Wednesday’s Helping: Corn Starch

A kitchen powder that makes a difference

We tend to keep corn starch on hand as a food staple item in The Mixed Stew kitchen. Corn starch is a gluten-free alternative to flour. Cooks may use it as a thickening agent in different sauces and gravies. We also use corn starch as coating and breading for frying — it provides a tasteless, crispier, and lighter crunch compared to flour. Corn starch also has more thickening power so use it with discretion while adding it to simmering sauces. Combine this ingredient with just a little bit of water before thickening any gravy or sauces. Creating such a slurry reduces the formation of lumps in the end product.