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Insight Horizon Media

Is it okay to use cornstarch instead of flour?

Author

Mia Smith

Published Mar 22, 2026

Is it okay to use cornstarch instead of flour?

While cornstarch shouldn’t be used as a substitute for flour in baked goods, you can easily substitute it in for flours when coating fried chicken, fish or other dishes. Not only will cornstarch work in the same way that flours do, but it will hold up better against sauces and absorb less of the frying oil.

How can you tell the difference between all purpose flour and cornstarch?

All of these use the whole grain, while cornstarch only uses the inner, starchy bit of the kernel. All purpose flour is made from wheat, and is usually white, having the bran removed. It is a medium protein flour, so it can be used for breads and cakes, but isn’t ideal for either of them.

How can you make dough thicker without flour?

You can try using a bit less fat. If the recipe calls for 1/2 cup of butter, see what happens if you use 1/3 cup. Also, you can try substituting 1/4 cup of coconut flour for regular flour. It absorbs more liquid, so it will thicken the dough and add a subtle coconut flavor to your cookies.

What does cornstarch do to your body?

Cornstarch is high in calories and carbs but low in essential nutrients. It may also increase blood sugar levels and harm heart health.

Can you substitute corn starch for flour in a recipe?

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 1/4 cup of flour, use 1/8 cup of cornstarch. (The same is true for other starches, such as arrowroot starch, potato starch,…

How to measure the ratio of flour vs.corn starch?

Find the amount of flour needed for the preparation. Divide the amount of flour called for in half by volume. For instance, if the recipe calls for 2 tbsp. of flour, measure 1 tbsp. of corn starch. Mix the corn starch with an equal amount of water by volume.

What can you use in place of cornstarch in a sauce?

White rice flour is the ideal choice for thickening sauces since brown rice flour can be gritty. Similar to flour, double the amount of rice flour should be used in place of cornstarch. This finely ground powder made from rice is colorless when mixed with water and thus a good choice when thickening clear liquids.

Can you use rice flour instead of corn flour?

On top of that, rice flour is colorless when mixed with water, unlike corn flour. So you won’t have to worry when mixing it to clear soups or broth. To achieve the same consistency as corn flour, you’ll need 2 tbsps of rice flour to replace 1 tbsp of cornflour.

How do you replace cornstarch with flour?

To substitute cornstarch for flour, use half the amount of cornstarch than you would of flour in your dish. If making a pudding, add the cornstarch to the end of your cooking, first blending it with cold water; cornstarch thickens right away.

What is the equivalent of cornstarch to flour?

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 1/4 cup of flour, use 1/8 cup of cornstarch.

What is healthier flour or cornstarch?

Cornstarch is a pure starch compared to flour. The reason for this is because flour contains gluten. The lack of gluten in cornstarch makes it more efficient in thickening. In fact, cornstarch has twice the thickening power of starch. The presence of gluten in flour makes it less effective.

What is the ratio for cornstarch?

The ratio of cornstarch to the amount of liquid you want to thicken is about 1 tablespoon to 1 cup for a thin to medium sauce and 2 tablespoons to 1 cup for a thicker gravy. Cornstarch is most readily absorbed by a hot liquid if it is first mixed with a small amount of cold liquid, usually water.