Cornstarch (cornflour)

Cornstarch / cornflour (UK)

Flavor and role

A flavorless starch extracted from corn with strong thickening power. It must be heated to thicken.

Typical dishes and uses

Stabilizing pavlova meringue, custards and puddings, Chinese stir-fry sauces, extra crispness for batters.

Substitutes

Potato starch 1:1. If using flour instead, use twice as much (1 tbsp starch = 2 tbsp flour) and cook longer.

Storage

Sealed in a dry place at room temperature, it keeps practically indefinitely (over 2 years).

Main countries

United States · Mexico · China

Used in this book

PavlovaAlfajores de MaicenaClassic American Apple PieAussie Meat PieBak Chor MeeBeef and BroccoliBeef Chow FunBeef Lok Lak (Cambodian Stir-Fried Beef)Swiss Cheese Fondue (Moitié-Moitié)Chili crabChow Mein (Chinese Chicken Fried Noodles)Churros con ChocolateCantonese Congee with Pork and Century EggCrema CatalanaCumin Lamb (Ziran Yangrou)Dan Bing (Taiwanese Egg Crepe)Dutch Oven Peach CobblerEgg Drop SoupEgg Foo YoungFrancesinhaHot and Sour SoupEgyptian Konafa with Cream (Konafa bel Eshta)Kung Pao ChickenRed-Braised Lion's Head Meatballs (Hong Shao Shizitou)LuqaimatMalai Kofta (Paneer and Potato Dumplings in Creamy Tomato Gravy)Mango Sticky Rice (Khao Niao Mamuang)Melktert (South African Milk Tart)Classic New York CheesecakeOyster Omelette (Taiwanese O-a-tsian)Pad See Ew (Thai Stir-Fried Rice Noodles with Soy)Rinderrouladen (German Beef Rolls)Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (Black Forest Cake)Buttermilk Southern Fried ChickenTorta della NonnaYuxiang Eggplant (Fish-Fragrant Aubergine)Japanese Matcha Alfajores with White Chocolate DrizzleBanana Dulce de Leche Alfajor Parfait CupsCrispy Aloo Gobi Bites Tray with Lemon-Coriander YogurtApple Strudel Turon (Filipino Caramel Spring Rolls)Brown Butter Lattice Apple PieApple Pie Empanadas with Dulce de LecheApple Pie Crumble Bars with Cinnamon GlazeChaufa Especial with Shrimp, Chicken and Scallion OilAsado Negro Crispy Plantain Rice BowlButter Chicken Pie (Indian × Australian)Meat Pie Loaded Fries with Puff Pastry CrumbleAyam Goreng Tacos with Sambal Matah (Indonesian × Mexican)Ayam Goreng Popcorn Chicken with Kecap Manis Butter GlazeKenduri-Style Ayam Masak Merah, Double-Fried with Coconut FinishAyam Penyet KremesAyam Penyet Ssam with Sambal SsamjangAyam Geprek Mozzarella Rice BowlCrispy Potato-Nest Bacalhau Brás Egg CupsHouse Sambal Bak Chor Mee with Lard CrispsBak Chor Mee Potstickers with Black Vinegar Chilli DipBak Kut Teh Pepper Pork Fried Rice with a Garlic Broth ShotCrispy Mekong-Style Bánh Xèo with Mung Beans and Coconut CreamBasbousa bil Ishta with Orange Blossom SyrupVanilla Bean Basque Cheesecake with Salted CaramelBurnt Basque Cheesecake ToastVelvet Beef with Charred BroccoliBeef and Broccoli Garlic Butter SpaghettiCrispy Beef and Broccoli Rice-Paper DumplingsWok-Hei Beef Chow Fun with Velveted Beef and Garlic ChivesGochujang Bulgogi Beef Chow Fun (Korean × Cantonese)Crispy Beef Chow Fun Rolls with Sweet Soy GlazeLok Lak Crispy Rice Salad with Lime-Pepper DressingRed-Braised Beef Rice BowlSouthern Fried Chicken and Waffles with Spiced Maple ButterHot Honey Buffalo Chicken BowlCrispy Vermicelli Cake with Bún Chả MeatballsChorizo Chili Walking NachosCanh Chua Crispy Fish Rice Bowl with Tamarind-Pineapple GlazeChai Tow Kway Radish Cake Fries with Sambal MayoChapli Kebab Cheeseburger with Mint MayoCrispy char kway teow noodle cakePorcini Fondue (Fondue aux Bolets) with Rosemary Roast PotatoesGochujang Cheese Fondue with Rice Cakes, Sausages and Sweet Potato (Korean x Swiss)Baked Fondue Bread Bowl with Garlic-Butter DippersCrispy Machboos Popcorn Chicken with Black-Lime YogurtCheese-Stuffed Poblano Tempura with Ponzu Pico de Gallo (Japanese × Mexican)Restaurant-style chili crab with fried mantouHong Kong Crispy Noodle Cake with Shrimp and ChickenChow Mein Noodle Nest Egg CupsCơm Tấm Rice BurgerSilky Cantonese Congee with Pork Rib Broth and Crispy ShallotsOrange-Vanilla Crema Catalana with a Double Burnt-Sugar CrustPandan-Coconut Crema Catalana (Spanish × Southeast Asian)Crema Catalana Brûlée TartletsRestaurant-Style Cumin Lamb with a Fresh-Toasted Spice BlendCumin Lamb Tacos with Lime Yogurt Crema (Chinese × Mexican)Dakbokkeumtang Pot PieOrange Dakgangjeong (American-Chinese Orange Chicken × Korean)Hand-Rolled Dan Bing with Basil Omelette and Soy GlazeDan Bing Toast with Tuna-Corn MayoCrispy Dan Dan Rice-Paper DumplingsFresh Peach Cobbler with Brown Butter and Buttermilk BiscuitsVelvety Bacon and Gruyère Egg Bites (Water-Bath Method)Shiitake, Silken Tofu and Chicken Egg Flower SoupTom Yum Egg Drop Soup (Thai x Chinese)Egg Drop Gravy Rice Bowl with Garlic Chilli CrunchRestaurant-Style Puffy Egg Foo Young with Char Siu and ShrimpKimchi Pork Egg Foo Young with Gochujang Gravy (Chinese-American × Korean)Crispy Cassava Escondidinho CupsFeteer with Ashta Cream, Honey and PistachiosSilky Amok with Toasted Kroeung and Coconut CreamBaked Amok Fish Toasts with Lime MayoTriple-Cooked Fish and Chips with Homemade TartareAonori Tempura Fish and Chips with Ponzu MayoPan-Juice Francesinha with Hand-Cut FriesFrancesinha Poutine (Portuguese × Québécois)Germknödel with Homemade Rum-Plum Filling, Vanilla Sauce and Brown ButterCrispy Rice Paper Shrimp DumplingsSichuan-Style Hot and Sour Soup with ShrimpSanratanmen (Japanese Hot and Sour Ramen)Crispy Hot Honey Salmon Bites with Whipped FetaChurro Chocolate HotteokIdli ManchurianBaked Lemon Yogurt Cheesecake (Water-Bath Method)Cinnamon-Sugar Kaiserschmarrn Bites with Warm Vanilla DipYangnyeom Kelewele: Gochujang-Honey Glazed Plantain (Ghanaian x Korean)Beer-Battered Cod Kibbeling with Homemade RemouladeMango Kiribath with Salted Coconut Cream (Sri Lankan × Thai)Crispy Kiribath Bites with Lunu Miris MayoUpside-Down Golden Konafa with Homemade AshtaKonafa Cheesecake with Orange Blossom Syrup (Egyptian × New York)Cairo Shop-Style Koshari with ShattaKuih Dadar with Gula Melaka Coconut and Salted Coconut CreamKung Pao Chicken Tacos with Lime SlawRaspberry Jam and Cream LamingtonsYangzhou Clear-Stewed Lion's Head (Qing Dun Shizitou)Red Curry Coconut Lion's Head Meatballs (Chinese × Thai)Lion's Head Meatball Bao with Sesame Napa SlawLocro Pot Pies with a Puff-Pastry LidLomo Saltado Loaded Fries with Huancaína SauceCrisp Loukoumades with Orange-Thyme Honey and Walnut-Sesame BrittleDouble-Fried Pork and Shrimp Lumpia with Sweet-and-Sour SauceSaffron-Rose Syrup Luqaimat with PistachioTiramisu LuqaimatMafé Sweet Potato Fries with Spicy Peanut-Tomato DipShahi Malai Kofta in Saffron-Cashew GravyMalai Kofta Spaghetti in Makhani Tomato Cream (Indian × Italian)Malai Kofta Sliders with Makhani Mayo and Pickled OnionsBrown Butter Malva Pudding with Orange-Brandy Sauce and Vanilla CustardMango Coconut Dessert MakiMapo Cheese Rice GratinPandan Brown Butter MartabakMassaman Chicken Pot PieCardamom-Vanilla Melktert with Sweet ShortcrustChai Melktert (South African × Indian)Melktert Custard Cups with Cinnamon CrumbBulgogi Cheese PieGochujang Butter Moules with Sweet Potato Oven FriesCrispy Mushroom Risotto Squares with Whipped Ricotta and Hot HoneyCrispy Nasi Goreng Rice BitesNasi Lemak with Spiced Fried Chicken (Ayam Goreng Berempah)Sambal Fried Chicken Nasi Lemak BurgerDeli-Style New York Cheesecake with Sour Cream Topping and Strawberry GlazeMango Lassi New York Cheesecake with Cardamom and PistachioNo-Bake New York Cheesecake Jars with Blueberry CompoteKroeung Fish Cakes with Coconut Curry Dip and Herb WrapsOkonomi Loaded FriesOm Ali Crunch Parfait JarsLard-Crisped Oyster Omelette with Garlic-Chilli VinegarMatcha Custard Pączki with White Chocolate Glaze (Polish × Japanese)Velvet Pork Pad See Ew with Wok-Charred NoodlesCrispy Pancit Nests with Garlic ShrimpPastel de Nata Custard ToastBravas rösti brunch with fried eggsLemon Curd Berry PavlovaMango Coconut Lime PavlovaPeri-Peri Popcorn ChickenRibeye Cheesesteak with Homemade Cheese SaucePineapple Cake Cheesecake Crumble BarsKonditorei Black Forest Cake with Chocolate Shortcrust and Kirsch SyrupBlack Forest Tiramisu (German × Italian)Cinnamon-Sugar Sel Roti with Spanish Hot Chocolate DipRainbow Sesame-Peanut Noodle Jar Salad with Crispy TofuShawarma Loaded FriesHojicha White Miso Shortbread Rounds (Scottish × Japanese)Sopaipillas Pasadas in Spiced Chancaca SyrupLard-Fried Double-Dredged Chicken with Peppered Cream GravyMasala Buttermilk Fried Chicken with Mint RaitaHot Honey Fried Chicken Sandwich with Pickle SlawSri Lankan Coconut Chicken Curry UdonSundubu Cheese Rice GratinCantonese Gu Lou Yuk with PineappleSweet and Sour Pork Tacos with Pineapple SalsaGhee-Seared Syrniki with Warm Berry CompoteShrimp Tempura Tacos with Lime Sriracha MayoBeef Thukpa with Hand-Pulled Noodles and Timur Chilli OilRestaurant-Style Tomato and Egg with Shaoxing WineTorta della Nonna with Vanilla-Bean Crema and Blind-Baked CrustBlack Sesame Torta della Nonna with Honey-Glazed Pine Nuts (Italian × Korean)Torta della Nonna Puff Pastry TurnoversCrispy Honey-Gochujang Rice Cake Bites with Cheddar DipWhitebait Kakiage Tempura with Tentsuyu (New Zealand × Japanese)Golden Yolk-Coated Yangzhou Fried Rice with Scallion OilSizzling Claypot Yuxiang EggplantCrispy Baked Yuxiang Eggplant Fries with Chilli-Garlic Glaze

Updated 2026-10-10