11 Best Arrowroot Powder Substitutes

Arrowroot powder is a common thickening agents for sweet and savory recipes. Need a quick ingredient alternative? These simple arrowroot powder substitutes will save your sauce.

Best Arrowroot Powder Substitutes

Arrowroot powder or starch is a flavorless thickening agent used for homemade soups, sauces, and pies. Have you ever run out of arrowroot powder while cooking? Don’t be left short again with our easy ingredient guide.

From cream of tartar to simple cornstarch, discover the best arrowroot powder substitute for your next recipe.

Wheat Flour

All Purpose Flour in Bowl

This is flour made from grinding wheat. It is different from regular flour in that the color leans more to brown. It has protein, fiber, and starch, all of which make it a great arrowroot powder substitute. You can use it as a thickening agent in stews in place of arrowroot powder. It can also be used in equal amounts instead of arrowroot powder as a binding agent in baking. 

Tapioca Starch

Organic Tapioca Starch

This is often said to be the best substitute for arrowroot powder. It is taken from the starch of the cassava root and is high in carbohydrates. It works in the same way as arrowroot powder as a gluten-free substitute. This is one of the most significant advantages of using it in place of arrowroot powder. You can use it to thicken soups or bake in pies, amongst other recipes, using a 1 to 1 ratio. 

Cornstarch

Corn Starch on Wooden Spoon

Cornstarch is a fine powder made from the endosperm of and is very starch corn. It is perfect in baking recipes and also to add some starch to stews to thicken it. The downside is that cornstarch does not have as much fiber as arrowroot powder. To use cornstarch in place of arrowroot powder, use a ratio of 2:1. That is twice the amount of arrowroot powder for one measure of cornstarch or ½ a teaspoon of cornstarch for every one teaspoon of arrowroot powder.

Sweet Rice Flour

Sweet Rice Flour

This flour is taken from short grain glutinous sticky rice. Because of this, it is sometimes known as glutinous flour. It is also sometimes referred to as mochiko flour. It has a mild, delicate flavor and easily fits in with recipes. It makes a good substitute for arrowroot powder because of the starch content. 

Sweet rice flour contains high levels of amylopectin. When using it as a substitute for arrowroot powder, you will need to use half the amount not to overwhelm the recipe with extra starch. Because there is more starch in sweet rice flour, it will be a more heavy-duty thickening agent.

Potato Starch

A Wooden Bowl and Spoonful of Potato Flour

Potato starch is the starch gotten from potatoes. It works well as an arrowroot powder substitute in baking. The downside is that it has less nutritional value when compared to arrowroot powder. So if you’re a stickler for matching nutrient value, this may be a letdown. It makes a good substitute because it is almost flavorless, which means it blends well with different recipes. You can use ½  or one teaspoon of potato starch in place of 1 teaspoon of arrowroot powder.

Cream of Tartar

Cream of Tartar

Cream of tartar is a by-product of winemaking. It’s what’s leftover when the process of making wine is done, and you find it at the bottom of the barrel. Cream of tartar has a way of strengthening the bubbles in a dish that has them, such as egg whites. It is an excellent addition to dessert recipes and substitutes arrowroot powder well in deserts because it stops sugar from recrystallizing. It is not a good substitute if you are looking for a starch substitute. To use it as a substitute, add as per taste. 

Xanthan Gum

Xanthan Gum

This is a food additive that can be used in place of arrowroot powder. It’s one of the best substitutes if you are looking for a keto-friendly substitute, especially when baking. It works better in recipes where you will need to cook it in. It works the same way that arrowroot powder works in desserts, soups, and stews, giving the dishes structure. It works as a binding ingredient. To make the substitution, use the amount called for by the recipe. 

Glucomannan Powder

Glucomannan Powder

This is a sugar that is derived from the konjac plant. It works as both a thickening agent and a binding agent, which makes it a good substitute for arrowroot powder. To make the substitution, you can use equal amounts.

Psyllium Husk

Psyllium Husk

This is a type of fiber derived from the seeds of the Plantago ovata plant. It has health benefits for your digestive health, amongst other benefits. It can be used as a thickening agent in recipes, making it a good substitute. It’s very low in calories, and that is why it’s a great diet option. To substitute, use a 1:1 ratio.

Rice Flour

Rice Flour in a Cowl with a Rice in Wooden Scoop

Rice flour is flour made from milling rice. It’s important not to confuse it with rice starch, even though the two seem so similar and can be used as thickening agents. Rice flour makes a good arrowroot powder substitute because it is also gluten-free. It works well as a substitute for baking. It has a neutral flavor that blends in well with other flavors, which makes it a good arrowroot substitute. You can use equal amounts. 

Ground Flaxseeds

Ground Flaxseeds

You can grind flaxseeds to form a powder that you can use to thicken soups, and stews, in place of arrowroot flour. This is why it’s a good substitute. Flaxseed is often used as a gluten replacement. When baking, ground flaxseed can be a worthy substitute. 


What is Arrowroot Powder?

Arrowroot powder is extracted from the tubers of the arrowroot plant, which grows in tropical climates. The root is dried and then ground into a fine powder. Various manufacturers make it, and as such, they may label it differently. In some cases, it will be labeled as arrowroot starch or arrowroot flour.

 It is essential to read the labels and know what has gone into them. Anything manufactured or packaged in a factory can have added components that may not occur naturally in the plant. For instance, arrowroot powder may have a certain amount of starch which you may not be particularly looking for. 

Arrowroot Powder Uses

It is used as a thickening agent and as a starch. You can use it to thicken sauces, as a gluten-free filling, or as a way to lighten the texture when baking. Since it doesn’t have any distinct flavor, You can incorporate arrowroot powder into just about any recipe ranging from savory to sweet, from stews to baked. When mixed with water, it forms a clear gel, which makes it great if you don’t want to alter colors in your recipes. You can also use it for pan-frying.

The non-culinary uses include using it in a shampoo or deodorant, or as talcum and baby powder, and in some cases, as part of your makeup kit.