A process for preparing a starch dispersion may include combining a feed starch and an aqueous liquid to form a starch slurry. The starch slurry may be subjected to a first degradation treatment to form a first mixture. A temperature of the starch slurry during the first degradation treatment may be less than a gelation temperature. The first mixture may be heated to a temperature between the gelation temperature and a solubilization temperature. The heated first mixture may be subjected to a second degradation treatment to form a second mixture. The second mixture may be sheared to form the starch dispersion.