Patent ID: 8039035

Claim:
A batch rice production system comprising: (a) heating a dry rice product to a desired hydration pick-up to yield a partially hydrated rice product; (b) cooling the partially hydrated rice product with cool water, wherein the cool water and surface starch are removed from the partially hydrated rice product; (c) topically coating the partially hydrated rice product by mixing the partially hydrated rice product with an oil-in-water lubricating emulsion, the emulsion comprising: oil, an amount of water, desired seasonings, and optional additives, wherein the amount of water in the emulsion comprises an amount necessary to substantially achieve a desired target hydration pick-up prior to charging a retort pouch with the hydrated rice product; (d) charging a plurality of retort pouches with the topically coated rice product from (c); (e) hermetically sealing the plurality of retort pouches and loading the retort pouches into a retort-adapted carrier; and (f) subjecting the plurality of retort pouches to a retort cycle effective to achieve commercial sterility, wherein the topically coated rice product has a consistency of stove-top prepared rice.