8 Best Wheat Starch Substitutes (Updated 2024)

Name: 8 Best Wheat Starch Substitutes
Ingredients: Tapioca Starch; Cornstarch; Arrowroot Powder; Ground Flaxseeds; Potato Starch; Psyllium Husk; Guar Gum; Xanthan Gum

Updated Jan 23, 2023Recipe Marker

Wheat starch is used to thicken many baked products and other dishes, soups, and sauces. If you run out of wheat starch, you can consider using the wheat starch substitutes listed below for your recipe.

There are a few alternatives for wheat starch you can explore. They have unique properties and may not fit in certain recipes, so think about what you need them for before settling on one.

Best Wheat Starch Substitutes

1. Tapioca Starch

Tapioca starch is the perfect gluten-free baking substitute. It can enhance the liquid balance of your baked goods by bringing out the firmness. Because of its neutral taste, it can also hold sauces and soups excellently.

It is also known as cassava starch and comes from the cassava root. Its primary use is as a thickener in both savory and sweet recipes.

Tapioca is more nutritious than other varieties of starch since it comes from a root. However, it does not manage high temperatures well. So, it is best added at the end of the cooking process.

2. Cornstarch

Cornstarch is the ideal wheat starch alternative since it works in any recipe and is the easiest to find in stores. This gluten-free starch has a wide variety of applications. It also absorbs water easily, particularly when heated.

You can use cornstarch as an effective thickening agent for soups, stews, or gravies. If you are baking, it can also serve as a coating for fruit pies, tarts, and other desserts.

When compared to other starches, it is much easier to dissolve cornstarch into the mixture. You will use the same quantity of cornstarch as you would for wheat starch.

3. Arrowroot Powder

Amazon Affiliate Image

Try out arrowroot powder instead of wheat starch. It works well in your cooking as a thickening agent. Because of its higher fiber, many people prefer using it. It is also gluten-free, which is good for your health.

When combined with water, it produces a gel. You should use twice as much arrowroot as wheat starch in every dish.

Though arrowroot starch goes well with acidic ingredients, it curdles in cream sauces made with milk. It also cannot withstand high cooking temperatures.

4. Ground Flaxseeds

Ground flaxseeds are high-fiber superfoods that can act as a decent substitute for wheat starch.

When combined with water, this wheat starch replacement absorbs well and forms a gel. However, it has a rougher consistency than other wheat starch replacements.

For a nutritious touch, add this into your bread dough, cookies, soups, and stews. Simply mix 4 tablespoons water and 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed as a replacement for 2 teaspoons wheat starch.

5. Potato Starch

You should also check out potato starch. It is another effective gluten-free wheat starch replacement. Potato starch gives a similar tenderness provided by wheat starch in baked goods.

Exchange wheat starch with potato starch in a ratio of 1:1. For every tablespoon of wheat starch, use a tablespoon of potato starch.

6. Psyllium Husk

Another healthy, gluten-free choice and a great vegan alternative is psyllium husk. This starch is another soluble fiber derived from plants that can serve as a thickener.

You can add it to soups, stews, fruit juices, and hot drinks. Note that it is necessary to add enough liquid to allow the starch to develop because it can get very thick.

7. Guar Gum

For a healthier choice than wheat starch, you can use guar gum. It is another vegetable gum made from guar beans, a legume. Because of its high fiber and low-calorie content, guar gum is favored over many other forms of starches.

It also works well as a thickening agent. Guar gum is preferred to xanthan gum by most chefs and home cooks because it is less expensive and poses no health risks.

Guar gum is a very thick substance. When using it as a thickener, you only need a small amount.

8. Xanthan Gum

Amazon Affiliate Image

Xanthan gum is a plant-based starch that can act as a replacement for wheat starch. By using a small amount of xanthan gum, you can thicken liquids.

Keep in mind that using an excessive amount of this ingredient in your recipe might cause stomach problems. Also, use it carefully because too much xanthan gum will make your dish slimy.

Begin with a small amount of xanthan gum to replace wheat starch. Then gradually increase until you achieve the right texture.

Wrapping Up

Wheat starch can be substituted with other starches. Each starch has distinct characteristics. So, consider how you’d like your dish to come out before choosing the wheat starch alternative for your recipe.

Print