After milling, grains can be revealed and processed by which methods to soften and release starch and carbohydrates?

• A. Frying, boiling, baking
• B. Toasting, soaking, or cooking
• C. Grinding, sifting, drying
• D. Fermenting, aging, freezing

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that starch and carbohydrates in milled grains become accessible when moisture and heat are applied. Soaking rehydrates the particle structure, making them easier to work with. Cooking or boiling heats the starch–water mixture, causing the starch granules to swell and gelatinize, which releases starch and makes carbohydrates more available. Toasting uses dry heat to modify the grain and can shorten subsequent processing by loosening structure and developing flavor, helping with later releases of starch. Together, these methods—toasting, soaking, or cooking—are the processing steps that soften and release starch and carbohydrates after milling. Options that rely only on grinding, sifting, or drying, or on fermentation, aging, or freezing, don’t primarily achieve that moisture-and-heat-driven release.