Effect of single and dual-modifications on stability and structural characteristics of foxtail millet starch

•Foxtail millet starch was modified by annealing and ultra-sonication treatments.•Resistant starch was significantly enhanced up to 45% in the dual modified starch.•Sonicating starch after annealing had presented a greater acid and shear stability.•Sonication, when used as the second treatment elevated the final viscosity. Foxtail millet starch was modified by annealing (AS), ultra-sonication (US) and a combination of the two treatments (annealing and ultra-sonication (AUS) or ultra-sonication and annealing (UAS)) and they were characterized. Compared to the native starch (NS), modified starches particularly UAS contained the highest amylose (27.96%). Ultra-sonication prior to annealing had a predominant effect on resistant starch (RS) level (UAS-45.59%). Among the modified starches, UAS had exhibited superior resistance to acidic (0.94) and shear (0.68) stability. Sonication, when used as the second treatment (AUS) elevated the final viscosity compared to its counter ones possibly due to the effects of cavitation promoted by sonication treatment. UAS had showed an A-type diffraction pattern and dominant peaks in FT-IR spectra. It can be inferred that dual modification of starch by ultra-sonication followed by annealing had exhibited the most desirable properties such as high acid and shear resistance, high freeze–thaw stability and improved gel texture.