The Absolute Best Arrowroot Powder
Arrowroot powder is often used in gluten-free and paleo cooking. It is a really great powder to work with, as it is incredibly versatile. It is a lesser-known alternative to flour and cornstarch, and it does work well as a gluten-free substitute in so many recipes.
The grain-free starch is used to add both texture and structure when cooking and baking and is great to use to thicken sauces and fillings.
Arrowroot powder is made from extracted starch from the tubers of the arrowroot plant, cultivated in tropical climates. However, is it more often commercially manufactured from the cassava root, and mixed in with potato starch, so you need to be wary of the arrowroot product you purchase.
Being gluten-free and easy to use in the kitchen, which is the best arrowroot powder to buy The best arrowroot option is one that is as natural as possible, and not blended with any other flours or starch. It is always good to choose a flour that is non-GMO, vegan, and kosher, much like the Bob’s Red Mill Arrowroot flour. Naturally gluten-free and a great substitute for cornstarch, it is one of the better products out there.
Substituting arrowroot for flour or cornstarch will be made so much easier if you choose the right product, which is why we have found the 3 best arrowroot powders for you!
The 3 Best Arrowroot Powders
We have found the 3 best arrowroot powders for you to use at home, all made with the best quality arrowroot starch and all easy to use in the kitchen.
| Rank | Product | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Bob’s Red Mill Arrowroot Starch Flour | Non-resealable 16 oz package |
| 2. | Hoosier Hill Farm Premium Arrowroot Powder | One pound sealable jar |
| 3. | Arrowroot Powder – Landor Trading Company | Resealable 4 oz package |
1. Bob’s Red Mill Arrowroot Starch Flour
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Bob’s Red Mill Arrowroot Starch Flour is one of the best gluten-free substitutes for flour that you could use in both cooking and baking.
Being gluten-free, it suits many different diets and can be used to thicken sauces, fillings, and bases whether you are cooking a meal or baking something sweet.
The arrowroot starch flour is non-GMO, vegan, and kosher, ticking all the right boxes for many different needs.
The 16-ounce package will help you make many different dishes, and will be one of your favorite go-to items in your kitchen!
2. Hoosier Hill Farm Premium Arrowroot Powder
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This arrowroot starch from Hoosier is an advisable replacement for wheat flour and has twice the thickening power of wheat powder.
It has no taste and becomes clear when cooked, making it fit perfectly into many different meals and baked dishes.
Like others, the Hoosier Hill Farm Premium Arrowroot Powder thickens at a lower temperature, and two teaspoons of arrowroot powder can be substituted for one tablespoon of cornstarch.
This one pound jar is sealed well to preserve both the shelf-life and the freshness of the arrowroot powder.
It is one of the best quality arrowroot powders on the market and will work so well in your cooking at home.
3. Arrowroot Powder – Landor Trading Company
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This flavorless starch is easily digested and is perfect for those who have dietary restrictions.
When added to liquids and other cooking, it forms a clear gel, and can even be used to prevent ice crystals from forming in ice cream!
This natural product is kept as simple as possible, which is ideal in this case, making it gluten-free, and as effective as pure arrowroot starch is.
The resealable bag helps to keep the powder fresh and safe while stored away.
5 Things To Know About Arrowroot Powder
There are a few things to know about arrowroot powder before using it in your cooking. While it is a fairly easy ingredient to use to substitute for flour and cornstarch, there are a couple of differences between arrowroot and cornstarch and flour.
It is also great to better understand the benefits of using arrowroot flour in your cooking, and why it might be the right option for you!
Here is a little more information, and a few tips to remember when cooking with arrowroot powder.
The Basics Of Arrowroot Powder
Arrowroot powder is very starchy and is extracted from the root of a tropical plant called Maranta arundinacea. It looks very similar to other tubers such as cassava and yucca.
The starch from arrowroot is extracted in a simple, traditional method, without the use of harsh chemicals and harsh heat.
It is naturally gluten-free, grain-free, and is both vegan and paleo-friendly. This allows it to be used in many different diets for gluten-sensitive people.
Arrowroot Is A Good Thickener
Arrowroot is great to use to thicken sauces and other dishes, being a good substitute for cornstarch, for those who are allergic to corn or who have other allergies.
The other reason arrowroot is a good option to thicken gravies, sauces, and stews are that it has practically no taste, and it turns into a glossy, clear gel when mixed with the food, whereas cornstarch has a bit of a taste and leaves food opaque and cloudy. It might be an even better thickener than cornstarch overall!
For the best substitute for cornstarch when frying, read this article.
Arrowroot Can Be Used For Baking, Frying, and Roasting
You don’t have to limit arrowroot to just thickening stews and gravies, it is really versatile for other cooking applications as well.
It can be used to blend with other flours such as almond flour and coconut flour to use in dessert or bread recipes, although it can be used in small quantities on its own for baking, frying, and roasting as well.
Coating items, such as sweet potato fries, in arrowroot flour, makes them incredibly crispy when baked or fried. It also works really well when blended with herbs and seasoning to coat chicken for frying.
Arrowroot flour is useful to lighten the texture of cakes, bread, and cookies, for gluten-free and grain-free baking.
It works particularly well when combined with almond flour to make baked items less dense, and you can substitute arrowroot flour for eggs as well!
You Need To Know How To Use It
Arrowroot needs to be treated a little bit differently from normal flour and cornstarch. It can’t be used on a 1:1 ratio as a substitute to flour or cornstarch.
You should start with 1/3 to ½ of the amount of cornstarch that is needed.
When using arrowroot as a thickener, you should always make a slurry first. Mix the arrowroot powder with a small amount of cold water or other liquid to create a slurry, before adding it to the rest of the cooking.
You should also only add the slurry at the end of the cooking, as arrowroot will break down if exposed to high temperatures for a longer period, so only stir it into the recipe just before serving.
The Health Benefits
Other than the benefit of being gluten-free and grain-free, arrowroot powder contains more fiber than potatoes, and helps to keep you fuller for longer.
It also contains a decent amount of potassium, vitamin B, and iron. These all help with heart health, circulation, and metabolism.
Some studies even show that arrowroot can help to boost the immune system!
Related Questions
What can I use as a substitute for arrowroot powder?
If you do not have arrowroot powder at home, you might look to use a substitute. The obvious substitute would be cornstarch, but if you are not a fan of cornstarch, you could use tapioca or mashed potato flakes.
For every 2 teaspoons of arrowroot powder, you should use the following:
- 1 tablespoon tapioca
- 1 ½ teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon mashed potato flakes
Does arrowroot powder go bad?
Arrowroot powder does go bad if not stored properly, or if kept for an extended period. Arrowroot powder will last for about 3 to 4 years if stored in an airtight container out of direct sunlight or damp conditions.
While commercially packaged arrowroot powder does not spoil, it will begin to lose effectiveness over time, so the storage shown only indicates when it should be used by for the best quality.
Is arrowroot healthier than cornstarch?
Arrowroot contains more dietary fiber than cornstarch, and also contains more calcium than cornstarch.
It is more natural as well, so some do consider it to be a healthier option compared to cornstarch.
Choosing Arrowroot Powder
It is undeniable that arrowroot powder has many great benefits, both for health and for cooking.
However, you need to make sure that you choose a good, high-quality arrowroot powder.
It should ideally be non-GMO, and should not contain any other ingredients. Make sure that you read the label of the arrowroot powder to ensure it does not contain a blend of other flours or products, especially if you are gluten-sensitive or have other allergies.
Arrowroot is quite unique, as it is a good substitute for flour or cornstarch, without too many limitations. It is really great to use to thicken different meals and can help to lighten baked goods as well.
A small amount of arrowroot is all you need to substitute flour, so a bag of arrowroot does go a long way. The above 3 arrowroot powder products are all great quality and will be so helpful to have in your kitchen!
