Soaking Conditions During Brown Rice Parboiling Impact the Level of Breakage‐Susceptible Rice Kernels

If properly executed, parboiling, a hydrothermal treatment consisting of soaking, steaming, and drying of rice, substantially reduces its milling breakage susceptibility. Here, brown rice was soaked at 40, 55, or 65°C for different times (150 s to 240 min) and subsequently parboiled under standardized steaming and drying conditions. The moisture absorption during initial soaking induced fissures in more than 90% of the rice grains, which disappeared with further soaking. The fissuring incidence in the soaked rice samples was related to that of the parboiled rice samples. The extent of starch gelatinization during steaming increased with the moisture content of the soaked grains. In addition, as a result of starch gelatinization, the level of white bellies (i.e., parboiled grains with translucent outer layers and an opaque center) decreased from over 90% to less than 3%. Rice grains need to absorb sufficient moisture during soaking to minimize the level of breakage‐susceptible white bellies and fissured rice grains in the parboiled end product.     

Effect of Processing Conditions on Color Change of Brown and Milled Parboiled Rice

The effects of the soaking and steaming steps in rice parboiling on color changes and the levels of reducing sugars in rice were studied. Brown rice was soaked to different moisture contents (MC, 15, 20, 25, and 30%). The L*, a*, b* color parameters of the Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIE 1976) indicated that during soaking, red and yellow bran pigments diffused from the bran into the endosperm. The increase in brightness brought about by soaking rice was attributed to migration of rice compounds (e.g., lipids) from the inner to the outer bran layers (rice surface). The levels of reducing sugars in brown and milled soaked rice samples increased with increasing brown rice MC after soaking. The total color difference (ΔE) between parboiled and nonparboiled rice increased with increasing MC after soaking and depended on the intensity of the steaming conditions as reflected in the degree of starch gelatinization. Parboiling affected yellowness more than redness in mildly steamed brown rice and most in intermediately steamed brown rice. Severe steaming of brown rice affected redness more than yellowness. All three parboiling conditions equally affected the yellow color more than the red color in milled rice. Linear regression analyses indicated that parboiling had a larger effect on ΔE of milled parboiled rice than of brown parboiled rice. Furthermore, the linear relationship between the level of gelatinized starch and ΔE of the milled parboiled rice samples showed that both parameters are indicators for the degree of parboiling. Reducing sugars were formed and lost during steaming, suggesting Maillard reactions during steaming.     

Effects of Cultivar and Processing Condition on Physicochemical Properties and Starch Fractions in Parboiled Rice

Starch can be classified into rapidly digestible starch (RDS), slowly digestible starch (SDS), and resistant starch (RS) according to its resistance to amylolytic enzymes. This study investigated the effects of cultivar and feedstock under varying parboiling conditions on the physicochemical properties and starch fractions of parboiled rice. Rice (rough or brown) was soaked, steamed under pressure, dried immediately or stored at room temperature for 24 hr prior to drying, and then treated with or without a repeated steam cycle prior to milling. The storage treatment significantly increased the retrograded amylopectin enthalpy and amylose‐lipid complex melting temperature of parboiled rice. Parboiled rice samples prepared from brown rice feedstock had higher peak melting temperatures but lower enthalpy values of retrograded amylopectin than samples prepared from rough rice after the storage treatment. The pasting viscosity of parboiled rice was most affected by the repeated autoclaving treatment and cultivar. Starch fractions in parboiled rice were significantly affected by cultivar and storage and by the interactions of cultivar and parboiling conditions. The storage treatment significantly increased SDS and generally decreased RDS in parboiled rice. Parboiled rice with different SDS and RS contents can be produced by varying rice cultivar and parboiling conditions.     

臭氧胁迫对稻米淀粉热力学特征值影响及其强弱势粒间差异

地表臭氧浓度增高情形下水稻减产,米质呈变劣趋势,但稻米热力学特征值的变化及其与生长季、品种以及籽粒着生部位的关系均不清楚。本研究利用自然光气体熏蒸平台,以8个水稻品种为材料,设置高臭氧浓度为100 nL·L^-1,对照浓度为9 nL·L^-1。连续两年系统研究了高臭氧浓度熏蒸对成熟稻穗不同部位糙米热力学特性（DSC）的影响。与对照相比,臭氧胁迫使稻米热焓值极显著下降4.15%,但对糊化起始温度、糊化峰值温度、糊化终止温度、DSC曲线峰宽和峰高均无显著影响;2017年度稻米热焓值、糊化峰值温度、糊化起始温度和峰高极显著大于2016年,但DSC曲线峰宽表现相反;稻米所有6个DSC特征值的品种间差异均达极显著水平。从稻穗不同位置看,所有测定参数均表现为稻穗上部 > 中部 > 下部,除糊化起始温度外差异均达极显著水平。方差分析表明,臭氧×年度对热焓值、糊化峰值温度和糊化终止温度的影响均达显著或极显著水平,臭氧×品种对糊化峰值温度、糊化终止温度、DSC曲线峰宽和峰高均有极显著影响,而臭氧×部位仅对DSC曲线峰宽有显著影响。以上数据表明,稻米淀粉DSC热力学参数因生长季、供试品种以及籽粒着生部位而异,臭氧胁迫环境下稻穗不同部位稻米的热焓值总体上均呈下降趋势,表现为更易糊化的特点。     

水稻在吸湿环境中的裂纹生成研究进展及应用

当低水分的水稻暴露在可吸湿环境中就有可能产生裂纹;带有裂纹的水稻籽粒在碾磨加工中通常会断裂,从而降低整米产量。外界环境中相对湿度的变化比温度变化对裂纹生成有更大作用。水稻籽粒自身的抗裂能力与其物理性状和化学成分有关。通过改善产前产后加工技术,可以避免或减轻低水分水稻籽粒所遭受的各种潮湿环境危害,减少碎米率,提高稻米品质。     

Effect of Parboiling on Milling,Physicochemical, and Textural Properties of Medium‐ and Long‐Grain Germinated Brown Rice

Germinated brown rice is considered a more nutritious and palatable cooked product than conventional brown rice. However, germination usually decreases rice milling yield and alters some physicochemical properties. Parboiling is commonly used to increase milling yield and retain nutrients, but it also changes rice color and texture. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of parboiling on milling, physicochemical, and textural properties of a medium‐grain and a long‐grain rice after germination at varying durations. Germinated rice samples of three germination durations were prepared with one germination time before the optimum time at which 70% of rice revealed hull protrusion, the optimum time, and one time after. Germinated rice was then immediately parboiled at 120°C for 20 min and was then immediately dried. The milling, physicochemical, and textural properties of parboiled germinated rice from both cultivars were determined. Parboiling significantly decreased the percentage of brokens, whiteness, and the apparent amylose content and increased γ‐aminobutyric acid content (GABA) in the nongerminated rice and rice at the first germination duration for both cultivars. Parboiling reduced pasting viscosities for both cultivars, but Jupiter still exhibited higher pasting viscosities than Wells. Cooked parboiled germinated rice was overall softer than nonparboiled rice because of kernel splitting, but Wells remained harder and less sticky than Jupiter. In conclusion, it is beneficial to combine parboiling with germination to enhance nutritional values and improve milling properties without affecting textural properties for both rice cultivars.     

Effect of Elevated Carbon Dioxide Concentration on Rice Quality: Proximate Composition,Dietary Fibers,and Free Sugars

Little is known regarding the impact of elevated carbon dioxide concentration ([CO₂]) on the chemical composition of rice grains. A field experiment was conducted with open‐top chambers with rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Ariete) grown at two levels of atmospheric CO₂ (375 and 550 μmol/mol), and their effects were monitored on the proximate composition and carbohydrate contents of the grains. Following exposure to elevated [CO₂], soluble dietary fiber increased by 136, 82, and 77% in brown rice, white rice, and bran, respectively. Increases of a lower magnitude (8%) were observed for insoluble dietary fiber in the bran and brown rice. For all 10 sugars identified, there was a trend for increasing their content. For example, increases of 135% were recorded for glucose in the white rice. In all rice milling fractions, elevated [CO₂] reduced the protein (4–15%) and amylose (6–16%) contents, with no effect on the ash, starch, and gross energy contents. The fat content was increased by elevated [CO₂] in the white rice (23%) and tended to decrease in the bran (9%). It is concluded that besides yield, increased dietary fiber might be another positive effect of high levels of atmospheric CO₂ expected by the middle of the current century.     

Impact of browning reactions and bran pigments on color of parboiled rice

Rice color changes from white to amber during parboiling (soaking and steaming). Color parameters indicated that, during soaking, yellow bran pigments leached out in the water. The levels of the Maillard precursors (i.e., reducing sugars (RS) and free alpha-amino nitrogen (FAN)) depended on soaking temperature and time: leaching of RS was compensated by enzymic formation for long soaking times (>60 min), while proteolytic activity was too low to compensate for FAN leaching. Rice soaking under nitrogen, oxygen, or ambient conditions and determination of polyphenol oxidase activity allowed us to conclude that the effect of enzymic color changes on the soaked rice color was rather small. Color measurements of brown and milled mildly, intermediately, and severely parboiled rice samples showed that both brown and milled rice samples were darker and more red and yellow after parboiling and that the effect depended on the severity of parboiling conditions. Furthermore, steaming affected the rice color more and in a way opposite to that observed in soaking. The changes in RS and the loss of FAN during parboiling suggested that Maillard type reactions occur during brown rice steaming. Analyses of furosine levels confirmed Maillard browning of outer bran layers and endosperm during steaming. The level of this Maillard indicator increased with the severity of parboiling conditions in both brown and milled parboiled rice. Measurements of the levels of bran pigments indicated that bran pigments diffuse into the endosperm during parboiling and contribute to the parboiled rice color.     

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.     

Fine Structures of Starches from Long‐Grain Rice Cultivars with Different Functionality

The structural features of rice starch that may contribute to differences in the functionality of three long‐grain rice cultivars were studied. Dried rough rice samples of cultivars Cypress, Drew, and Wells were analyzed for milling quality, grain physical attributes, and starch structures and physicochemical properties. Drew was lower in head rice yield and translucency and higher in percentage of chalky grains compared with Cypress and Wells. Apparent amylose content (21.3–23.1%), crude protein (8.3–8.6%), and crude fat (0.48–0.64%) of milled rice flours were comparable, but pasting properties of rice flours as measured by viscoamylography, as well as starch iodine affinity and thermal properties determined by differential scanning calorimetry were different for the three cultivars. Drew had higher peak, hot paste, and breakdown viscosities, and gelatinization temperature and enthalpy. Molecular size distribution of starch fractions determined by high‐performance size‐exclusion chromatography showed that the three samples were similar in amylose content (AM) (20.0–21.8%) but differed in amylopectin (AP) (64.7–68.3%) and intermediate material (IM) (10.9–13.5%). Drew had highest AP and lowest IM contents, whereas Cypress had the lowest AP and highest IM contents. High‐performance anion‐exchange chromatography of isoamylase‐debranched starch indicated that the AP of Drew was lower in A and B1 chains but higher in B2, B3, and longer chains.     

Changes in Rice with Variable Temperature Parboiling: Thermal and Spectroscopic Assessment

Rapid visco analysis (RVA) and differential scannning calorimetry (DSC) provided overall assessments of the effects of variable temperature soaking at 30, 50, 70, and 90°C and steaming at 4, 8, and 12 min. Calculation of the relative parboiling index (RPI) and percent gelatinization provided good metrics for determining the overall effects of partial parboiling. FT‐Raman and solid‐state ¹³C CP‐MAS NMR spectroscopies provided insight to conformational changes in protein and starch of paddy rice under various parboiling conditions. RVA showed lower pasting curves and DSC showed lower ΔH with increased temperature and steaming times. A large decrease in viscosity occurred with only the 30‐4 treatment as opposed to raw rice. This observation was consistent with FT‐Raman results that indicated substantial conversion of the protein from α‐helix to other conformations. DSC indicated incomplete gelatinization of starch, even with 90°C soaking and 12 min of steaming. Solid‐state ¹³C CP‐MAS NMR spectroscopy confirmed this result. However, it indicated the percent of V_h/amorphous plus the remaining crystalline starch in the 90‐12 treatment was equal to the amorphous and partially‐ordered starch in commercially parboiled rice. These results suggest that partial parboiling, 90°C soaking, and more than 8 min of steaming (ideally ≈12 min) of paddy rice is sufficient to induce changes that inactivate enzymes and provide enough starch gelatinization to prevent kernel breakage.     

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.     

Effect of Elevated Carbon Dioxide Concentration on Rice Quality: Nutritive Value,Color, Milling,Cooking, and Eating Qualities

Increase in the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO₂]) enhanced the concentration of carbohydrates in rice grains, according to results of a previous study. However, its impact on other quality traits is little known. To investigate the effect of CO₂ levels (375 and 550 μmol/mol) on rice quality, a field experiment was conducted with open‐top chambers. Elevated [CO₂] affected several nutritional parameters of the grain. Whereas the concentration of α‐linolenic acid increased, that of linoleic and γ‐linolenic acids decreased. For example, reductions of 9 and 28% were observed for linoleic acid in the brown rice and for γ‐linolenic acid in the husk, respectively. Phytic acid concentration and zinc bioavailability were unaffected. Whereas iron bioavailability decreased in the brown rice (22%), calcium bioavailability increased in the bran and husk (5–11%). The concentrations of essential amino acids were also reduced; for example, the amount of isoleucine in the white rice, tyrosine in the brown rice, and phenylalanine in the bran decreased by 40, 57, and 23%, respectively. In contrast, elevated [CO₂] resulted in improved grain whiteness (3%) and starch viscosity (11%), with no effect on the milling quality. These data indicate that increased [CO₂] has both positive and negative effects on quality, depending on the specific end use of the rice grain.     

Effect of Flour‐Blasting Brown Rice on Reduction of Cooking Time and Resulting Texture

Long‐grain nonparboiled, long‐grain parboiled, and American basmati‐type brown rice were bombarded with parboiled rice flour particles to create microperforations on the water‐resistant outer layer of the kernels. These microperforations in the treated rice significantly increased the rate of hydration. Optimum conditions to produce microperforations without removal of the bran included air pressure maintained at 413 kPa and a parboiled rice flour average particle size of 124 μm. The optimum blasting time was 40–60 sec, depending on the type of rice. The relative hardness of the fully cooked flour‐blasted rice was the same at half the cooking time of the untreated brown rice but % water absorption of the untreated flour‐blasted brown rice was higher because it required longer time to cook. Overall, untreated brown rice was ≈4.7% higher in % water absorption due to longer cooking time in comparison with the treated counterpart. The blasting treatment resulted in shorter cooking time and firmer and less gummy cooked rice as compared to freshly cooked untreated brown rice.     

Starch Damage and Pasting Properties of Rice Flours Produced by Dry Jet Grinding

Milling method and particle size affect some properties of rice flour. To prepare ultra‐fine rice flour of <30 μm, hammer and dry jet grinding methods were examined and the effect of particle size on starch damage and pasting properties of the flour were elucidated. A jet mill could make finer flour (<10 μm mean size) with a narrower particle size distribution than a hammer mill could. Starch damage increased dramatically at a mean size of <10 μm. Particles of a similar size (<60 μm) had different levels of starch damage between mills. Not only the particle size, but also the milling method affected the level of damaged starch. Flour samples of ≥45 μm mean size had similar viscosity curves, but samples of <20 μm had different curves. Peak viscosity and final viscosity decreased sharply at <10 μm. Setback viscosity for particles of 3 μm from both brown rice and white rice were higher than the peak viscosity. Stability to heat and shearing stress were decreased for <20 μm flours as the breakdown viscosities decreased. Starch damage and pasting properties of flour ground from the nonwaxy japonica cultivar Koshihikari changed dramatically at a mean size of <10 μm.     

Effect of a Cell‐Wall‐Degrading Enzyme Complex on Starch Recovery and Steeping Requirements of Sorghum and Maize

The effect of a commercial cell‐wall‐degrading enzyme (CWDE) complex on the steeping time and starch yields of white regular sorghum (RSOR) compared with yellow maize (YMZ) was determined. An in vitro wet‐milling method standardized to test dosages of 0–120 fungal β‐glucanase units (FBG)/100 mL indicated that starch yields were significantly higher for YMZ than RSOR and increased proportionally as enzyme dosage increased. A factorial experiment with a level of confidence of P < 0.05 was performed to study the effect of CWDE addition to coarsely ground grains for 4 hr after 20 or 44 hr of SO₂ steeping of whole grains. At both regular steep times, YMZ yielded significantly higher amounts of starch than RSOR. When steep times were compared, grains soaked for 48 hr produced 1.7% higher starch yields than counterparts treated for 24 hr. CWDE significantly increased starch yields and recoveries. Enzyme‐treated grains yielded 2.5% more starch than counterparts steeped regularly. For both grains, the best wet‐milling conditions to obtain the highest amount of starch were 48 hr of steeping and CWDE addition. Under these conditions, YMZ and RSOR yielded 66.9 and 66.6% starch, respectively. Starches obtained after the enzyme treatment at both steep times contained higher amounts of residual protein and ash compared with the untreated counterparts. Rapid viscoamylograph properties of YMZ and RSOR starches were not affected by the use of the CWDE nor the steep time. In comparison with RSOR starch, the YMZ starch initiated gelatinization at lower temperature, had less shear thinning and higher viscosity or setback at the end of cooling.     

Lipidemic Response of Hamsters to Rice Bran,Uncooked or Processed White and Brown Rice,and Processed Corn Starch

This study was undertaken to evaluate the lipidemic response of rice bran and the possible enhancement of its healthful properties by using raw or processed white or brown rice in place of corn starch. All diets contained 10% total dietary fiber, 15% fat, and 0.5% cholesterol. Weanling male golden Syrian hamsters were fed cellulose control (CC), processed corn starch (PCS), cellulose with processed brown rice (CPBR), rice bran (RB), RB with white rice (RBWR), RB with processed white rice (RBPWR), RB with brown rice (RBBR), and RB with processed brown rice (RBPBR) diets. After three weeks, the PCS diet significantly lowered total plasma cholesterol (TC) compared with the CC, CPBR, RBWR, and RBPBR diets. RB and RBBR diets significantly lowered TC and LDL‐C compared with CPBR diet. All the RB‐containing and PCS diets significantly lowered liver cholesterol and liver lipid content. Processing white rice increased TDF content 240% and insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) 360%, whereas soluble dietary fiber (SDF) decreased by 25%. Uncooked brown rice contained 7 times as much TDF as uncooked white rice. Processing brown rice decreased its TDF, IDF and SDF contents by 12, 6, and 42%, respectively. The data suggest that a possible mechanism for cholesterol‐lowering by rice bran, with or without added raw or processed rice (white or brown), is by decreasing lipid digestibility and increasing neutral sterol excretion, whereas cholesterol‐lowering by processed corn starch is mediated through other mechanisms.     

Effects of Germination Duration on Milling,Physicochemical, and Textural Properties of Medium‐ and Long‐Grain Rice

Germinated brown rice is popular in Asia for its increased γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) content and sweeter and softer texture compared with conventional brown rice. However, most studies investigated germinated rice properties on medium‐grain or aromatic rice. The objective of this study was to compare differences between a medium‐grain (Jupiter) and a long‐grain (Wells) rice under similar germination conditions on their milling, physicochemical, and textural properties over the course of germination. Rough rice was soaked in water at 25°C for 12 h and then incubated at 30–34°C for four germination durations. Wells had a higher breakage percentage and a greater weight decrease than Jupiter during germination. Wells had a significantly lower GABA content before germination and at the first two germination durations than Jupiter, but the GABA content in Wells significantly increased at the third germination duration to become significantly higher than that of Jupiter. There were no significant changes in gelatinization temperatures and pasting properties of germinated rice from both cultivars at different germination durations. The cooked rice hardness from Wells decreased at the longest germination duration, whereas Jupiter showed a more significant decrease in cooked rice stickiness from germination. The results demonstrate that the impacts of germination on physical, chemical, and textural properties of rice were affected by grain type and germination duration.     

Effects of an Industrial Milling Process on Change of Headspace Volatiles in Yihchuan Aromatic Rice

Headspace volatiles of Yihchuan aromatic rice, a japonica rice cultivar, were extracted by a solid‐phase microextraction (SPME) method and analyzed by GC and GC‐MS. Effects of fiber types and an industrial milling process on the change of headspace volatiles were studied. Of the fiber types, divinylbenzene/carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane (DVB/CAR/PDMS), polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB), and carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane (CAR/PDMS) were suggested for use in the analysis headspace volatiles in terms of absorption or adsorption ability. Regarding the milling effect, the amount of total headspace volatiles from brown rice to white rice decreased ≈30%, and that of aldehydes and alcohols, the two largest groups of volatiles, decreased ≈20 and 15%, respectively. Comparatively, rice bran contained higher amounts of total headspace volatiles than milled rice grains.     

Effects of Milling and Cooking Conditions of Rice on In Vitro Starch Digestibility and Blood Glucose Response

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of milling and cooking conditions of cooked rice prepared from cultivar Koshihikari on in vitro starch digestibility and in vivo glucose response in humans. In addition, compression and adhesiveness tests were conducted for texture analysis of the cooked rice. Brown rice (BR) and surface‐abraded BR (SABR, ≥99.5% of the original weight) were digested more slowly than white rice (91% of the original weight) when cooked rice grain was used for the in vitro test, but they were digested more rapidly in the initial stage of the reaction when cooked rice ground by a meat grinder was used. The increase in water added for cooking significantly increased the extent of starch digestion with BR and SABR. The changes in blood glucose levels after the ingestion of cooked rice were dependent on the sample type. The cooking conditions dramatically influenced the glucose response after the ingestion of BR. A significant correlation was found between blood glucose levels at 45 min and the extent of starch digestion with ground samples, whereas no relationship was found with cooked rice grain samples for in vitro digestibility.