retrogradation
nounEtymology From retrograde + -ation.
1
Motion in a retrograde manner.
2
Decline, degradation.
3
Chemistry, Natural sciences, Physical sciences A reaction that takes place in gelatinized starch when the amylose and amylopectin chains realign themselves, largely responsible for bread becoming stale.
- The major reason that bread stales is not moisture loss, but rather a process called retrogradation, in which the starch molecules in the bread crystallize.