Effects of microwave heat-moisture treatment on properties of waxy and non-waxy rice starches

Waxy and non-waxy rice starches adjusted to 20% moisture (wet basis, w.b.) were heat-moisture treated in a microwave oven to determine the effects of the microwave heating characteristics on digestibility, pasting, and morphological properties of the heated starches. Microwave heating produced only minimal changes in digestibility as well as the physical characteristics of heated starches. Significant changes in viscosity properties after microwave heat treatment were observed for both waxy and non-waxy starches heat-treated in a microwave oven, relative to non-treated samples. Non-waxy starch heated in microwave oven showed an increase in breakdown viscosity from 29.8 RVU (non-treated starch) to 35.8 RVU after heating for 60 min. However, for waxy starch, breakdown viscosity decreased from 112.7 to 35.9 RVU after 60 min of microwave heat treatment, reflecting an increased stability of microwave heat-treated starch under cooking. The data obtained in this study indicate that there was much higher re-aggregation of starch granules in waxy starch after microwave heat treatment than occurred in non-waxy starch, suggesting a re-association of amylopectin branch chains in the heat-treated waxy starch.