Abstract: | Water uptake at 90°C and above in 16 rice cultivars, representing eight cooking-quality types, showed positive correlation (P≤0.001) with the surface area of the grain, while at 60°C it was negatively related to amylose (P≤0.01), and gelatinisation temperature (P≤0.001), and positively to equilibrium moisture content on soaking (P≤0.001). The swelling and solubility curves for all varieties showed a two-stage swelling pattern. Swelling at 60°C was positively correlated (P≤0.001) with water uptake at 60 and 70°C, while swelling at 70°C, and solubility at 60 and 70°C, showed highly negative correlation (P≤0.001 and P≤0.01, respectively) with water uptake at high temperatures. Waxy rices showed distinct differences from non-waxy rices in their hydration, swelling and solubility behaviour. They swelled more but solubilised less than the non-waxy rices at 96°C. |