Substitutions
Starch extracted from potatoes and dried to a fine, squeaky powder. Its granules are unusually large, which is why it swells fast and thickens at a low temperature.
What it does in a recipe: Very fast, very clear thickening at low heat, with no flavour of its own. Pick the swap that covers that job — the ratios below are written so you can act on them without doing any arithmetic.
Also called: Potato flour (not the same thing), Kartoffelmehl
Quick answer
Cornstarch
1 tbsp potato starch = 1 tbsp cornstarchAll substitutes, best first
1 tbsp potato starch = 1 tbsp cornstarchComparable thickening power spoon for spoon, and considerably more tolerant of heat, so it holds up in a sauce that has to sit on the stove or be reheated.
MethodBring it to a proper simmer for a minute to gelatinise fully, which potato starch never needs.
Trade-offSlightly cloudier and less glossy, and it takes longer to reach full thickness.
1 tbsp potato starch = 1 tbsp tapioca starchAnother clear-setting root starch that thickens quickly at moderate temperature, with the added benefit of freezing and thawing cleanly.
Trade-offSlightly stringier in texture and a touch sweeter, though the visual result is much the same.
1 tbsp potato starch = 1 tbsp arrowroot starchSimilar low-temperature clear set and similar thickening strength, and arrowroot handles acidic liquids better than most alternatives.
Trade-offShares potato starch's dislike of dairy, turning slippery in a cream sauce.
1 tbsp potato starch = 2 tbsp all-purpose flourOnly about half of flour's weight is starch, so twice as much is needed to reach the same viscosity.
MethodCook it for a few minutes to lose the raw-flour flavour.
Trade-offOpaque and matte with a cereal note, so it changes the appearance of a clear sauce entirely.
Allergen checkContains wheat. Potato starch is frequently chosen precisely because it is gluten-free and Passover-friendly, so this substitution undoes the reason for using it — check what the cook actually needs before reaching for flour.
Potato starch cannot take a hard boil. Its large granules rupture under sustained heat and the sauce thins right back out, sometimes in under a minute. Add it at the end, off the heat, and serve. Note also that potato starch and potato flour are different products — potato flour is dried whole potato and will make a sauce heavy and potato-flavoured.
At a glance
| Category | Thickeners |
|---|---|
| Job in a recipe | Very fast, very clear thickening at low heat, with no flavour of its own |
| Suits | Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Egg-free, Nut-free, Soy-free |
| Swaps available for | Dairy-freeEgg-freeGluten-freeNut-freeSoy-freeVeganVegetarian |
| Number of substitutes | 4 |
Related
Cooking around an allergy? Diet tags here describe the ingredient itself, not any particular brand. Processed products change formulation without notice and shared production lines are common, so read the label on everything you use. A severe allergy is a medical matter — confirm with the manufacturer or your clinician rather than relying on a substitution chart.