Considering the importance of the functional properties of resistant starch for health, the high consumption of the macassar bean in the northeast of Brazil and the effects of the thermal process and storage on the structure of the starch, this work was implemented to evaluate the influence of different hydrothermal treatments (cooking under pressure and whithout pressure) and of storage at 20ºC for 15 and 30 days, on the formation of resistant starch in the macassar bean, in two stages of maturation (green and dryed). To analyse the combined factors, a factorial design type 2³ was realized with three independent variables (factors) and one dependent variable (response). All the variables exercised significant effects on the production of the resistant starch and the highest formation was registered for the dried bean due to the previous hydration before cooking without pressure, as well as the 30 day frozen storage. Concerning the physics analysis after the hydrothermic treatments there are transformations in the cristalinity patterns and in the morphologic aspect of the beans.
resistant starch; thermal processing; macassar bean
