Effects of annealing on the physicochemical properties and enzymatic susceptibility of rice starches with different amylose contents

This study investigated the effects of annealing (ANN) on the properties of rice starches with high, medium and low-amylose contents. The starches were heated with excess water at 45 °C, 50 °C and 55 °C for 16 h. The swelling power, solubility, pasting properties, enzymatic susceptibility, morphology and X-ray crystallinity of the starches were evaluated. Annealing reduced the swelling power and solubility of the starches. ANN at 55 °C increased the pasting temperature and decreased the peak viscosity of the high-amylose rice starch. However, annealing decreased the peak viscosity of the low-amylose starch. The annealed rice starches presented a lower final viscosity and setback than did the native starches, with the exception of the low-amylose starch, which showed an increase in setback. Annealing increased the starches' susceptibilities to α-amylase and promoted a reduction in their relative crystallinity.