GB578614A - Improvements in the treatment of cereals for human consumption - Google Patents

Abstract

578,614. Treating grain. ROGERS, F. H. (Huzenlaub, E. G.). Dec. 22, 1943, No. 21472. [Class 58] In order to reduce the time necessary for cooking cereal grain, it is subjected to a pretreating process which produces cracks or crazing therein, such process comprising the step of heating the grain to a temperature level at which its latent or imparted moisture content tends to be expelled and then immediately and suddenly cooling the grain. The process, which may be applied to grain such as rice or barley in a milled or partly milled condition, may be carried out under normal atmospheric pressure or under vacuum or pressure. As an example the grain'may be spread over a heated surface or over a heated transport band and raised from 10‹C. to 100‹C., or even more, above atmospheric temperature. A draught of cold air is then caused immediately and suddenly to pass over the grain to produce the cracking or crazing. Alternatively the grain may be heated in a vessel under vacuum and a large valve then opened to admit cool air at a high velocity. The grain may, in another modification, be heated under pressure in a vessel, the pressure being produced by latent or applied moisture in the grain, or the grain may be damped and placed under pressure by admitting steam. Immediately prior to the cooling the pressure is released and relatively cold air admitted. In a further modification the grain from the heated conveyer band or heated vessel is discharged into bins which are naturally or artificially refrigerated.