Patent ID: 7943766

Claim:
A method for preparing a thermo-sheared soluble hydrocolloid comprising a ratio of digestible, Starch to β-glucan soluble fiber in the range of 0.1-2.0, wherein, said digestible starch is gelatinized and the β-glucan consists essentially of solubilized β-glucan, the method comprising the steps: a. subjecting a first aqueous slurry of a cereal substrate to a temperature in the range of about 20-60° C. under conditions of shear sufficient to disrupt the cellular structure of said substrate, thereby yielding a sheared, second aqueous slurry; b. separating the sheared, second aqueous slurry resulting from (a) into a first liquid fraction comprising starch and a first solid fraction comprising fiber; c. separating starch from said first liquid fraction to yield a starch-depleted liquid; d. recombining said starch-depleted liquid with said first solid fraction to yield a third aqueous slurry; and e. subjecting said third aqueous slurry to conditions of shearing at elevated temperature to produce a fourth aqueous slurry and recovering said hydrocolloid from said fourth aqueous slurry.