Cornflour is a multipurpose item that can be found in most pantries and you can use it at the time of baking, grilling, or just cooking on the stove. Because of its several applications, you might frequently find yourself short on this essential kitchen item. When this happens at the last minute, what can you do? Fortunately, you can easily look for several excellent corn flour substitutes in your kitchen. They function equally effectively when utilized appropriately and for the intended purpose.
In this article, we have shared some of the best cornflour alternatives that will serve the purpose of cornflour in your food.
What is Corn Flour?
Dried entire maize kernels are ground into a fine flour known as corn flour. Because it uses the full maize kernel including hull, germ, and endosperm, thus, it is regarded as whole grain flour. It is free of gluten and full of fiber, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals; the color of the dish depends on the kind of maize used, which might be yellow, white, or blue.
Corn Flour Flavor and Uses
Corn flour has an earthy flavor profile that balances its particular sweetness, similar to that of an actual corn ear. When eaten raw, it leaves a little harsh aftertaste, its natural sweetness and earthy flavor come out when baking, frying, and grilling.
Like most flours, corn flour is mostly used to offer baked goods and a meal structure. Corn flour is highly versatile and works well in a variety of recipes. It also works well as breading for meats and fried foods to add that extra crunch, and it may be used as a thickening for sauces, soups, stews, and gravies.
Best Corn Flour Alternatives
Here are some of the great alternatives of Cornflour that can help you capture the same texture and flavor in any food:
- Cornstarch
Both maize flour and corn flour are made from corn, have no gluten, and are among the most commonly confused foods. The primary distinction between the two is that corn starch is prepared solely from the starchy portion of the corn, whereas corn flour is made from dried corn kernels.
When it comes to flavor, cornflour stands out in comparison to corn starch. Therefore, it can be a good idea to season the corn flour before using it in savory meals.
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Cornstarch is a corn flour alternative for chilli paneer and also acts as a thickening agent in your food. To prevent clumping, replace one tablespoon of corn flour in a recipe with one tablespoon of cornstarch paired with a small amount of cold water.
- Rice Flour
Another great corn flour alternative for soup making is Rice flour which is made by extracting the grains and grinding them finely until a white, starchy powder is formed.
It is a common ingredient in many soups, noodles, and even desserts in Asian cooking. Rice flour is a corn flour alternative for manchurian as well as it is free of gluten so you can control your intake of high-gluten meals. While rice flour is an excellent thickening agent, it lacks the crispness of a corn flour coating when used as breading. Just stir two teaspoons of rice flour into one tablespoon of hot or cold water to substitute one tablespoon of corn flour in a recipe.
- All-Purpose Flour
All-purpose flour is also referred to as refined flour or flour and is produced by removing the brown covering from the wheat grains. Thereafter the wheat grains are ground into a white powder that is highly refined.
All-purpose flour is a great cornflour alternative for frying and also works as a thickening agent for soup and sauces. If you are using all-purpose flour for coating fried food then the taste and texture may differ. However, it is considered a great option for cakes, pastries, baking bread, pancakes, and muffins.
Use two tablespoons of all-purpose flour (twice the amount needed) in place of one tablespoon of corn flour to act as a thickening agent.
- Wheat Flour
Made from finely powdered wheat, wheat flour is a nutrient-dense superfood. It has a lot of protein and fiber in addition to starch, making it a fantastic alternative to corn flour. But if you are seeking a gluten-free option, like corn flour, you might want to give this one another thought because wheat flour contains gluten.
Wheat flour is not only a great cornflour alternative for thickening foods but also for baking and cooking. To prevent lumps from developing, use two tablespoons of wheat flour stirred with cold water to make a paste, instead of one tablespoon of corn flour for thickening soups and sauces. Use the same ratio as corn flour when using it in other recipes, such as tortillas.
- Potato Flour
Potato flour is a powdered white starch that is often used in baking and food thickening. It is created by cooking, drying, and grinding potatoes and it is a great cornstarch alternative tofu, chicken, fish, or vegetables.
Potato flour is a suitable substitute for those with celiac disease and is gluten-free, just like corn flour. But because it’s high in fats and carbohydrates, it needs to be consumed cautiously and in moderation by those watching their calories.
You should also be cautious when adding potato flour to your soups and gravies to thicken them because potatoes absorb a lot of water. Use 1 tablespoon of potato flour in place of 1 tablespoon of cornflour while thickening soups and sauces.
- Arrowroot Powder
One form of starch that can be used in place of cornflour is arrowroot powder, which is derived from the tropical arrowroot plant. Not only is it frequently used in baking, but it also works similarly to corn flour in thickening liquids, particularly clear broths and jellies.
It gives the food a nice flavor, even though it might not be the greatest corn flour alternative in french fries and baking bread. Always form a slurry with it in cool water before adding it to the heated mixture if you’re using it to thicken sauces or gravies. Take two tablespoons of arrowroot powder in place of 1 tablespoon of corn flour to thicken the gravy more quickly.
FAQs
1.What are some of the best alternatives for corn flour?
Ans. Some of the best alternatives for cornflour that you can use while making your food include cornstarch, rice flour, all-purpose flour, wheat flour, and potato flour.
2. Is it possible to make corn flour at home?
Ans. Yes, making corn flour at home is an easy process as the only ingredient you need is corn. All you need to do is to dry the corn beforehand and later grind it into a fine texture to make corn flour.
3. Is Maize Flour and Corn Flour the same?
Ans. Yes, maize flour is another name of corn flour which can be made by grinding dried corn until it turns into soft and fine particles.
The Final Words
Undoubtedly corn flour gives a unique touch to food items as it comes in handy while thickening, baking, frying, and grilling. It also provides crisp and crunch to the food so you will always find yourself low on cornflour. In that case, cornflour alternatives like Cornstarch, Rice flour, all-purpose flour, Arrowroot Powder, potato starch, and wheat flour can be very helpful.
We hope that you found this article interesting and now you know about the uses of different alternatives of Cornflour.