Corn starches treated with different concentrations of HCl exhibited different structural profiles and rheological properties even though they were hydrolyzed to a similar viscosity and showed similar amylose content, thermal properties, X-ray diffraction pattern, and amylopectin chain length distribution. Both amylose and amylopectin were hydrolyzed to a greater extent when acid concentration was increased. Even though the acid-thinned starches were tailored to have the same Brabender viscosity profiles, dynamic rheological tests revealed differences in their viscoelastic behaviors and gelling properties upon heating and cooling