Cornstarch is the gluttonous flour in various recipes that comes from the starchy portions of corn grain. It is best used for thickening the soups or adding crispiness to any snacks. Hence, its nutrient profile involves pure carbohydrates with low fibre and other nutrients. This power is nothing sort of a staple to make a recipe nutritious, but you can use it for adding quality texture to a variety of foods.
Although it is tasteless, the food you are making with it can have a transformative flavour. But if you are in the process of leading a gluten-free lifestyle, you may want to remove the cornstarch stock in your pantry that is already used in small quantities. There are plenty of healthy cornstarch alternatives available to make a health-conscious choice replacing traditional ingredients. Below are some of the witty choices to go gluten-free without cornstarch to eat healthy.
Arrowroot Powder
Arrowroot powder is a popular cornstarch healthy alternative that is made from the Maranta plant roots that are rich in fibre and gluten-free. It is a great ingredient for baking goods to offer a glossy finish and is easily swapped for cornstarch in any other recipe. Arrowroot powder gives an easy thickening property. So when you boil it in liquid, it offers a transparent gel and holds its shape when combined with any acidic substance.
All-purpose flour
Since all-purpose flour and cornstarch have similar qualities, you can use them in place of cornstarch for baking and cooking applications. Every flour ingredient has different thickening properties. Hence, all-purpose flour works best in place of cornstarch. But for baking, if you use non-wheat flour, you won’t be lucky. But all-purpose flour can effectively hold up for a variety of backing and cooking tasks.
Rice Flour
If you are looking for the cheapest cornstarch healthy alternative, then rice flour is the stable base among all gluten-free ingredients and commercially blended flours. It is a simple-to-digest food prepared from finely ground rice, and people can eat it in large amounts, which can affect their blood sugar. Hence, you should use rice flour with other gluten-free flour to bring balance to its nutrition and baking features. It tastes dull and has a dry texture. Rather than white rice flour, it’s best to use wholegrain and brown rice flour to prevent consuming arsenic.
Guar Gum
Guar Gum is one of the best cornstarch alternatives for people following a weight-loss diet, as it is gluten-free and keto-friendly. It is produced from beans, and just like cornstarch, it comes from endosperm. However, its final product structure is much more comparable to that of Xanthan gum. While adding it to the recipe, you must put it gradually to prevent the mixture from over thinning.
Potato Starch
Potato starch is a great option for replacing cornstarch, i.e., gluten-free and paleo-friendly. But compared to cornstarch, potato starch thickens faster and can break down when exposed to heat for a long time. It is best used for recipes with gravies, sauces, and glazes. Because of its neutral flavour, potato starch can even be used in other flours as it has limited nutritional value. It is best produced from dried and washed potato starch that is later formed into white and fine powder.
Tapioca
Tapioca is another gluten-free and keto-friendly cornstarch alternative. It is made from pure cassava root and is especially used in baking and thick sauce recipes. Tapioca is as flavourless as cornstarch, which makes it perfect for use in gluten-free flour blends and gives stretching to the bread. It is a versatile component because of its somewhat sweet flavour. Additionally, you can use it as a stand-alone flour in some baked goods.
Xanthan Gum
Both corn starch and xanthan gum are known as popular thickening agents. But if you are looking for a gluten-free alternative, then xanthan gum is the ideal choice. It is naturally produced from sugar with bacterial fermentation. Its structure enables stretching, binding, and thickening of the flour blends and gives the dough a sticky texture.
You may want to add a crispy coating to the snack or thicken a sauce; no need to rely on the gluttonous and low-nutrient cornstarch anymore. Multiple gluten-free, healthy, and easily accessible alternatives are present to transform the recipes and add new texture. Check out Healthy Cura to find more information on substitutes for cornstarch and make the food more satisfying and delicious.