ABSTRACTEffect of cooking time on starch retrogradation and water distribution was studied in pasta (spaghetti) and rice (parboiled and arborio) using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) Optimum cooking times (OCT) were 8, 16, and 18.5 min for spaghetti, parboiled, and arborio rice, respectively. Swelling was observed by image analysis. OCT spaghetti and rice showed various starch retrogradation rates at various aging times and temperatures. Based on the classical Avrami function, the retrogradation rate at 5°C followed the order spaghetti > parboiled rice > arborio rice, while extent was in the opposite order. At higher temperature (20°C), the rates decreased by 20× in all cases. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) investigations were undertaken to check the distribution of water within these products and its relationship to starch retrogradation. During heating, water was released in two distinguishable steps at ≈80 and 100°C. Results supported the conclusion that the more tightly bound water might not participate or facilitate starch retrogradation. In this study, the overall water content did not change during storage, and water appeared to migrate from sites of stronger binding to sites of weaker binding. The temperature dependence of the Avrami constant was described with the Vogel‐Tamman‐Fulcher empirical expression.