Arrowroot is a white, flavorless powder most often used to thicken sauces, soups, and other foods like fruit pie fillings. It is comprised of starches extracted from various tropical tubers, including Maranta arundinacea, the arrowroot plant. Arrowroot powder is similar in use to cornstarch and has twice the thickening power of wheat flour. It is neutral in flavor and adds a glossy finish to foods. Arrowroot is gluten-free, vegan, and paleo-friendly, and also has a very long shelf life.
 

Fun Facts

• Also Known As: Arrowroot starch, arrowroot flour
• Shelf Life: 3 to 4 years
• Used As: Gluten-free thickener for sauces

What Is Arrowroot Powder？

Arrowroot powder is most often employed as a thickener but can also be used in desserts and when pan-frying proteins. Known as arrowroot starch or flour, this powder is made from tropical plant roots that are dried and ground. It is ideal to use in recipes where the food's color and shine are desirable in the finished product as arrowroot does not turn the dish cloudy or change the color. Arrowroot will also stay intact when mixed with acidic ingredients. For these reasons, it is often favored as a thickener for jellies and fruit fillings. Arrowroot's thickening capabilities will diminish if it is cooked over high heat for an extended period of time; it is best to cook over lower temperatures and add toward the end of cooking.

How to Use Arrowroot Powder

Arrowroot is excellent for thickening soups, sauces, and gravies, and can be used as a substitute for cornstarch. It is added at the end of cooking time since extended heat can cause the arrowroot to break down, resulting in a thin sauce. This powder is also incorporated into desserts and jellies and is used to coat meat and tofu to create a crispy finish when pan-frying.

Arrowroot is ideal as a thickener in fruit recipes as it creates a perfectly clear gel and does not break down when combined with acidic ingredients like fruit juice. It also stands up to freezing, whereas mixtures thickened with cornstarch tend to break down after freezing and thawing. However, it should not be used in recipes with dairy products (except ice cream) as it will create an unpleasant, slimy texture.

 

After this post, hopefully you’ll know a little bit more about arrowroot. Let’s dive in!

1. ARROWROOT POWDER IS GLUTEN-FREE, GRAIN-FREE AND PALEO-FRIENDLY

Arrowroot powder is a starchy substance that’s extracted from the root of a tropical plant known as Maranta arundinacea. When the arrowroot is harvested, it looks similar to other underground tubers such as cassava, yucca or kudzu, which are oblong in shape.

But important to note is how the starch is extracted, which is unlike cornstarch. Arrowroot powder is extracted in simpler, more traditional methods, without the use of high heat or harsh chemicals.

Sometimes arrowroot powder is known as arrowroot flour or arrowroot starch and they’re all the same thing. It’s simply a white, powdery starch that’s naturally gluten-free, grain-free, vegan and paleo-friendly.

 

2. ARROWROOT POWDER CAN REPLACE CORNSTARCH AS A THICKENER

Arrowroot powder is gaining in popularity (at least in the Western world) as people are looking for substitutes and alternatives to cornstarch, either due to corn allergies and sensitivities or to avoid anything GMO and pesticide-laden.

Cornstarch is the traditional thickener used in cooking for things such as gravies, stews and sauces. But good news – arrowroot powder is a great thickener and can easily replace cornstarch. Even better, arrowroot powder has no taste and leaves food glossy and clear, whereas cornstarch has a slight taste and leaves food cloudy and opaque.

3. ARROWROOT POWDER CAN ALSO BE USED IN BAKING, ROASTING AND FRYING

Arrowroot powder is enormously versatile, so you’d be remiss to only think of it as a thickener. In baking, I typically use arrowroot powder as a blend with other flours, such as almond flour, coconut flour and tapioca flour for bread and dessert recipes. But I find that it can definitely stand on it’s own as well, in small quantities.

If you’d like to make things crispy or crunchy, arrowroot powder is great for that. You could coat sweet potato fries in a dusting of arrowroot to make them crispier. You could also mix arrowroot powder with a blend of dried herbs to coat chicken before frying.

For a little recipe inspiration, I’ve used arrowroot powder in my Sweet Potato Gnocchi, Orange Glazed Salmon, Triple Berry Compote, Citrus Ginger Sauce, Baked Lemon Donuts with Blackberry Glaze, Cranberry Almond Biscotti, Pear Pomegranate and Maple Crumble, Mini Chicken Pot Pies and many, many more recipes.

4. ARROWROOT POWDER HAS SOME NUANCES WHEN YOU USE IT

Like most gluten-free and paleo flours, arrowroot powder isn’t typically used on a 1:1 ratio of whatever it’s replacing. Therefore, if you’re using it as a cornstarch replacement, your best bet is to start with 1/3 to 1/2 the amount of cornstarch required.

When using arrowroot powder as a thickener, remember two things:

Always make a slurry first. Stir the arrowroot powder with a small amount of cold liquid first (like water) to create a slurry, before adding to your recipe.
Always add the slurry at the very end of the recipe. You don’t really want to cook with arrowroot as it will break down at higher temperatures, so stir in right before serving. Bonus: arrowroot holds up beautifully when used with acidic ingredients or frozen (not so with cornstarch), so feel free to batch cook and freeze your recipes.

5. ARROWROOT POWDER HAS MULTIPLE HEALTH BENEFITS
Because arrowroot is not a grain, many people (especially those with digestive issues or sensitivities) find that arrowroot powder is more easily digestible. It also contains more fiber than potatoes and other starches, keeping things “moving” and helping to stave off hunger.

Arrowroot contains a good amount of potassium, iron and B vitamins, which is great for metabolism, circulation and heart health. Studies have even shown that arrowroot can stimulate immune cells and boost the immune system.

As always, ensure that whatever brand of arrowroot you purchase is high quality. This is the brand of arrowroot powder that I use and recommend.

Where to Buy Arrowroot Powder

If you are interested, you can contact us, alex@idobio.com