6 Ways to Use Cornstarch - Practical Cornstarch Applications

6 Lesser-Known Uses for Cornstarch

If you're craving an egg-free bake, a velvety cake crumb, or a silky cheese sauce that clings perfectly, grab cornstarchyour secret weapon for kitchen magic. Michelle Arnold / EyeEm / Getty

Cornstarch goes beyond gravy thickener or crispy fried chicken coating. Milled from corn kernels' endosperm, this pantry staple stores indefinitely in an airtight container. Dive into these inspiring kitchen hacks to elevate your cooking game and create restaurant-worthy dishes at home.

Enhancing Fried Dishes

Coat chicken, steak, or tofu for frying: mix cornstarch into your seasoned flour before the wet dip (like eggs or buttermilk). It tames gluten for a tender bite, ensures even adhesion, absorbs less oil, and delivers an irresistible light crunch. Whip up Recipe Iseasy Kitchens' Best Fried Chicken for crunch that shatters with every bite.

Improving Stir-Fry Sauces

Add a teaspoon of cornstarch to meat marinadesit seals in juices against searing heat. Stir it into sauces or as a slurry at the finish for glossy, clingy thickness. Channel Jet Tila's Beef with Broccoli for bold flavors that coat every tender morsel.

Creating Tender Cakes

Swap 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour for 2 tablespoons cornstarch per cup of flour. Lower gluten yields melt-in-your-mouth tenderness without losing liftperfect when cake flour's MIA. Bake our go-to Vanilla Cake and taste the cloud-like difference.

Making Fruit Pies Hold Their Shape

Blend 2 teaspoons cornstarch with sugar coating your berries before piling into the crust. Sugar disperses it lump-free; heat activates it to lock in juices for sliceable perfection. Say goodbye to soggy slices forever.

Egg Replacement in Baking

Out of eggs? Mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 3 tablespoons warm water per egg. It binds brilliantly in cakes, cookies, or meatloafeven vegan sugar cookies that hold shape like a dream. Toss it with dry ingredients first for foolproof results.

Thickening Gravies and Sauces

Master the slurry: whisk 1-2 teaspoons cornstarch into 2-3 tablespoons cold water or stock. Stir into simmering gravy; cook a few minutes to thicken fully. Add gradually to avoid overkill, never boil to dodge lumps. For cheese sauces, swap milk in the slurrywatch it hug veggies or chips flawlessly.