Arrowroot is a type of starchy vegetable that’s used as a common ingredient in all sorts of different recipes. Or, more specifically, its powder is!
Ground-up arrowroot makes a fine starchy powder that is used to thicken sauces and soups, or used in baking as an alternative to flour.
However, there are also plenty of handy substitutes for arrowroot powder that are just as good as the original.
In this list, we’ll take you through 5 of the best substitutes for arrowroot powder out there.
Arrowroot Powder Substitutes
1) All-Purpose Flour
Looking for a simple, easy replacement for arrowroot powder? All you need is some all-purpose flour!
Regular all-purpose flour is very similar to arrowroot powder and is great at thickening up sauces, soups, and stews.
Flour is a perfect arrowroot substitute for both savory and sweet recipes.
It doesn’t have a particularly strong flavor, meaning that it won’t affect the taste of whatever you put it in.
All-purpose flour is also a great thickening agent; while it isn’t quite as effective as arrowroot powder, flour is still an ideal way to thicken up sauces and liquid ingredients.
The two aren’t 100% the same, however. Arrowroot powder contains more starch and is a better thickener than flour. Flour also won’t give you the same glossy finish as arrowroot powder does.
If you want to swap out arrowroot for flour, you’ll need to substitute it in a 1:2 ratio (ie. 2 cups of all-purpose flour for every 1 cup of arrowroot powder).
2) Cornstarch
One of the best arrowroot substitutes out there, cornstarch is nearly identical to arrowroot starch.
With its great thickening abilities and having no taste of its own, cornstarch is just as popular an ingredient as arrowroot is – in fact, you’re more likely to find recipes saying to swap out cornstarch for arrowroot than the other way around!
As a result, it’s no surprise that cornstarch is an incredibly versatile and effective thickener.
Perfect in savory dishes like soups, sauces, and glazes, as well as in sweet dishes and desserts, cornstarch (see also ‘13 Handy Cornstarch Alternatives‘) is a great option if you need to substitute arrowroot powder.
3) Rice Flour
Rice flour is even more effective as a thickener than other alternatives such as all-purpose flour and cornstarch, and it even has a higher starch content than arrowroot powder does.
As a result, reduce the amount of rice flour you use in a recipe to account for the difference in starch content – you only need to use half as much rice flour as arrowroot powder, with a ratio of approximately 1:2 of rice flour to arrowroot.
Rice flour also supplies the same glossiness as arrowroot, and its taste adds a gentle sweetness to a recipe; however, because of how little rice flour you need instead of arrowroot, it’s unlikely that the sweetness will affect the flavor of your dish.
4) Tapioca Starch
Arrowroot and tapioca starch are often mistaken as being one and the same due to the plenty of similarities between the two, but this isn’t the case.
Instead, tapioca starch is just an incredibly similar ingredient that makes the perfect substitute for arrowroot powder.
Just bear in mind that you won’t get the exact same results as you would with arrowroot. Tapioca starch can become clumpy when frozen.
Otherwise, tapioca starch is a great alternative to arrowroot that can be used as a 1:1 substitute!
5) Xanthan Gum
Xanthan gum is a type of thickening agent derived from sugar. It’s a great alternative to arrowroot, with no taste and a high viscosity making it perfect in soups, sauces, and desserts!
Great for use in both sweet and savory foods, including baked goods, xanthan gum is a handy substitute that works just as well.
You need much less xanthan gum than arrowroot – use a ratio of 1:3 of xanthan gum to arrowroot powder when cooking for the ideal amount.
Final Thoughts
And there you go! These handy substitutes to arrowroot powder are perfect alternatives, and offer the same thickening properties and starchy texture.
Whether you’re trying to thicken up a soup or stew, or making a light and airy pastry, these handy alternatives to arrowroot powder are
a quick and simple solution if you run out of arrowroot powder or just want to try something new.
So give these handy substitutes a try – you might just like them more than the original!
5 Substitutes For Arrowroot Powder (aka Flour Or Starch)
Arrowroot powder is a type of thickening starch without any flavor. This handy list takes a look at 5 of the best substitutes for arrowroot powder
Ingredients
All-Purpose Flour
Cornstarch
Rice Flour
Tapioca Starch
Xanthan Gum
Directions
- Decided on what substitute you need
- Pick a substitute from the list above
- Read what you need to substitute with
- Create the recipe and enjoy
Recipe Video
Cooking is great for your mental, physical, and emotional health. What’s the worst that could happen? Find a recipe that you like the sound of and cook it along with me. You might even unlock a new passion!
- 15 Traditional Greek Breads - July 31, 2023
- 30 Delicious And Gluten-Free Cookie Recipes - July 29, 2023
- 30 Of The Best European Desserts - July 29, 2023