Chemistry, structure, functionality and applications of rice starch

•Starch is the main component of rice.•Starch is one of the most important agricultural products to man.•The composition and structure of rice starch are presented.•The functional properties of rice starch are reviewed.•The applications and modifications of rice starch are discussed.

Starch represents one of the major agricultural products in the world and is used in a wide range of food and non-food applications. It is the main component of rice grains, influencing their physical and cooking properties. Over the last few decades, considerable research has been carried out on starch from various sources, which has greatly helped in understanding its properties. This paper provides an overview of the composition and structure of rice starch and the influence of components other than amylose and amylopectin, such as lipids and proteins, on its physicochemical properties. Research on characterisation of the functional properties of rice starch is reviewed in particular. Furthermore, the applications of rice starch and enhancement of its functionality through chemical or physical means are discussed.