Starch suspensions (5%, w/v) with salts (0.1 mol/L) in
distilled water were heated for 30 min in a boiling water bath with
moderate mechanical agitation and cooled. Salts were dissolved in
water before starch was added. The pastes (30 mL each) were
transferred to 50 mL centrifuge tubes. The tubes were placed in a
still-air freezer at 20 C for 22 h and placed in a 30 C water bath
for 1.5 h to thaw and equilibrate. The tubes were centrifuged for
15 min at 900g. The amount of water released from the samples
was measured in graduated cylinders after 1, 2, 4, and 7 freezethaw
cycles and expressed as the percent of water separated or
syneresis.