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In order to degrade starch in a mash, however, the starch needs to be accessible to the starch-degrading amylase enzymes. In most plants, including barley, starch is stored in granules. In these granules, starch has an organized structure. When a starchy food is soaked in cold or luke-warm water, the starch absorbs some of the water, but the granules remain essentially intact. Within a range of temperatures, however, the starch loses its structure and becomes a "net" of starch with lots of water molecules interspersed. This is called the gelation [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starch_gelatinization gelatinization] range. Above the gelation gelatinization range, the starch dissolves into the water. Because the starch-degrading amylase enzymes are water soluble, they can then get to the starch and begin degrading it.

(A note: starch gelation is often referred to as starch gelatinization. Technically, The gelatinization is the process that occurs to gelatin (a protein) in hot liquids. Gelation is the proper term for the process in carbohydrate gels.) The gelation range varies among starches for different types of plants. Most, however, begin in the range of 120–140 °F (50–60 °C). [Differences exist among plants starches because different plants have a different ratio of amylose (straight-chained starch) to amylopectin (branched starch).] An upshot of this is that many grains or other starchy adjuncts can simply be stirred into the mash. The temperatures in the saccharrification range or below are sufficient to gelate gelatinize the starch and render it accessible to amylase enzymes. Unmalted barley and For example, unmalted wheathas a gelatinization temperature range starting between 136-147°F (58-65°C) and can, for exampletherefore, are two grains that can be mashedgelatinized during a beta-amylase/maltose rest (fine milling will help efficiency) <ref>[https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jib.107 Common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and its use as a brewing cereal – a review. Andrea Faltermaier, Deborah Waters, Thomas Becker, Elke Arendt, Martina Gastl. 2014.]</ref>. Some starches, however, have gelation gelatinization temperatures starting above mash temperatures. Likewise, some starchy adjuncts have traditionally been boiled to obtain a better extract or to speed up hydration. For example, Mike Karnowski reported increasing the gravity of a raw wheat and pilsner malt wort from 1.030 SG to 1.036 SG by doing a cereal mash with the raw wheat and 1/4 of the recipe's pilsner malt instead of a single infusion at 154°F. Karnowski reported, however, the best efficiency was achieved (1.044 SG) with wheat flour at a 154°F infusion mash temperature, indicating that a fine crush might be the most efficient way to convert raw wheat starches to sugar <ref>[Mike Karnowski. "Homebrew Beyond the Basics: All-Grain Brewing & Other Next Steps". Sterling Epicure; Revised, & Expanded edition (October 2, 2018). Pg 156.]</ref>. Briggs et al (2004) recommends pre-soaking raw wheat in 185°F (85°C) water instead of boiling so as to avoid frothing, and then mashing in with room temperature water to avoid clumping. Raw wheat and other flaked/undermodified adjuncts such as flaked barley release beta-glucans into the wort that can make wort separation difficult. Breweries will sometimes add beta-glucanase enzyme to the mash to break down the beta-glucans and allow for easier lautering <ref>Dennis E. Briggs, Chris A. Boulton, Peter A. Brookes and Roger Stevens. "Brewing Science and Practice". 2004.</ref>. Adding rice hulls to the mash is another method for avoiding slow lautering.

Bring the cereal mash to the high end of the starch conversion range, around 158 °F (70 °C) and hold for 5 minutes. The barley malt in the mix will convert any stray starches at this point, but the bulk of the starches will be converted in the main mash. (Even with starchy foods with a low gelation gelatinization range, there is not enough enzymatic power in the cereal mash to fully convert it.)