Effect of Dry Heating on Physicochemical Properties of Pregelatinized Rice Starch

Japonica and indica rice starches (10% w/w) were pregelatinized in a boiling water bath for 5 or 10 min and subsequently heat‐treated in a dry state for 0, 1, 2, or 3 h at 130°C to examine the effects of dry heating on pasting viscosity, paste clarity, thermal properties, X‐ray diffraction pattern, and gel strength of pregelatinized starches. Heat treatment obviously changed the physicochemical properties of pregelatinized rice starch. The pregelatinized rice starches had higher peak viscosity and final viscosity than the corresponding native rice starches. Heat treatment of pregelatinized rice starch for 1 h increased the peak viscosity, but treatment for 2 or 3 h decreased the peak viscosity compared with the unheated pregelatinized rice starch. The indica rice starch exhibited more substantial changes in pasting viscosity than did japonica rice starch during heat treatment. The melting enthalpy of the endothermic peak occurred at 90–110°C, and the intensity of the X‐ray diffraction peak at 20° was increased by dry heating, possibly owing to the enhanced amylose‐lipid complexes. The dry heat treatment of pregelatinized starch caused an increase in paste clarity and a decrease in gel strength.     

Comparison of Starch Pasting Properties at Various Cooking Conditions Using the Micro Visco‐Amylo‐Graph and the Rapid Visco Analyser

Pasting profiles of selected starches were compared by using a Micro Visco‐Amylo‐Graph (MVA) and a Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA). Effects of cooking (heating/cooling) rate and stirring speed on starch pasting properties were examined. The pasting viscosity of a starch suspension (8%, w/w, dsb) was measured at a fast (6°C/min) and slow (1.5°C/min) cooking rate while being stirred at either 75 rpm or 160 rpm. The pasting temperatures (PT) of all starches were higher when measured at the fast cooking rate than those at the slow cooking rate, except for wheat measured by using the RVA. PT was also higher when measured at the slow stirring speed (75 rpm) than at the fast stirring speed (160 rpm) in both RVA and MVA. When stirring speed increased from 75 rpm to 160 rpm, peak viscosity of all starch pastes except potato decreased measured by using the RVA, but increased by using the MVA. In general, amylograms of these starches obtained by using the MVA showed less breakdown, but greater setback viscosity than did that obtained by using the RVA. Differences in starch pasting properties between MVA and RVA, measured at the same cooking and stirring rates, were attributed mainly to the difference in spindle structure.     

Physicochemical Properties of Rice Starch Modified by Hydrothermal Treatments

Rice starches of long grain and waxy cultivars were annealed (ANN) in excess water at 50°C for 4 hr. They were also modified under heat-moisture treatment (HMT) conditions at 110°C with various moisture contents (20, 30, and 40%) for 8 hr. The modified products were analyzed by rapid-viscosity analysis (RVA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Generally, these hydrothermal treatments altered the pasting and gelling properties of rice starch, resulting in lower viscosity peak heights, lower setbacks, and greater swelling consistency. The modified starch showed increased gelatinization temperatures and narrower gelatinization temperature ranges on ANN or broader ones on HMT. The effects were more pronounced for HMT than for ANN. Also, the typical A-type XRD pattern for rice starch remained unchanged after ANN or HMT at low moisture contents, and the amorphous content increased after HMT at 40% moisture content.     

Properties of Starches from Near‐Isogenic Wheat Lines with Different Wx Protein Deficiencies

To determine the effect of amylose content on the starch properties, the amylose content, pasting properties, swelling power, enzymatic digestibility, and thermal properties of partial and perfect waxy types along with their wild‐type parent were analyzed. As expected, amylose content decreases differently in response to the loss of each Wx gene, showing the least response to Wx‐A1a. Most of the characteristics, except the thermal properties of the amylose‐lipid complex in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), differed significantly among the tested types. Furthermore, the breakdown, setback, and pasting temperatures from the Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA) and the enzymatic digestibility, swelling power, peak temperature, and enthalpy of starch gelatinization from DSC showed a correlation with the amylose content. The relationships between the peak viscosity from the RVA and the onset temperature of starch gelatinization determined by DSC with amylose content of the tested materials were not clear. Waxy starch, which has no amylose, showed a contrasting behavior in starch gelatinization compared with nonwaxy starches. Among the nonwaxy starches, lower setback, lower pasting temperature, higher enzyme digestibility, higher peak temperature, higher enthalpy of starch gelatinization, and higher swelling were generally associated with low amylose starches.     

Characterization of Resistant Starch Samples Prepared from Two High‐Amylose Maize Starches Through Debranching and Heat Treatments

The aim of the present study was to investigate effects of debranching, autoclaving‐storing cycles, and drying processes (oven‐drying or freeze‐drying) on RS contents, thermal, pasting, and functional properties of high‐amylose maize starches (Hylon V and Hylon VII). The resistant starch (RS) contents increased (≤57.8%) with increasing autoclaving‐storing cycles. RS contents of oven‐dried samples were higher than those of freeze‐dried samples due to ongoing retrogradation of starch during oven drying at 50°C. Debranching caused a significant decrease in peak transition temperature and enthalpy values as compared with native starches. Solubility and water binding values of RS preparations were higher than those of native starches. Addition of native and autoclaved samples had improving effect on emulsion properties of albumin. Cold viscosity values of oven‐dried samples were lower as compared with freeze‐dried samples; this might be due to higher number of H‐bonds in the oven‐dried samples expected to be formed during drying. Debranching and autoclaving‐storing cycles caused decreases in peak, breakdown, and final viscosity values. The results of present study showed that debranching and heat treatments increased the RS contents and improved the functional properties of high‐amylose maize starches.     

Assessing Fermentation Quality of Grain Sorghum for Fuel Ethanol Production Using Rapid Visco‐Analyzer

The Rapid Visco‐Analyzer (RVA) was used to characterize the pasting properties of 68 sorghum grains with a standard 23‐min temperature profile. The results showed a strong linear relationship between ethanol yield and final viscosity as well as setback. Ethanol yield increased as final viscosity decreased. A modified RVA procedure (10 min) with an application of α‐amylase was developed to simulate the liquefaction step in dry‐grind ethanol production. There was a remarkable difference in mashing properties among the sorghum samples with the normal dosage of α‐amylase. The sorghum samples which were difficult to liquefy in the mashing step had much higher peak viscosities than the samples that were easily liquefied. The results also showed that the relationship between conversion efficiency and mashing property was significant. Tannins cause high mash viscosities. There was a strong linear relationship between tannin content and final viscosity as well as peak viscosity. The modified RVA procedure is applicable not only for characterization of mashing properties but also for optimization of α‐amylase doses for starch liquefaction.     

Hot‐Water Solubilities and Water Sorptions of Resistant Starches at 25°C

Resistant starches (RS) were prepared from wheat starch and lintnerized wheat starch by autoclaving and cooling and by cross‐linking. Heat‐moisture treatment also was used on one sample to increase RS. The experimental resistant starches made from wheat starch contained 10–73% RS measured as Prosky dietary fiber, whereas two commercial resistant starches, Novelose 240 and 330, produced from high‐amylose maize starch, contained 58 and 40%, respectively. At 25°C in excess water, the experimental RS starches, except for the cross‐linked wheat starch, gained 3–6 times more water than the commercial RS starches, and at 95°C gained 2–4 times more. Cross‐linked RS4 wheat starch and Novelose 240 showed 95°C swelling powers and solubilities of 2 g/g and 1%, and 3 g/g and 2%, respectively. All starches showed similar water vapor sorption and desorption isotherms at 25°C and water activities (a_w) < 0.8. At a_w 0.84–0.97, the resistant starches made from wheat starch, except the cross‐linked wheat starch, showed ≈10% higher water sorption than the commercial resistant starches.     

优质小麦子粒淀粉组成与糊化特性对氮素水平的响应

在大田条件下,选用3个不同类型优质小麦品种: 豫麦47（强筋品种）、山农8355（中筋品种）和豫麦50（弱筋品种）,设置3个氮肥水平: 施N 0、15和30 g/m2,研究了小麦子粒淀粉的粒度分布、直支链淀粉组成、糊化特性及其对氮素水平的响应。结果表明,优质小麦子粒中淀粉粒的粒径分布范围为1～45 μm,其数目分布呈单峰或双峰曲线变化,体积和表面积分布均呈双峰曲线变化,峰谷位于10 μm处; 据此可将淀粉粒分为两种类型: A型大淀粉粒（10～45 μm）和B型小淀粉粒（1～10 μm）。优质小麦子粒淀粉粒组成存在显著的基因型差异。强筋品种豫麦47子粒中B型淀粉粒的比例较高,弱筋品种豫麦50子粒中A型淀粉粒的比例较高,中筋品种山农8355居中。施氮水平对优质小麦子粒中淀粉的粒度分布存在显著影响。在本试验条件下,随氮素水平的提高,强筋品种豫麦47子粒中A型淀粉粒的比例提高,而B型淀粉粒的比例下降; 增施氮肥后弱筋品种豫麦50和中筋品种山农8355子粒中B型淀粉粒的比例增大,而A型淀粉粒的比例降低,且前者变化的幅度较大。适量增施氮肥提高优质小麦子粒中的淀粉含量,氮肥用量进一步增大后,淀粉含量降低; 增施氮肥后优质小麦子粒中直链淀粉含量降低。增施氮肥对优质小麦子粒淀粉的糊化特性存在较大影响,且此影响的趋势因基因型和施氮量而异。其中强筋品种豫麦47表现为低谷粘度、最终粘度、反弹值、糊化温度和峰值时间提高,而高峰粘度和稀懈值降低; 当氮肥用量增大至30 g/m2时,糊化温度和峰值时间降低,而以粘度为单位的参数均提高。弱筋品种豫麦50表现为增施氮肥后,RVA参数呈下降趋势,与之相对应中筋品种山农8355的呈上升趋势。相关性分析表明,B型淀粉粒的数目、体积和表面积比例与高峰粘度和稀懈值存在显著正相关; 与低谷粘度、最终粘度和反弹值存在显著负相关。子粒中直链淀粉含量、支链淀粉含量和总淀粉含量与高峰粘度和稀懈值呈显著负相关,与低谷粘度、最终粘度、反弹值和峰值时间呈一定程度正相关; 直链淀粉相对含量与RVA特征参数之间的相关趋势与子粒中直链淀粉含量的趋势一致,但均未达显著水平。由此可以认为,氮肥通过调控小麦子粒中淀粉的直、支链组成和粒度分布而影响其糊化特性。     

Extrusion of Cross‐Linked Hydroxypropylated Corn Starches II. Morphological and Molecular Characterization

A series of cross‐linked hydroxypropylated corn starches were extruded with a Leistritz micro‐18 co‐rotating extruder. Extrusion process variables including moisture (30, 35, and 40%), barrel temperature (60, 80, and 100°C), and screw design (low, medium, and high shear) were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of extruded starches showed a gel phase with distorted granules and granule fragments after extrusion at 60°C. After extrusion at 100°C only a gel phase was observed with no granular structures remaining. High performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) equipped with multiangle laser light‐scattering (MALLS) and refractive index (RI) detectors showed extruded starches degraded to different extents, depending on extrusion conditions. The average molecular weight of the amylopectin of unextruded native corn starch was 7.7 × 10⁸. Extrusion at 30% moisture, 100°C, and high shear reduced the molecular weight of amylopectin to 1.0 × 10⁸. Hydroxypropylated normal corn starch extruded at identical conditions showed greater decreases in amylopectin molecular weight. With the addition of cross‐linking, the amylopectin fractions of the extruded starches were less degraded than those of their native and hydroxypropylated corn starch counterparts. Similarly, increasing moisture content during extrusion lowered amylopectin degradation in the extruded starches. Increasing temperature during extrusion of cross‐linked hydroxypropylated starches at high moisture content (e.g., 40%) lowered amylopectin molecular weights of the extruded starches, whereas increasing extrusion temperature at low moisture content (30%) resulted in less degraded molecules. This difference was attributed to the higher glass transition temperatures of the cross‐linked starches.     

Increasing Slowly Digestible Starch Content of Normal and Waxy Maize Starches and Properties of Starch Products

Changes in the digestibility and the properties of the starch isolated from normal and waxy maize kernels after heat‐moisture treatment (HMT) followed by different temperature cycling (TC) or isothermal holding (IH) conditions were investigated. Moist maize kernels were heated at 80°C for 2 hr. The HMT maize kernels were subjected to various conditions designed to accelerate retrogradation of the starch within endosperm cells. Two methods were used to accelerate crystallization: TC with a low temperature of –24°C for 1 hr and a high temperature of 20, 30, or 50°C for 2, 4, or 24 hr for 1, 2, or 4 cycles, and IH at 4, 20, 30, or 50°C for 24 hr. The starch granules were then isolated from the treated kernels. The starch isolated from HMT normal maize kernels treated by TC using –24°C for 1 hr and 30°C for 2 hr for 2 cycles gave the greatest SDS content (24%) and starch yield (54%). The starch isolated from HMT waxy maize kernels treated by TC using –24°C for 1 hr and 30°C for 24 hr for 1 cycle had an SDS content of 19% and starch yield of 43%. The results suggest that TC after HMT changes the internal structure of maize starch granules in a way that results in the formation of SDS (and RS). They also suggest that thermal treatment of maize kernels is more effective in producing SDS than is the same treatment of isolated starch. All starch samples isolated from treated normal maize kernels exhibited lower peak viscosities, breakdown, and final viscosities and higher pasting temperatures than did the control (untreated normal maize starch). Although peak viscosities and breakdown of the starch isolated from treated waxy maize kernels were similar to those of the control (untreated waxy maize starch), their pasting temperatures were higher. The starch isolated from treated normal and waxy maize kernels with the highest SDS contents (described above) were further examined by DSC, X‐ray diffraction, and polarized light microscopy. Onset and peak temperatures of gelatinization of both samples were higher than those of the controls. Both retained the typical A‐type diffraction pattern of the parent starches. The relative crystallinity of the starch from the treated normal maize kernels was higher than that of the control, while the relative crystallinity of the starch from the treated waxy maize kernels was not significantly different from that of the control. Both treated starches exhibited birefringence, but the granule sizes of both starches, when placed in water, were slightly larger than those of the controls.     

Modification of Starch by Dry Heating with Ionic Gums

Waxy maize (native and hydroxypropylated [HP]) and potato starches were impregnated with ionic gums (sodium alginate, CMC, and xanthan, 1% based on starch solids) and heat‐treated in a dry state for 0, 2, or 4 hr at 130°C. Effects of the dry heating on paste viscosity (RVA) and clarity (light transmittance) were examined. Heat treatment with sodium alginate and CMC raised the paste viscosities of native and HP waxy maize starches, but decreased that of potato starch. Xanthan provided the most substantial changes in paste viscosity among the tested gums. It appeared to heavily restrict granule swelling of the waxy maize starches, but it increased swelling of potato starch granules. Dry heating raised the paste viscosity of all the starch‐gum mixtures tested, except the potato starchalginate mixture. The final viscosity at 50°C of a 7% paste was raised in all other starches by ≈500–1,000 cP by this treatment. The paste of waxy maize starch‐gum products became opaque and shorter textured by the heat treatment, regardless of the gum type, whereas potato starch‐gum products did not show any obvious change in paste clarity. Ionic gums could behave as cross‐linking agents as well as form graft copolymers through heatinduced ester formation. This simple heating process with ionic gums could be used as a modification method for starch.     

Functionality Behavior of Raw and Extruded Corn Starch Mixtures

Relationships between the structural properties of raw and extruded corn starches and their functionalities were investigated using mixtures of these starch types. Extruded starch had higher water absorption and water solubility indices, and produced lower RVA viscosity profiles when compared with raw starch. It also had no differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) endotherm. Gel cohesiveness and adhesiveness of both starch types were similar, while extruded starch gels were softer. Extruded starch produced lower Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA) viscosity profiles than raw starch due to starch degradation during extrusion. The raw and extruded starch components had negative interaction coefficients, thus RVA viscosity parameters were lowered as the fraction of extruded starch in the mixture increased. Starch degradation in the extruded starch was a likely significant factor associated with low viscosity profiles. Mixtures of raw and extruded starches could be commercially prepared to obtain finished starch products with a range of functional attributes.     

Effects on Pasting Viscosity of Starch and Flour from Different Operating Conditions for the Rapid Visco Analyser

Three wheat flours, three wheat starches, a regular maize starch and a waxy maize starch were subjected to a number of different RVA profiles. Five different initial temperatures were used, 40, 50, 55, 60, and 65°C, with different initial holding times (0–3 min), heating times (2fl–10 min), holding times at 95°C (0–6 min), cooling times (2–6 min), and final hold times (0–10 min) being applied. A range of final temperatures of 30–60°C was also utilized. Significant variations in viscosity were observed with these conditions, particularly in wheat starch and flour. The most important parameters causing these variations were the initial temperature, the heating rate, and the final holding time. Short initial holding times also resulted in a wider spread of values for peak viscosity although there was little effect on the mean value and no significant effect on the holding strength or final viscosity. The final temperature was also important in that lower temperatures gave more viscous gels. Provided that the desired cooling rate could be achieved, varying the cooling time had no effect on the peak or trough viscosities and only a very minor effect on the final viscosity. If final temperatures of 40°C or lower are to be used, the cooling conditions and final hold time would need to be adjusted so that maximum viscosity could be achieved. A proposal for a standard Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA) procedure is: at least 1 min at 50°C, heat to 95°C over 4 min, hold at 95°C for 4 min, cool to 50°C in 3 min, and hold at 50°C for 4 min. These conditions should minimize variation within samples and should allow a better comparison between samples.     

Extrusion of Cross‐Linked Hydroxypropylated Corn Starches I. Pasting Properties

A series of cross‐linked (0, 0.014, 0.018, 0.024, and 0.028% POCl₃, dry starch basis) hydroxypropylated (8%) corn starches were extruded using a Leistritz micro‐18 co‐rotating extruder. Process variables included moisture, barrel temperature, and screw design. Differential scanning calorimetry and X‐ray diffraction studies showed the level of starch crystallinity decreased with increasing severity of extrusion conditions. Pasting properties of the extruded starches were examined using a Rapid Visco Analyser. Pasting profiles of starches extruded at different conditions displayed different hot paste viscosity and final viscosity. Increasing starch moisture content during extrusion and level of cross‐linking increased starch viscosity (P < 0.0001), whereas increasing extrusion temperature and shear decreased starch viscosity (P < 0.0001). Interactions were found between level of cross‐linking and screw design and between extrusion temperature and starch moisture content (P < 0.0001).     

Production of Boiling‐Stable Granular Resistant Starch by Partial Acid Hydrolysis and Hydrothermal Treatments of High‐Amylose Maize Starch

The purpose of the present work was to examine whether partial acid hydrolysis (PAH) of a high‐amylose maize starch (ae‐VII) would enhance the effects of hydrothermal treatments to produce granular resistant starch (RS) that is stable to further heat treatment at atmospheric pressure. PAH ae‐VII starches were prepared by heating 35% (w/v) suspensions with 1% (w/w) HCl at 25°C for 6, 30, and 78 hr. Native and PAH starches were then treated by annealing (ANN) or heat‐moisture treatment (HMT). ANN was done at 70% moisture at 50, 60, or 70°C for 24 hr, and HMT was done at 30% moisture at 100, 120, or 140°C for 80 min. RS that survives boiling during analysis was determined by a modification of the AOAC method for determining total dietary fiber. RS was also determined by the Englyst method. Little change in the gelatinization enthalpy was found for ae‐VII starch after PAH, ANN, or HMT as individual treatments. After PAH, either ANN or HMT led to decreased gelatinization enthalpy. HMT and ANN alone increased boiling‐stable RS but decreased total RS. After PAH of ae‐VII, either ANN or HMT tended to increase the yield of boiling‐stable granular RS, with the greatest yield (≤63.2%) observed for HMT.     

Properties of Cross‐Linked Starch from Waxy Mutant Wheat Tanikei A6599‐4

Native starch from waxy mutant wheat Tanikei A6599‐4 is known to exhibit more stable hot paste viscosity than a typical waxy wheat (Tanikei H1881) and waxy corn. The objective of this study was to investigate the starch paste properties of Tanikei A6599‐4 after cross‐linking and compare with Tanikei H1881 and waxy corn. As an example of cross‐linking, the reaction (at 30, 60, 120, and 360 min) with sodium trimetaphosphate was used. In Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA) measurement, the unique characteristic was maintained in Tanikei A6599‐4 starch cross‐linked at low reaction time (<120 min) levels. Cross‐linking at a high reaction time (360 min) level suppressed the swelling of both Tanikei A6599‐4 and Tanikei H1881 starches but not waxy corn starch. Although unmodified Tanikei A6599‐4 starch showed the lowest paste clarity among unmodified waxy starches, this defect became unremarkable when starch was cross‐linked for ≥120 min. In gel‐dispersed dynamic viscoelasticity measurement, the order of G′ and G″ values was always Tanikei A6599‐4 > Tanikei H1881 > waxy corn. This indicates that cross‐linked Tanikei A6599‐4 and Tanikei H1881 starches have different starch properties and that swollen Tanikei A6599‐4 starch granules are more rigid than swollen Tanikei H1881 starch granules.     

Effect of Partial Acid Hydrolysis and Heat‐Moisture Treatment on Formation of Resistant Tuber Starch

Structural characteristics of resistant starch (RS) were investigated. Tuber starches, hydrolyzed with 1N HCl at 35°C for 8 hr followed by autoclaving‐cooling treatment, were heated at 100°C for 16 hr after adjusting the moisture content to 20 or 30%. RS content of the tuber starches ranged from 5.4 to 22.7% depending on the source and type of treatment. Gelatinization parameters of RS isolated from partially acid‐hydrolyzed starch with autoclaving‐cooling followed by heat‐moisture treatment (HMT) showed higher enthalpy (ΔH) values and lower peak temperature (T_p) compared with non‐acid‐hydrolyzed RS. R values, the difference between completion and initial temperatures, and ΔH of RS increased by HMT. The X‐ray diffraction patterns of potato and sweet potato RS isolated from partially acid‐hydrolyzed starch with autoclaving‐cooling showed distinct sharp peaks at 15, 25, 27, and 28°, which decreased by HMT.     

Characteristics of Granular Cold‐Water Gelling Starches of Cereal Grains and Legumes Prepared Using Liquid Ammonia and Ethanol

Starches of wheat, corn, smooth and wrinkled peas, and chickpeas were modified to a free‐flowing powder of granular cold‐water gelling (GCWG) starch using liquid ammonia and ethanol at 23°C and atmospheric pressure. Amylose content of starches was 26.3% in wheat, 27.1% in corn, 35.4% in chickpeas, 43.2% in smooth peas, and 79.9% in wrinkled peas. The modified starches remained in granular form with an increased number of grooves and fissures on the surface of the granules compared with native starch, while the crystallinity was mostly lost, as shown by X‐ray diffractograms and DSC endothermic enthalpies. Pasting viscosity of modified starches at 23°C was 171 BU and 305 BU in wheat and corn, respectively, and much higher in legume starches, ranging from 545 BU to 814 BU. Viscosities of modified legume starches at 23°C were at least twice as high as those of native starches determined at 92.5°C. Swelling power of modified starches at 23°C ranged from 8.7 g/g to 15.3 g/g, while swelling power of native starches heated to 92.5°C ranged from 4.8 g/g to 16.0 g/g. GCWG starches exhibited higher dextrose equivalent (DE) values of enzymatic hydrolysis, ranging from 25.2 to 27.0 compared with native starches (1.5–2.9). Modified starches from wheat, corn, smooth peas, and chickpeas formed weak gels without heat treatment and experienced no changes in gel hardness during storage, while native starch gels formed by heat treatment showed an increase in hardness by 1.1–7.5 N during 96 hr of storage at 4°C.     

Development of Laboratory Techniques to Mimic Industrial‐Scale Nixtamalization

A laboratory nixtamalization process was developed to imitate larger scale cooking/steeping conditions. Corn (45 kg) was cooked in a pilot plant gas‐fired cook/steep tank and temperature was monitored every 30 sec. Cooling and heating rates were mimicked in the laboratory using a digital temperature programmable hot plate that adjusted grain‐water‐lime temperature changes at a specified rate. A Response Surface Central Composite Design was used to model pasting and thermal properties of nixtamal and masa as a function of cooking temperature (86–96°C), cooking time (20–40 min), and steeping time (3–11.77 hr). Nixtamal and masa moisture, dry matter loss, nixtamal and masa RVA peak temperature, shear thinning, nixtamal peak viscosity, masa final viscosity, nixtamal and masa DSC enthalpy peak and end temperatures, and nixtamal onset temperature were explained by the same regression terms for results obtained using both processes conditions. The intercept and slopes of the fitted models for the pilot plant and laboratory responses were not significantly different (P < 0.05). The laboratory method can be used to mimic larger scale processing over a wide range of nixtamalization conditions.     

Properties of Starches from Several Low‐Amylose Rice Cultivars

The starch properties of five low‐amylose rice cultivars, Yawarakomachi, Soft 158, Hanabusa, Aya, and Snow Pearl, were compared with those of two normal amylose rice cultivars, Nipponbare and Hinohikari. There were no large differences in the distributions of the amylopectin chain length determined by high‐performance anion‐exchange chromatography, and the starch gelatinization properties determined by differential scanning calorimetry, between normal and low‐amylose rice cultivars. Results obtained using rapid viscosity analysis indicated that low‐amylose rice starches had lower peak viscosity, breakdown, and setback values than normal amylose rice starches. Starch granules from low‐amylose rice cultivars had a higher susceptibility to glucoamylase than those from normal amylose rice cultivars. The results of this study showed some differences between normal and low‐amylose rice starches in pasting properties and enzymatic digestibility.