Studies on Expanded Rice. Optimum Processing Conditions

Optimum conditions of parboiling, milling and puffing for making expanded rice were studied on a small laboratory scale. Optimum puffing was obtained by heating milled parboiled rice at a moisture content of 10.5–11% with 15 times its weight of fme sand at 250°C for 10–11 sec. Raw and mildly parboiled rice gave minimal expansion, which increased with increasing severity of parboiling up to a steam pressure of 1.5 kg/cm². However, rice parboiled by heating with sand (250°C, 2.5 min) expanded best. Starch retrogradation after parboiling reduced expansion, as did cracked and broken grains and insufficient milling of the rice. Addition of salt increased expansion. Expansion initially increased and then decreased with increasing age of paddy after harvest.     

Functional Properties as Affected by Laboratory‐Scale Parboiling of Rough Rice and Brown Rice

ABSTRACT: Rough rice (RR) is the conventional feedstock for parboiling. The use of brown rice (BR) instead of RR is gaining interest because it results in shorter processing time and lower energy requirement. This study compared the functional properties of milled parboiled rice under different parboiling conditions from RR and BR. Presoaked RR and BR from cultivars Bolivar, Cheniere, Dixiebelle, and Wells were parboiled under mild (20 min, 100 °C, 0 kPa) and severe (20 min, 120 °C, 98 kPa) laboratory‐scale conditions. Head rice yield improved on the RR and BR samples subjected to severe parboiling and was comparable to that of a commercially parboiled sample. Mild parboiling of BR resulted in lower head rice yields. Parboiling generally resulted in decreased head rice whiteness, decreased apparent amylose, increased total lipid, and sparingly changed protein content. Under the same parboiling conditions, the extent of starch gelatinization was higher for BR compared to RR as manifested by some distinct differences in pasting and thermal properties. The cooking characteristics (water uptake ratio, leached materials, and volumetric expansion) and cooked rice texture (hardness and stickiness) of RR and BR subjected to severe parboiling were fairly comparable. Differences in parboiled rice functional properties due to cultivar effect were evident.     

Effect of processing on thiamin and riboflavin contents of some high-yielding rice varieties of punjab

Six high-yielding varieties of rice (Oryza sativa L) were taken and subjected to 6 and 8% degree of milling. The raw rice and the parboiled rice were analysed microbiologically for thiamin and riboflavin contents. Milled parboiled rice contained more thiamin and riboflavin that milled raw rice at both the levels of milling because parboiling of paddy results in inward diffusion of water-soluble vitamins to the endosperm. The thiamin content of brown rice is reduced after parboiling. The loss may be due to the partial decomposition of thiamin during the stages of parboiling, but the riboflavin content of brown rice is found to be increased after parboiling.     

EFFECT OF ARTISANAL PARBOILING METHODS ON MILLING YIELD AND COOKED RICE TEXTURAL CHARACTERISTICS

ABSTRACT

One of the main objectives of artisanal rice parboiling is to reduce the levels of broken grains (brokens) on milling. Rice samples that had been parboiled using different regimes of soaking temperatures and steaming times were analyzed for their physical properties and cooked rice textures. It was established that inappropriate soaking and steaming regimes resulted in greater levels of brokens than raw‐milled paddy. Consequently, in artisanal parboiling, the initial soaking temperature should be about 90C and the steaming time should be more than 8 min, ideally, about 12 min. On cooking, more severely parboiled rice samples had firmer textures than mildly parboiled samples. The commercially parboiled sample and the more severely laboratory‐parboiled samples required a rice‐to‐water ratio of 1:3, while the raw‐milled sample and the mildly parboiled ones required a 1:2½ rice‐to‐water ratio for optimum cooking.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Artisanal rice parboiling is carried out mainly to reduce the levels of broken grains and increase the yield of milled rice in many countries. If this is carried out very well, there are economic benefits as more rice of better quality is available to be sold. This study provides information on optimum processing conditions, i.e., initial soaking temperature of about 90C and a steaming time of about 12 min. The study also provides recommendations on optimum cooking conditions, i.e., rice‐to‐water ratio, for the variably parboiled rice samples.     

Cooking qualities of parboiled rices produced at low and high temperatures

The cooking characteristics of parboiled rice are related to (i) its hydration behaviour at temperatures above and below the gelatinisation point; (ii) to kernel elongation on cooking; and (iii) to the extent of amylose solubility. These properties differ among samples, depending on the parboiling conditions. Samples were prepared by parboiling paddy at 70, 80, 90, 100, 110 and 120°C. The kernel elongation on cooking and the amount of soluble amylose in the gruel were then determined. The water uptake values for raw and parboiled rice samples were determined by hydrating them at room temperature (25-30), 60 and 98°C (boiling temperature) for optimal cooking times. The rate of hydration at temperatures below the gelatinisation point increased on parboiling and, conversely, a reverse pattern above this point. Close correlations existed between the temperature of parboiling and the properties studied. The different properties studied also correlated well. The temperature of parboiling influenced the linear elongation of the kernel after cooking. The soluble amylose content was negatively correlated with the temperature of parboiling. Though the hydration properties of different parboiled samples differed among themselves, depending on the degree of parboiling, they fell into two distinct classes, viz. the samples parboiled at a temperature close to the gelatinisation point having cooking qualities similar to raw rice, and above this point qualities differing from raw rice. The water uptake values at room temperature and at 60°C, and the ratio of water uptake at 98°C and optimum cooking time to that at 60°C were found to be useful in differentiating the parboiled rices into the two classes.     

Studies on parboiled rice: Part 1—Comparison of the characteristics of raw and parboiled rice

Various properties of raw and parboiled rice were compared in an effort to elucidate the factors responsible for the changes induced by parboiling.The parboiled rice was less prone to disintegration on cooking, the kernels remaining well separated and less sticky than the non-parboiled sample. The solids leached into the cooking water and the extent of solubilisation of the kernels on cooking were both considerably lowered by parboiling. Amylograms of flour prepared from the rice revealed that this was due to the resistance of the starch in the parboiled rice to swelling and solubilisation in hot water.From the results of X-ray diffraction spectra it was concluded that the behaviour of parboiled rice is influenced by the presence of an insoluble helical amylose complex and not, as is generally assumed, by retrogradation.     

Impact of parboiling conditions on Maillard precursors and indicators in long-grain rice cultivars

The effect of steaming conditions (mild, intermediate and severe) during parboiling of five different long-grain rice cultivars (brown rice cultivars Puntal, Cocodrie, XL8 and Jacinto, and a red rice) on rice colour, and Maillard precursors and indicators was investigated. Rice colour increased with severity of parboiling conditions. Redness increased more than yellowness when parboiling brown rice. Parboiling turned red rice black. It changed the levels of glucose, fructose, sucrose, and maltose. Losses of the non-reducing sugar, sucrose were caused by both leaching into the soaking water and enzymic conversion, rather than by thermal degradation during steaming. Concentrations of the reducing sugars, glucose and fructose, in intermediately parboiled rice were higher than those of mildly parboiled rice. After severe parboiling, glucose levels were lower than those of intermediately parboiled rice, while fructose levels were higher. These changes were ascribed to the sum of losses in the Maillard reaction (MR), formations as a result of starch degradation and isomerisation of glucose into fructose. It was clear that the ε-amino group of protein-bound lysine was more affected by parboiling conditions and loss in MRs, than that of free lysine. Low values of the MR indicators furosine and free 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (HMF) in processed brown and red rices were related to mild parboiling, whereas high furosine and low free HMF levels were indicative of rices being subjected to intermediate processing conditions. High furosine and high free HMF contents corresponded to severe hydrothermal treatments. The strong correlation (r = 0.89) between the free HMF levels and the increase in redness of parboiled brown rices suggested that Maillard browning was reflected more in the red than in the yellow colour.     

The Significance of Starch Polymorphism in Commercially Produced Parboiled Rice

A study of eight commercial parboiled samples derived from two varieties of rice produced by four different processes has shown that depending on the parboiling process, the starch component itself can be present as native and/or retrograded starch in addition to the amylose-lipid complex. Further, it was demonstrated that the polymorphic states of starch can influence the texture and behaviour of cooked rice. The parboiled rice samples which had all three states of starch (i.e. ungelatinized and recrystallized amylopectin plus the amylose-lipid complex) possessed the hardest eating property but the lowest solubility. A negative linear relationship was demonstrated between the hardness and the solubility of cooked, parboiled rice. Overall, the observations suggest the existence of different forms of starch in parboiled rice which vary with the different parboiling protocols. The conditions governing their formation need to be established before investigating the specific functionality of individual forms within the rice. This study further confirmed that retrograded starch (amylopectin) in parboiled rice did not exhibit a B-tye X-ray pattern but mixed A+V patterns.     

INFLUENCE OF PARBOILING AND FREEZING CONDITIONS ON TEXTURAL PROPERTIES OF CALIFORNIA COOKED RICE

The textural properties of thawed samples of cooked parboiled, long (Cal Belle) and short (S201) grain rice varieties were evaluated using an Instron Universal Testing Instrument (Model 1122). In general, the parboiling treatments resulted in a significant increase of hardness but a significant decrease in stickiness of both long and short grain cooked rice when freezing conditions were pooled. Freezing increased hardness and decreased stickiness of long grain cooked parboiled rice significantly regardless of parboiling conditions, however, it did not decrease the stickiness of short grain cooked parboiled rice significantly. The long grain rice was harder and less sticky than the short grain rice when cooked regardless of treatments used. Hardness was negatively correlated with stickiness indexes (r =?0.819, P < 0.001).     

Nature of Starch Crystallinity in Parboiled Rice

A-type X-ray diffraction spectra of raw rice was weakened upon mild parboiling and completely disappeared in moderately severe parboiled rice. A feeble V pattern of lipid-amylose complex appeared in its place. There was no unambiguous evidence of a B-type spectra of retrograded starch, although partial and weak B-like spectra could be seen. Differential scanning calorimetry showed that raw rice flour and starch had a large gelatinization and a small lipid-amylose endotherm, the latter disappearing after defatting. The gelatinization endotherm first decreased and eventually disappeared in samples with moderately severe parboiling, but a small lipid-amylose endotherm was visible in most parboiled rice samples. On the whole, parboiled rice appeared largely amorphous with only minor crystallinity, and the peculiar properties of parboiled rice could not be definitely ascribed to a definite crystalline form of starch.     

Effect of superheated-steam drying compared to conventional parboiling on chalkiness,head rice yield and quality of chalky rice kernels

Four rice cultivars (Ayutthaya 1, Khao Bahn Nah 432, Plai Ngahm Prachin Buri, and Prachin Buri 2) that usually have a major problem with chalkiness were processed by applying superheated-steam drying and conventional parboiling methods. The main objectives were: (1) to determine the possibility of applying superheated-steam drying to solve the chalkiness and low head rice yield problems and (2) to compare the properties of rice produced using superheated-steam drying and the conventional parboiling process. Both the initial moisture content and superheated-steam drying temperature significantly affected head rice yield. The higher moisture helped to increase starch gelatinization leading to a stronger rice structure and subsequently an increased head rice yield. The rice samples dried in the superheated-steam dryer using an initial moisture content of paddy at 32% w.b. for 6 h under a steam pressure of 1.2 bar and at three drying temperatures (120, 140, 160 °C) had higher milling quality than the conventionally parboiled rice samples. The darker color of the superheated-steam-dried samples was their main drawback. Both parboiling and superheated-steam drying could clearly lessen the percentage of chalky rice kernels compared to the raw paddy. The parboiled rice and superheated-steam-dried rice had more nutrients than normal white rice.     

Effect of parboiling on thiamin, protein and fat of rice

Parboiling decreased the thiamin content of rice. Nevertheless, milled parboiled rice contained more thiamin than milled raw rice at the same degree of milling because parboiling caused thiamin to diffuse inwardly. Both the degree of loss and the degree of diffusion depended on the severity of the heat treatment. Bran-polish of parboiled rice had a higher fat and protein content than bran-polish of raw rice at the same degree of milling because the starchy endosperm of parboiled rice had a greater resistance to milling and so the bran and the germ were more effectively removed. Milled parboiled rice tended to have lower protein content than milled raw rice. Starch content was lower in bran-polish from parboiled rice.     

Quality changes in HTST processing of rice parboiling

Paddy soaked to saturation level, when treated at a high temperature for a short time in a mechanical sand roaster is parboiled and dried in a single pass of 47 s duration. The extent of drying depends on the sand temperature. The sand temperature is critical as it decides the associated quality changes in the milled rice. Even at a sand temperature of 125°C, paddy could fully be parboiled but with mild effect. The parboiling became severe at high temperatures. Roasting the soaked paddy at 250°C, reduced the cooking time of the resultant milled rice. A sand temperature of 125–150°C was considered suitable for producing normal parboiled rice by this technique.     

Parboiling of rice. Part I: Effect of hot soaking time on quality of milled rice

This study investigated the effect of soaking time on the quality of parboiled rice. The paddy was soaked in water at 25 and 80 °C for 15, 30, 45, 60 and 120 min. The soaked paddy was steamed, dried, stored and milled. With increasing soaking time a significant increase in water absorption and milling and head rice yield (hence reduction in broken rice) was observed. A significant difference in milling yield, at the 1% level, was obtained between the raw rice control and the hot soaked parboiled samples. A large reduction in fissured grain was observed after soaking. It is suggested that parboiling fills the void spaces and cements the cracks inside the endosperm, making the grain harder and minimizing internal fissuring and thereby breakage during milling.     

Swelling and solubility behaviour of parboiled rice flour

Parboiled rice flour swelled and dissolved more than raw rice flour in water at temperatures below 70°C, but less than raw rice at higher temperatures. This difference between raw and parboiled rice increased with an increasing degree of parboiling. A sample of parboiled rice produced by dry-heating soaked paddy in hot sand behaved differently; but when it was wetted and tempered to favour reassociation of starch, its properties fell in line with normal steam-parboiled rice. The above behaviours of raw and parboiled rice flour were similar to those of corresponding whole-grain rice. They also reinforce the earlier suggestion of starch reassociation in conventional parboiled rice.     

Effect of soaking medium on the physicochemical properties of parboiled glutinous rice of selected Laotian cultivars

The effect of various soaking mediums, viz. water (control), 3% NaCl and 0.2% acetic acid, and without soaking on the physicochemical properties of parboiled selected glutinous (TDK8 and TDK11) and non-glutinous (Doongara) was investigated in the present study. Results showed that the chemistry of soaking had a significant effect on the head rice yield (HRY), grain hardness, crystallinity, color, pasting and thermal properties, textural attributes, and glycemic index of these rice varieties. Soaking with NaCl and acetic acid significantly increased the grain hardness and HRY than control and without soaking treatments. Acetic acid and NaCl soaking significantly affected crystalline regions of starch resulting in reduced crystallinity in X-ray diffraction analysis and thermal endotherms in DSC analysis. NaCl soaking induced swelling of starch granules resulting in high peak and final viscosities. However, acetic acid restricted swelling resulting in reduced peak and final viscosities. NaCl and acetic acid soakings also resulted in increased hardness and adhesiveness of cooked grains than normal water soaked and un-soaked parboiled rice samples. Interestingly, change in textural attributes was prominent in parboiled glutinous rice. The color difference value for fresh parboiled samples was significantly lower for acetic acid soaked samples compared to NaCl soaked and un-soaked samples probably due to bleaching effect of acetic acid. Moreover, parboiling also resulted in significant reduction in glycemic index of glutinous rice. These findings revealed the potential application of parboiling with modified soaking techniques to improve the grain quality.     

Effect of processing conditions on the oil content of parboiled-rice bran

The oil content of residual milled kernel was consistently lower and of bran higher in parboiled as compared to raw rice at all degrees of milling (d.m.), showing that the rice oil migrated outwards upon parboiling. However, the d.m.-oil content curves for the residual kernel as well as the bran were largely unaffected by varying conditions of parboiling. The total oil content of the grain was also unchanged after parboiling. When the data for the fraction of the total grain oil coming into the bran were plotted against the d.m. for a variety of parboiling conditions, they again fell into a single line. These results showed that, contrary to many earlier claims, the processing condition during parboiling had no effect on the redistribution of the fat in the grain.     

Technological properties of microwave parboiled rice

Two rice varieties, a short grain (Giza 175) and a long grain (Giza 181), were parboiled by soaking in water at 80–85 °C for 1.5 h and then dried in the microwave oven for 3, 5, 6 and 8 min. The effect of such parboiling treatment on milling output and technological properties (cooking and eating quality) of milled rice were studied. There was a negative significant correlation between head rice and the drying time and a positive correlation between the drying time and the broken grains. The effect of such treatment on the chemical composition of milled parboiled rice, i.e. amylose, protein, fat and ash contents, showed that the amylose content of Giza 175 variety significantly decreased while not affect in Giza 181 variety. No significant differences were obtained in protein, fat and ash contents by increasing drying time. Microwave drying was more pronounced on Giza 175 variety rather than Giza 181 one. However, the optimum cooking time of the parboiled samples of the two varieties was not affected as a result of increasing the microwave drying time.     

Microstructure of olbyeossal,partially milled parboiled glutinous rice made by modified parboiling method

The microstructure of partially milled parboiled glutinous rice (PMPGR) before and after cooking was investigated using scanning electron microscopy to identify the changes in the microstructure due to parboiling treatments. Parboiling was performed in two different ways: conventional and modified. The conventional parboiling method involved soaking at room temperature for 24 h, followed by steaming and drying. The modified parboiling method involved tumbling to replace soaking of the rice grains, tempering, retorting, and drying. The microstructures of the PMPGR made using both methods were compared. The modified parboiling method significantly changed the microstructure of the rice, but cooking did not cause considerable changes in the microstructure of PMPGR.