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Arrowroot is a great thickening agent that is essential when cooking as you can use it to thicken pies, custards, and even gravies. They also add a certain level of taste and flavor to your plate. Arrowroot is similar to ginger and is not readily available most times.
Since this agent is unique, can it be substituted by something else if you do not have it at hand? The answer to this is yes, and there are many alternatives if you do not have any arrowroot starch on hand.
Some of the best arrowroot starch substitutes that you can use include tapioca starch, cornstarch, all-purpose flour, sweet rice flour, potato starch, tartar cream, xanthan gum, and arrowroot flour.
Stick with me as we go through this list and see how they can replace arrowroot starch in your dishes.
What Is Arrowroot Starch?
Arrowroot starch is an effective thickening agent used for cooking and baking. Arrowroot is used to thicken sauces and can be used as a filling, and as an alternative for flour.
Sometimes this starch contains a tiny amount of potato starch, so you should check the label to ensure which one you are getting when shopping.
Best Arrowroot Starch Substitutes
There are many suitable substitutes for arrowroot starch, but before using any of them, you should get more information about the differences and similarities between these substitutes and arrowroot.
Keep scrolling, learn more about the use of the standard replacement, and choose which one will be more suitable for your dish.
1. Cornstarch
One of the excellent substitutes that can replace arrowroot starch is cornstarch. Cornstarch almost fits in perfectly for every dish and is perfect for people with allergies as it is a soft starch made from corn.
Another advantage that cornstarch poses is giving your dish a bright and shiny texture.
Cornstarch should be substituted for arrowroot starch in a ratio of 1:1 and can be used in stir-fries, fruit salads, and sure desserts like fruit crisps.
2. Tapioca Starch
Tapioca starch is another another wonderful substitute for arrowroot starch. To use tapioca starch, you should do it in a ratio of 1:1 for it to work well. One key importance of tapioca starch is that it is one of the few gluten-free substitutes.
If you don’t have arrowroot starch, and you want to thicken your sauce and gravies without any added gluten, you should always go for the tapioca starch. You can use tapioca starch in cakes, jams, and even pies.
3. All-Purpose Flour
Most of us should be familiar with this flour as a thickening and binding agent. Even though all-purpose flour is majorly used for baked dishes, it can also be added to your sauces.
A minor difference you would notice when using this all-purpose flour to replace arrowroot starch is the texture or appearance. Arrowroot gives your dish a glossier appearance, but when you use regular flour instead, it makes the dish a bit cloudy.
However, it does not affect the taste of your dish, and if you wish for a brighter dish, you can achieve this by using another ingredient to spice it all up. You can substitute all-purpose flour for arrowroot in a ratio of 1:1.
4. Sweet Rice Flour
Sweet rice flour can also be used as a substitute in many dishes that require the use of arrowroot. Compared to arrowroot starch, rice flour has a higher amount of starch, thereby affecting the rate at which you would substitute it.
Sweet rice flour is suitable for desserts, especially desserts that should to be frozen for a long time.
Sweet rice flour can also cause your dish to be cloudy, but the sweet taste can make up for it. When baking, replace arrowroot starch with sweet rice flour in a ratio of 1:2 (sweet rice flour: arrowroot flour).
5. Tartar Cream
You might be thinking that tartar cream is not a suitable substitute for arrowroot starch, but you would be wrong. You can substitute tartar cream for arrowroot starch in dishes like soups, puddings, and custards.
Even if tartar were not in powdered form, you would be surprised at the beautiful outcome.
6. Potato Starch
Potato starch is a perfect substitute for arrowroot starch, especially when baking. Since potato starch is tasteless, you would not have to worry about the taste effect on your food.
Potato starch can also be considered a better substitute for arrowroot as it has more nutritional value. Potato starch can be added as a substitute when making potato flakes, muffins, loaves of bread, and other baked foods.
7. Xanthan Gum
Xanthan gum is a suitable replacement for arrowroot starch as it is similar to eggs used in baking. Xanthan gum is a perfect substitute, mainly in baked foods, but since it is similar to an egg, the egg in the original recipe has to be reduced.
You can also add xanthan gum to soups, stews, and other cooked custards.
8. Arrowroot Flour
Since they are both made from the same source, arrowroot flour can also serve as a decent substitute for arrowroot starch without any complications attached.
Arrowroot starch is not so pleasing a substitute for baking, but it is a great substitute when it comes to thickening food and stews.
When being substituted, you can do it in a ratio of 1/3:1 (arrowroot flour: arrowroot starch).
Related Questions
What Is Arrowroot Starch Used For?
Arrowroot starch is beneficial in many aspects apart from just cooking meals.
The primary use of arrowroot starch is for thickening foods like sauces and gravies. Arrowroot starch helps give your meal the desired consistency without affecting the texture and taste of your dish.
When it comes to hair and skincare, arrowroot starch also has a role to play as it helps soak up the excess oil in your hair and skin.
The toy can make use of your arrowroot starch when you bake since it can be found as ingredients in muffins, cakes, and cookies; it also gives your fried food its crispiness. It is used in many vegan dishes in place of eggs, and it has been in use for a while now.
Is Arrowroot OK on A Keto Diet?
No, arrowroot is high in carbohydrate, so it is not suitable when you are on a keto diet. Arrowroot starch contains about 85 grams of net carbs per 100 grams, so it is not ideal for a keto diet.
Can I Use Almond Flour Instead of Arrowroot Starch?
Almond flour is an excellent substitute for arrowroot starch, but you should substitute it on a ratio of 1:1 for a balanced taste and texture.
Can I Use Cornstarch Instead of Arrowroot Starch in Body Butter?
You can always use cornstarch in place of arrowroot in making body butter. If there is no arrowroot starch available, you should leave your body butter to sit on the counter for some minutes before transferring it to the refrigerator, where it is kept and allowed to sit for about an hour.
Are Arrowroot and Cornstarch the Same?
Cornstarch and arrowroot are used as thickeners, but their properties differ slightly. These two can be used interchangeably in the same ratio, even if there are other times where one works better than the other can.
