Starch gels can be regarded as composites where the swollen
granules (amylopectin) are embedded into a continuous matrix of
aggregated amylose molecules (Ahmad & William, 1998). During
the preparation of rice starch gels, rice starch granules suspended
in excess amounts of water (starch 8%, w/w total solid) swelled
upon heating. After agitation and subsequent steaming for 9 min,
it is assumed that amylose molecules leach from the swollen rice
starch granules creating granule ghosts. Granule ghosts are formed
from starch granules when they are heated in water without or
with little shear.