Corn starch - better known as cornstarch - is a very versatile ingredient in cooking. It is mainly used to thicken sauces, soups and veloutées as well as to make baked desserts and homemade cakes softer and lighter.
Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerousTHEcornstarch - better known as cornstarch - is a very versatile ingredient in the kitchen. It is mainly used to thicken sauces, soups and veloutées as well as to make baked desserts and homemade cakes softer and lighter.
Let's find out what the properties are, uses in the kitchen and alternative uses for home care and as a natural remedy for corn starch.
Index
Corn starch, properties
Corn starch is produced thanks to a wet grinding process of grain of corn. As a finished product, corn starch is presented in the form of a very fine, almost impalpable, white powder.
While the whole grain is ground to produce corn flour, only the endosperm is used to obtain corn starch. Corn starch is naturally gluten-free, therefore it is used both in the kitchen and on an industrial level to make products gluten free for celiacs.
As for the composition of corn starch, this ingredient consists almost completely of carbohydrates. Contains small amounts of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron as regards mineral salts. Science has recently investigated its possible beneficial properties for those suffering from diabetes and to keep blood sugar at bay.
Read also: GREEN TEA AND CORN STARCH TO KEEP GLUCOSE AND DIABETES AT BAD
Corn starch, calories and nutritional values
Below you can consult nutritional values and calories matching for 100 grams of corn starch.
- Calories 381
- 0,1 g fat
- Saturated fatty acids 0 g
- Polyunsaturated fatty acids 0 g
- Monounsaturated fatty acids 0 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Sodium 9 mg
- Potassium 3 mg
- G carbohydrates 91
- Dietary fiber 0,9 g
- Sugar 0 g
- Protein 0,3 g
- Calcium 2 mg
- Iron 0,5 mg
- Magnesium 3 mg
Corn starch, uses in cooking
Corn starch is mainly used in cooking as a thickening ingredient. This ingredient also has the advantage of not having a strong flavor, so it goes very well with various sweet and savory preparations without altering their taste.
The uses of corn starch in cooking are similar to those of potato starch as these two ingredients have similar effects as thickeners.
Keep in mind that usually to replace 1 egg or to thicken a soup are enough 1 or 2 tablespoons of cornstarch depending on the result you want to achieve.
- Replace the eggs
- Making desserts lighter, crumbly and softer
- Thicken the sauces
- Thicken soups and soups
- Prepare the custard
- Prepare the bechamel
- Thicken homemade hot chocolate
- Making homemade desserts healthier
- Thicken baby food
- Prepare the Catalan cream
- Making homemade crepes
- Prepare the pudding
- Making the margherita cake
Corn starch, alternative uses
In addition to common food and cooking uses, there are numerous alternative uses for corn starch for beauty and home care, just to give some examples. Let's find out what are some of the alternative uses of corn starch.
Read also: STARCH DI MORE: 10 USI ALTERNATIVI
- Clean carpets naturally
- Prepare a do-it-yourself deodorant
- Prepare a window cleaner
- Clean the silverware
- Remove stains
- As a natural remedy for sunburn
- As a natural remedy for bad odors
- To prepare an ironing spray
- To prepare dry shampoo
- Together with baking soda to absorb grease stains
- As a natural hair treatment
- To make soap bubbles
- As a natural remedy for oily hair
- As an ingredient for homemade soap
- To prepare do-it-yourself natural cosmetics
- As a natural remedy for corns and calluses
- As a natural remedy for children's sweat
- To make kinetic sand
- To create effervescent bath bombs
Corn starch, where to find it
Corn starch it is easily found in supermarkets, usually in the flour department. We normally find corn starch for sale under the trade name of Cornstarch. If you can't find it on the shelves, ask the shopkeeper for help, specifying that you are looking for cornstarch or Maizena.
Marta Albè
