Development of Techniques for Storing Rough Rice in Cold Regions (Part 3)

Quality characteristics of rough rice stored at country elevator in Hokkaido and under controlled storage conditions (room-temperature storage, low-temperature storage and -5•Ž storage) were examined. The quality of rough rice stored at country elevator by aeration with fresh chilly air in winter was better than that of the rough rice stored under low-temperature storage and that of the rough rice stored at the country elevator with natural heat radiation in winter. The combination of storage of the rough rice at a temperature below ice point and utilization of fresh chilly air in winter enables the quality of rice to be preserved at a high level, similar to that of freshly harvested rice, without the requirement of a cooling unit or electricity. [Keywords] cold climate, natural energy, storage of rough rice, super-low-temperature storage, country elevator, silo, germination rate, free fat acidity, hardness stickiness ratio, eating quality