Rice maltodextrin, also called rice dextrin, is a white, neutral-tasting carbohydrate powder made by partially breaking down rice starch with enzymes and spray-drying the result. It is used in foods, beverages, supplements and medicines as a bulking agent, carrier, texturiser and quick source of energy. Here is what rice maltodextrin is, how it is made, how it compares with corn maltodextrin, and what to know about its safety and glycaemic index.
What Is Rice Maltodextrin?
Maltodextrin is a carbohydrate made of short chains of glucose, with a DE (dextrose equivalent) below 20. Rice maltodextrin is maltodextrin made from rice starch instead of corn, wheat, potato or tapioca. It is a free-flowing powder that dissolves easily in water, has little to no sweetness at low DE (around 10) and a mild sweetness at higher DE (around 18), and adds body without changing the flavour of a product.
How Rice Maltodextrin Is Made
Rice is milled and cooked, and natural enzymes break the starch down into shorter glucose chains. The resulting liquid is filtered and spray-dried into a fine, soluble powder. By controlling the enzyme process, manufacturers set the DE, and by controlling drying and agglomeration they set the bulk density. Agricoze’s Orytrin rice maltodextrin is produced in 10 DE and 18 DE grades, with variable bulk densities from 0.2 to 0.7 g/cm³.
Rice Maltodextrin vs Corn Maltodextrin
| Rice maltodextrin | Corn maltodextrin | |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Rice | Corn |
| Function | Bulking, carrier, texturiser, energy | Same |
| GMO status | Non-GMO | Often from GM corn unless certified |
| Allergens | Gluten-free, free from major allergens | Corn-derived |
| Organic availability | Available | Limited |
| Typical use | Clean-label, allergen-free, organic and infant products | Cost-driven mainstream products |
What Is Rice Maltodextrin Used For?
- Beverages and sports nutrition: a fast-digesting carbohydrate for energy drinks, sports drinks and gainers, and a body-builder in powdered drinks.
- Infant and toddler foods: a gentle, allergen-friendly carbohydrate source.
- Flavour carrier and spray drying: carries flavours, colours and oils and helps them dry into stable powders.
- Bakery, dairy and desserts: adds body and helps control texture and ice crystals in ice cream.
- Soups, sauces and seasonings: bulking agent that keeps dry mixes free-flowing.
- Probiotics and supplements: a common carrier and filler in probiotic powders and capsules, where rice maltodextrin is chosen for its allergen-free, clean-label profile.
- Pharmaceuticals: a filler and binder in tablets.
Is Rice Dextrin Bad for You?
Maltodextrin is considered safe for use in food: in the United States it is listed as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) under 21 CFR 184.1444, and it is used in small amounts in most products. Rice maltodextrin also avoids the GMO and allergen concerns sometimes linked to corn or wheat maltodextrin.
The main thing to know is that maltodextrin is a rapidly digested carbohydrate with a high glycaemic index, commonly cited as similar to or higher than table sugar. That makes it useful for quick energy in sports nutrition, but people managing blood sugar should count it like any other sugar. Ordinary maltodextrin is not a source of fibre; “resistant dextrins” are a different ingredient designed to act as soluble fibre.
Benefits of Rice Maltodextrin for Manufacturers
- Neutral taste: adds body and solids without changing flavour.
- High solubility: dissolves quickly in instant and powdered products.
- Clean label: non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan, Kosher and Halal, in organic and conventional quality.
- Customisable: choice of DE and bulk density to match your process; see our guide to maltodextrin bulk density.
Alternatives to Rice Maltodextrin
If you want sweetness as well as body, rice syrup solids (24 to 42 DE) are a good option, and if you want the simplest possible label, soluble rice flour can replace maltodextrin in many applications. Read our comparison of soluble rice flour vs maltodextrin.
The Takeaway
Rice maltodextrin is a versatile, neutral carbohydrate that does the same job as corn maltodextrin, with the added benefits of a non-GMO, allergen-free and organic-capable rice source. It is safe for food use but, like any rapidly digested carbohydrate, it has a high glycaemic index. Contact Agricoze for samples of Orytrin rice maltodextrin.
Rice Maltodextrin
