Induced Postharvest Yellowing in Southern U.S. Rice Cultivars

Rice can yellow during storage if moisture levels and temperatures are allowed to increase. This postharvest yellowed (PHY), or stackburn, rice is reduced in value but no study has investigated the inherent potential within rice germplasm for limiting PHY. To screen a large number of cultivars for propensity to PHY, a laboratory method for PHY using a small amount of rice was used. Ninety‐eight popular southern U.S. rice cultivars were yellowed under laboratory conditions. Additional samples of the low‐yellowing and high‐yellowing cultivars were retested after two and three years of storage as rough rice using higher amounts and larger containers. All cultivars showed greater color change with the higher amounts of rice and when yellowed as milled rather than as rough rice. Length of time of storage and storage temperature did not affect the degree of PHY. The low‐ and high‐yellowing groups remained distinguishable but the overall high level of coloring in southern U.S. rice cultivars indicates that a more diverse germplasm should be investigated to increase the likelihood of identifying low‐PHY cultivars.     

Effect of Temperature,Exposure Duration,and Moisture Content on Color and Viscosity of Rice

Rice yellowing is a problem for the rice industry. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of various temperatures and exposure durations at certain moisture content levels on yellowing in rice. Preliminary experiments were performed on stored Oryza sativa L. ‘Cypress’ rice. These experiments showed that exposure temperature and duration had a great effect on yellowing, but that the effect of moisture content was not significant (P > 0.15). With this information, similar experiments were performed on freshly harvested ‘Cypress’ and ‘Bengal’ rice. Color degradation, as measured by hue angle and chroma, was observed when at temperatures >50°C for exposure durations >12 hr. Temperatures >55°C with exposure durations >12 hr also resulted in dramatically lowered peak viscosity, but not all samples that showed yellowing had lowered viscosity. For the conditions of these experiments, temperature and exposure duration were the most important factors in color and viscosity change.     

Effects of Postharvest Elevated‐Temperature Exposure on Rice Quality and Functionality

Rapid drying with high‐temperature air has gained interest in the rice industry, but the effects of elevated‐temperature exposure on physicochemical properties of rice are of concern. This study investigated the effects of exposing rough rice to elevated temperatures for various durations without removing moisture. Physicochemical property response was evaluated in terms of head rice yield (HRY), germination rate (GR), milled‐rice yellowing, pasting properties, and gelatinization temperatures. Two long‐grain cultivars (pure‐line Wells and hybrid CL XL729) at initial moisture contents (IMCs) of 17.9 and 18.6%, respectively, and dried moisture content (DMC) of 12.5%, were hermetically sealed and exposed to 40, 60, and 80°C for various durations. Exposure to 80°C of IMC samples of Wells and CL XL729 resulted in a significant (2.3–2.5 percentage point) reduction in the HRYs. A 2 hr exposure of both cultivars at IMC level to 60°C completely inhibited GR, and exposure to 80°C of the cultivars at both moisture content (MC) levels immediately inhibited GR. Exposure to 80°C for almost all durations and 60°C for durations over 4 hr produced significant yellowing in both cultivars at IMC. Significant yellowing in both cultivars at DMC was also observed during a 28 day storage following 80°C exposure. In general, peak viscosities of both cultivars at IMC increased only after extended exposure to 40 and 60°C, but peak viscosities of the cultivars exposed to 80°C increased sharply and immediately upon exposure. No significant differences were observed in gelatinization temperatures of either cultivar at either MC level from elevated‐temperature exposure. Results from this study suggest that extreme‐temperature exposure of rough rice affects HRY, GRs, yellowing, and pasting properties of rice, but the extent of impact is MC dependent.     

Thermomechanical Transitions of Rice Kernels

Thermomechanical analysis (TMA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to investigate the thermal transitions of long‐grain rice kernels. Three distinct thermomechanical transitions were identified as rice kernels were heated from 0 to 200°C. The identified transitions were a low temperature transition with onset at ≈45°C, an intermediate temperature transition at ≈80°C, and a high temperature transition at ≈180°C. Low temperature transition with onset from ≈60°C at 5% moisture content (MC) to 30°C at 20% MC was identified as the glass transition of the rice kernels. Intermediate temperature transition from 60 to 100°C, depending on MC, may be caused by rapid evaporation of moisture in the rice kernels. High temperature transition was associated with melting of the crystalline structure of rice starch. The temperatures of all three transitions decreased as MC increased, confirming that moisture acted as a plasticizer in rice kernels.     

Physicochemical Properties of Rice Dried in a Single Pass Using High Temperatures

This study evaluated the physicochemical properties of high‐temperature, single‐pass dried rough rice. Pureline cultivars Wells (long grain) and Jupiter (medium grain) and hybrid cultivar CL XL729 (long grain), at initial moisture contents of 17.9–18.1% were dried in a single pass to approximately 12.5% moisture content with drying air temperatures of 60, 70, and 80°C and relative humidities of 13–83%. Immediately after drying, the samples were tempered for 1 h at the drying air temperatures in sealed plastic bags. Color, degree of milling, pasting viscosity, and thermal properties of the milled rice were evaluated. Results showed that color, degree of milling, and thermal properties were not affected by drying treatments. However, peak and final viscosities increased with increasing drying air temperatures in all three cultivars.     

Functional and Digestive Characteristics of Extruded Rice Flour

Waxy (short grain), long grain, and parboiled (long grain) rice flours were extruded using three different temperatures and five different water feed rates. The water absorption and water solubility index of the extrudates was 0.67–5.86 and 86.45–10.03%, respectively. The fat absorption index was similar to that of unextruded flours with an average value of 0.96 g/g ± 0.12. Bulk density decreased with an increase in moisture, except waxy rice, which had a quadratic relationship. The viscosity profiles for long grain and parboiled rice were similar. Both initially increased in viscosity (>130 RVU), then decreased to ≈40 RVU. The final viscosity was ≈60 RVU. Waxy rice viscosity remained low (<20 RVU), then doubled upon cooling. The main difference in the digestion profiles was due to temperature. The flours extruded at 100°C digested significantly slower than those extruded at 125 and 150°C. Significant differences were not detected for a given temperature and moisture (P > 0.05) except for long grain and parboiled rice extruded at 100°C and 15% added moisture (F = 4.48, P = 0.03) and 150°C and 20% added moisture (F = 3.72, P = 0.05). Moisture appeared to have little effect for a given temperature, except when parboiled rice was extruded at 150°C. The digestion rate for 11 and 25% added moisture was significantly less than that for 20% (P ≤ 0.05).     

Impacts of Delayed Drying on Discoloration and Functionality of Rice

In‐bin, on‐farm drying systems for rough rice present challenges for maintaining kernel quality when drying fronts stall and the top layer of grain maintains its harvest moisture content (MC) for extended periods. This high MC, in addition to ambient temperatures in early autumn in the Mid‐South United States, creates ideal conditions for quality losses to occur. This study evaluated the effects of rough rice storage at MCs of 12.5, 16, 19, and 21% for up to 16 weeks at temperatures of 20, 27, and 40°C on milling yields, kernel color, and functionality of three long‐grain cultivars. Head rice yield was negatively impacted only after other reductions in quality had occurred. Temperature‐specific discoloration patterns were observed at 27 and 40°C in 2014; the uniquely discolored kernels seen in 2014 at 27°C were absent from samples in 2015 under identical conditions. Peak viscosity, breakdown, and final viscosity tended to increase over storage duration at 20 and 27°C and all storage MCs but plateaued after 8 weeks. Storage of rice at 40°C and all MCs greatly reduced peak viscosity after 6 weeks. To prevent quality losses, in‐bin dryers should be monitored closely to avoid exceeding the thresholds of storage MC, temperature, and duration identified here.     

Modeling aerobic decomposition of rice straw during the off-rice season in an Andisol paddy soil in a cold temperate region of Japan: Effects of soil temperature and moisture

Submerged rice paddies are a major source of methane (CH₄) which is the second most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide (CO₂). Accelerating rice straw decomposition during the off-rice season could help to reduce CH₄ emission from rice paddies during the single rice-growth season in cold temperate regions. For understanding how both temperature and moisture can affect the rate of rice straw decomposition during the off-rice season in the cold temperate region of Tohoku district, Japan, a modeling incubation experiment was carried out in the laboratory. Bulk soil and soil mixed with 2% of δ¹³C-labeled rice straw with a full factorial combination of four temperature levels (?5 to 5, 5, 15, 25°C) and two moisture levels (60% and 100% WFPS) were incubated for 24 weeks. The daily change from ?5 to 5°C was used to model the freezing–thawing cycles occurring during the winter season. The rates of rice straw decomposition were calculated by (i) CO₂ production; (ii) change in the soil organic carbon (SOC) content; and (iii) change in the δ¹³C value of SOC. The results indicated that both temperature and moisture affected the rate of rice straw decomposition during the 24-week aerobic incubation period. Rates of rice straw decomposition increased not only with high temperature, but also with high moisture conditions. The rates of rice straw decomposition were more accurately calculated by CO₂ production compared to those calculated by the change in the SOC content, or in its δ¹³C value. Under high moisture at 100% WFPS condition, the rates of rice straw decomposition were 14.0, 22.2, 33.5 and 46.2% at ?5 to 5, 5, 15 and 25°C temperature treatments, respectively. While under low moisture at 60% WFPS condition, these rates were 12.7, 18.3, 31.2 and 38.4%, respectively. The Q₁₀ of rice straw decomposition was higher between ?5 to 5 and 5°C than that between 5 and 15°C and that between 15 and 25°C. Daily freezing–thawing cycles (from ?5 to 5°C) did not stimulate rice straw decomposition compared with low temperature at 5°C. This study implies that to reduce CH₄ emission from rice paddies during the single rice-growth season in the cold temperate regions, enhancing rice straw decomposition during the high temperature period is very important.     

Effect of Presoaking on Textural,Thermal, and Digestive Properties of Cooked Brown Rice

Brown rice kernels (japonica type) were soaked in water at different temperatures (25 or 50°C) before cooking to a moisture content of 20 or 30%. Soaked brown rice was cooked in either the soaking water (SW) or in distilled water (DW) (rice solids to water ratio 1:1.4). Color, texture, and in vitro digestive properties of the cooked rice were examined. When the soaking temperature was higher (50°C vs. 25°C), water absorption and starch leaching were greater. To reach 20% moisture, the rice required 1 hr of soaking at 50°C but 2 hr of soaking at 25°C. Both the moisture content of the soaked rice and the soaking temperature affected the texture of the cooked brown rice. Rice that attained 20% moisture content during soaking was harder and less adhesive when cooked compared with rice that attained 30% moisture content. The rice soaked at 50°C was slightly softer but more adhesive when cooked than rice soaked at 25°C. The soaking temperature and moisture content of the rice kernels also affected the digestive properties of the cooked rice. The cooked brown rice that had attained 30% moisture before cooking was digested to a greater extent than rice that had attained 20% moisture. Even at equal moisture content, the rice soaked at the higher temperature (50°C) was digested more readily. It was assumed that the amount of soluble material leached during soaking differed according to the soaking temperature and moisture content, which subsequently affected the texture and digestive properties of the cooked brown rice. The rice cooked in its own soaking water was harder and more adhesive, had higher levels of resistant starch (RS), and exhibited smaller glycemic index (GI) values than its counterpart cooked with distilled water. This result indicated that the soluble material leached during soaking made the cooked rice harder and less digestible, perhaps due to interactions between these molecules and the gelatinized rice during cooking.     

Infrared Drying Characteristics of Long‐Grain Hybrid,Long‐Grain Pureline,and Medium‐Grain Rice Cultivars

The objective for this study was to investigate the effectiveness of scaled‐up infrared (IR) heating followed by tempering steps to dry freshly harvested rough rice. An industrial‐type, pilot‐scale, IR heating system designed to dry rough rice was used in this study. The heating zone of the equipment had catalytic IR emitters that provided heat energy to the sample as it was conveyed on a vibrating belt. The sample comprised freshly harvested rough rice of long‐grain pureline (Cheniere), long‐grain hybrid (6XP 756), and medium‐grain (CL 271) cultivars at initial moisture contents of 23, 23.5, and 24% wb, respectively. Samples at a loading rate of 1.61 kg/m² were heated with IR of radiation intensity 5.55 kW/m² for 30, 50, 90, and 180 s followed by tempering at 60°C for 4 h, at a product‐to‐emitter‐gap size of 450 mm, in one‐ and two‐pass drying operations. Control samples were gently natural air dried in an equilibrium moisture content chamber set at relative humidity of 65% and temperature of 26°C to moisture content of 12.5% wb. The effects of IR treatments followed by tempering on percentage points of moisture removed, head rice yield, energy use, rice color, and pasting characteristics were evaluated. For all cultivars, percentage point moisture removed increased with increase in IR drying duration. For all rice cultivars, one‐pass IR treatments for 180 s resulted in head rice yield significantly lower than that of rice dried with natural air in the controlled‐environment conditions (P < 0.05). Energy required to dry rice increased with increase in drying duration. Viscosity values of all the experimental samples were significantly greater (P value < 0.05) than that of the control samples for all the cultivars, except those treated with IR for 180 s. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the color index (ΔE ) of treated milled samples and the controls. In conclusion, the study provided information crucial to understanding the effects of scaled‐up radiant heating and tempering of rough rice on drying rates and rice quality for long‐grain pureline, long‐grain hybrid, and medium‐grain rice cultivars.     

Effect of Moisture Content and Temperature on Respiration Rate of Rice

One cause of yellowing or stackburn of rice may be elevated respiration rates caused by storage at either high moisture content (MC) or temperature. The effect of MC and temperature on the respiration rate of Oryza sativa L. ‘Bengal’ and ‘Cypress’ rice harvested in the fall of 1998 was investigated. For respiration rate measurement of rough rice at different temperatures, rice samples at high, medium, and low MC were sealed in quart jars and equilibrated to temperatures of 20–80°C. The respiration rate was quantified by measuring the rate of CO₂ accumulation in the free air space. To determine the effect of MC on respiration rate, rough rice was tested at 12–25% MC. Respiration was greatly affected by MC and temperature. The response of respiration to temperature was dependent on MC and varied between rice cultivars. Respiration rates increased as MC increased from ≈15 to 25%. Maximum respiration was at 50°C when MC was high (20–25%). At 15% MC, respiration increased from 20 to 70°C, while respiration of 12% MC rice, although very low, appeared to increase up to 80°C. A model was developed from this data to predict the respiration rate of rice over the MC range tested.     

Physicochemical Properties of Starch in Extruded Rice Flours

The effects of extruding temperatures and subsequent drying conditions on X‐ray diffraction patterns (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of long grain (LG) and short grain (SG) rice flours were investigated. The rice flours were extruded in a twin‐screw extruder at 70–120°C and 22% moisture, and either dried at room temperature, transferred to 4°C for 60 hr, or frozen and then dried at room temperature until the moisture was 10–11%. The dried materials were milled without the temperature increasing above 32°C. XRD studies were conducted on pellets made from extruded and milled flours with particle sizes of 149–248 μm; DSC studies were conducted from the same material. DSC studies showed that frozen materials retrograded more than the flours dried at room temperature. The LG and SG samples had two distinct XRD patterns. The LG gradually lost its A pattern at >100°C, while acquiring V patterns at higher temperatures. SG gradually lost its A pattern at 100°C but stayed amorphous at the higher extruding temperatures. DSC analysis showed that retrograded flours did not produce any new XRD 2θ peaks, although a difference in 2θ peak intensities between the LG and SG rice flours was observed. DSC analysis may be very sensitive in detecting changes due to drying conditions, but XRD data showed gradual changes due to processing conditions. The gradual changes in XRD pattern and DSC data suggest that physicochemical properties of the extruded rice flours can be related to functional properties.     

Surface Lipid and Free Fatty Acids (FFA) Content of Head and Broken Rice Produced by Milling After Different Drying Treatments

The surface lipids and free fatty acids (FFA) content of head and broken rice samples generated through milling after various drying treatments were studied. Long grain cultivars Francis, Wells, and Cypress, and medium grain cultivar Bengal were dried under three air conditions (mild 25°C, 50% rh; moderate 45°C, 40% rh; and stressed 65°C, 20% rh) for two durations (10 and 30 min). Immediately after drying, the rough rice samples were placed in a conditioning chamber to continue drying slowly to ⋍12.5% moisture content (MC), which occurred within three to five days. After dehulling, a McGill No. 2 mill was used to mill the samples for 30 sec. The head rice yield (HRY) for all rice samples were within the range of 40–68%. Rice surface lipid was extracted with isopropanol (IPA) and the lipid and FFA content of the IPA extracts were determined. Broken rice kernels had significantly greater surface lipid and FFA content than head rice kernels. The surface FFA contents of broken kernels were within the range of 0.045–0.065% of broken rice mass, while that of head rice was 0.027–0.040%. Broken ricehad greater b values indicating greater yellow color than did head rice.     

Impact of Soaking Temperature and Duration on Fissure Incidence of Rough Rice Kernels

Internal stresses owing to moisture and temperature gradients often result in the development of rice kernel fissures. Fissured rough rice kernels tend to break upon milling and potentially reduce the market value of rice. This work was conducted on the premise that fissures may be healed by soaking in water at a specific temperature and duration. Fissured rough rice kernels of a long‐grain cultivar, Wells, were selected by X‐ray imaging. Fissured kernels were soaked in a water bath at six soaking temperatures (22, 60, 65, 70, 75, and 80°C) and three soaking durations (1, 2, and 3 h) and then gently dried for characterization. X‐ray images revealed that soaking at 75°C for 3 h healed up to 70.0% of the fissured kernels. Soaking at 22, 60, or 65°C did not result in healing. For normal kernels, soaking at different temperatures for 3 h created fissures. Bending tests using a texture analyzer showed that brown rice breaking force increased from 18.5 N (fissured kernels) to 43.7 N (healed kernels). Soaking rough rice in water at a temperature slightly above its onset gelatinization temperature may potentially heal fissures.     

Modeling Starch Gelatinization Kinetics of Milled Rice Flour

Milled long‐grain rice samples were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to determine the kinetics of starch gelatinization. The experiments were conducted with milled rice flour with a 10.6% degree of milling. DSC thermograms were obtained from 35 to 110°C using heating rates between 1°C/min and 15°C/min. The rate constants were evaluated, and two activation energies were found for different temperature ranges. At <70.1°C gelatinization was not completed. It was assumed that at <70.1°C gelatinization would only affect the amorphous regions. During the subsequent phase the crystalline regions destabilized by the amorphous component begin to gelatinize. For moisture content of 70%, wet basis, and a heating rate of 12°C/min, the enthalpy of gelatinization reaches a constant value of 7.3 J/g.     

Preservation of Head Rice Yield Under High‐Temperature Tempering as Explained by the Glass Transition of Rice Kernels

Tempering has been shown in literature to preserve head rice yield after heated air drying. Most reported tempering work was done adiabatically at a temperature below that for rice drying. In this study, the effect of a tempering temperature above that for rice drying on the whole kernel percentage was investigated. High‐temperature tempering is an effective way to preserve the whole kernel percentage for rice dried at a raised temperature (e.g., 60°C) at which head rice yield would otherwise incur a pronounced reduction without tempering. Tempering helped relax the strains inside a rice kernel induced by internal stresses developed during the drying process. The strains had two components (elastic component and viscous component) due to the viscoelasticity of rice kernels. The reduction of moisture content gradients inside a rice kernel during tempering helped eliminate the elastic component of the strains due to the elasticity of the rice kernel. Results showed that to effectively eliminate the viscous component of the strains due to the viscosity of the rice kernel, tempering temperatures must be kept well above the glass transition temperature of the rice kernel. A tempering temperature below the glass transition temperature failed to preserve the whole kernel percentage. For example, with a tempering temperature of 80°C and a tempering duration of 80 min, the whole kernel percentage for the rice with an initial moisture content of 20.4% wb dried at 60°C and 17% rh for 120 min down to 10.2% wb (10.2 percentage points of moisture content removal in one drying pass) was preserved to a level close to that of the control sample.     

Abstracts of nippon Dojohiryogaku Zasshi

The effects of air temperature and light on the grain filling of an indica (IR20) and ajaponica rice (Fujisaka 5) was studied in artificially lighted cabinets. Within the daily mean temperature range of 16° to 28°C, the higher the temperature, the faster the grains filled and matured. At 28°C, the upper grains of IR20 rice took 13 days to reach the maximum weight, whereas those of Fujisaka 5 took 18 days. The optimum daily mean temperature range to achieve maximum weight per grain was 19° to 25°C for IR20 and 16° to 22°C for Fujisaka 5.

Apparently, IR20 rice is better adapted to higher temperatures during the ripening period than is Fujisaka 5 rice. More chalky grains occurred when the temperature was above or below the optimum range. Both day and night temperatures affected grain weight and grain quality.

The daily mean temperature was found to be the most meaningful expression for describing the effect of temperature on grain filling. Low light intensity appeared to cause a slight delay in the grain filling of the whole panicle and a reduction in the percentage of filled grains on the lower branches. A combination of high light intensity and low temperature gave the best ripening grade (grain weight × percent filled grains).     

Effect of Extrusion Conditions on Pasting Behavior and Microstructure of Refabricated Rice: A Response Surface Analysis

The effects of moisture, screw speed, and barrel temperature on pasting behavior of refabricated rice grains were investigated in a corotating twin‐screw extruder with response surface methodology. The rice flour obtained from broken rice (≤1/8 of actual kernel size) of PR‐116 variety was used in the study. The screw speed was set at five levels between 49 and 150 rpm, barrel temperature between 59 and 110°C, and feed moisture between 31 and 45%. All pasting properties of refabricated grains evaluated—peak viscosity, hold viscosity, breakdown viscosity, final viscosity, and setback viscosity—were significantly (P < 0.01) affected by the three process variables. Barrel temperature was the most significant variable, with quadratic effect on all viscosity parameters. Response surface regression models were established to correlate the viscosity profile of refabricated rice grains to the process variables. The optimum moisture content, screw speed, and barrel temperature estimated by a response surface of desirability function for the production of refabricated rice were 36%, 130 rpm, and 89.5°C, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy also revealed that intermediate moisture and temperature along with high screw speed during extrusion could create a more realistic appearance of refabricated rice with less rupture of starch granules.     

Effect of Ultrasonic Treatment of Brown Rice at Different Temperatures on Cooking Properties and Quality

This research studied developing quick cooking brown rice by investigating the effect of ultrasonic treatment at different temperatures on cooking time and quality. The medium grain brown rice was ultrasonically treated in water at temperatures of 25, 40, and 55°C for 30 min and then dried by air at 25°C to its initial moisture content (11.0 ± 0.6%, wb) before cooking. The microstructure of rice kernel surface, chemical composition, and optimal cooking time of treated brown rice were determined. The pasting and thermal properties and chemical structure of flour and starch from treated brown rice were also examined. The results showed that the optimal cooking times were 37, 35, and 33 min after treatment at 25, 40, and 55°C, respectively, compared to the control of 39.6 min. The ultrasonic treatment resulted in a loss in natural morphology of rice bran, allowing water to be absorbed by a rice kernel easily, particularly at high‐temperature treatment. Even through rice flour still maintained an A‐pattern in the pasting properties, the crystallinity significantly increased after treatment at 55°C. Ultrasonic treatment increased the peak, hold, and final viscosities and decreased the onset temperature (T_o) and peak temperature (T_p), significantly. Thus, ultrasonic treatment could be used for reducing cooking time of brown rice.     

Properties of Flours and Starches as Affected by Rough Rice Drying Regime

Flours and starches from rough rice dried using different treatment combinations of air temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) were studied to better understand the effect of drying regime on rice functionality. Rough rice from cultivars Bengal and Cypress were dried to a moisture content of ≈12% by three drying regimes: low temperature (T 20°C, RH 50%), medium temperature (T 40°C, RH 12%), and high temperature (T 60, RH 17%). Head rice grains were processed into flour and starch and evaluated for pasting characteristics with a Brabender Viscoamylograph, thermal properties with differential scanning calorimetry, starch molecular‐size distribution with high‐performance size‐exclusion chromatography (HPSEC), and amylopectin chain‐length distribution with high‐performance anion‐exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC‐PAD). Lower head rice and starch yields were obtained from the batch dried at 60°C which were accompanied by an increase in total soluble solids and total carbohydrates in the pooled alkaline supernatant and wash water used in extracting the starch. Drying regime caused no apparent changes on starch molecular‐size distribution and amylopectin chain‐length distribution. Starch fine structure differences were due to cultivar. The pasting properties of flour were affected by the drying treatments while those of starch were not, suggesting that the grain components removed in the isolation of starch by alkaline‐steeping were important to the observed drying‐related changes in rice functionality.