As the name suggests, potato starch comes from crushing potatoes and extracting the starch. The extracted starch grains are called leucoplasts which are washed and then dried to convert into a powder.
The powder becomes potato starch that doesn't have any taste or smell. It is pretty soft and has a gel-like consistency.
In addition, this product is gluten-free. This is why many people worldwide use potato starch for cooking and baking.
Many chefs use starch as a thickening agent in soups, stews, and sauces. If you are a fan of this product too, we can't blame you as it is so good.
However, potato starch is sometimes unavailable; in that case, certain substitutes may come in handy. These alternatives are simple and effective; you may want to keep them in your pantry.
The best potato starch substitutes are cornstarch, tapioca starch, potato flour and wheat flour.
For instructions how to use them (+even more alternatives) keep reading below.
Table of Contents
10 Substitutes For Potato Starch
Whether you have potato starch or any other substitute, ensure to store the powder in an airtight jar. This way, the product stays effective and fresh for a long time. It doesn't go bad, and you can use it in many dishes.
Can't wait to explore the substitutes? Dig in for the list.
1. Cornstarch
This is one of the most accessible substitutes for potato starch. Cornstarch is readily available and is also pretty inexpensive. It is a thickening agent that can be used in your gravies, soups, and salads.
In addition, it is a gluten-free product, making it much safer than other options. It is pretty simple to use corn starch.
If you want to thicken a sauce, mix cornstarch with a few drops of water and mix well before adding it to your sauce. Mix the sauce continually so that cornstarch doesn't accumulate to create lumps.
It is also used in baking and keeps the goods moist for a long duration.
To replace potato starch with cornstarch, opt for a 1:1 ratio. So, to replace a tablespoon of potato starch, use a tablespoon of cornstarch.
2. Arrowroot Powder
This is a very common and most-used powder to thicken stews, soups, and sauces. Arrowroot powder or arrowroot flour is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, which is why many people use it for cooking and baking.
The powder comes from the arrowroot plant found in Central America, West Indies, and South America. It is an excellent substitute for potato starch and can be used in various dishes.
You can keep it in your pantry for three to four years. However, the duration may reduce if the powder remains open and exposed to air and moisture.
While this powder is very similar to potato starch, the former is slightly drier. This is why you may want to reduce the quantity in your recipes.
For instance, use two teaspoons of arrowroot powder to replace one tablespoon of potato starch.
3. Tapioca Starch
Also referred to as Tapioca flour, this starch is found in a plant's root in South and Central America. The plant is normally recognized as the cassava plant.
People use this flour in many desserts and savory dishes. For example, it helps to make pizza crusts, pancakes, and bread. Besides, the flour helps thick pie fillings, soups, and puddings.
So, how should you use this starch? When using it as a thickener, use a 1:1 ratio when replacing it with potato starch. This applies to cases of smaller substitutions.
However, when using the product for baking, increase the about of flour by 25% to 50%. You can then adjust other dry ingredients accordingly.
In addition, be mindful of the quantity of this flour. Excessive tapioca starch can turn baked goodies chewy and sticky.
4. Potato Flour
People often consider potato starch and potato flour as similar things. However, both are significantly different.
Unlike potato starch, potato flour is made from peeling, trimming, drying, and grinding whole potatoes into flour. Despite the differences, potato flour works as well as potato starch in thickening sauces or adding a little potato flour to a dish.
When replacing potato starch with flour, opt for a 1:1 ratio.
5. Rice Flour
Often made from white or brown rice, rice flour is a gluten-free product. It has a neutral and mild flavor, making it an excellent thickener. Additionally, it has all the characteristics used to make baked products.
However, there are a few things to consider when using rice flour. First, the flour is thicker than other substitutes, such as arrowroot powder or tapioca starch.
Also, since this flour has a unique gritty texture, it might not be suitable for all recipes.
If you use rice flour to replace potato starch, mix two tablespoons in water and add it to your recipe in the early stage.
6. Wheat Flour
Wheat flour is accessible and inexpensive. It may not be the best substitute for potato starch, but it is versatile and can be used to bake products. Despite you can also use the flour to make batter for frying food.
This option isn't suitable for people on a gluten-free diet. However, if you are not, consider this option seriously.
When replacing potato starch with wheat flour, add two tablespoons of the latter to substitute one tablespoon of the former.
7. Mochiko Flour
Often famous for making pastries and sweets, mochiko flour is a rice flour made from short-grain rice. It has a sticky texture and a sweet taste; however, you can replace potato starch with mochiko flour any day.
To use it in your baked goods, replace one tablespoon of potato starch with one tablespoon of mochiko flour.
Additionally, you can use this option to thicken your sauces and gravies.
8. Coconut Flour
Have you heard about the keto diet? This flour is often consumed in ketogenic recipes as a healthy alternative to regular flour.
Since coconut flour is sweet, it is an excellent addition to baked goodies and desserts. This makes this flour quite similar to mochiko flour.
That said, it has a different texture and taste from potato starch. So, when you use it, be mindful of the quantity.
If your recipe uses one tablespoon of potato starch, reduce the amount of coconut starch by 15% to 20% for similar results. You should decrease the amount of coconut flour to avoid a hard finish.
9. Mashed Potatoes
Have you ever thought of replacing potato starch with mashed potatoes? This might sound like a weird swap, but believe us, it is possible.
Mashed potatoes are made from cooked, mashed, and properly dehydrated potatoes to form mushy and soft potatoes. They are pretty quick to make; therefore, many people use them as a substitute for potato starch.
Before adding mashed potatoes to your recipe, ensure to add the potatoes in a food processor to obtain a paste with a thick consistency. Once the masked potatoes are ready, you can add the mix to your stews and soups to thicken them.
Alternatively, add mashed potatoes to your sauces for taste and texture.
Use one tablespoon of mashed potatoes to replace one tablespoon of potato starch.
10. Sweet Rice Flour
Like white rice flour, sweet rice flour is common in most households. It is famously used in most gluten-free recipes and is found in most Asian dishes.
What's more, this flour has emerged as a great alternative to potato starch, wheat starch, and tapioca starch.
Since sweet rice flour is obviously, sweet, it makes an excellent addition to baking recipes. You may not be required to include additional sugar in your desserts or baking items with this flour.
However, you should be aware of one thing when adding this flour instead of potato starch. Sweet rice flour creates a chewy texture, and your baked items may appear sticky.
If you don't mind, we recommend replacing one tablespoon of potato starch with one tablespoon of sweet rice flour. However, if the resultant texture is a concern, reduce the amount of flour accordingly.
Final Takeaway
Potato starch is a great ingredient to thicken your sauces and add a slight potato-like taste to your recipes. Most people have this powder in their pantries, but there can be exceptions.
If you can't find the starch in stores, you can use its substitutes instead. For instance, products such as cornstarch, rice flour, wheat flour, and potato flour give the same results as potato starch.
However, when using the alternatives, be mindful of the quantities to avoid disasters. So, if you are delaying your cooking plans because of the absence of potato starch in your pantry, we recommend you o wait no further, bring a substitute home and get cooking.
Potato Starch Substitute
- Cornstarch
- Arrowroot powder
- Tapioca starch
- Potato flour
- Rice flour
- Wheat flour
- Mochiko flour
- Coconut flour
- Mashed Potatoes
- Sweet Rice flour
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