Plant Starch. Arrowroot, a perennial plant, can also be used as a cornstarch substitute. The ratio of this substitution is 2 tsp. Arrowroot will operate as a thickening agent much like its cornstarch counterpart, but will also permit overcooking, unlike cornstarch. If youre out of cornstarch, or cooking for someone whos allergic to corn, one of these cornstarch substitutes should stand in nicely. You probably have at least one. Corn-Flour-Substitute.png' alt='Sub For Cornstarch' title='Sub For Cornstarch' />How to Substitute Cornstarch for Flour in Recipes. Lots of recipes use flour as a thickener, a coating or another ingredient. If youre on the gluten free diet because you have celiac disease or non celiac gluten sensitivity, you obviously cant use wheat flour for this purpose, so youll need to substitute cornstarch. The good news is that its easy to substitute cornstarch for flour when your recipe calls for a thickener as in gravy, sauce or pie or a coating for fried foods. However, you cant use cornstarch as a substitute for flour in baked goods you will need gluten free flour blends you can use cup for cup. While pure cornstarch is gluten free, some brands arent, so choose a safe brand of gluten free cornstarch. Heres a guide to substituting cornstarch for flour in recipes. Thickening Gravy, Sauces, or Pie Fillings With Cornstarch. Cornstarch works remarkably well as a thickener in sauces, gravy, and pie fillings, and some prefer it to flour. You wont be able to taste the cornstarch the way you sometimes can taste the flour. Be aware that these foods will be more translucent. This occurs because cornstarch is pure starch, while flour contains some protein. But you cant use cornstarch as a tablespoon for tablespoon substitute for flour. Generally speaking, you should use 1 tablespoon of cornstarch for each cup of saucegravy of medium thickness. The most important things to remember when using cornstarch as a thickener in recipes Use half as much cornstarch as you would flour. For example, if the recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of flour, use 1 tablespoon of cornstarch. If the recipe calls for 14 cup of flour, use 18 cup of cornstarch. The same is true for other starches, such as arrowroot starch, potato starch, and tapioca. Dont add the cornstarch directlyit will clump up and form lumps in your sauce that will be very difficult to dissolve. To avoid this problem,  mix the cornstarch with a little cold water 1 tablespoon water to 1 tablespoon cornstarch until its dissolved. Then pour the waterstarch mixture known as a slurry into what youre cooking. Make sure the water you use is cold, and keep stirring as the mixture begins to thicken. Cook over medium low to medium heat, because high heat can cause lumping. Stir gently while cooking, as stirring vigorously can break down your mixture. If you need to add more ingredients, remove the pot from the heat and stir them in quickly and gently. Easy Tres Leches Cake. Bring the mixture to a full boil for one minute, which allows the starch granules to swell to their maximum. Reduce heat as it thickens. Sub For Cornstarch' title='Sub For Cornstarch' />So youre making a recipe that calls for cornstarch, and youre wondering whether you can substitute flour instead. The answer is it depends. Overcooking can cause mixtures to thin when they cool. Cornstarch isnt as effective as flour when thickening acidic sauces. It wont work well with those made with tomatoes, vinegar, or lemon juice. Cornstarch also isnt as effective as flour when thickening sauces made with fat, such as butter or egg yolks. If you have too little liquid in your mixture, there may not be enough for the starch granules to absorb. This is also the case when you have more sugar than liquid, in which case you may need to add more liquid for the mixture to be firmer. You might want to avoid freezing any sauces or gravy you make with cornstarch since they wont freeze well. They turn spongy. Frying With Cornstarch Instead of Flour. You easily can use cornstarch instead of flour as a coating for fried chicken, fried fish, or other fried dishes. Cornstarch will create a crisper coating that will hold up to sauces better and will absorb less of the frying oil leading to a lower fat meal. Here are some tips for frying with cornstarch Make sure you have a light, even coating of cornstarch on the food youre frying. Heavier coatings can get gummy. Consider a 5. 05. A Word From Verywell. When cooking gluten free, you may be able to continue to enjoy some of your favorite sauces by learning how to use cornstarch and other gluten free thickeners. While mastering the art of substitutions can take some trial and error, it can also inspire creativity in the kitchen, leading you to also whip up new creations of your very own. Sources Frequently Asked Questions. Argo Kingsfords Corn Starch. Thompson T et al. Gluten Contamination of Grains, Seeds, and Flours in the United States A Pilot Study. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. Jun 1. 106 9. Cornstarch Substitutes Eat. By. Date. Cornstarch Substitutes. Substitutes for cornstarch include tapioca and some less common ingredients. Cornstarch is most often used in small amounts as a thickening agent. Finding a cornstarch substitute should be fairly easy to find in your pantry. If you run out, you will need to find a substitute for cornstarch when making gravies or sauces so that they will turn out rich and thick like a good sauce should be. If you just leave out or eliminate cornstarch from your process, your sauce will be very thin and watery. You do not want to leave this important ingredient out of your recipe. So, be sure to check our cornstarch substitution table in order to pick a suitable cornstarch substitute. Listed below are several alternatives to use when you need a cornstarch substitute.