Corn starch has a variety of uses:
Thickening Agent: Its main culinary use is as a thickener for sauces, gravies, soups, and stews. It's preferred for its ability to create a smooth, glossy texture without adding flavor.
Baking: Corn starch is used in baking as a lightener and thickener. It can improve the texture of cakes, cookies, and other baked goods, making them softer and more tender.
Gluten-Free Alternative: It's a staple ingredient in gluten-free baking as it helps mimic the structure of gluten in recipes, providing a similar texture to wheat flour.
Coating for Frying: Corn starch can be used as a coating for frying foods such as chicken, fish, and vegetables. It creates a crisp outer layer when fried.
Dusting Agent: In baking, corn starch is often used to dust pans and surfaces to prevent sticking, as well as to absorb excess moisture from ingredients like fruit in pies and tarts.
Therapeutic Uses: It's used in various medical and cosmetic applications, such as a talcum powder substitute, in skincare products, and as an ingredient in pharmaceutical tablets.
Textile and Paper Production: Corn starch is utilized in industries for its adhesive properties, often as a binder in paper production and as a sizing agent in textile manufacturing.
