Brown Rice Flour

Brown rice flour is a staple ingredient for many dishes, ranging from biscuits, breads, and even desserts. But how exactly does it happen? From the processing fields where the grains are grown to the dinner plate at home, today we’ll discuss the process of creating brown rice flour and how it gets to your plate.

Picking: The Beginning of the Process

Each grain of rice begins its journey in a rice field. The rice plant needs plenty of water and sunlight to thrive, so the conditions must be carefully managed to make sure the grains have ideal growth conditions. When the rice grain is ready for harvest, large combines are driven through the fields to separate the grain from the husk and stalks. This process is known as threshing.

Once the grains are separated from the husk, the next step is to remove any foreign materials or weeds to make sure only high-quality rice grains are used. This task requires careful attention as some weeds may not be visually obvious to the eye. During this process, the grains may also undergo a process of winnowing. This removes particles like straw and weed seeds before the grains are sifted.

Afterwards the grains are dried in the sun, which is known as the curing process. This helps the grains to separate easily while making sure any parasites or other contaminants are removed. Once each grain is thoroughly dry, the grains are taken to a mill and sorted according to size and shape, a process known as grading.

The Milling and Polishing Process

Once the grains of rice have gone through grading, they are then ready for the milling process. This is done by machines that break down the grains into smaller pieces. The size of the particles can be adjusted depending on the product being produced.

The smaller particles are passed through a series of sieves to remove any dust or dirt from the product. This cleaning process is known as screening. Once the grains are adequately screened, the grains are passed through a machine that removes the tough outer layer from the grain. This is known as the husking process.

Once the husking process is complete, the grains are polished. During the polishing process, a small amount of oil is used to smooth the surface of the grains which gives it a glossy shine and shorter cooking time. The polished grains are then stored in air-tight containers at the mill, before they are shipped off to be packaged.

Packaging and Distribution

Once the grain has been polished and packaged, it is sent off to retail stores and wholesalers. From here, consumers can purchase the product in various forms, such as whole grain, brown rice flour, or white rice flour.

At the grocery store, you may find a package labelled “brown rice flour”, which is a combination of ground up whole grain brown rice and at least 51 % of the bran layer (the outer layer) is still intact. This combination gives brown rice flour its unique nutritional characteristics, including higher amounts of fibre, vitamins and minerals than white rice flour.

Cooking: Bringing It All Together

With the flour at home, the next step is to get it onto the dinner plate. Different recipes will require different techniques when it comes to cooking with brown rice flour. For example, recipes like biscuits or bread can be made without the need to pre-cook or soak the flour. Pancake batter or noodle dough, however, may need to be cooked prior to use.

To convert whole brown rice into flour, it’s important to use a blender with a grinding mechanism. The grains should be added in small batches and blended in short bursts to ensure that they are crushed instead of turned into a powder. Once all the grains are ground, the flour should be kept in an air-tight container and stored in a cool, dry place away from humidity and direct sunlight.

Conclusion

The process of creating brown rice flour is a complex one, and many steps are involved in order to ensure the quality of the end product. The journey begins in the rice fields, where the grains are harvested and milled into smaller pieces. The grains are then polished and packaged, before being shipped off to retail stores and eventually, to your home. With brown rice flour in hand, you can create delicious and nutritious meals for your family.