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Don’t have arrowroot starch or flour, or realize you’re all out while you’re cooking? Here are the best arrowroot powder substitutes to use in recipes.
Arrowroot powder, otherwise known as arrowroot starch or arrowroot flour, is the dried and ground root of the arrowroot plant, a starchy root vegetable. It’s a popular substitute for cornstarch and great at thickening sauces, both savory and sweet.
In fact, it’s possible the recipe you’re making was adapted to use this substitute for cornstarch. Don’t have arrowroot powder on hand? No problem. Here are a few easy substitutes that work well!
Best arrowroot powder substitutes
1. Cornstarch
The best arrowroot powder substitute is cornstarch. Cornstarch is a starch that’s made from corn grains. Your recipe may call for arrowroot powder because it’s often used as a substitute for cornstarch, especially for people with corn allergies.
Cornstarch provides that nice glossy shine just like arrowroot powder. Cornstarch is a 1:1 arrowroot starch substitute. It’s great in stir-fry sauces and desserts, like a fruit crisp.
2. Tapioca flour
Another good substitute for arrowroot powder is tapioca flour. Also called tapioca starch, it’s a thickener that you can use in the same way as arrowroot. Keep in mind that it doesn’t do well after freezing, as it can become clumpy with an odd texture.
It can also add a light sweetness to recipes, but typically you’ll use it in small quantities. Tapioca flour is a 1:1 arrowroot flour substitute.
3. All-purpose flour
This is one you likely already have in your pantry. Flour acts in a similar way to thicken sauces, but keep in mind that the sauce won’t end up with the glossy finish that arrowroot powder gives. Here’s the substitution ratio: use 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour for every tablespoon of arrowroot powder in a recipe.
Related recipes
Here are some recipes where you could use this arrowroot powder substitute:
Using recipe requiring arrowroot powder! Haven’t got but think xanthan gum may be used as substitute? Same amount required? Many thanks….👍💚
We don’t have experience with xanthan so I’m not sure. Sorry!
I am making a blueberry cherry crumble with arrowroot as a thickener. I couldn’t find i will just use my corn starch. I read 2 different things: substitute arrowroot but use half the amount or just substitute 1 to 1 equal amounts.
What do you think?
We recommend substituting 1 for 1 with arrowroot for cornstarch. Let us know how it goes!