10 Best Tapioca Flour Substitutes

Tapioca Flour

Flour is a staple ingredient in kitchens with countless uses. There are many types from gluten-free to regular ones which people adapt based on their diet.

One of the many is tapioca flour which is gluten-free flour. It is made out of scratch of the cassava root and it is known for its thickness and chewy texture. Typically it is used for baking goods, to thicken sauces, soups, stews, and many other dishes.

It works perfectly for people with allergies or other dietary issues. It is typical for South America and the Caribbean, but it can also be found in many countries all over the world.

Tapioca flour is easy to bake with. You can also use it to enhance the texture of recipes, thus, it is super-versatile. However, what if you don’t have any on hand, is there a substitute?

Go ahead and learn more about each substitute and how to use it in detail.

Substitute for Tapioca Flour

Tapioca flour is common for baking. Actually, this powder will be suitable for any gluten-free recipe. As we mentioned before, the Tapioca flour has its way as a thickening agent as well.

It will provide a nice crust and chewy texture. However, if you run out, or simply you need another flour, we are here to help. You might find it a bit challenging to replace this flour, but there is no need to worry.

Here we have the best replacements and all you have to do is go through each one to find what will be good for baking and what as a thickening agent.

The puffy pastries will need another replacement. Scroll below and find out more.

1. Cornstarch

Corn starch

One of the best replacements and the first thing that comes to mind is to use cornstarch. First on our list and basically something that is commonly used in our kitchen, Cornstarch has its way to be cooked with.

It is the best replacement of all since it has a lot of similarities with tapioca flour. It is easily found and reachable. Cornstarch is also gluten-free and works well for cooking and baking.

What makes it different from Tapioca flour is the stronger taste. It also tends to give more thickness to recipes. Replace 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of tapioca flour. 

2. Cassava flour

Cassava flour

A great replacement for many recipes that call for tapioca flour is cassava flour. It is yet another gluten-free product that works for many diets. It has more fiber and has many nutrients.

This flour is also made of cassava root and you can use it in all recipes that need tapioca flour. It has a nutty flavor which may be more noticeable in your cooking, thus, you need to adjust the quantity when you use it for cooking. 

3. Sweet rice flour

rice flour

Tapioca flour can find its replacement in many recipes if you use sweet rice flour as well.

Sweet rice is made of short-grain rice which is good for thickening and works as a binding agent. It tends to be sticky when it’s heated. Sweet rice flour is often used to add moisture and sweeten the baking goods.

Even though they do not share many things in common, you can add sweet rice flour to achieve the chewy and sticky consistency in the texture just like the tapioca flour. This flour needs to be well cooked since it cannot be eaten raw. 

4. Potato starch

Potato Starch

Another gluten-free product that can replace tapioca flour in your dishes is potato starch. It has a heavier consistency, but you can add it to most of the recipes that require tapioca.

Use a ratio of 1:1 or adapt based on the recipe and the rest of the ingredients. You can add potato scratch in baking or as a thickener in many ways. 

5. All-purpose flour

All-purpose flour is another substitute for tapioca flour. The difference is that when you add tapioca to your cooking, you’ll have a glossy dish, but when you add all-purpose flour it’ll have a matte finish.

Replace in recipes like soups, stews, gravies, and recipes like that. Adjust the quantity based on the recipe and the other ingredients which are used. 

6. Arrowroot

Arrowroot Flour

Another gluten-free replacement for tapioca flour is arrowroot. They are both similar and make good substitutes for each other. You can adjust the quantity or add a ratio of 1:1.

You can use arrowroot as a thickener, in baking goods, or in any other recipe that calls for tapioca flour. It won’t provide a chewy consistency and it’s not that suitable for baking. 

7. Agar-agar

A gelling agent made of red algae, that is a good substitute for tapioca flour is agar-agar. You can use it to make pudding, custard, and similar dishes as a thickener.

It’s not really recommended to use it for soups or sauces since it has a strong taste. Thus, adjust the quantity based on the other ingredients and how much the recipe calls for tapioca flour. 

8. Xanthan gum

Another thickening agent that is suitable for most recipes that need tapioca flour is the xanthan gum. This is a gluten-free product that is good for baking.

It has a powerful taste, so it may not be suitable to replace tapioca in sauces or stews. Add a small amount and increase based on the recipe. 

9. Eggs

Eggs

Something that we tend to keep in our fridge and a very useful ingredient in our kitchen is eggs. They can also serve as a replacement since they are used as a thickening agent in different ways.

You can add them to puddings, custard dishes, vegetables, burgers, or even meatballs. It is not really good for soups or stews but anything else will be good. 

10. High starch vegetables

Lastly, we’ll recommend high scratch vegetables like sweet potatoes, pumpkins, or butter squash as a replacement for tapioca flour.

They will work well in different vegan puddings, potato brownies, etc. Whichever you pick, you won’t regret and most of them are easily accessible.

Related Questions

Can you substitute tapioca flour for regular flour?

Yes, you can substitute tapioca flour for regular flour. The key difference is in gluten. Tapioca flour is gluten-free. You can thicken sauces and stews with it and you can use a ratio of 1:1.

Is tapioca flour the same as cornstarch?

When you compare tapioca flour and cornstarch, you will see that they are similar but not the same. Cornstarch is made from corn and tapioca is made from the root of the cassava plant. They both serve as a substitute for each other and work as thickeners for liquid.

What does tapioca flour do in baking?

When you use tapioca flour in baking it helps improve the texture of baking goods. It will also help add crispness and crust.

Can almond flour substitute tapioca?

Yes, almond flour can replace tapioca flour. Use 2 cups of almond flour for 1 cup of tapioca flour. Also, you can adapt based on the ingredients that are used in your recipe.

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