substance
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External Websites
- Verywell Fit - Cornstarch Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits
- The Spruce Eats - What is Cornstarch?
- MedicineNet - Cornstarch: Is it healthier than Flour, Safe, and are there side effects?
- National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Corn Starch: Quality and Quantity Improvement for Industrial Uses
- WebMD - What are Substitutes for Cornstarch?
- Healthline - 19 Household Uses for Cornstarch
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Thank you for your feedback
Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.
External Websites
- Verywell Fit - Cornstarch Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits
- The Spruce Eats - What is Cornstarch?
- MedicineNet - Cornstarch: Is it healthier than Flour, Safe, and are there side effects?
- National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Corn Starch: Quality and Quantity Improvement for Industrial Uses
- WebMD - What are Substitutes for Cornstarch?
- Healthline - 19 Household Uses for Cornstarch
Also known as: corn flour, corn starch, cornflour, maize starch
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last Updated: •Article History
cornstarch, substance produced through wet milling of corn (Zea mays). Wet milling separates the components of corn kernels, which consist primarily of protein, fibre, starch, and oil. Once separated, the starch is dried, forming a white powder called cornstarch.
Cornstarch is high in carbohydrates but lacking in vitamins, protein, fibre, and minerals, making it one of the least nutritionally dense components of corn. Cornstarch absorbs moisture, however, making it useful as a thickener and anticaking agent in food products. It is used in certain oral medications, where it facilitates the disintegration of capsules and tablets. It may be used as a substitute for wheat flour in gluten-free foods and as a substitute for baby powder. Other applications are, for example, in the production of paper, acrylic paint products, and adhesives.
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