Cooking should not be too complicated. Can it be difficult sometimes, sure, but would it not be nice if confusions can be taken out of the mix.
I know from personal experience, how confusing it can be to convert from a metric system to an imperial system in measuring things. Add to that the differences between Fahrenheit and Celsius and last but not least we have words that sound very similar but do not necessarily mean the same.
‘Cornstarch’ in the US is the same thing as ‘cornflour’ in the UK. It’s the pure starch extracted from corn kernels, and it has the form of a very fine white powder. Note that when referring to the starch, ‘cornflour’ is written as a single word (with no space between ‘corn’ and ‘flour’).
Cornmeal, polenta and grits. Are they interchangeable?
No, they’re not. Cornmeal is an ingredient; polenta is an Italian dish and grits a staple dish in the Southern United States.
But these terms are sometimes used interchangeably because they are all made from cornmeal. Many manufacturers label cornmeal, polenta and grits as such in the hope that you buy all 3 products instead of just one. Polenta is made from yellow corn and often coarser than the cornmeal used in corn bread. Grits is traditionally made from white corn instead of yellow.
Therefore, recipes and cooking instructions originating outside of the United States may call for corn flour when they really mean cornstarch, or cornmeal when they mean corn flour.
It can be used in addition to or in place of wheat flour in breads, pancakes, waffles, and pastries to add a corn-like taste.
This article tells you everything you need to know about the differences between cornstarch and corn flour.
Due to their differing nutritional compositions, cornstarch and corn flour cannot be used in the same way in recipes.
If you’re unsure which product you should use in a recipe, try to figure out the recipe’s country of origin.
Is corn flour the same as cornstarch UK?
FAQ
Can I substitute cornstarch for cornflour?
Is cornstarch and corn flour the exact same thing?
What is cornstarch called in the UK?
Is Cornflour and maizena the same thing?
Is cornstarch the same as cornflour?
Here’s where the confusion starts. ‘Cornstarch’ in the US is the same thing as ‘cornflour’ in the UK. It’s the pure starch extracted from corn kernels, and it has the form of a very fine white powder. Note that when referring to the starch, ‘cornflour’ is written as a single word (with no space between ‘corn’ and ‘flour’).
What is a substitution for cornstarch?
Flour is used as a thickener in many of the same recipes that cornstarch is used. Another option would be rice flour that is made from milled rice. It has a consistency similar to wheat flour which makes it a great alternative as a thickener where wheat flour also works well. Among other options, such as: tapioca, potato starch, mandica flour, linseed flour. The choice will depend a lot on the type of preparation.
Is cornstarch better than corn flour?
If it’s intended to be used in a manner similar to that of wheat flour, corn flour is probably your best option. If the recipe is using the product to thicken a soup or gravy, cornstarch is the better choice.
Can I substitute cornstarch for corn flour?
No!! This is very important. Cornstarch is a ‘starchy’ gluten free flour, whereas corn flour is a ‘protein’ gluten free flour. Therefore, they carry out very different functions in gluten free baking. That means that you can’t substitute cornstarch for corn flour, or vice versa.