Flow Behavior and Gelatinization of Cowpea Flour and Starch Dispersions

The flow behavior of a 25% cowpea slurry with 8% oil held at 70°C showed shear‐thinning behavior and an Arrhenius temperature relationship. Cowpea flour (8%) and starch (2.5%) slurries heated for less than 1 min at 70–87°C exhibited shear‐thickening while those heated longer times exhibited shear‐thinning behavior. Maximum viscosities attained due to heat‐induced gelatinization showed a power relationship with temperature of heating. Starch gelatinization kinetics followed a first‐order equation and the temperature dependence of the rate constant followed the Arrhenius relationship with an activation energy of about 47.4 kcal/mol. Heating the slurries for >200 min above 80°C resulted in loss of viscosity.