Improved thermally inhibited starch is disclosed and methods of making such starch are disclosed. In some embodiments a thermally inhibited starch has improved whiteness and flavor. In some embodiments a method for making a thermally inhibited starch includes providing adding a buffer and an acid to a starch to obtain a pH adjusted starch having an acidic pH and thermally inhibiting the pH adjusted starch. The technology further pertains to methods of making the thermally inhibited starch in batch, continuous, continuous-like process or combinations thereof.