Physiochemical properties of rice starch for production of vermicelli with premium quality

Rice vermicelli is a main food consumed in China and Southeast Asia. Quality of rice vermicelli varies with rice cultivars. Parameters including amylose content, amylopectin distribution, thermal and pasting characteristics, gel texture and starch granules of three rice cultivars "Zhongjiazao 17", "Xiangzaoxian 24" and "Thai Jasmine Rice", were studied for their impacts on vermicelli quality. Results showed significant differences for the measurements of the quality traits and indicated that a favorable quality of vermicelli was not determined by any single factor instead of a combination of multi-parameters. A vermicelli with a favorable quality could be produced from a rice variety with a high apparent amylose content (> 25%), a protein content of 11%, an intermediate gelatinization temperature and gel consistency, and a gel hardness (similar to 3 N for a Rapid Viscosity Analyzer pasting) and moderate retrogradation capacity (a setback viscosity of 30-100 RVU).