Arrowroot Substitutes

Out of arrowroot? These are the swaps that actually work, with conversion ratios for any recipe size and notes on how each one changes the result.

Need to convert arrowroot between cups, grams, or ounces first? Open the arrowroot converter.

What to use instead of arrowroot

  • Corn Flour

    Ingredient swap

    1 tbsp arrowroot = 1 tbsp corn flour

    Corn flour (cornstarch) thickens at the same 1:1 rate as arrowroot in sauces and fillings. Arrowroot gives a clearer, glossier set and holds up in acidic or frozen sauces, while corn flour is cheaper and turns a sauce slightly cloudy. Stir either into cold liquid first to avoid lumps.

    See corn flour substitutes →

  • Tapioca Starch

    Ingredient swap

    1 tbsp arrowroot = 1 tbsp tapioca starch

    Tapioca starch swaps 1:1 for arrowroot and also sets clear and glossy, ideal for fruit pies. Both are root starches; tapioca tolerates longer cooking and freezing better, while arrowroot thickens at a slightly lower temperature. Stir into cold liquid first to avoid lumps.

    See tapioca starch substitutes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I substitute for arrowroot?
There are 2 workable substitutes for arrowroot, depending on what you have on hand and which property of arrowroot matters most for your recipe. The closest swap is usually 1 tbsp arrowroot = 1 tbsp corn flour. Each option below lists the conversion ratio for any recipe size, plus notes on how the swap changes the texture, flavour, rise, or browning.
Will substituting arrowroot change how my recipe turns out?
Yes, every swap trades one property for another: fat content, moisture, acidity, or protein. The notes on each substitute describe what changes in texture, flavour, rise, or browning, so you can choose the swap that matters least for your recipe. Open the arrowroot converter
How do I measure arrowroot accurately?
Weighing in grams is more reliable than scooping cups, especially when a substitute has a different density from what the recipe expects. The arrowroot converter on this site converts between cups, grams, ounces, tablespoons, and teaspoons, so you can scale a recipe up or down without losing the ratio. Open the arrowroot converter

Other ingredient and produce substitutes

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