If you're looking for suitable substitutions for potato starch in your cooking and baking recipes, then you came to the right place! Let's take a closer look at this unique thickening agent and good alternatives to use as a substitute.
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There's nothing like being well into cooking a new recipe, then discovering you don't have a vital ingredient like starch to bake with or thicken your dish. The good news is that you have options if you need potato starch substitutes in your recipes.
Potato starch is a starch powder, much like corn starch, that is made from crushed potatoes. This starch is what makes raw potatoes react and change colors when left exposed to the air. Potato starch is often used as a thickener for hearty soups and stews. Most people do not keep this simple thickener on hand and can be thrown off when they are working on a recipe and it pops up.
Substitutes for Potato Starch
Corn Starch
The most common and likely easiest option to use as a substitution for potato starch is corn starch. Most people have corn starch hanging around in their pantry at home and can use this without running to the store. Corn starch can be used in a 1 to 1 ratio with potato starch in your favorite recipes to help thicken.
Arrowroot Powder
For families looking to avoid corn products, arrowroot starch is the best substitute for potato starch as a thickening agent for recipes. This can be used in a 1 to 1 ratio as a thickener for your favorite soups and stews without changing the flavor.
Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes make a great thickener for soups and stews and is particularly great when used in place of potato starch, as it is made from the same base ingredient. Mashed potatoes usually take a bit more than powdered starches to get the desired thickness, but this is a great way to use up leftovers, or you can simply grab some instant mashed potatoes to use as a substitute for potato starch. Start with equal amounts of mashed potatoes to potato starch and add more as needed until you get the thickness you desire. The amount needed will vary depending on the other ingredients in the recipe.
Tapioca Starch
Tapioca starch is best known for tapioca pudding (it's used to make tapioca pearls for boba drinks!), but this simple starch has many more uses in the kitchen. This starch can be used as a thickener for any of your favorite recipes. Use tapioca starch in a 1 to 1 ratio with potato starch in your favorite recipes for a simple substitution that works for any recipe. And no, it won't make your recipe sweet.
Coconut Flour
Coconut flour makes a suitable substitution for potato starch in recipes. This flour is a great option for those looking to make gluten-free or low carb recipes, and can be used in both soups, stews and homemade bread options in a 0.5 to 1 ratio with potato starch. If more than 1/4 cup coconut flour is needed to replace potato starch in a recipe, you may need to add a bit more liquid to the recipe, as coconut flour is more absorbent than potato starch.
Oat Flour
Like coconut flour, oat flour is a great substitution for potato starch. This substitution is one you can make yourself fairly easily by running dry oats through a blender until you have a fine powder. Use oat flour in a 1 to 1 ratio with potato starch in your favorite recipes.
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