noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
gelatinization; alpha conversion
Technical term in food science and starch chemistry: the process where starch granules absorb water and swell, becoming digestible. Often used for pre-cooked rice or instant noodles. Cross-referenced with 糊化 (こか).
See also: 糊化
アルファ化した米はお湯を注ぐだけで食べられる。
Alpha-converted rice can be eaten just by pouring hot water over it.
この麺はアルファ化されているので、短時間で戻ります。
These noodles are pre-gelatinized, so they rehydrate quickly.