No. 01
AmazonArrowroot powder
Clear sauces
A common cornstarch substitute for glossy, gently heated sauces.
View merchant pageBuying guide
Best cornstarch substitutes
Cornstarch substitutes vary by job: crisp coatings, glossy sauces, fruit fillings, and custards each need a different fallback.
Picks
8 totalNo. 02
AmazonTapioca starch
Fruit pies
Good for glossy, elastic thickening in pie fillings and sauces.
View merchant pageNo. 03
AmazonPotato starch
Crisp coatings
A strong starch for frying and quick thickening.
View merchant pageNo. 04
AmazonRice flour
Dredging
Useful for light coatings when cornstarch is unavailable.
View merchant pageNo. 05
King Arthur BakingInstant ClearJel
Pie filling
A reliable fruit filling thickener when sliceability matters.
View merchant pageNo. 06
AmazonAll-purpose flour
Non-gluten-free roux
Works for gravy when cooked long enough to lose raw flavor.
View merchant pageNo. 07
AmazonKuzu starch
Glossy gentle sauces
A traditional thickener for clean, smooth sauces.
View merchant pageNo. 08
AmazonInstant tapioca
Rustic filling
A pantry fallback for fruit pies when smoothness is less important.
View merchant pageCook's guide
- Arrowroot and tapioca are good sauce substitutes but behave differently under long boiling.
- Potato starch is powerful and can turn gummy if overused.
- Flour thickens but is not gluten-free and needs more cooking time.