The details on the best rice flour substitutes are what you are looking for; trust me; you are at the right place. I once wanted to make some fluffy rice pancakes, and to my disappointment, I was out of rice flour. Although a commonly available ingredient, it still doesn’t mean you can never be out of it.
When such a situation arises, you need the help of a few substitutes to get the job done. Wondering which are the substitutes for rice flour? Some of the best rice flour substitutes are cornstarch, all-purpose flour, almond flour, coconut flour, tapioca flour, and potato starch.
Rice flour is the fine flour obtained from grinding milled rice. It is a popular thickening agent and a prominent ingredient in various Asian recipes. It prepares rice cakes, noodles, pancakes, pastries, and cookies. If you are looking forward to a recipe with rice flour and find yourself out of it, the substitutes of rice flour will help you. Let us explore rice flour in detail before we discuss its best substitutes.
Rice Flour In The Culinary World
Rice flour is what you get by grinding milled rice. It can be made using white rice or brown rice. Rice flour made using sweet rice flour is also known as sweet rice flour. Apart from these, there is also green rice flour, black rice flour, and red rice flour.
Rice flavor has a neutral flavor, and depending on the color of rice; it takes its color. It imparts a slightly chewy and stretchy texture to recipes. Using brown rice flour gives a more visible texture and flavor. Sweet rice flour has a chewy, sticky texture and a sweet flavor, making it unique from other rice flour.
As mentioned before, rice flour is an important ingredient in Asian cuisine. It is also used to make pancakes, cakes, noodles, and bread. It is also used as a thickening agent in soups, sauces, and stews and to prepare batters and doughs for frying since it absorbs less moisture. Being gluten-free, it is also a considerable substitute for wheat flour and other types of flour.
Some recipes using rice flour are chocolate puddings, sweet pastries, gluten-free scones, banana bread, muffins, okra fries, mango mochi, and traditional shortbreads.
Rice Flour On The Health Radar | Looking Through The Wellness Telescope
Rice flour is a healthy, gluten-free substitute for a variety of flours. It is a rich source of healthy fiber and protein. It helps boost the functioning of the liver. It is less in folate content as well as phytonutrients. Thus, rice flour is a healthy flour with significant nutritional benefits.
Why Should We Substitute Rice Flour?
Rice flour is a versatile ingredient due to its nutritional values and culinary uses. It is easily available, and less expensive too. That said, if you are out of rice flour in your pantry, you need help from a few ingredients that can work as the best rice substitutes.
Also, if you know someone who might be suffering from an allergy to rice, these rice flour substitutes can help you with your recipes. If you can enjoy a close flavor as that of rice flour without actually using it, what should stop you from trying them out? Let us discuss the best rice flour substitutes right away?
Other Food Substitutes You Can Try
- Best Corn Flour Substitutes That Are Easily Available
- Best Sweet Rice Flour Substitutes You Can Try
- Best Potato Flour Substitutes That You Can Use
- Best Chickpea Flour Substitutes You Can Try
- Best Spelt Flour Substitutes You Can Try
- Best Coconut Flour Substitutes You Can Try
- Best Cassava Flour Substitutes You Can Try
- Best Corn Flour Substitutes You Can Try
- Best Pastry Flour Substitutes You Can Try
- Best Rice Flour Substitutes That Are Easily Available
10 Best Rice Flour Substitutes
Now that you know everything you need to know about rice flour let us discuss the ten best substitutes for rice flour.
1. Cornstarch
Cornstarch is the starchy portion of corn-derived from corn kernels. It has a bland flavor and a smooth, silky texture. It is often assumed to be the same as corn flour, but both of these are different – corn flour is made from dried and ground corn. Cornstarch is a gluten-free ingredient. Although it is not rich in significant nutrients, it is a good source of calories and glucose.
Cornstarch is the best rice flour substitute due to its lack of flavor and smooth texture. You can use it as a thickening agent and for frying in place of rice flour. You can substitute rice flour with cornstarch in an equal ratio. You can increase the quantity based on the desired thickness.
2. All-Purpose Flour
All-purpose flour is a flour variety made of wheat. It is also referred to as refined flour or just flour. Hard and soft wheat varieties can be used to prepare all-purpose flour. To prepare this flour, wheat grains are refined, milled, and bleached. It is an often-used flour in baking recipes. It is a good source of micronutrients, but it is less healthy since the bran and germ are removed.
All-purpose flour has no flavor of its own and a powdery texture and thus is an excellent substitute for rice flour. It is used for thickening and frying purposes since it can provide a crumbly texture. It can be used to substitute for rice flour in an equal ratio.
3. Almond Flour
Almond flour is the flour of ground almonds. It can be made using blanched or unbalanced almonds. Blanched almonds are peeled almonds, while unblanched are unpeeled. It has a distinctive nutty flavor and a smooth texture. Almond flour is highly nutritious and rich in antioxidants and Vitamin E.
Almond flour is another best rice flour substitute due to its nutritional values and smooth texture. It does have a nutty flavor, but that should not be a problem of concern since it is not overpowering and can easily blend well with other flavors. It can be used as a thickening agent in baking recipes but might not be suitable for thickening in sauces and soups. Also, refrain from using almond flour instead of rice flour for frying since it burns quickly.
4. Coconut Flour
Coconut flour is basically dried coconut in powdered form. The remnant coconut solids after the production of coconut milk are finely ground to a powdered texture. It has a mild, sweet flavor with a distinctive coconut flavor. Since it has a rich, soft texture, it is suitable for baking recipes. Its high fiber content makes it beneficial in boosting the digestive system.
Coconut flour is a healthy rice flour substitute due to its sweet flavor, low glycemic index, and low caloric content. Since it has a sweet flavor, you may reduce the amount of sweetener you use in your recipes. Since coconut flour is absorbent and can absorb liquids easily, you may have to add more eggs, water, and milk.
5. Tapioca Flour
Tapioca flour, also called tapioca starch, is obtained from the starch of the cassava root. It is a naturally gluten-free ingredient used in baking for thickening purposes. It renders moisture and crispiness in gluten-free baking and other types of bread. It is a good source of minerals and calcium, which helps reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
Tapioca flour has a neutral flavor and a silky texture, making it a considerable rice flour substitute. It can be used instead of rice flour for thickening and baking purposes and might not be ideal for frying. You might need a high quantity, though; for a cup of rice flour, you must use two cups of tapioca flour.
6. Potato Starch
Potato starch is the starch of potatoes. To put it clearly, the starch from peeled and washed potatoes is extracted, dried, and ground to a fine powder known as potato starch. It is a thickening agent used in soups, sauces, pies, and puddings and is also used as a base for gelling agents in confectionery items. It helps improve insulin sensitivity and boost digestive and colon health.
Potato starch has a bland flavor and a thick powdery texture, thus becoming a considerable substitute for rice flour. It should be your best bet in the absence of rice flour for a light and crispy texture in recipes. Since it has a high starch content, you might have to add less quantity to make a slurry. You should not cook potato starch for long lest you lose its thickening properties.
7. Sorghum Flour
Sorghum flour is the flour obtained from grinding the whole grain sorghum. It is also one of the thickening agents used instead of various types of flours. It is used in making porridges, pancakes, and bread, for thickening stews, and for producing alcoholic drinks. It is gluten-free and rich in fiber, protein, and iron. It helps control blood sugar levels.
Sorghum flour has a mildly sweet flavor and a smooth texture. Sorghum flour’s flavor, texture, and thickening abilities make it a good rice flour substitute. You can use a cup of sorghum flour to replace a cup of rice flour in baking recipes. The only downside some may find is that it has a slightly bitter taste, which may overpower the overall flavor of your recipes, including frying. To avoid that, you can use it with other flours.
8. Chickpea Flour
Chickpea flour, as the name suggests, is the flour of ground chickpeas. Chickpeas are incredibly nutritious with high protein content. Chickpea flour is also known as gram flour, garbanzo bean flour, or besan. It is an often-used ingredient in Indian, Sri Lankan, and other cuisines. It is a natural thickener used in soups and curries and works as a good replacement for wheat flour in baking.
Chickpea flour has a nutty flavor and a powdery texture and is a worthy substitute for rice flour due to its thickening properties. It can be used to replace rice flour in baking recipes, and its nutty flour blends well with other flavors, often not altering the overall flavor. You can use a cup of chickpea flour to replace a cup of rice flour. However, make sure to add an extra amount of water, egg, and milk for moisture since chickpea flour can absorb moisture pretty quickly.
9. Oat Flour
Oat flour is flour made from grinding rolled oats. It is a gluten-free ingredient that is extremely healthy and versatile and is thus popular in gluten-free cooking. It makes pancakes, muffins, crisps, waffles, bread, and cookies. It gives a nutty flavor and chewy texture to baked goods and thus is used in a variety of baking recipes. It is a rich source of dietary fiber, antioxidants, and B vitamins and benefits your weight loss regime.
Oat flour has a mild, nutty flavor and a silky texture and thus becomes a worthy substitute for rice flour. It gives a crispy texture and a toasty flavor to recipes. It can be used as a substitute for rice flour on an equal ratio. However, if you are looking for gluten-free cooking, check the label of oat flour before buying. That is because not all oats are processed in gluten-free spaces.
10. Millet Flour
Millet flour is made from finely ground millets. For making millet flour, white teff and proso millets are used mostly. It can be used as a substitute for traditional flour in recipes. It makes pancakes, bread, muffins, cookies, cakes, and bread. It can also make savory foods such as pizzas and fritters. It is a rich source of both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber. The presence of insoluble fiber reduces our risk of colon cancer.
Millet flour has a mild, sweet flavor similar to that of corn and a crumbly texture, making it one of the rice flour substitutes. It can be easily used to replace rice flour in pancakes and pastries. It is most suitable to replace brown rice flour in recipes that call for brown rice flour. It can be substituted for rice flour in an equal ratio.
Short Recap Of Best Rice Flour Substitutes
That must have been an exhaustive read on the best rice flour substitutes, right? Let me make it easy for you to remember the details with the help of some points.
Best Rice Flour Substitutes In Terms of Flavor And Texture-
- Cornstarch
- All-Purpose Flour
- Almond Flour
Best Rice Flour Substitutes That Are Gluten-Free-
- Cornstarch
- Almond Flour
- Coconut Flour
- Tapioca Flour
- Potato Starch
- Sorghum Flour
- Chickpea Flour
- Oat Flour
- Millet Flour
Best Rice Flour Substitutes That Are Keto-Friendly-
- Almond Flour
- Coconut Flour
- Tapioca Flour
- Potato Starch
Final Musings
That was all about the best substitutes for rice flour. I hope the article expanded your knowledge of rice flour, its uses and its benefits. The detailed explanation of the best rice flour substitutes will help you decide wisely on a substitute for rice flour in cooking. Based on your diet preferences, requirements and availability, work on these rice flour substitutes and let me know the results. See you soon with another article on the best substitutes!
How To Use Rice Flour Substitutes In A Recipe
Rice Flour Substitutes
Ingredients
- Cornstarch
- All-Purpose Flour
- Almond Flour
- Coconut Flour
- Tapioca Flour
- Potato Starch
- Sorghum Flour
- Chickpea Flour
- Oat Flour
- Millet Flour
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 (FAQs)
Can I replace rice flour with coconut flour?
Rice flour can be replaced with coconut flour due to its mild, sweet flavor and not-so-overpowering coconut flavor.
Can I make my own rice flour?
Rice flour can be made at home very easily. Simply grind one or two cups of uncooked rice in a coffee grinder or food processor until a fine powder is formed. Use small amounts for best results.
What can I substitute for rice flour in shortbread?
Cornstarch can be used to substitute for rice flour in shortbread.
What gluten-free flours can I use instead of rice flour?
Cornstarch, almond flour, coconut flour, tapioca flour, potato starch, sorghum flour, chickpea flour, oat flour and millet flour are the gluten-free flours that can be used instead of rice flour.
Can I use ground rice instead of rice flour?
Ground rice can’t be used instead of rice flour due to the differences in texture.
What is the substitute for rice flour in banneton?
Cornstarch, almond flour, potato starch, coconut flour and sorghum flour can be used to substitute for rice flour in banneton.
What can I use instead of rice flour for mochi?
Almond flour and sorghum flour can be used instead of rice flour in mochi.
