Quality Characteristics of Rough Rice during Low Temperature Drying

This study was conducted to measure the quality characteristics of rough rice during low temperature drying by using an experimental dryer and heat pump with a capacity of 150kg at four temperature levels of 20, 30, 40, and $50^{\circ}C$. The quality and proper drying temperature of rough rice was investigated by measuring variations in moisture content, crack rates, germination rates and cooked rice. Temperatures over $40^{\circ}C$ is considered a high-temperature area, and below $40^{\circ}C$ is considered a low-temperature area. The drying rates were 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, and 1.3%/hr, and the crack ratios were 0, 1.6, 6.8, and 24.2% at the drying temperatures of 20, 30, 40, and $50^{\circ}C$, respectively, which showed that the higher the drying temperature was, the higher the drying rate and crack rate was. Therefore, 20 and $30^{\circ}C$ were found to be appropriate drying temperatures for avoiding crack formation, and $50^{\circ}C$ was inappropriate. At $40^{\circ}C$, the operation methods needed to be modified to limit cracking, such as increasing the tempering time. Also, as the drying temperature increased, the germination rate decreased. Germination rates at 20 and $30^{\circ}C$ were suitable for using the rough rice as a seed, and those at 40 and $50^{\circ}C$ were over 80%, which is the minimum allowable percentage. In the sensory evaluation of cooked rice, the quality of appearance, taste, and texture varied as a function of drying temperature. When considering these factors, the cooked rice that was dried at 20 and $30^{\circ}C$ was better than the cooked rice dried at high-temperature. Consequently, in view of drying temperature and rates, the best conditions for drying rough rice were below $30^{\circ}C$ and below 0.6%/hr.

저온건조 중 벼의 품질 특성

용량 150 kg의 실험용건조기와 heat pump를 이용하여 건조온도 20, 30, 40 및 $50^{\circ}C$에서 건조실험을 수행하였다. 건조과정에서 함수율, 동할율의 경시적 변화와 건조 전 후의 발아율 및 식미를 측정하여 저온건조과정에 벼의 품질과 적정 건조온도를 구명하였다. 건조온도 20, 30, 40 및 $50^{\circ}C$에서 건조속도는 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 및 1.3%/hr 로 건조온도가 높을수록 건조는 빠르게 진행되었으며, 건조온도 $40^{\circ}C$ 이상은 고온영역, 그 이하는 저온영역으로 구분할 수 있다. 동할율은 건조온도 $20^{\circ}C$에서는 발생하지 않았고 건조온도 30, 40 및 $50^{\circ}C$에서 1.6, 6.8 및 24.2%로 나타나 건조온도가 높을수록 동할 발생이 증가하였다. 따라서, 건조온도 20 및 $30^{\circ}C$는 동할율 기준치에 적합한 안전한 온도영역이며, $50^{\circ}C$는 매우 위험한 온도영역으로 판단된다. 또한, 건조온도 $40^{\circ}C$는 동할율 방지를 위해 템퍼링시간 증대 등 운영방법의 조정이 필요하였다. 건조온도가 높을수록 건조후 발아율은 저하하였으며, 건조온도 20 및 $30^{\circ}C$에서 발아율은 종자용으로 사용가능한 영역이었으며, 건조온도 40 및 $50^{\circ}C$는 최소 영역인 80%에 만족하였다. 식미관능검사에서전반적인(Overall) 품질, 외관(Appearance)의 품질, 맛(Taste)의 품질 및 조직감(Texture)의 품질에서 유의적인 차이가 나타났으며, 종합적으로 판단해볼 때 건조온도 $20^{\circ}C$와 $30^{\circ}C$에서 식미가 높게 나타났으며, 건조온도가 가장 높은 $50^{\circ}C$에서는 상대적으로 낮게 나타났다. 따라서, 품질이 우수한 건조조건은 건조온도 $30^{\circ}C$ 이하, 건조속도 0.6%/hr 이하를 유지하는 것이 적정한 것으로 판단된다.