16 Best Substitutes For Corn Flour You Can Add To Your Kitchen

Cornflour is often an essential ingredient when it comes to cooking that lots of people will already have at home in their pantry. It can be used for both cooking and baking purposes, and it can even be the perfect thickening ingredient for things like stews and soups, yet it doesn’t add too much unnecessary flavor.

However, if you have run out of cornflour and can’t get your hands on some for your next recipe, then you will have to find a suitable alternative to use instead. Thankfully, there are lots of different corn flour substitutes available on the market that you can choose from.

Some of the most commonly used corn flour substitutes are cornstarch and rice flour, but you are not limited to these options. We are going to provide you with a list of the best substitutes for cornflour in the article and explain a bit more about each of them, so you can choose the best corn flour substitute for you.

What Are The Best Substitutes For Corn Flour?

Thankfully, there are lots of different alternatives to corn flour that you can use if you run out or can’t seem to find any in your local store. You can find out about some of the best corn flour substitutes below.

Quick Table: Corn Flour Substitutes

Cornstarch

You can use cornstarch as an alternative to corn flour, but it is important to understand the difference between the two. Cornflour has more of a golden color, and it is denser and a little bit more grainier in texture than cornstarch.

Cornstarch is the starchy part of the corn kernel, which means that it has more of a powdery white texture.  It is important to be aware of the difference between these two things when you head down to the store to grab what you need.

Make sure to check the label and be sure that you are buying the right one. It is also important to note that when you are substituting these two things for one another, they don’t always work interchangeably. 

Corn flour does not contain gluten, but due to the fact that it is so dense, it can work well for creating things like bread and crumbles. On the other hand, cornstarch is more commonly used as a thickening agent in certain food dishes.

If you are following a gluten free diet, or you simply want to make the switch, then you can use cornstarch when you have run out of cornflour as the breading for fried foods. 

You will be able to use the same ratio of cornstarch as corn flour, but when it comes to the mixing of cornstarch, you will need to use cold water in order to properly dilute it. There are various brands of cornstarch to choose from.

How To Substitute

Corn flour can be substituted with corn starch. Corn flour is a finely ground cornmeal, while cornstarch is more water soluble than corn flour and will not require as much water in the recipe. They do not have the same binding power.

Rice Flour

The second corn flour substitute that we are going to talk about is rice flour, which is a great alternative. Rice flour is commonly used in Asian culture as one of the main ingredients for foods like noodles, desserts, and soups.

Rice flour is typically retracted from finely ground rice until a fine white starch is produced. Rice flour is also another great gluten-free option that is great for those that are following a gluten-free diet. You also don’t have to use a certain temperature water to dilute it as both hot and cold water will work well.

As well as this, rice flour does not have a color once it has been mixed with water, whereas corn flour does. So, you won’t have to consider this when you are making liquid-based dishes that you want to be clear. 

If you want to get the same consistency with rice flour as you normally would with corn flour, then you will need to use double the amount of flour. This is especially important if you are trying to thicken up liquid dishes.

However, rice flour does not work as well as corn flour for the purpose of deep frying, as it doesn’t provide that glorious crispiness. Rice flour is a great healthy option that is not as refined.

How To Substitute

Substituting rice flour in place of corn flour is an easy option. It is a healthier option and creates a much lighter texture. Also there are different ways to substitute corn flour with rice flour.

Wheat Flour

As you may have already guessed from the name of this flour, it comes from finely ground wheat. This means that it contains a good amount of protein and fiber, which makes it a great superfood that is full of nutrients.

However, the one downside to wheat flour is that it contains gluten, which means that it might not be suitable for everyone to use. Due to the fact that wheat flour is a type of whole grain flour, you will need to double the amount that you would use if you were using cornflour.

So, you can use 2 tablespoons of wheat flour for every 1 tablespoon of cornflour. You should also keep in mind that you will need to use cold water to make a paste if you want to avoid having a lumpy soup for dinner.

How To Substitute

The corn flour can be substituted for wheat flour by increasing the amount of wheat flour in the recipe. It has a better taste and can be used easily with the knowledge of substituting amounts used.

RELATED: Sweet Rice Flour – the Best Alternative Substitutes!

Potato Flour

Unlike other types of flour, potato flour is made using freshly crushed potatoes that are then dried in order to produce a white starch. Potatoes are not a whole grain, which means that they do not contain any gluten.

Something to consider for those that are conscious of their calorie intake is that this starch should only be used in moderation because it does contain a high amount of fats and carbohydrates.

You might also be interested to learn that tubers, like potatoes, absorb a lot of water. This means that when you are using them as a thickening agent in soups and stews, you will need to add them later on in the cooking process.

Otherwise, the soup can become too thick if you add them in earlier. You should also note that heating this four up for too long can cause it to break down, making it useless as a thickener. So, while this is a great alternative to corn flour, you will need to take care when you are using it.

You can use the same amount of potato flour as you would corn flour when you are using it as a thickening agent. It also works really well for coating things like meats and vegetables as it will add flavor to the dish. 

How To Substitute

Corn flour can be interchanged in most recipes with potato flour. It works best for recipes that can be cooked for an elongated period. With excellent thickness, it tends to absorb less water and is a good substitute to each other.

All-Purpose Flour

Another option that you should consider is all purpose flour, which is very commonly used for baking purposes. This is why this is a great alternative to use, as most people would typically already have this at home.

Even if you don’t already have some all purpose flour, it is very easy to get your hands on in stores. All purpose flour comes from wheat grains once the brown coating has been removed, and it is white in color because it is highly refined.

This type of flour can be used for deep frying and being used as a thickener in liquid based dishes. However, the taste and texture of your foods can vary slightly when you are using it as a coating for deep fried dishes.

It can sometimes result in a slightly chewier bater in comparison to the light and crispy result that you can get when you use cornflour.

When you are using it as a thickening agent in liquid dishes, you should double the amount of flour that you would otherwise use. So, you can use 2 tablespoons of all purpose flour for every 1 tablespoon of corn flour.

How To Substitute

You can use all purpose flour in place of corn flour. It is the best option to substitute for all recipes. You can use it as a thickener, in baking goods.

Cornmeal

Cornmeal is a type of ground maize, the product of the grinding of maize, often mixed with other cereals to make a cornmeal mush. It is used in a variety of recipes for its light texture and neutral taste and is a staple food in many cultures. 

It can be used to make bread, muffins, biscuits, cornbread, or polenta. Cornmeal is typically used as a thickener, in soups, or as a cereal. It can also be used as a coating for meat or vegetables. 

Cornmeal is ground corn that is used to make a fine powder. It is commonly used as a cereal, but can also be used as a filler in breads. 

How To Substitute

You can use cornmeal instead of corn flour in recipes that call for it. Cornmeal has a coarse texture, so it will not be as smooth as corn flour. This makes the recipe healthier and a little easier to make.

Tapioca Flour

Tapioca flour is made from the root of the cassava plant, which is a starchy root that is often used in the making of tapioca pudding. 

It is a white powder that can be mixed with other ingredients to create a variety of baked recipes. Typically used as a thickening agent in sauces, thickener in pie crust or texture enhancer in cakes.

It is a great substitute for wheat flour and other gluten free recipes. 

How To Substitute

Tapioca flour is the perfect substitute for corn flour in any recipe. It is a starch that has a neutral taste, which means it can be used in many recipes without altering the taste.

Masa Harina

Masa Harina is a type of flour made from ground maize, which is the most widely consumed grain in the world. This flour can be used in dishes such as tamales, tortillas, and quesadillas.

The flour is the base for the dough for tortillas, tamales, and other Mexican foods. Masa Harina is a fine cornmeal that has been ground into a very fine flour.

Masa is a powdery corn flour that can be used in cooking, and in many other ways. It can be mixed with water to make a dough, or used to thicken soups or stews.

It can be mixed with a small amount of lime juice and salt to make tortillas.

How To Substitute

Corn flour can be substituted with masa harina, a type of corn flour made from corn that is ground into a fine powder. To substitute corn flour with masa harina, follow these steps: place corn flour in a blender and blend it into a fine powder.

Cassava Flour

Cassava flour is a root vegetable that is used in cooking all over the world. The flour is made for recipes. It is low in calories and is also gluten free. 

The flour is light, fluffy texture that can be mixed into batter or dough. It is also used as a thickener, a substitute for cornflour or as a base of breads or baked items. 

The slight flavor is very versatile in its uses. It has a mild flavor and can be used in both sweet and savory dishes.

How To Substitute

Corn flour can be substituted with cassava flour to make cornbread. This flour can be substituted for corn flour in most recipes that call for corn flour.

Millet Flour

Millet flour is a grain that has a mild, nutty flavor. It is used to make breads, crackers, and cookies. It is made from hardy millet, a low-growing cereal grain, this flour has a light, airy texture and a mild, slightly sweet taste. 

It’s perfect for use in gluten-free baked goods and is a great substitute for white rice flour.

Millet is a cereal grain that is very rich in nutrients and protein, making it a popular food for those who have allergies or sensitivities to gluten or other grains.

How To Substitute

Millet flour can be substituted for corn flour in recipes that call for corn flour. To make a corn flour substitute, one can use millet flour.

Ground Flaxseed

Flaxseeds are often ground into a powder or meal and used as a vegan egg replacement in baking, or in homemade vegan mayonnaise and salad dressings.

These are a nutritious, healthy and tasty addition to many dishes. The ground flaxseeds can be used in a variety of different ways to make healthy food and drinks.

They can be added to granola, cereal, smoothies, and shakes. They can also be used in muffins, pancakes, and waffles.

With a nutty flavor, these seeds are great for adding to salads, smoothies, and even desserts. Ground flaxseeds can also be used in salads, as an egg substitute, and in bread recipes.

They are high in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids, and they have a mild nutty flavor.

How To Substitute

You can substitute ground flaxseed for corn flour in most recipes. To substitute corn flour with ground flaxseed, mix the ground flaxseed with water and a teaspoon of sugar to make a thick paste. Then mix the paste with corn flour.

Arrowroot Powder

Arrowroot powder is a thick, white, gloppy powder that is ground from the root of the arrowroot plant. It is used as a thickener, thickening agent, and stabilizer. 

Arrowroot is a starch extracted that is used as a thickening agent, emulsifier, and thickener. It is typically combined with other ingredients in the making of pudding, and is also used in various baked goods and as a thickening agent in meat stock.

It can also be used as a thickener for juices, and it is often combined with cornstarch in order to create a healthier alternative to gluten-free products. Arrowroot is used in a variety of dishes such as custards, breads, and puddings. 

How To Substitute

Arrowroot powder is a great substitute for corn flour. To substitute corn flour with arrowroot powder, you will need to mix 1/4 cup of arrowroot powder with 3/4 cup of water. You can then proceed to use this mixture to replace the corn flour in your bread recipe.

Self Rising Flour

The self rising flour is a mixture of both baking powder and baking soda. The dry ingredients are mixed with cold water, fat (butter, shortening, or oil), and salt. 

With just a little bit of yeast, this flour will rise, which means you will not have to wait for hours for it to rise. This flour can be used to create breads, pancakes, waffles, and even biscuits.

Self rising flour is a pre-mixed flour that has the right amount of gluten and protein to make light, airy, delicious biscuits, muffins, and other baked goods. It is also used in cookies and other desserts.

How To Substitute

To substitute corn flour with self rising flour, simply replace all corn flour in the recipe with self rising flour.

Sorghum Flour

Sorghum flour is a gluten free flour made from the sorghum seeds. The flour is a good choice for baking breads and other baked products. The coarser texture of flour helps release starch and makes wheat bread sticky and chewy. 

It also comes with a mild yet slight sweet flavor that does not compete with the flavor of other ingredients in the bread. 

It also has a very mild, slightly sweet flavor that doesn’t compete with the flavor of other ingredients in the bread. It is used as a thickener in soups, sauces and stews.

With baked items, it binds with a better texture and substitutes it with sorghum flour with 1:1 ratio. 

How To Substitute

Sorghum flour can be substituted for corn flour in any recipe that calls for corn flour. The flour is a bit coarser than corn flour, but it’s still light and fluffy. The flour has a distinct flavor, which can be enhanced by adding a pinch of baking powder and a pinch of salt.

Buckwheat Flour

Buckwheat flour is used as a common ingredient in Japanese and Chinese cooking. It is used in noodle dishes, stir-fries, and fried rice. The flour has a light, delicate flavor that works well in sweet and savory dishes. 

It is primarily used in the preparation of buckwheat pancakes, noodles, and waffles. It is an excellent choice for breads and baked goods, and can be substituted for wheat flour. 

The flour can be used in baked food or pancakes. Also, it has a slightly earthy taste and high protein content. 

How To Substitute

One way to substitute buckwheat flour for corn flour is to replace the 1/2 cup of corn flour with 1/2 cup of buckwheat flour.

Chestnut Flour

Chestnut flour is a flour made from ground up roasted chestnuts. The flour has a rich, sweet flavor that is perfect for baking with. The flour can be used to make both sweet and savory pastries and breads.

Crispy, light, and slightly sweet, chestnut flour is a good gluten-free alternative for all types of baked goods. It is rich in nutrients and nutrients, and has a subtle, sweet flavor.

It is a versatile ingredient that can be used in many different types of recipes.

How To Substitute

Corn flour can be substituted for chestnut flour in equal proportions, as long as the amounts are the same. It’s important to keep in mind that the texture of the dough will change and it will be harder to knead, so it’s best to use a stand mixer or food processor for this recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Now that you know about some of the best alternatives to use instead of corn flour, you might be left wondering which ones are the best suited for different cooking purposes.

We are going to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about this below for you to read about.

What Is The Best Corn Flour Substitute For Deep Frying?

If you are someone that likes to deep fry different types of food, then you may be slightly more limited in your choice of corn flour substitutes.

Cornflour is one of the best flours to use for deep frying as it provides food with a crispy and light finish. One of the best substitutes to use for this purpose is potato flour. 

What Is The Best Corn Flour Substitute For Thickening?

If you are only going to be using this substitute as a thickening agent, you will have many more options available to you. All of the above options will work well, but in different ways, and some may require more attention than others.

Cornstarch is typically one of the best substitutes to use for this purpose as you can add it into the mixture whenever you want to, and it can also be diluted with cold water. 

Potato flour is great to use as a thickening agent because it has the ability to absorb water really well, but you will need to be more careful when you are using it because it can easily break down if it has been boiled for too long.

What Is The Best Corn Flour Substitute For Baking?

When it comes to baking, the best options to choose are typically wheat flour or all purpose flour, as they will provide the best end results.

However, if you are following a gluten free diet, then both of these options are off limits. If you are looking for a gluten free alternative to corn flour for baking, then you could use cornstarch in lower amounts.

Although, you may need to water your recipe in order to get the consistency that you desire.

Summary

There are lots of different types of flour to choose from, and many of them will work as a great alternative to corn flour. However, different types of flour can be better suited to different cooking situations, which is why it is important to learn more about the type of flour that you want to use. 

Some types of flour will be better than others for baking, general cooking, deep frying, and thickening. It is up to you to decide which type of flour you wish to use as a corn flour substitute, but these are some of the things that you should keep in mind when you choose. 

You will also need to consider any dietary requirements that you have, as not every type of flour will be suitable for all dietary requirements. This is especially important to consider if you cannot have gluten, as there are many types of flour that contain this.

The two that are on this list that you should be mindful of are all purpose flour and wheat flour, which both contain gluten.

Sometimes, it might take some trial and error when you are following recipes that normally ask for corn flour, but you can try different things to find out what works the best for you.

16 Best Substitutes For Corn Flour You Can Add To Your Kitchen

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

20

minutes

Total time

30

minutes

Corn flour is a popular baking ingredient, but it can be hard to find. Learn about possible substitutes for corn flour and their uses.

Ingredients

• Cornstarch

• Rice Flour

• Wheat Flour

• Potato Flour

• All-Purpose Flour

• Cornmeal

• Tapioca Flour

• Masa Harina

• Cassava Flour

• Millet Flour

• Ground Flaxseed

• Arrowroot Powder

• Self Rising Flour

• Sorghum Flour

• Buckwheat Flour

• Chestnut Flour

Directions

• Choose your favorite substitute from the list given above
• Follow the directions given in the recipe after having substituted the ingredient in the correct ratio

Recipe Video

• Author
• Recent Posts

Jess Smith

Hi, my name is Jess Smith, and I love cooking in my spare time. Around three years ago, I decided to give up my day job as a teacher to pursue my passion for food. While I have enjoyed sharing tips and tricks on Social Media, I have decided to expand my horizons through this blog.

Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.

I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!

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