A rice polisher is a machine for buffing (or "polishing") kernels of

rice Rice is a cereal grain and in its Domestication, domesticated form is the staple food of over half of the world's population, particularly in Asia and Africa. Rice is the seed of the grass species ''Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice)—or, much l ...

to change their appearance, taste, and texture or for transforming brown rice into

white rice White rice is milled rice that has had the husk, bran, and germ removed. This alters the flavor, texture and appearance of the seed; helps prevent spoilage (extends its storage life); and makes it easier to digest. After brown rice is milled ...

Use

Rice polishers are used after the rice has gone through the whitening process. They are abrasive machines that use

talc Talc, or talcum, is a clay mineral composed of hydrated magnesium silicate, with the chemical formula . Talc in powdered form, often combined with corn starch, is used as baby powder. This mineral is used as a thickening agent and lubricant ...

or some other very fine dust to buff the outer surface of rice kernels. In Japanese farming communities, there is often a shared rice polishing machine. The first fully automated rice polishing machine is believed to have been patented by the English engineer and inventor Sampson Moore in 1861. In the 20th century, kitchen appliances for consumers were created that allowed individual cooks to polish rice in their homes.

Components

The polisher contains cones covered with

leather Leather is a strong, flexible and durable material obtained from the tanning (leather), tanning, or chemical treatment, of animal skins and hides to prevent decay. The most common leathers come from cattle, sheep, goats, equine animals, buffal ...

strips and perforated screens. The leather strips on the cones rub the grain of rice over the screen repeatedly. The remaining particles on the rice are removed during this process, giving the grain of rice a shinier appearance. There is a

suction Suction is the day-to-day term for the movement of gases or liquids along a pressure gradient with the implication that the movement occurs because the lower pressure pulls the gas or liquid. However, the forces acting in this case do not orig ...

fan within the polisher that keeps the rice cool as it travels through the polishing process and lowers the percentage of broken rice. The suction fan also catches any loose talc or dust that is lost throughout the process.

Types

* Vertical cone polisher: This machine uses a covered cone within a perforated screen to create an abrasive surface for polishing rice. * Horizontal polisher: This machine uses a cylinder covered in emery that is placed within another cylinder and rotated to polish the rice.

References

Rice production Cookware and bakeware Cooking appliances English inventions {{Kitchenware-stub

Use

Components

Types

See also

References