Temperature related structural changes in wheat and corn starch granules and their effects on gels and dry foam

The effect of processing temperature on structural changes in wheat, corn, and high amylose corn starch granules was investigated and related to the mechanical properties of gels and microcellular foam (MCF). Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) showed that wheat starch granules form ghosts with thicker walls than dent corn granules. The granule wall was permeable to water and appeared to be at least partially permeable to the solubilized contents of the granule. The ghost walls became visibly porous after heating at 95 degrees C for 60 min and were completely solubilized by heating to 120 degrees C. High-amylose corn starch (HACS) granules were completely dissolved by heating to 140 degrees C. Gels made with wheat starch had higher gel strength and dynamic modulus compared to dent corn starch gels. The density, compressive strength and modulus of MCF were lower in samples cooked for 60 min. The density of dent corn MCF was higher than that of wheat starch which may have accounted for higher compressive strength and modulus in the corn sample. MCF made from HACS had higher surface area and lower density, compressive strength, and modulus than the other starches tested. There were no significant differences in pore volume or surface area due to extended cooking times.