Slow freezing
rate (0.09 C/min) processing increased cooked rice staling
during freezing process, and rapid freezing rate (1.45 C/min)
processing can produce a better quality of cooked rice during
freezing process. Rapid freezing (1.45 C/min) combined with
frozen storage at 18 C can effectively retard starch retrogradation
and maintain the texture properties of cooked rice for at
least 7 months. However, if the freezing rates of frozen cooked
rice were 0.26e0.53 C/min, the initial advantage (lower hardness
and higher adhesiveness value) gained by rapid freezing was
lost during long time frozen storage. Furthermore, the slight
advantages (lower hardness and higher adhesiveness value)
gained by rapid freezing of the cooked rice, is lost very quickly
during chill storage at 4 C. Therefore, rapid freezing combined
with frozen storage at 18 C can produce a high quality of
cooked rice for at least 7 months. These findings, if generally
applicable to cooked rice products, could have important quality
and economic implications for the convenience of the food
industry.