What are starch granules?

Starch granules are tiny, natural storage containers inside plants that hold energy.

Imagine you have a bag of grains, like the ones you find in your cereal or pasta, but instead of being loose, they’re all packed together in little granules (which means tiny balls). These granules work just like a lunchbox for plants: when it’s sunny and the plant is busy making food, it stores extra energy inside these tiny balls so it can use them later when it's not sunny or it needs more power.

Starch granules are made of long chains of sugar molecules. These chains twist together to make a strong, compact shape, kind of like how your shoelaces get twisted up if you tie them too tight. When the plant needs energy, it can untwist these chains and turn them back into sugar.

You’ll find starch granules in potatoes, rice, corn, and even in your bread! Next time you eat a snack that’s made from plants, remember, you're eating tiny energy balls that have been packed up for a long time.