Wondering about the best arrowroot powder substitutes? Don’t worry. This article is about arrowroot powder and its best substitutes that will help you enjoy its flavor even in its absence. I once had a terrible plight of being out of arrowroot powder when I desperately needed a gluten-free thickening agent. That prompted me to come up with an article to help people like you!
So, do you know what the best arrowroot powder substitutes are? Some of the best arrowroot powder substitutes are all-purpose flour, tapioca starch, cornstarch, sweet rice flour, and potato starch.
Arrowroot powder is a very popular thickening agent that is made of arrowroot. It is a versatile powder used to thicken sauces, puddings, and jellies and is also used in baking recipes. It has impressive nutritional values as well. But if you are out of arrowroot powder, you definitely need the help of a few substitutes to get your recipe going. Let us explore arrowroot powder before we get on to its best substitutes.
Quick Peek: Arrowroot Powder
The following scribbles tell you what arrowroot powder is, its flavor, texture, culinary uses, and health benefits.
What Is Arrowroot Powder?
Arrowroot powder is the powder that is obtained from processing arrowroot, a tuber called Maranta arundinacea. The plant roots are dried and ground to form a powder known as arrowroot powder. It is also known as arrowroot flour or arrowroot starch.
Describing Arrowroot Powder: Flavor and Texture
Arrowroot powder has no taste. Yes, that’s right. Being flavorless is what makes arrowroot powder highly versatile. It adds no taste to recipes, and thus you needn’t worry about it changing the flavor profile of your dishes. It looks white and is very fine and smooth in texture.
Uses of Arrowroot Powder
Arrowroot powder has no flavor, which makes it a versatile ingredient when it comes to cooking. It is actively used to thicken sauces, gravies, and soups without changing the overall flavor profile. It also works as a great binding agent similar to eggs. It is also used as a replacement for other types of thickening agents, such as cornstarch or all-purpose flour.
It is also used as a substitute for baking powder in baking recipes such as cookies and cakes. It gives texture and structure to recipes. Apart from culinary purposes, arrowroot powder is also used as dry shampoo, deodorant ingredient, and as a substitute for talcum powder as well.
Arrowroot Powder on The Health Radar | Looking Through The Wellness Telescope
Arrowroot powder is a gluten-free ingredient that is used for medicinal purposes. Even though it is high in carbs, it is a good source of proteins, B vitamins, and other important nutrients. Arrowroot powder can aid weight loss and enhances digestion. It can boost your immune system and promote sleep. It is also good for cardiovascular health and for treating Athlete’s Foot.
Why Should We Substitute Arrowroot Powder?
Arrowroot powder, as a versatile thickening ingredient, is quite expensive. This makes it hard to find and use with no wastage. Thus, you need the help of the best arrowroot powder substitutes to enjoy your recipes even in their absence.
Also, some of us might be allergic to arrowroot powder with symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, upset stomach, wheezing, and coughing. In such a scenario, having the best arrowroot powder substitutes will help you. So, shall we discuss the best substitutes for arrowroot powder?
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9 Best Arrowroot Powder Substitutes
Now that you know everything you need to know about arrowroot powder let us discuss the nine best substitutes for arrowroot powder.
1. All-Purpose Flour
All-purpose flour is also known as refined flour or just flour. It is made using a mixture of hard and soft wheat varieties. Wheat grains are milled, refined, and bleached to make all-purpose flour. It is popularly used in baking recipes.
All-purpose flour has no flavor of its own and is white and powdery in texture. The flavor, texture, and color profiles of all-purpose flour make it one of the best arrowroot powder substitutes. It is your best option to substitute for arrowroot powder as a thickening agent. For a spoon of arrowroot powder, use two tablespoons of all-purpose flour.
2. Tapioca Starch
Tapioca starch is the starch you get from the roots of cassava plants. It looks like white flour and has a sweet taste and a thick texture. It is a gluten-free ingredient used in baked goods, soups, and puddings as a thickening agent.
Due to its thickening properties, tapioca starch can be a good arrowroot powder substitute. Using tapioca starch will give a sweet taste to your recipes. The only thing about tapioca starch is that its texture changes after freezing. You can substitute arrowroot powder with tapioca starch in an equal ratio.
3. Cornstarch
Cornstarch is made from the starchy part of corn kernels. It is a common thickening agent used in various recipes such as soups, sauces, gravies, casseroles, and marinades. Cornstarch is often assumed to be the same as corn flour, but these are not the same.
Cornstarch has no flavor of its own and gives texture to recipes making it another fantastic arrowroot powder substitute. Add a bit of water for a smooth texture when using cornstarch to replace arrowroot powder. For a tablespoon of arrowroot powder, use half a teaspoon of cornstarch.
4. Sweet Rice Flour
Sweet rice flour is obtained by grinding sweet rice, also known as sticky rice or glutinous rice. This rice variety is mainly grown in Asian countries. Sweet rice flour has a mild, sweet flavor and a chunky, sticky texture.
Sweet rice flour is a considerable arrowroot powder substitute due to the similar carbohydrate content. That said, it has higher starch content than arrowroot powder. The recipes may be cloudy with the addition of sweet rice flour. Add half a teaspoon of sweet rice flour to a tablespoon of arrowroot powder.
5. Potato Starch
Potato starch is the starch obtained from peeled and washed potatoes. This is then dried to a fine powder known as potato starch. Similar to starch, potato starch is flavorless and has a powdery consistency.
Potato starch is a gluten-free arrowroot powder substitute that can be used for thickening soups, sauces, or pie fillings. Since potato starch has a bland flavor, you needn’t worry about it altering the flavor profile of your recipes. Use half a tablespoon of potato starch for a tablespoon of arrowroot powder.
6. Xanthan Gum
Xanthan gum is made by fermenting sugar with bacteria. The sugar could be from wheat, soy, corn, or dairy. It has a neutral flavor and a powdery texture. It is used as a thickening agent, emulsifier, and binding agent. It is a versatile ingredient in gluten-free cooking.
Xanthan gum is a considerable substitute for arrowroot powder due to its neutral flavor and binding properties. Using xanthan gum will give you similar results to arrowroot powder. You can use xanthan gum to replace arrowroot powder on an equal ratio.
7. Cream of Tartar
Chemically known as potassium bitartrate, cream of tartar is an acidic powder obtained as a byproduct of winemaking. This powdered form of tartaric acid is used in cooking to stabilize egg whites and prevent sugar from crystallizing. It is also used as a leavening agent.
Cream of tartar has a pleasant, acidic taste. As an arrowroot powder substitute, cream of tartar works well as a leavening agent more than a thickening agent. It works well in the case of puddings and custards. You can use half a teaspoon of cream of tartar instead of a teaspoon of arrowroot powder.
8. Rice Flour
Rice flour is the flour obtained from grinding finely milled rice. It is a common ingredient in gluten-free baking and as a dusting powder in big baking scale operations.
Rice flour has a mild, neutral flavor and thus is a worthy arrowroot powder substitute for recipes. For thickening uses, it is wise to add rice flour in the early cooking stage. Unlike other thickening agents, rice flour works well with acidic dishes too. Using rice flour will give a cloudy appearance to dishes. Use half a tablespoon of rice flour instead of a tablespoon of arrowroot powder.
9. Psyllium Husk
Psyllium husk or psyllium fiber is a fiber obtained from the husks of the Plantago ovata plant’s seeds. It is one of the major ingredients in Metamucil, a supplement that reduces constipation. It is a major digestive-boosting fiber.
Psyllium husk is a thickening agent for people on a keto diet and thus can work as a good substitute for arrowroot powder. It has a mild flavor and a grainy texture. Being a plant-based ingredient, it is low in carb content and calories.
Short Recap Of Best Arrowroot Powder Substitutes
That must have been an exhaustive read on the best arrowroot powder substitutes, right? Let me make it easy for you to remember the details with the help of some points.
Best Arrowroot Powder Substitutes In Terms of Flavor And Texture-
- All-purpose flour
- Tapioca Starch
- Cornstarch
- Sweet Rice Flour
- Potato Starch
Best Arrowroot Powder Substitutes That Are Gluten-Free-
- Tapioca Starch
- Cornstarch
- Sweet Rice Flour
- Potato Starch
- Xanthan Gum
- Cream of Tartar
- Rice Flour
- Psyllium Husk
Final Musings
That was all about the details on arrowroot and its best substitutes. Some of the substitutes are favorable ingredients concerning flavor, texture, and calorie content. You have the list of gluten-free substitutes as well. You can choose a substitute depending on your recipe and requirements. Let me know which one worked the best for you. See you soon with another article on substitutes!
How To Use Arrowroot Powder Substitutes In A Recipe
Arrowroot Powder Substitutes
Ingredients
- All-Purpose Flour
- Tapioca Starch
- Cornstarch
- Sweet Rice Flour
- Potato Starch
- Xanthan Gum
- Cream of Tartar
- Rice Flour
- Psyllium Husk
Instructions
- Go through the substitutes and see which one seems fit for the recipe.
- Collect your ingredients and use your preferred substitute.
- Use the substitute in the required amount and proceed to make the dish according to the recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of arrowroot powder?
Arrowroot powder is a thickening agent as well as a gluten-free flour.
What is the keto-friendly substitute for arrowroot powder?
Xanthan gum is a keto-friendly substitute for arrowroot powder.
Is tapioca the same as arrowroot?
Tapioca is not the same as arrowroot. They come from different plants. Arrowroot starch is obtained from arundinacea plant while tapioca is sourced from cassava plant.
Which is better: arrowroot or cornstarch?
Arrowroot is a much better option to consider than cornstarch because it contains dietary fiber. Cornstarch is made from the starchy portion of corn kernels. It is another commonly used thickening agent used to thicken sauces, soups, gravies, and marinades. It is also used as a substitute for eggs in baking recipes. Cornstarch has no particular flavor and has a powdery texture.
