Functional properties of corn, banana and potato starch blends

Potato, corn and banana starches were blended in various combinations and ratios. Stability and clarity, freeze-thaw stability, water retention capacity and apparent viscosity of the pastes (prepared with a hydrothermic treatment using 100 degrees C for 30 min) were evaluated. In general, the samples stored at room temperature (28 degrees C) presented stability as well as low retrogradation rate. However, in the samples stored at 4 degrees C the propagation and maturation of crystals in the amylopectin component were favored, increasing sample retrogradation. A synergistic effect was shown in some starch blends. The blends had poor stability to freeze-thaw cycle, but a high synergestic effect was presented in water retention capacity. Potato:banana and corn:potato blends showed a synergistic effect in the apparent viscosity and in general, starch blends had stability during the 30-min test.