Abstract:Objective This study explored the effects of protein reduction during rice cooking on the digestive properties of cooked rice, aiming to reveal the cross-linking mechanism of starch-protein complexes.Method The rice-water collection device integrated into a rice cooker system was employed to regulate the protein reduction amount ranging from 149.31 to 258.02 mg. The textural properties, moisture distribution, and in vitro digestibility of cooked rice in different groups were systematically compared. In addition, the molecular mechanism by which protein reduction influenced starch-protein cross-linking was investigated.Result Protein mass reduction significantly improved the in vitro digestibility of cooked rice. When the protein reduction amount reached 227.47 mg, the in vitro starch digestibility increased from (85.89±3.03)% to (94.17±1.08)%, while the in vitro gastric protein digestibility increased from (38.88±1.75)% to (43.55±2.25)%. Moreover, the degree of starch-protein cross-linking significantly decreased after 0 h, 1 h, and 2 h of in vitro gastric digestion.Conclusion Protein mass reduction during rice cooking inhibited the formation of starch-protein complexes, thereby exposing more enzymatic hydrolysis sites in starch and protein. This structural modification contributed to the enhanced in vitro digestibility of cooked rice.