+10 votes
Out of cornstarch. Can flour replace it for thickening without creating lumps? Requires smooth texture for organized meal prep. 🧐🍲
in Products and Ingredients by

6 Answers

+10 votes
Yes, flour can certainly replace cornstarch to thicken a sauce, but you need to account for a few differences in preparation. Since flour has about half the thickening power of cornstarch, you generally need to use twice as much flour by volume. To prevent lumps, it is best to prepare a roux or a slurry: 1. Roux method: Melt equal parts butter and flour in a pan over medium heat, cooking for a minute or two to remove the raw flour taste, then gradually whisk in your warm liquid. 2. Slurry method: Whisk the flour thoroughly with a small amount of cold water until completely smooth before stirring it into your simmering sauce. Keep in mind that flour will give the sauce a slightly opaque or matte finish rather than the glossy sheen you typically get with cornstarch.
by chef (91.1k points)
+7 votes
Yes flour works fine for thickening sauces if your out of cornstarch. You just have to mix it with a little cold water first so it doesnt clump up in your food. It turned out fine when I tried it.
by
+5 votes
you can totally use flour for meal prep sauces when your out of cornstarch just remember it takes about twice the amount. best way to keep it smooth is making a quick paste with some cold water or butter before adding it to your hot mix so your batches dont get clumpy. works great for saving money on groceries and keeps things simple.
by
+3 votes
You can definitely use flour instead of cornstarch for your meal prep sauces. Just stir the flour straight into the hot liquid and it will thicken right up without any trouble. It is a very easy swap when your pantry is low.
by
+2 votes
Flour works as a substitute, but use twice as much as cornstarch since it has less thickening power. Mix it with cold water first to avoid lumps.
by
+2 votes
Yes, flour works. Use a 2:1 ratio. Whisk with cold water first.
by