Gelatinization and solubility characteristics of starch contribute to unique functionality in foods. Corn and oat starch viscoamylographs (35g db) showed peak viscosities of 400 and 390B.U., respectively. Oat starch had a more rapid (89.7 vs 85.6°C) and higher set back (790 vs. 740B.U.) than corn. Data on soluble components of cooled (85°C) starch pastes, as collected and analyzed by high‐performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC), suggest that amylopectin plays a significant (P<0.05) role in oat paste set back; for corn starch, amylose is the dominant factor. Solubilities and apparent molecular weights (MW) of oat starch heated (65‐120°C) under shear and subsequent sonication (0‐40s) in water or 90% methyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were also determined by HPSEC. An intermediate MW fraction was eluted on the HPSEC chromatograms only when oat starch was heated in water (100‐120°C/30min) or DMSO and sonicated, suggesting that this fraction may not be inherent in the native granule. in water, polymer solubility and peak MW increased with temperature (65‐120°C), whereas in DMSO, solubility decreased with heating (65‐100°C), while peak MW remained basically constant. Aqueous (aq) leaching at 75°C solubilized more corn amylose than amylopectin, but amylopectin and amylose co‐leached from oat starch granules. Aq leaching, at 20°C above their DSC peak ends (85 and 95°C for oat and corn, resepctively), showed more amylopectin leached from oat starch granules whereas more amylose was leached from corn starch granules.