Broken rice is essentially fragmented rice grains. You get broken rice from the damage that occurs to the grains during the drying and milling process.
The Process Behind Broken Rice
Rice grains undergo several stages after harvesting, and it is during these stages that breakage typically happens.
Drying
Harvested rice, known as paddy, contains a high level of moisture. It needs to be dried before storage and milling. If drying is done too quickly, unevenly, or at excessive temperatures, it can cause internal stresses within the grains. This can lead to fissures or cracks, making the grains brittle and susceptible to breaking in later stages.
Milling
Milling is the process of removing the outer husk (hull) and bran layers from the rice grain to produce white rice. This is often done using machinery that applies pressure and friction to the grains.
- Hulling: Removing the tough outer husk.
- Milling/Polishing: Removing the bran layers and polishing the grain surface.
Mechanical stress, pressure, and friction during these milling steps can cause grains with pre-existing cracks (from drying or handling) or weaker structure to break into smaller pieces.
Why is it Called "Broken Rice"?
As the name suggests, "broken rice" refers specifically to these fragmented grains that didn't remain whole throughout the processing. As the reference notes, outside of Vietnam, these broken grains are generally considered inferior to intact ones due to their smaller size, which affects texture and cooking time compared to whole grains.
In summary, the combination of proper post-harvest handling, specifically the crucial steps of drying and milling, directly influences the percentage of broken grains produced. Grains that are damaged during these stages become what is known as broken rice.
