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.