Technical Abstract: This research investigated the drying characteristics, milling quality, and effectiveness in disinfestation of rough rice under infrared (IR) radiation heating. Infested and non-infested freshly harvested medium grain rice samples were heated/dried using catalytic IR for various durations as a single-layer. The adults and eggs of lesser grain borers (Rhizopertha dominica) and angoumois grain moths (Sitotroga cerealella)] were used for the infestation. The effects of the tempering treatment and natural and forced air cooling methods on moisture removal, milling quality and disinfestation were determined. A high heating rate and corresponding high moisture removal were achieved by using the IR heating. After heating, tempering increased moisture removal during cooling and improved the milling quality of the rice samples. When 20.6% MC rice was heated by IR for 60 s, the results were a rice temperature of 61.2°C, 1.7% MC removal during the heating period, and an additional 1.4% MC removal after tempering and natural cooling. In addition, the rice had 1.9 percentage points higher head rice yield than a control sample dried with room air. The heating and tempering treatments also completely killed the tested insects. We concluded that IR heating can be used for rice drying and disinfestations with improved milling quality and drying efficiency.