As it so happens, you may find yourself with an empty box of arrowroot powder or you may even be unable to find it in the local grocery store. For times like these, there is a list of the best arrowroot powder substitutes that you can use.
Often used as a thickening agent in soups, sauces, fruit pie fillings, and puddings, arrowroot powder is used by those allergic to wheat (gluten allergy) and corn. This powder is extracted from arrowroot and is also known as arrowroot flour or arrowroot starch by some.
Arrowroot Powder Substitutes
The best arrowroot powder substitutes include coconut flour, tapioca starch, corn starch, rice flour, wheat flour, potato starch, as well as regular flour. [1]
Tapioca Starch
Extracted from cassava root, tapioca starch is similar to arrowroot flour as they are both gluten-free. Because of its odorless and tasteless nature, it can be used as a thickening agent in various dishes including sauces, stews, as well as in baking. The best way is to make instant tapioca starch is to grind quick cooking or instant tapioca (sometimes also referred to as minute tapioca) into a fine powder. You can substitute 1 tablespoon of tapioca starch for 1-2 teaspoons of arrowroot powder. [2]
Cornstarch
Cornstarch is another popular substitute for arrowroot flour. With its neutral taste and gluten-free nature, cornstarch can be added to soups and sauces as a thickening agent. For 2 teaspoons of arrowroot flour, 1 tablespoon of cornstarch should be used.
Cornstarch is a good substitute for cake flour. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Rice Flour
Rice flour can be used by in place arrowroot powder especially by those with the celiac disease. It can be mixed with an equal amount of water or milk to make a slurry to be added to various dishes. [3]
Wheat Flour
Not the most frequently used substitute for arrowroot flour because of its strong taste, it works efficiently as a thickener for both acidic and nonacidic liquids. For 1 teaspoon of arrowroot flour, 1 tablespoon of wheat flour should be used.
Potato Starch
With a similar texture as arrowroot flour, potato starch can also be used as a substitute. Although avoid boiling this starch in order to retain its thickening properties. Only 1 teaspoon of potato starch should be used in place of 2 teaspoons of arrowroot flour.
You can use potato starch in place of cornstarch in baking. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Others
There are some other foods which can be used as substitutes for arrowroot flour. Some of them include:
- Almond flour
- Coconut flour
- Regular flour
