A method for producing a thermally inhibited starch

A method for producing a thermally inhibited starch, the method comprising:

• providing a volume of dehydrated starch having a pH value between 7.0 and 11 and having a moisture content of <2 wt. %, based on the weight of the starch, in a stirred batch reactor, said reactor containing a gas inlet for the introduction of a flow of gas therein, preferably wherein said reactor is loaded to a loading capacity of between 40% and 95% of the total reactor capacity;
• and
• introducing gas through said gas inlet to create a flow of gas and passing said flow of gas through the volume of dehydrated starch in the reactor while heating and stirring the starch to a temperature of at least 140° C., preferably to a temperature of between 15° and 170° C., for a period of time sufficient to thermally inhibit the starch.