The Effects of Damaged Kernel Caused by Combine Harvester Settings on Milled Rice Free Fatty Acid Levels

Milled rice surface oil and free fatty acid (FFA) contents determine rice acceptability to the brewing industry. Both could subsequently contribute to beer off‐flavors and thus compromise milled rice brewing quality. Controlling milled rice FFA by harvesting practices could be important in maintaining brewing quality as some rough rice is damaged by hull removal and/or bran disruption during harvesting. To determine the effect of harvester speed on kernel damage, the long‐grain rice variety Cocodrie was harvested at 3 different combine harvester settings and the percent of damaged kernel (w/w) was measured. Combine harvester cylinder speed had a significant effect on rough rice kernel damage. The percentages of damaged kernels for 550, 850, and 1000 rpm cylinder speeds were 1.2%, 4.0%, and 9.0%, respectively. The FFA level of milled rice with varying amount of damaged kernels was investigated over 6 mo of storage. The faster harvester cylinder speeds resulted with time in significantly greater FFA levels in “as‐harvested” rice. The FFA content of 1000 rpm as‐harvested rice almost reached the 0.1% (w/w) level. The greater the amount of damaged kernel, the greater was the milled rice FFA level, and it was significantly greater than milled rice with no damaged kernels during accelerated storage. The as‐harvested rice with 1000 rpm had the highest FFA level, followed by 850 and 500 rpm.