Abstract: Thin-thick, hydroxypropylated, epichlorohydrin cross-linked starch derivatives for continuous process pressure cooking of neutral or acid food systems. The degree of cross-linking for these starch derivatives is carefully controlled so that they are initially low in viscosity and develop full viscosity only under high pressure and temperatures. These characteristics make these starches ideally suited for use in recently developed food canning processes in which initial rapid heat penetration without degrading the starch derivatives is necessary for the heat sterilization of the canned foods. For the new continuous retort processing, the usual time allowed for the complete retorting cycle is less than 20 minutes, and this must include heat sterilization. As the retort media using the starch derivative of the invention reaches the heat sterilization temperature it then increases in viscosity to a range which retains the canned food product in a desirable suspension.