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Don’t have cornstarch, or realized you’re all out while you’re cooking? Here’s the best cornstarch substitute to use for thickening in recipes.
Making a recipe that calls for cornstarch and don’t have it? Don’t worry, there are few options that are perfectly suited as a substitution.
Cornstarch is used as a thickener for sauces: both savory and sweet. You’ll find it in fruity desserts like strawberry rhubarb crisp, and savory recipes like vegetable stir fry. Whether you’re addressing an allergy or just ran out, there are a few easy substitutes that work well.
Best Cornstarch Substitute
1. Arrowroot starch
The best substitute for cornstarch? Arrowroot starch. It’s the starch extracted from the arrowroot plant, and often used in gluten-free baking to bring a light texture to baked goods. It’s a great substitute for cornstarch that works for people with corn allergies, and it provides that nice glossy shine just like cornstarch. Replace arrowroot starch 1 for 1 with cornstarch. (Here’s an example recipe: Blueberry Crisp.)
2. Flour
Another great substitute for cornstarch? Flour! Flour acts in a similar way to thicken sauces, though the sauce won’t end up with the glossy finish that cornstarch gives. Here’s the substitution ratio: use 2 tablespoons flour for every 1 tablespoon cornstarch in a recipe.
Note: Our Chocolate Vegan Ice Cream and other dairy-free ice cream recipes use cornstarch as a thickener to get a creamy texture. You could try with arrowroot starch, but flour wouldn’t have the same properties.
3. Tapioca starch
This cornstarch swap works 2:1, so use 2 tablespoons tapioca starch for every 1 tablespoon cornstarch. It’s best for fruit pie and crisp fillings, glazes or sauces.
4. Potato starch
If you can find it, potato starch is another cornstarch swap. It works 1:1 in soups and gravies, and you should add at the very end.
5. Rice flour
One last idea is rice flour; you can use 2 tablespoons rice flour for every 1 tablespoon cornstarch. It works for anywhere where cornstarch is used for crispy coatings or gluten-free frying.
