Potato Starch is obtained through mechanical separation of starch grains from other components in potatoes followed by rinsing, purification, drying and sifting.

Starch is a polysaccharide which plays the role of storage substance in plants. Crystalline structure of starch grain is build of branched starch macromolecule, amylopectin, and linear macromolecule, amylose. Because amylose and amylopectin differ in many important features, the proportion of each in a given type of starch determines the physical chemistry characteristics of the substance.

Starch is one of the most multi-functional substances used in foods industry. Its natural property of thickening and gelling is used in some applications. In foods and pharmaceutical industry, starch is used for giving a product proper texture, appearance (form), moistness, consistency and storage durability.

Uses / Applications

• Starch obtained from potatoes is generally used to thicken broth, soup, any sauce or gravy and is much preferred instead of cornstarch due to its high boiling point. Also, it stays transparent when added to food and does not give a cloudy appearance unlike its substitutes. Also, it does not absorb salt when added to food.

• Also used in baking dough for cakes to add moisture to it without having limp consistency. It also makes the baked food look glossy on its surface.

• It can be used to substitute potato flour. Mix it with equal quantity of wheat or rice flour for the similar results.

• The most common use is as an additive in noodles, fries, sauces, bakery products, processed meat and cheese as a binder and texturizer. It helps gelatinize and bake food evenly throughout. It also increases the shelf life of these foods.

• This starch has been recently introduced to the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries too for manufacturing pastes, powders and creams, plasters and dressings. It is also now being used in antibiotics as it helps dissolve them better in the body.

• Starch from potatoes can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. It has high absorbing and gelling properties. Hence, it is widely used to manufacture diapers and other sanitary products.

• Due to the gelatinizing properties of this starch, it is an excellent ingredient as an adhesive in the manufacture of glues.

• It is extensively used in textiles industry to provide stiffness and smoothness to the yarn and makes it easier to weave. It is also used for fabric printing.

• This starch is used in the plastic manufacturing industry, to make plastic bags, too as it gives a transparent appearance. Such plastics are also bio-degradable and eco-friendly.

• Since, this starch is bio-degradable, it is commonly used to rinse clothes. If you do your own laundry, you must be familiar with the idea of using starch to keep clothes, like shirts, crisp. The fabric stays stiff as if new. Hence, potato starch is also used in detergents. It is used in the paper-making industry to provide firmness to paper and paper-products. This makes it easier to fold paper and is used to make disposable paper utensils.

• It is also used for building and construction purposes due to its coagulant properties. It is used in concrete as a binding agent.