How to Sun-Dry Rice

Rice is grown in paddies, a low lying field with water.

In Asian countries, rice has been sun dried for years. Solar drying of grain is economical, in that the sun provides the energy for preserving the grain. Solar drying is also environmentally friendly, producing no carbon dioxide in the process. Rice is either spread in the field to dry; gathered into panicles or sheaves and placed on pavement or hung from frames; gathered and dried on nets, mats or canvas; or gathered and placed in a drying barn or grain mill floor. Each method works but has particular problems that must be watched. Nevertheless, solar drying usefully preserves the rice for food. Does this Spark an idea?

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Sickle or Machete
Rake
Canvas, Mats or Tarps
Thermometer
Moisture meter

Instructions

- 1
  
  Harvest the rice. Use the sickle or machete to cut the rice at the bottom of the stalk.
- 2
  
  Gather the rice into sheaves or panicles using a rake or by hand. Loosely wrap each panicle with one stalk of rice.
- 3
  
  Spread the rice panicles in thin layers on the mats, canvas or tarps. The rice should be no deeper than a few inches.
- 4
  
  Place mats in well-aerated or windy areas for faster drying. Mix the grains frequently, every 30 minutes.
- 5
  
  Monitor rice temperature and moisture content using the thermometer and moisture meter. When the rice reaches 122 degrees Fahrenheit, cover or shade rice.
- 6
  
  Cover the rice at night and when it rains. Don't get the rice wet or it will crack.
- 7
  
  Use sun drying for the first stage of preserving. Once the rice reaches 18% of moisture content, it can be stored for two weeks. At that point, use other drying methods (such as a food dehydrator) to reduce moisture content to 14%. This will ensure food safety and nutritional quality.