Effects of xanthan on the crosslinking of normal and waxy rice starches using a mixture of phosphate salts (sodium trimetaphosphate and sodium tripolyphosphate, 99 : 1, dry solid basis) were investigated. The starch (158.4 g, dry solids) was dispersed in an aqueous solution containing xanthan and phosphate salts (1.6 and 0.6 g in 280 mL water, respectively), and the slurry was dried overnight at 45 degrees C until the moisture content was less than 10%. The dry cake was then ground into powders and heated for 2 h at 130 degrees C in a convection oven. The pasting viscosity, paste clarity, melting and in vitro digestion behaviors of the starches with modifying agents (xanthan and phosphate salts) were investigated. The heat treated starches displayed enhanced shear stability and reduced breakdown, as evidences of crosslinking. Xanthan (1.0% based on starch solids) enhanced the crosslinking effects in the viscosity profile. Waxy rice starch evidenced more profound viscosity changes than did normal rice starch, indicating it was more susceptible to the heat treatment. The waxy rice starch heated with the mixture of phosphate salts and xanthan exhibited a continuous increase in pasting viscosity without any breakdown. Under a DSC analysis, melting enthalpy decreased but melting temperature increased somewhat as results of the heat treatment with xanthan. In an in vitro digestion analysis, the starches treated with xanthan exhibited decreases in the maximum digestion level, and increases in the resistant starch (RS) content. Dry heating, however, increased the digestion rate and glycemic index (GI) regardless of the presence of phosphate salts or xanthan indicating that the starches were thermally degraded. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.