled” · ●●● high confidence
Source: International Tables of Glycemic Index (Sydney University, 2021) · Holt et al. 1997; Bao et al. 2016; Bell 2014
Environmental Impact
Environmental footprint per kilogram of food produced. Data represents the global average for the “Rice” category.
- Global averages: These figures are production-weighted averages from a meta-analysis of ~38,700 farms across 119 countries (Poore & Nemecek, 2018). Actual impact varies enormously by farming method, geography, and supply chain.
- System boundary: Cradle-to-retail only — does not include consumer transport, home cooking energy, or food waste.
- Soil carbon not included: This data does not account for soil carbon sequestration. Some argue that well-managed regenerative grazing partially offsets ruminant emissions; however, full lifecycle accounting — including methane, land-use change, and the opportunity cost of using land for grazing vs. reforestation — typically makes the net footprint of ruminant meat higher, not lower. This is especially relevant in temperate grassland regions like Ireland.
- Not gospel: This data is informational and illustrative. It is useful for understanding relative magnitudes, but should not be treated as precise measurements for any individual product or farm.
Source: Poore & Nemecek (2018), Science 360(6392). Meta-analysis of ~38,700 farms, 119 countries, 46 product categories.
Global Supply: Cereals
Top 10 countries by per capita supply of the “Cereals” food group (kcal/capita/day, 2023). This is food group–level data from FAO Food Balance Sheets, not specific to this individual food.
Global Supply Trend (1961–2023)
+8%Source: FAO Food Balance Sheets (2023). Supply = production + imports − exports − waste, converted to kcal/capita/day.
Related Foods in Cereal Grains and Pasta
Frequently Asked Questions
How many calories are in Couscous, cooked?
Couscous, cooked contains 112 kcal per 100 grams, making it a moderate-calorie food. The energy comes from 3.8g of protein (14% of calories), 0.16g of fat (1%), and 23.2g of carbohydrates (83%). Carbohydrates are the primary energy source.
What is Couscous, cooked most nutritious for?
The standout nutrient in Couscous, cooked is Selenium, providing 27.5 µg per 100g (50% of the Daily Value). It is also a notable source of Carbohydrate (18% DV). Our database tracks 81 individual nutrients for this food, allowing detailed comparison across vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids.
Is Couscous, cooked high in protein?
Couscous, cooked contains 3.8g of protein per 100 grams. While not a high-protein food, it can contribute to daily protein needs as part of a varied diet.
How much fiber is in Couscous, cooked?
Couscous, cooked contains 1.4g of fiber per 100 grams, which is a small amount. To increase fiber intake, consider pairing with high-fiber foods such as legumes, whole grains, or vegetables.
What is the glycemic index of Couscous, cooked?
Couscous, cooked has a glycemic index of 65, which is classified as medium (56-69). Medium-GI foods produce a moderate blood sugar response. The glycemic load, which accounts for typical serving size, provides additional context for real-world blood sugar impact.
What is the insulin index of Couscous, cooked?
Couscous, cooked has a moderate insulin response (II: 59) (estimated from macronutrient composition) on the insulin index scale (white bread = 100). This is a typical insulin response for most mixed foods. Note that the insulin index can differ substantially from the glycemic index — dairy products and high-protein foods often have higher insulin responses than their GI would suggest.