You might be midway via a stir-fry sauce and the cornstarch field is empty. Or you’re baking a fruit pie for the freezer. Cornstarch tends to interrupt down and switch watery as soon as thawed. Or you’re on a low-carb food plan and wish to skip the starch altogether. Regardless of the purpose, cornstarch is simple to exchange. Its one actual job, thickening a liquid, could be dealt with by a number of pantry staples you most likely already personal.
What can you employ as an alternative of cornstarch?
The quick reply: All-purpose flour, arrowroot powder, potato starch, tapioca starch, rice flour, floor flaxseed, xanthan gum, and guar gum all work as cornstarch substitutes. Grain starches like flour and rice flour want about double the quantity to match cornstarch’s thickening energy. Root starches like arrowroot, tapioca, and potato starch want about the identical quantity or somewhat extra. Additionally they maintain up higher in acidic or frozen dishes. Xanthan gum and guar gum want solely a tiny fraction of the quantity. They thicken via a totally completely different mechanism.
For full storage steerage on cornstarch itself, see our companion submit: does cornstarch go unhealthy. For an entire pantry reference, see our Meals Storage Information.
📋 Cornstarch Substitutes at a Look
| 🌾 All-purpose flour | 2:1 ratio, on a regular basis pantry swap |
| 🌿 Arrowroot powder | ~1.5:1 ratio, clear sauces and acidic dishes |
| 🥔 Potato starch | 1:1 ratio, impartial all-purpose swap |
| 🌱 Tapioca starch | ~2:1 ratio, pie fillings and freezer dishes |
| 🍚 Rice flour | 2:1 ratio, clear soups and broths |
| 🌾 Floor flaxseed | 1 tbsp plus 4 tbsp water per 2 tbsp cornstarch |
| 🧪 Xanthan gum | 1/4 tsp per 1 tbsp cornstarch, keto and low-carb |
| 🧪 Guar gum | 1/8 tsp per 1 tsp cornstarch, price range keto choice |
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Cornstarch thickens via gelatinization, when its starch granules swell in scorching liquid. Grain starches want extra quantity to match it. Root starches want about the identical quantity or somewhat extra.
- For a transparent, shiny sauce or a dish headed for the freezer, arrowroot, tapioca, and potato starch all outperform cornstarch. Additionally they maintain up higher towards acid.
- For on a regular basis gravies and stews the place a matte end is ok, all-purpose flour is the best swap. Simply use roughly double the quantity.
- For keto or low-carb cooking, xanthan gum and guar gum thicken powerfully in tiny quantities and add virtually no carbohydrates.
- Root starches lose their thickening energy if overcooked. Add arrowroot, tapioca, and potato starch close to the top of cooking quite than initially.
Understanding What Cornstarch Really Does
Earlier than selecting a substitute, it helps to understand how cornstarch truly thickens a dish. Cornstarch is pure starch pulled from the corn kernel’s endosperm, with the protein and fiber eliminated. When heated in liquid, its starch granules soak up water and swell. That course of is named gelatinization, and it’s what thickens a sauce, gravy, or pie filling.
🔬 Two Traits That Change With Every Substitute
The primary trait is thickening energy. Grain starches like wheat flour and rice flour have much less pure starch per spoonful. You typically want about double the quantity to match cornstarch. Root and tuber starches like potato starch, arrowroot, and tapioca are nearer to pure starch. You want roughly the identical quantity, or just a bit extra.
The second trait is how the completed dish seems to be and holds up. Root starches like arrowroot, tapioca, and potato starch flip practically clear and shiny when heated. Additionally they tolerate acidic substances and the freezer much better than grain-based starches do. Cornstarch itself can flip cloudy below extended warmth, and it could actually break down in acidic or frozen dishes. That’s precisely why bakers attain for arrowroot in a fruit pie meant for the freezer.
Not each substitute is a starch in any respect. Xanthan gum and guar gum thicken via a totally completely different mechanism. They’re much more potent, so that you want solely a small fraction of the quantity cornstarch would name for.
The Greatest Cornstarch Substitutes
1. All-Function Flour (Greatest All-Function Pantry Swap)
All-purpose flour is the most typical substitute for cornstarch, principally as a result of everybody already has it. Use about 2 tablespoons of flour for each 1 tablespoon of cornstarch. Flour has much less pure starch and must work more durable. Combine it into somewhat chilly water first to type a easy paste. Then whisk that paste into the recent liquid to keep away from lumps.
Flour thickens to a matte, barely cloudy end quite than the clear gloss cornstarch provides. It additionally wants a bit longer over warmth to prepare dinner out the uncooked flour style. It additionally holds up much less effectively within the freezer than cornstarch does. For extra on retaining flour recent, see our information on how lengthy flour lasts.
✅ Greatest for: Gravies, stews, and thick sauces the place a matte end is ok.
Ratio: 2 tablespoons flour per 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Notice: Prepare dinner a number of further minutes to take away the uncooked flour style. Not gluten-free.
2. Arrowroot Powder (Greatest for Clear, Shiny Sauces)
Arrowroot is a starch floor from the basis of a tropical plant. It is among the closest matches to cornstarch in thickening energy. Kitchen testing from America’s Take a look at Kitchen backs this up. About 1 1/2 teaspoons of arrowroot matches the thickening energy of 1 teaspoon of cornstarch. Plan on utilizing somewhat greater than a straight swap. Some recipes spherical it all the way down to an excellent 1:1, however that’s much less exact.
Arrowroot creates an particularly clear, shiny end, much more so than cornstarch. It additionally tolerates acidic substances like citrus or wine much better. Add it towards the top of cooking, since an excessive amount of warmth breaks it down and thins the sauce again out. It’s naturally gluten-free.
✅ Greatest for: Fruit pie fillings, glazes, sauces with citrus or wine, dishes headed for the freezer.
Ratio: About 1 1/2 teaspoons arrowroot per 1 teaspoon cornstarch
Notice: Add close to the top of cooking. Keep away from combining with dairy, since it could actually flip slimy.
3. Potato Starch (Greatest 1:1 Swap)
Potato starch is made by crushing potatoes and drying off the starch that separates out. It substitutes for cornstarch in an easy 1:1 ratio. Its taste is simply as impartial, so it won’t change the style of a dish.
Like arrowroot, potato starch thickens shortly at a comparatively low temperature. It additionally loses energy whether it is cooked too lengthy or too arduous. It’s naturally gluten-free and works effectively in each candy and savory dishes.
✅ Greatest for: Sauces, gravies, and gluten-free baking.
Ratio: 1:1
Notice: Add later in cooking quite than initially. Keep away from extended boiling.
4. Tapioca Starch (Greatest for Pie Fillings and Freezer Dishes)
Tapioca starch is extracted from the cassava root. It’s a favourite for fruit pie fillings as a result of it holds up superbly within the freezer. It has a bit much less thickening energy per spoonful than cornstarch. Plan on utilizing roughly 2 tablespoons of tapioca starch for each 1 tablespoon of cornstarch.
Tapioca can flip barely stringy or gummy when you use an excessive amount of. Add it progressively and cease as soon as the dish reaches the consistency you need. It produces the identical clear, shiny look that arrowroot does.
✅ Greatest for: Fruit pie fillings, puddings, dishes you propose to freeze.
Ratio: About 2 tablespoons tapioca starch per 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Notice: Add progressively. An excessive amount of can flip stringy.
5. Rice Flour (Greatest for Clear Liquids)
Rice flour is floor from finely milled rice. It really works as a thickener very like wheat flour does, simply with a barely completely different texture. Use about twice as a lot rice flour as cornstarch, because it additionally has much less pure starch per spoonful.
It turns practically colorless when blended right into a liquid. That makes it a stable selection for clear broths or delicate sauces the place cloudiness isn’t wished. It’s naturally gluten-free.
✅ Greatest for: Clear soups, delicate sauces, gluten-free thickening.
Ratio: 2 tablespoons rice flour per 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Notice: Whisk into chilly liquid first to keep away from clumps.
6. Floor Flaxseed (Greatest Fiber-Boosting Thickener)
Floor flaxseed varieties a gel when it soaks in liquid. That makes it a workable thickener with a bonus of added fiber. Combine 1 tablespoon of floor flaxseed with 4 tablespoons of water and let it sit for a couple of minutes. That combination replaces about 2 tablespoons of cornstarch.
The feel is noticeably grittier than cornstarch’s easy end. It really works higher in heartier dishes like chili or baked items than in a fragile sauce. It’s naturally gluten-free.
✅ Greatest for: Chili, baked items, dishes the place somewhat texture is welcome.
Ratio: 1 tbsp floor flaxseed plus 4 tbsp water replaces 2 tbsp cornstarch
Notice: Gritty texture, not perfect for easy sauces.
7. Xanthan Gum (Greatest for Low-Carb and Keto Cooking)
Xanthan gum is a fermented plant sugar that thickens with a tiny fraction of the quantity cornstarch requires. Begin with about 1/4 teaspoon of xanthan gum for each 1 tablespoon of cornstarch the recipe requires. Whisk it into somewhat liquid first to keep away from clumping.
It incorporates virtually no carbohydrates, which makes it a favourite for keto and low-carb cooking. It additionally thickens while not having to succeed in a boil. Add it slowly, since overshooting even barely can flip a sauce gluey.
✅ Greatest for: Keto sauces and gravies, chilly thickening, low-carb cooking.
Ratio: About 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum per 1 tablespoon cornstarch, adjusted to style
Notice: A little bit goes a great distance. Add progressively to keep away from a gluey texture.
8. Guar Gum (Greatest Price range Various to Xanthan)
Guar gum comes from the bottom endosperm of guar beans. It thickens via the identical form of mechanism as xanthan gum, simply at a decrease value. Begin with about 1/8 teaspoon of guar gum for each 1 teaspoon of cornstarch and construct up slowly from there.
It really works particularly effectively in chilly or dairy-based sauces the place xanthan gum can typically really feel slimy. Like xanthan gum, this can be very low in carbohydrates and helpful for keto cooking.
See additionally
✅ Greatest for: Chilly sauces, dairy-based dressings, budget-friendly keto thickening.
Ratio: About 1/8 teaspoon guar gum per 1 teaspoon cornstarch
Notice: Add progressively. Works particularly effectively in chilly purposes.
Substitute Comparability by Use Case
| Want | Greatest Substitute | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| On a regular basis gravy or stew | All-purpose flour | 2 tbsp flour per 1 tbsp cornstarch | Matte end, prepare dinner a number of further minutes |
| Fruit pie filling | Tapioca starch or arrowroot | ~2 tbsp tapioca, or 1.5 tsp arrowroot per tsp cornstarch | Each freeze effectively and deal with acidic fruit |
| Clear soup or broth | Rice flour or arrowroot | 2 tbsp rice flour, or 1.5 tsp arrowroot per tsp cornstarch | Each keep practically colorless |
| Sauce with wine or citrus | Arrowroot powder | ~1.5 tsp per 1 tsp cornstarch | Tolerates acid higher than cornstarch |
| Gluten-free thickening | Potato starch or arrowroot | 1:1, or 1.5:1 for arrowroot | Each naturally gluten-free |
| Keto or low-carb sauce | Xanthan gum | 1/4 tsp per 1 tbsp cornstarch | Nearly no carbs, add progressively |
| Dish headed for the freezer | Tapioca starch | ~2 tbsp per 1 tbsp cornstarch | Holds its texture after thawing, not like cornstarch |
Ceaselessly Requested Questions
What can I take advantage of as an alternative of cornstarch to thicken sauce?
All-purpose flour, arrowroot, and potato starch are the three most dependable choices for thickening a sauce. Flour wants about double the quantity, blended right into a paste first. Arrowroot and potato starch are nearer to a 1:1 swap and provides a clearer, glossier end. Select arrowroot if the sauce incorporates wine, citrus, or different acidic substances.
What can I take advantage of as an alternative of cornstarch in baking?
Potato starch, rice flour, and arrowroot all work rather than cornstarch in most baking recipes. Cornstarch is usually included there simply to lighten the feel. Use potato starch or arrowroot at near a 1:1 ratio, and rice flour at about double the quantity. All three are naturally gluten-free.
Is corn flour the identical as cornstarch?
It is dependent upon the place you’re. In the UK, cornflour is the very same pure corn starch that Individuals name cornstarch. The 2 are interchangeable. In america, corn flour is a distinct product fully. It’s a finely floor entire corn flour utilized in tortillas and a few baked items. It won’t thicken a sauce the way in which cornstarch does.
What’s the distinction between cornstarch and cornmeal?
Cornstarch is pure starch with the protein, fiber, and germ eliminated. Cornmeal is the entire corn kernel floor right into a coarser meal. Cornmeal won’t dissolve right into a liquid and thicken it the way in which cornstarch does. Utilizing one rather than the opposite won’t work. See our information on how lengthy cornmeal lasts when you maintain each available.
Can I take advantage of flour as an alternative of cornstarch?
Sure, all-purpose flour is among the most typical cornstarch substitutes. Use about 2 tablespoons of flour for each 1 tablespoon of cornstarch. Flour has much less pure starch and desires extra quantity to thicken the identical liquid. Combine the flour with somewhat chilly water right into a easy paste earlier than whisking it into the recent liquid.
What’s a gluten-free substitute for cornstarch?
Cornstarch is already naturally gluten-free. Should you’re avoiding corn particularly, arrowroot, potato starch, tapioca, and rice flour are good gluten-free choices as an alternative. Arrowroot and potato starch are near a 1:1 swap. Tapioca and rice flour usually want about double the quantity. One caveat on cornstarch itself: it could actually choose up hint gluten if it’s processed on shared tools with wheat. When you have celiac illness, search for a licensed gluten-free label quite than assuming any plain cornstarch is protected.
What can I take advantage of as an alternative of cornstarch for frying?
Potato starch and rice flour are each fashionable substitutes for cornstarch when coating meat for frying. Every produces an particularly crisp, gentle crust. All-purpose flour works too, although the crust might be a bit heavier. Any of those can change cornstarch at roughly a 1:1 ratio in a dredge or coating.
Why is cornstarch in baking powder?
Most baking powder features a small quantity of cornstarch as an anti-caking agent. This retains the baking soda and acid parts dry and separated till they hit liquid. With out it, baking powder can soak up moisture from the air and begin reacting early. It might probably lose its leavening energy earlier than it ever reaches your batter. See our information on how lengthy baking powder lasts for extra on retaining it recent.
Can I take advantage of xanthan gum as an alternative of cornstarch?
Sure, however you want far lower than a straight swap. Xanthan gum thickens with solely a fraction of the amount cornstarch requires. Begin with about 1/4 teaspoon of xanthan gum per 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, and add extra progressively. Utilizing an equal quantity of xanthan gum rather than cornstarch will make a dish unpleasantly thick and slimy.
What can I take advantage of as an alternative of cornstarch for pie filling?
Tapioca starch and arrowroot are the 2 finest substitutes for cornstarch in pie filling. This issues most if the pie is headed for the freezer. Each maintain their texture after thawing much better than cornstarch does, and each tolerate the acid in fruit fillings effectively. Use about 2 tablespoons of tapioca starch, or roughly 1.5 teaspoons of arrowroot, per 1 tablespoon of cornstarch referred to as for.
What can I take advantage of as an alternative of cornstarch in a custard or cream sauce?
Egg yolks are the standard thickener for custards, hollandaise, and different wealthy cream sauces, and so they predate cornstarch in most traditional recipes. Whisk a small quantity of the recent liquid into crushed yolks first to heat them progressively. Then stir that combination again into the pan over low warmth till it thickens. Watch the warmth intently, since yolks can curdle if the pan will get too scorching.
For extra on retaining cornstarch recent within the pantry, see our information on how lengthy cornstarch lasts. Working via the remainder of your pantry substitutes at this time? Try our guides on what to make use of as an alternative of breadcrumbs and what to make use of as an alternative of buttermilk. Or see our information on egg substitutes for cooking and baking.
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