10 Amazing Wheat Starch Substitutes for Cooking
If you cannot eat wheat, you might be saddened by all the dishes that call for wheat starch that you must live without. However, there are so many wheat starch substitutes to choose from that you can easily make your favorite dish and substitute the wheat starch for one of these ingredients. Let’s explore the very best ones!
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Some easily accessible substitutes for wheat starch are corn starch, potato starch, rice starch, tapioca starch, and ground flaxseed. Mochiko powder and guar gum are fantastic wheat starch substitutes, as is sweet potato starch. Mung bean starch is a high-protein wheat starch substitute.
Some wheat starch substitutes are ideal for baking and deep-frying, while others are better used to thicken sauces or soups. If you are contemplating what options you have for substituting wheat starch, look no further. These are the best substitutes for wheat starch you can find.
What is Wheat Starch Anyway?
According to Schaer.com, wheat starch is a “starch made from the processed endosperm of the wheat grain.” This powdery starch is often used to thicken dishes, but it can also be used as a binding agent, emulsifier, and more.
While wheat starch is made from wheat, it can actually be gluten free in some cases (I know it’s confusing, but wheat and gluten allergies are different!) If you want more info on this before reading on, check out this article.
What Are The Best Wheat Starch Substitutes?
If you cannot eat wheat starch, never fear. Fortunately, you can still cook your favorite dishes simply by tweaking the recipe slightly and using a substitute for wheat starch.
Some substitutes can be used in a 1:1 ratio to replace wheat starch. Others require a bit more math. Regardless, these are some of the best substitutes for wheat starch you can find.
Substitution #1: Corn Starch
Corn starch is a popular substitute for wheat starch. Corn starch is a cheap and readily available substitute for wheat starch, and you can use it in sweet and savory dishes. In addition, corn starch is the perfect substitute for wheat starch to thicken soups and sauces.
In addition, you can substitute corn starch for wheat starch on a 1:1 ratio, making it an easy substitute for wheat starch.
Substitution #2: Potato Starch
Another readily available substitute for wheat starch is potato starch. Potato starch is more calorie-dense than wheat starch. However, it functions much the same as wheat starch and can be used in various recipes.
You can replace the wheat starch in a recipe with the same amount of potato starch. One drawback of potato starch is that it cannot handle high heat. Therefore, don’t add it to a deep-fried batter.
Substitution #3: Rice Starch
The next great substitute for wheat starch is rice starch. Rice starch is easy to come by and very affordable. While it doesn’t have a high nutritional value, rice starch makes the perfect thickener for soups and sauces. In addition, it has a similar color to wheat starch and is neutral tasting.
Rice starch thickens up much quicker than wheat starch. Therefore, we recommend starting with 1/3 of a teaspoon of rice starch to substitute for each teaspoon of wheat starch. You can adjust the measurements as necessary for the dish.
Substitution #4: Tapioca Starch
Tapioca starch has a neutral taste and glossy color. It is made from Cassava root. Tapioca starch is the perfect substitute for wheat starch in deserts or baked goods when you want to add some chew to the product.
You can use a 1:2 ratio when substituting wheat flour with tapioca starch. That means using two tablespoons of tapioca starch for every tablespoon of wheat starch.
Substitution #5: Ground Flaxseed
Ground flaxseeds add a sweet and nutty flavor to any dish they are added to. Ground flaxseeds are high in nutritional value and are an excellent thickener for almost any dish. However, don’t use flaxseeds in a dish reliant on texture, as ground flaxseeds aren’t as smooth as wheat starch.
Use ½ a tablespoon of ground flaxseeds for every tablespoon of wheat starch. Ground flaxseeds take a few minutes to work.
Substitution #6: Mochiko Flour
You might not have heard about Mochiko flour before, but it is one of the best substitutes for wheat starch. Mochiko flour is made from Mochiko rice, also known as glutinous rice. It is is gluten-free, however, and has a slightly sweet taste.
Mochiko flour is the perfect substitute for wheat starch in any dessert that calls for a bouncy texture. Start by substituting ½ a tablespoon of Mochiko flour for wheat starch and add more if you feel it necessary.
Substitution #7: Guar Gum
Guar gum is made from plant extracts and serves as a low-calorie, high-fiber substitute for wheat starch. In addition, guar gum has no side effects and cannot hurt your digestive system, making it a better substitute for wheat starch than Xanthan gum.
Guar gum has extreme thickening powers. Therefore, we recommend starting with 1/8 as much Guar gum as wheat starch the recipe calls for.
Substitution #8: Sweet Potato Starch
Sweet potato starch is one of the healthiest substitutes for wheat starch. It contains a lot of fiber and has various other minerals, too. Therefore, sweet potato starch is an excellent substitute for wheat starch when making batter, stir-fry, or stew.
To substitute sweet potato starch for wheat starch, we recommend adding 1 ½ tablespoon of sweet potato starch for every tablespoon of wheat starch used in the recipe.
Substitution #9: Mung Bean Starch Substitute For Wheat Starch
Mung bean starch is a high-protein substitute for wheat starch and is therefore great for vegan dishes. However, Mung bean starch can be hard on one’s stomach. In addition, mung bean starch has a peculiar taste. Therefore, we recommend adding it to soups or stews with plenty of other flavors.
You can use a 1:1 ratio when substituting mung bean starch for wheat starch. Mung bean starch is best left out of sweet recipes as the mung bean starch can influence the dish’s flavors.
Substitution #10: Psyllium Husk
Another great substitute for wheat starch is psyllium husk. Psyllium husk is low in carbs and high in fiber. It has a neutral taste and is great as a soup thickener. If you can get psyllium husk powder, we recommend it, as psyllium husks have a grainy texture.
Psyllium husks are better thickeners than wheat starch. Therefore, we recommend using ¼ tablespoon of psyllium husk to replace a tablespoon of wheat starch. Then, add more psyllium husk if necessary.
More Questions About Wheat Starch Substitutes
Are there any gluten-free substitutes for wheat starch?
Yes! It is important to note that wheat starch is sometimes gluten-free in and of itself. Make sure to read the label carefully, because some wheat starches still contain a small amount of gluten. If this is the case, there are plenty of gluten-free substitutes for wheat starch, such as rice starch, corn starch, potato starch, tapioca starch, and more.
How Is Wheat Starch Different From Wheat Flour?
Wheat starch is the protein isolated from wheat flour. Wheat starch has a much higher gelatinization temperature than wheat flour, making it a better option for baked goods. Wheat starch is derived from wheat flour and has a similar taste and consistency to wheat flour.
What Is Wheat Starch Used For?
Wheat starch is often used in cooking and baking as a thickening agent. Wheat starch is also a key component of pasta. Recently, vegans have been using wheat starch to make interesting dishes, such as vegan chicken nuggets.
What is wheat starch used for in Chinese cooking?
Wheat starch is not the most common starch in Chinese cookery, but it is used for a few different types of dishes like steamed rice rolls. For more information on starches in Chinese dishes, see this article.
Is wheat starch same as potato starch?
No, definitely not. Potato starch is made from potatoes, not wheat. However, as we talked about earlier in this post, potato starch can be substituted for wheat starch on a 1:1 ratio!
Why Is A Wheat Starch Substitute Necessary?
Recently, more people have been cutting wheat and gluten out of their diets for health and lifestyle reasons. As such, people need to find alternatives to ingredients such as wheat starch to continue cooking delicious food.
Conclusion
There are a variety of great substitutes you can use instead of wheat starch, whether you don’t have any on hand or you’re allergic. Corn starch, a common household ingredient, may be the easiest substitute to use. But there are lots of others too, as we have seen in this post. I hope you were able to find the perfect wheat starch substitute for your recipe!
