Potato starch substitute (7 incredibly neat replacements!)

You’re planning to have fried chicken for dinner, so you decided to make your favorite gravy. You opened the kitchen cabinet, but unfortunately, you forgot to restock an important ingredient, the potato starch. Oh no! 

You might be thinking to raise the white flag, but don’t give up on that gravy yet! I’ve compiled these incredible substitutes for potato starch that are sure to save your day and of course…your cravings!

Substitute Ingredient	Ratio to Replace Potato Starch	Ideal Usage
Arrowroot Powder	2 tsp for 1 tbsp potato starch	Soups, puddings, sauces (thickening agent)
Cornstarch	1:1	Thickening agent with a neutral taste and glossy finish
Tapioca Starch	1/4 cup for every 2 cups potato starch	Sauces, soups, stews, baked goods (thick, chewy texture)
Potato Flour	1:1	Thickening gravy, adding texture (distinct potato flavor)
Rice Flour	1:1	Various recipes, added at the beginning of cooking
Instant Mashed Potato	1:1	Thickening sauces and gravies
All-Purpose Flour	Double the required amount	Baking, less effective for thickening

Potato starch substitutes

Here are a few substitutes you can use if you’re running out of potato starch. This compilation also features measurements and smartest tips on how to substitute these ingredients properly. Enjoy!

1. Arrowroot powder

Arrowroot powder is a type of starch produced from the tubers of arrowroot plants. The same as the cornstarch, this powder is perfect for gluten-free cooking. It’s also used as a thickening agent in soups, puddings, and sauces.

So the next time you’ve run short of potato starch, open your cupboard and look for arrowroot powder. As a substitute, use two teaspoons of arrowroot starch for every one tablespoon of potato starch. 

• Ratio: Use two teaspoons of arrowroot powder for every one tablespoon of potato starch.
• Usage: Ideal as a thickening agent in soups, puddings, and sauces.

2. Cornstarch

Cornstarch and potato starch are like brothers. They work almost the same! It can be used as a thickening agent and can give a neutral taste with a glossy finish. If you’re using cornstarch as a substitute for your potato starch, follow the ratio of 1:1, and you’re good to go!

• Ratio: Follow a 1:1 ratio, using the same amount of cornstarch as you would potato starch.
• Usage: Suitable as a thickening agent with a neutral taste and glossy finish.

3. Tapioca starch

Another good replacement for potato starch is tapioca starch. This type of starch is gluten-free flour made from the starch of cassava root. These roots are dried and pounded until it becomes fine-textured flour. Many for its thick and chewy texture, tapioca starch is loved by many for sauces, soups, and stews. It also has a slightly sweet flavor, making it suitable for baked goods. As a substitute, use one-fourth cup of tapioca starch for every two cups of potato starch

• Ratio: Use one-fourth cup of tapioca starch for every two cups of potato starch.
• Usage: Best for sauces, soups, stews, and baked goods due to its thick, chewy texture.

4. Potato flour

If you think potato flour and potato starch are the same, you’re wrong! When it comes to taste, potato starch has a neutral flavor profile while potato flour features that potato-like flavor variation. The former is gluten-free and provides a glossy finish to any dish.

Though the ingredients are different, potato flour is a good alternative for potato starch as it can be used to thicken gravy items and add a nice texture to your recipes.

Use potato flour as a 1:1 substitute in place of potato starch.

• Ratio: Use potato flour as a 1:1 substitute for potato starch.
• Usage: Good for thickening gravy and adding texture to recipes, though it has a distinct potato flavor.

5. Rice flour

Rice flour has similar features to potato flour, making it a good bet for replacement. It has no flavor with a light texture.Plus, this flour is so versatile that it works well with other ingredients. For best results, add rice flour at the beginning of your cooking process and let them cook at a slow pace.As a substitute, use the ratio of 1:1.

• Ratio: Substitute using a 1:1 ratio.
• Usage: Works well in various recipes, especially when added at the beginning of cooking.

6. Instant mashed potato

You might be wondering if it’s possible to use mashed potato as a substitute for potato starch, well, it is!

But before adding them to your recipes, be sure to grind them in a food processor. This won’t take long, but it’s totally worth it!

Use instant mashed potato as a 1:1 ratio if you’re running out of potato starch. 

• Ratio: Use instant mashed potato in a 1:1 ratio to replace potato starch.
• Usage: Suitable for thickening sauces and gravies.

7. All-purpose flour

If you’re planning to bake bread but don’t have enough potato starch on hand, then substitute them with all-purpose flour!

It’s my least favorite substitute but if it’s your only option double the required amount.

• Ratio: Double the required amount of all-purpose flour if substituting for potato starch.
• Usage: Can be used in baking but is not as effective for thickening.

What is potato starch?

Before we look into the possible replacements to use if you’ve run out of potato starch, let’s tackle first what’s this ingredient and how it helps you in the kitchen.

If you’re wondering where potato starch comes from, the answer lies in the name itself–Potatoes! The starch inside of a potato is extracted to create a powder-like substance. 

Though it features a neutral flavor, incorporating them creates that nice texture to your recipes such as sauces, stews, soups, and even baked food.

What does potato starch do?

Many food enthusiasts have included potato starch in their pantry because of its numerous culinary uses.

It’s the perfect ingredient to thicken broth, soup, or sauce due to its high boiling point. Also, potato starch helps to add moisture when it gets added to the baking dough. 

Moreover, it can be used as a texturizer for noodles, processed meat, and bakery products. Mixing potato starch into this food can increase its shelf life too. 

And there’s more! 

Potato starch isn’t only bound to be useful in the culinary world. This flour is one ingredient to create adhesives and even be used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. It’s amazing, isn’t it?

The bottom line

Finding a replacement for potato starch is indeed quite challenging. Not to mention its neutral flavor and unique features.

But with this guide, I have hope that you’ll be able to create your desired recipes, even if you’ve run short of potato starch.