desgranado

Desgranado is a Spanish term formed as the participle of the verb desgranar. As an adjective, it describes something that has had its grains or kernels separated from the surrounding husk, cob, or fruit. In practice, it is most commonly used to refer to cereals and seeds that have been shelled or threshed, such as maize desgranado (kernels freed from the cob) or arroz desgranado (peeled rice). The noun form can be used to denote the product obtained after this process, i.e., the desgranado itself or the kernels that result from desgranado.

Etymology and form: desgranar means to separate a plant’s seeds or kernels from the rest of the plant, to thresh or shell. The prefix des- indicates a reversal or removal, and granar is related to granos, or grains. The resulting participle, desgranado, is used both descriptively and to name the shelled product.

Agricultural usage: Desgranado is common in discussions of crop processing, storage, and packaging. It distinguishes kernels that have been freed from the husk or cob from whole ears or unprocessed fruit. The term is versatile across crops such as maize, sorghum, and rice, where the kernels are marketed or used after desgranado.

Machinery and processes: The process may be carried out manually or with equipment. A desgranadora (shelling machine) or threshing equipment performs the removal of kernels, producing desgranado for drying, milling, or sale.

See also: desgranar; desgranación; desgranador.