Introduction
Introduction
Thin-stripe rice noodle is a common food product extensively consumed in Thailand. “Good”
thin-stripe rice noodles should be opaque white and provide chewy texture. And since the chewy noodle
texture mainly depends on hardness and elasticity of rice starch gels, long grain rice with at least
intermediate amylose contents not less than 22% is needed to produce the product (Kohlwey et al.
,1995). Mestres et al. (1998) proposed that rice starch gel containing at least 6% solids is composed of
amylose (AM) continuous network and cooked starch granules, mainly amylopectin (AP) filling all empty
spaces of the network. Beside the AM contents, different rice varieties and other physical properties of
rice have effects on noodle qualities as well. Thin stripe rice noodles from white rice 500, RD 1, and
Leung Pa Tew showed an excellent elastic property. And rice flour paste containing more than 27% AM
with consistency higher than 600 B. U. and with setback value higher than 500 B. U. provided rice noodle
which consumers liked the best (Reumjit, 1979).
Thermal processing of package foods is a technology providing long food shelf-life with minimal
changes of other food qualities. For products with pH less than 4.5 or acidified foods, thermal processing
can be done at lower temperatures, since Clostridium botulinum do not germinate. To date, an attempt
to use thermal processing on acidified thin-stripe rice noodles in retort pouch is quite a new approach.
Therefore, the objective of the study was to investigate effects of Thai long grain rice varieties and thermal
processing on properties of acidified thin-stripe rice noodles in retort pouches.