**5. Conclusions**


#### **Figure 4.**

*Viscosity profiles of rice samples collected during drying. OOC, ordinary operating conditions; PROG, program; IN, representative sample of the loading; OUT, representative sample of the unloading.*

temperatures). For MC below 15%, the grain should be dried at milder conditions (lower grain temperatures) to avoid an increase of the HRYR.

• Based on these results, a two-stage drying program was proposed to improve the drying efficiency (drying rate and HRYR). This program was tested in a

*Improving the Efficiency of Rice Drying: Impact of Operational Variables on the Drying… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.112970*

commercial cross-flow dryer using a South American rice variety with promising results. The HRYR was reduced and the drying rate increased, compared to the runs performed at the ordinary operating conditions of the industry. Additionally, the cooking properties were not affected.

• Implementing this drying program would allow to increase the reception capacity of the rice industries and reduce the percentage of rice kernels with lower added value (broken kernels), improving the productivity of the industrial sector.
