How to prevent rice from getting moldy

The food in the north is mainly pasta, while the food in the south is mainly rice. This is because the main crop in the south is rice, so people in the south like to eat rice very much. Every family has its own way of storing rice. Based on so many years of experience, many people have also summed up methods of storing rice. In some cities in the south, it often rains and the air is humid, so rice is more likely to mold, which makes people very confused. How to prevent rice from getting moldy? Let’s find out together

The main causes of rice mildew are temperature and humidity, the amount of bran on the surface of the rice, failure to cool the hot machine rice in time, and pests. The microorganisms that cause grain spoilage mainly include fungi (molds, yeasts, plant pathogenic fungi, etc.), bacteria, viruses, etc., and the fungi most likely to cause rice mildew are molds. In the early stage of mildew, the surface of the rice turns gray, loses its luster, becomes gray and powdery, and the rice grooves are obvious. The mildew process manifests itself as fever, sweating, and a slight musty smell; the pigments produced by the mold itself and its metabolism cause the rice to change color, causing the original color of the rice grains to disappear and appear black, dark, yellow, etc. Mildew is significantly correlated with rice moisture content, ambient temperature, humidity, and gas composition.

Rice is processed, which makes it easier to eat but harder to store. It is easy for insects and mold to grow when the air is humid and the temperature is high. People are accustomed to exposing infested rice to the sun. This not only fails to kill the rice weevils, but the rice will lose too much water after exposure and its taste will be affected. Experts suggest that rice should be placed in a dry, cool, ventilated place. For rice that needs to be stored for a period of time, garlic or fennel tied with gauze or some dried kelp can be placed in the rice.

In order for rice to survive the summer safely, it is more appropriate to control the relative moisture content at 13.8-14.2%. The warehouse must be heat-insulated, moisture-proof and well-ventilated. The warehouse should be clean and free of dust. (Dust is the best breeding ground for pests) Keep it clean. There should be cooling and dehumidification measures in the warehouse. There should be a thermometer and humidity meter in the warehouse and a temperature detection device in the rice stack. The temperature and humidity in the warehouse and the temperature of the rice should be checked every day. If the humidity in the warehouse is found to be high, it should be dehumidified. If the temperature of the rice is high, the stack should be turned over and ventilation should be carried out to cool it down. And form a record. The warehouse is cleaned and disinfected regularly. No sources of pollution are allowed. There should be support at the bottom of the stack to prevent moisture, and rice of different grades and specifications must be strictly separated. Insect-prone foods are not allowed to be stored in the same warehouse as rice to prevent cross-infection.

According to the above introduction, we know that the air in some rainy cities is relatively humid. If the storage method is not correct, it is very easy to cause mold. Only by storing it in dry air can the mold be reduced. Therefore, we must try our best to keep the air circulating in the place where the rice is stored, and create a dry storage environment for the rice as much as possible. This will ensure the quality of the rice and prevent it from getting moldy.