Cornstarch Substitute: 6 Easy Swaps
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Cornstarch Substitute
If you’re looking for an alternative to cornstarch, then you’re in luck! I’ll share my favorite cornstarch substitute, plus I’ll give you 6 options that work perfectly.
These cornstarch alternatives work great for thickening sauces, soups, stews, and gravies.
For a long time, I avoided cornstarch because I preferred to eat grain free. I wanted to avoid corn products because many are made from GMO corn.
I’ve tried a variety of cornstarch substitutes over the years in a variety of recipes.
If you’re looking for a substitution for cornstarch because you’re on a grain free diet like the Paleo diet or maybe you just ran out of cornstarch and need a quick alternative in a recipe, I’ve got you covered!
Substitute for Cornstarch
If you don’t have cornstarch on hand, you can use any of these ingredients as a substitute in most recipes.
- All-purpose flour (or gluten free all-purpose flour)
- Arrowroot starch
- Potato starch
- Tapioca starch
- Xanthan gum
- Gelatin
Simply use an equal amount of the substitute as you would cornstarch. For example, if a recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, you can use 1 tablespoon of arrowroot starch instead.
Keep in mind that some of the substitutes will require a little bit more to thicken a sauce, soup, etc. I suggest starting with the same amount of cornstarch the recipe requires then adding 1/4 tsp more at a time.
My favorite cornstarch substitute is arrowroot starch (sometimes called arrowroot powder). I found this substitute works exactly like cornstarch when thickening recipes.
Tapioca starch can cause the sauce to get a little gooey.
Keto Cornstarch Substitute
Gelatin is my favorite way to thicken a sauce when on the keto diet. Use powdered gelatin (the kind that turns into jello, not the kind that stays dissolved and never turns into jello), and add the gelatin to a little bit of water to bloom it.
Then add the bloomed gelatin to the sauce you are thickening. If the recipe calls for 1 tbsp of cornstarch, start with 1 tbsp of gelatin and continue adding until you have reached your desired thickness.
Xanthan Gum Substitute for Cornstarch Ratio
You can use xanthan gum instead of cornstarch to thicken sauces. Use it 1:1 for cornstarch.
Substitute for 1 tbsp Cornstarch
- All-purpose flour (or gluten free all-purpose flour) 1:1
- Arrowroot starch 1:1
- Potato starch 1:1
- Tapioca starch 1:1
- Xanthan gum 1:1
More substitutions to try
DISCLOSURE: Not intended for the treatment or prevention of disease, nor as a substitute for medical treatment, nor as an alternative to medical advice. Use of recommendations is at the choice and risk of the reader. Ditch the Wheat is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. I only endorse products that I believe in.
Carol Lovett is the founder of Ditch the Wheat and a Globe and Mail bestselling author of the cookbook, Ditch the Wheat. She has been eating gluten free since 2010. She loves all things food, natural living, and spiritual. She's also a reiki master and crystal healer.
Gluten Free Resources
Do you need help with gluten free meals?
I recommend this meal-planning app. It makes cooking gluten free dinners extremely easy and family-friendly.
What gluten free snacks can I eat?
Lots! I have a ton of practical gluten free snack recipes in my cookbook.
How can I eat dessert on a gluten free diet?
You can 100% eat dessert while eating gluten free. Try my dessert cookbook for easy gluten free dessert recipes.
How do I know what is gluten free and what isn’t?
I have a whole section is it gluten free?
How do I make substitutions?
If you need substitution advice I created a ton of resources here.
