March 1, 2023 | 10 min read

Modern Rice Milling Process: Meaning, Steps, and Flow Chart

Introduction to Milling of Paddy

Milling of paddy is the detailed process of producing refined milled rice, which involves the careful separation of the husk (20%), bran layers (10%), and clean rice or starchy endosperm (65%) and broken rice (5%). This process consists of various essential steps, including cleaning, husking, whitening, polishing, and sorting. Each stage plays a vital role in the transformation of unpolished rice into high-quality white rice that is suitable for consumption.

The significance of milling paddy extends beyond mere aesthetic improvements to rice grains. It offers various other advantages:

1. Enhanced Taste

The elimination of the bran layer, which carries a slightly bitter taste, results in a milder and more palatable flavour profile.

2. Improved Cooking Properties

Milled rice cooks more rapidly and evenly than unpolished rice, making it a convenient option for daily consumption.

By eliminating the bran layer, which contains oils prone to spoilage, milling of paddy contributes to extending the shelf life of rice. This not only reduces waste but also ensures long-term food security.

Modern rice mills have experienced powerful improvements by including cutting-edge machinery and techniques to enhance efficiency and the quality of the final product. The main objective of rice milling is to eliminate the husk, bran layers, and any other impurities, revealing pure white rice grains that are fit for consumption.

The process of milling of paddy not only enhances the visual appeal but also the taste, and cooking characteristics of the rice and extends its shelf life. By refining the product, rice milling produces a premium result that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also packed with nutrients.

What is modern rice milling?

Modern rice milling is a refined process that uses advanced technology to carefully extract the edible portion of the rice grain. This multi-step process involves removing the outer layers, called the husk and bran while preserving the nutritious heart of the rice grain, known as the endosperm. This not only enhances the appearance and texture of the rice but also plays a crucial role in its quality

Modern rice milling machines are supplied with advanced features that work in harmony to produce top-quality rice that meets the expectations of consumers -

Dehuskers

These powerful machines act like nutcrackers, cracking open the outer husk to reveal the brown rice kernel.

Polishers

The rice polisher machines take the brown rice and further refine it by carefully removing some of the remaining bran layers, giving it a characteristic white appearance.

Graders

These sorting machines separate the rice based on size and quality, ensuring consistency in the final product.

Modern rice milling vs traditional rice milling

The modern and traditional rice milling styles are different, particularly in terms of the effectiveness of the process, the technology used, and the quality of the final product.  

Modern Rice Milling:

We use advanced machines like polishers, abrasive stones, pumps and powerful motors to process rice. It's like having high-tech aides that make the whole process smoother. This way, we get more rice, and it's harmonious in quality. It's a fast and effective system.

Traditional Milling of Rice:

On the other hand, traditional rice milling is like the old-academy way of doing thing. People use homemade labour and introductory tools like pestles and mortars, which takes further time, and you end up with lower percentage of rice.  

Milling of paddy process flow chart

The above image is of the flow chart of the rice milling process that shows the step-by-step stages of rice processing.

Explaining The Rice Milling Steps

The milling of paddy process involves various stages and technologies aimed at obtaining high-quality rice grains for consumption. 

1. Cleaning
   The processing of rice begins with the blowout of paddy (unhusked rice). The paddy is thoroughly cleaned to remove impurities like stones, dust, and other foreign particles. Cleaning machines such as pre-cleaners and vibro destoner machines are used in this step.
2. Parboiling
   In some cases, the paddy may undergo the parboiling stage, a process that improves the nutritional content and quality of the rice. During this process, the paddy is washed, steamed, and dried before the milling of paddy. This stage requires soaking tanks, steaming equipment, and drying facilities.
3. Milling Process
   The actual milling of the paddy process begins with the removal of the outer layers of the paddy to obtain brown rice. Modern rice mills use various machines like hullers, whitening machines, and polishers to remove the husk, bran, and germ layers, producing brown rice.
4. Whitening
   Brown rice undergoes further processing to remove the remaining bran layers, resulting in white rice. Whitening machines that use friction or abrasion are used in this process. 
5. Sorting and Grading
   The milled rice is sorted and graded based on size, colour, and quality to guarantee a consistent final product. Optical sorters, length graders, and other sorting machines are used for accurate categorisation.
6. Polishing
   For certain types of rice, additional polishing is performed to enhance appearance. Water jet polishing machines use friction to give the rice a shiny appearance.
7. Length Grading and Blending
   Rice is further sorted based on grain length. Different batches may be combined to achieve specific qualities. Length graders and blending equipment are used to achieve the desired rice quality.
8. Packaging
   The final milled rice is packaged for distribution to consumers. Automated packaging machines fill and seal bags with processed rice.
9. Quality Control
   Throughout the entire process, quality control measures are implemented to ensure that the rice meets industry and consumer standards. Sensors, monitoring devices, and quality control staff contribute to maintaining consistent quality.

Overall, the milling of the paddy process is a complex and multi-step procedure that requires precision and attention to detail. Each step in the process is carefully performed to achieve the desired characteristics in the final rice product.

Understanding each step in the process is essential for ensuring the quality and consistency of the final rice product. By implementing modern milling techniques and utilizing advanced machinery, rice millers can improve efficiency, reduce waste, and produce high-quality rice that meets the demands of consumers worldwide.

Conclusion

Milling of paddy is a dynamic process that has experienced significant advancements over time. In addition to the traditional milling of rice process, there are also ultramodern milling ways that use advanced technology to help effectiveness and productivity.  

Suri Engineers, established in 1974, has been a major player in the field of milling of paddy, contributing immensely to the modernization of rice manufactories. The company offers a range of ultramodern rice milling machines that combine advanced technology to enhance effectiveness, productivity, and the overall quality of the mulled rice.

From the traditional milling of rice through hand-hitting to the refined technologies of ultramodern rice manufacturers, the thing remains the same – to deliver high-quality, nutritional rice for global consumption.