FAQs
When a gravy, sauce, soup or stew recipe calls for flour, use half as much cornstarch to thicken. To thicken hot liquids, first mix cornstarch with a little cold water until smooth. Gradually stir into hot liquid until blended. Stirring constantly, bring to a boil and boil one minutes.
How to thicken a sauce with cornstarch? ›
How to Use Cornstarch to Thicken Sauce
- Use one tablespoon cornstarch mixed with one tablespoon cold water (aka a cornstarch slurry) for each cup of medium-thick sauce.
- Thoroughly mix the cornstarch and water together, then pour into your sauce.
- Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly.
How much cornstarch to thicken 2 cups of liquid? ›
If you're cooking hot liquids like sauces, stock or broth, 1 tablespoon of corn starch per cup of liquid will give you a thin to medium consistency that's appropriate for soups or very thin sauces. 2 tablespoons per cup will give you a thicker, more gravy-like consistency.
When using cornstarch to thicken a sauce How can you avoid it becoming lumpy? ›
Corn starch must somehow be dissolved before adding to the other ingredients to prevent lumps. All you need do is to mix your cornflour with a little water. Pour it into the sauce gradually and stir till it thickens.
Is it better to thicken with flour or cornstarch? ›
Because cornstarch is pure starch, it has twice the thickening power of flour, which is only part starch. Thus, twice as much flour is needed to achieve the same thickening as cornstarch. To thicken sauces, cornstarch is combined with cold water first, which is called a slurry.
Do you mix cornstarch with hot or cold water? ›
Cornstarch has twice the thickening power of flour. When a gravy, sauce, soup or stew recipe calls for flour, use half as much cornstarch to thicken. To thicken hot liquids, first mix cornstarch with a little cold water until smooth. Gradually stir into hot liquid until blended.
Will cornstarch thicken without heat? ›
Cornstarch is one of the most commonly used thickeners, but it has some unique traits. So thanks for the good question! Cornstarch must be cooked to 95°C (203°F) before thickening begins. At that point, it usually thickens fairly quickly and the sauce turns from opaque to transparent.
Why isn't my cornstarch thickening? ›
Something to remember when you're using cornstarch: If your sauce is quite acidic (like maybe it's tomato-based), the acid will cause cornstarch to lose some of its effectiveness as a thickener. In that case, you can substitute arrowroot or tapioca starch.
Do you add cornstarch before or after cooking? ›
This is why when recipes call for using a mixture of water and cornstarch to thicken a sauce, they will tell you to mix the combination thoroughly just before adding it to what you're cooking, as mixing produces a uniform suspension of the starch in the liquid.
What to use instead of cornstarch for thickening? ›
Here are five of the best cornstarch substitutes for all your thickening needs.
- All-Purpose Flour. Yep, that's right — all-purpose flour is a very stable thickener. ...
- Arrowroot Powder. ...
- Potato Starch. ...
- Rice Flour. ...
- Tapioca Starch.
One warning when cooking with a cornstarch slurry is to avoid adding too much, particularly when using it with baked goods. Chattman says that overuse of cornstarch can lend a starchy flavor to a dish. It's also important to note that there are some dishes that may not thicken when mixed with cornstarch.
Does cornstarch need to come to a boil to thicken? ›
Cornstarch needs heat (in the ballpark of 203°F) in order for “starch gelatinization”—that is, the scientific process in which starch granules swell and absorb water—to occur. In other words, if you don't heat your cornstarch to a high enough temperature, your mixture will never thicken.
Why did my cornstarch clump up? ›
Cornstarch is a common thickening agent in the culinary arts, but if you add it directly to the liquid you want to thicken, it will clump up. To thicken a sauce or soup with cornstarch, you first need to make a slurry, which is a mixture of equal parts cornstarch and liquid (usually water, stock or wine).
How long does it take cornstarch to thicken? ›
Allow the cornstarch and liquid mixture to lightly boil for 5 or 10 minutes. After this amount of time, it should begin to bubble and thicken. Let it cook for longer if it doesn't appear to have thickened. Stir the cornstarch and liquid mixture for two more minutes.
What is the ratio of cornstarch to water for thickening? ›
To make a slurry, start with 1 to 2 ratio of cornstarch to water. For example, prepare 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water. Then whisk together really well. When you add more water, it just takes more time to thicken the sauce or soup.
Does cornstarch go bad? ›
Good news: Cornstarch is one of those baking staples that can last for years and doesn't really expire. If cornstarch does go bad, it's usually because moisture or pests have been able to get to it—and you'll notice it immediately. It may have an off taste or flavor (think sour or "funky"), or an off color.
What is the ratio of cornstarch to water? ›
To make a slurry, start with 1 to 2 ratio of cornstarch to water. For example, prepare 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water. Then whisk together really well. When you add more water, it just takes more time to thicken the sauce or soup.
How to make liquid sauce thicker? ›
Use Flour and Water
Combine 2 tablespoons flour with every 1/4 cup cold water and whisk until smooth. Add the mixture to your sauce over medium heat, and continue to stir and cook until you've reached your desired consistency. Test with a spoon.
How to keep cornstarch from clumping? ›
#2 - If you don't want to add any more liquid to your sauce, use a small fine mesh sieve to separate the cornstarch powder into the sauce. By about a teaspoon, slowly sift the cornstarch through the sieve. It won't clump, and you won't have to add any more liquid (as you would with a slurry). Easy peasy.
Does simmering thicken sauce? ›
How do you make a sauce thicker? The easiest way to thicken a sauce is by reducing the amount of liquid. This can be done by simmering your sauce or bringing it to a full boil—do this uncovered, so the steam can escape.