Corn Flour Substitutes

Out of corn flour? 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 corn flour between cups, grams, or ounces first? Open the corn flour converter.

What to use instead of corn flour

  • Arrowroot

    Ingredient swap

    1 tbsp corn flour = 1 tbsp arrowroot

    Arrowroot swaps 1:1 for corn flour as a thickener and sets clearer, which suits glossy fruit glazes and acidic sauces. It thickens at a slightly lower temperature, so stir it in near the end and avoid a hard boil, which can thin it back out.

    See arrowroot substitutes →

  • Tapioca Starch

    Ingredient swap

    1 tbsp corn flour = 1 tbsp tapioca starch

    Tapioca starch swaps 1:1 for corn flour as a thickener and sets glossy and clear, holding up through freezing. Corn flour is cheaper and turns a sauce slightly cloudy. Blend either into cold liquid before heating to avoid lumps.

    See tapioca starch substitutes →

  • Plain Flour

    Ingredient swap

    1 tbsp corn flour = 2 tbsp plain flour

    Plain flour thickens in place of corn flour but has about half the power, so use roughly twice as much. It clouds the sauce rather than setting it clear, and needs a few minutes longer cooking to lose the raw-flour taste. Whisk it in as a paste to avoid lumps.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What can I substitute for corn flour?
There are 3 workable substitutes for corn flour, depending on what you have on hand and which property of corn flour matters most for your recipe. The closest swap is usually 1 tbsp corn flour = 1 tbsp arrowroot. 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 corn flour 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 corn flour converter
How do I measure corn flour accurately?
Weighing in grams is more reliable than scooping cups, especially when a substitute has a different density from what the recipe expects. The corn flour 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 corn flour converter

Other ingredient and produce substitutes

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