The present work investigates the evolution of microstructures and textures in an ordinary interstitial free and a high strength interstitial free steel during recrystallization. Hot band textures showed the presence of favourable {3 3 2}< 1 1 3 > texture component in both the steels. 85% cold rolling develops strong deformation texture consisting of partial a (RD parallel to < 1 1 0 >) and complete gamma (ND parallel to < 1 1 1 >) fibers. After complete recrystallization, the textures of the high strength interstitial free steel were stronger as compared to ordinary interstitial free steel indicating the beneficial effect of phosphorus in texture formation. The microstructure was uniform with equiaxed grains. {3 3 2}< 1 1 3 > texture component strengthened with recrystallization. The fly-fiber grains store more energy during deformation as compared to other orientations - leading to preferential nucleation of gamma-fiber grains from the deformed matrix. The gamma-fiber grains also have frequency advantage which leads to the formation of strong gamma-fiber recrystallization textures. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.