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11 Incredible Substitutes For Potato Flour


Just like cornstarch, potato flour is used as a thickening agent to thicken soups, stews, pie fillings, sauces, for baking amazing dinner rolls, quick bread recipes, and salad dressings.

Potato flour isn’t that difficult to find. In fact, it is sold in almost every grocery store. Plus, It is cheap and you can easily go to your local supermarket to find it.

But, what do you do when you really need it right away and you simply can’t run to the store because you already started your recipe? Don’t worry, we are here to help you find the best substitutes for potato flour. 

Substitutes For Potato Flour Are 

  1. Rice Flour 
  2. Potato Starch/Scratch
  3. Arrowroot Flour/Arrowroot Powder 
  4. Potato Flakes
  5. Cornstarch
  6. Mashed Potatoes 
  7. Tapioca Flour/Tapioca Starch 
  8. Sorghum Flour 
  9. All-Purpose Flour And Wheat Flour
  10. Cassava Flour
  11. Coconut Flour 

Find out more about these amazing substitutes in the article down below. 

Potato Flour Vs Potato Starch, Is There A Difference?

Many people think that these two fine powders are the same thing since they’re both made out of potatoes and basically serve the same purpose but actually, they have their differences. So, what are the differences you ask? Let’s find out together. 

Potato Flour Bobs Red Mill Flour Gluten Free Potato, 24 Oz, Pack of 1 

Potato flour is a fine powder with a beige color and it’s made out of whole potatoes, just like potato starch but this is actually the only similarity they have with each other. 

The whole potatoes are boiled, dried, and ground until they look like a fine potato powder that looks very much like whole-wheat powder with a more creamy color.
 
Another difference between these two powders is that potato flour is far more nutritious and it has a much stronger flavor than potato starch.
It has high fiber content, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Plus, it is an excellent gluten-free alternative to regular flour.

Potato Starch/ Potato ScratchJudee's Unmodified Potato Starch 2.5 lb - 100% Non-GMO, Gluten-Free and Nut-Free - Pure and Resistant - Use in Breading, Thickening, Cooking and Baking 

Potato starch is a product made out of peeled, washed, raw potatoes The raw potatoes undergo a process of extraction to separate the starch from the potatoes.
Then the starch(also known as potato scratch) is dried until it resembles a fine, white powder, very similar to cornstarch.
Potato scratch is mainly used as a thickening agent just like potato flour but, it can also be used to give your deep-fried foods a crispy outer layer.

This potato product might also be made a by-product of potato chips, potato pieces, mashed potatoes, French fries, and even dehydrated potatoes. 

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Substitutes For Potato Flour

Rice FlourNaturtonix White Rice Flour, 3 LB Resealable Pouch, Perfect for Gluten Free Baking, Non GMO and Certified Kosher 

This substitute for potato flour is made out of ground, raw rice. The main purpose of this product is to make rice noodles and rice pancakes. It is especially popular 

Rice flour(or sweet rice flour) is made out of raw, ground white rice. Its main purpose is to make rice noodles and rice pancakes but it also makes a great thickening agent in sauces, gravies, and stews. You can also use it as a substitute for regular flour for your gluten-free baking.

When using this flour, you might notice a subtly sweet taste and a faded nutty flavor but don’t let that discourage you to add it into your savory dishes. Rice flour fits in perfectly in any type of dish, and won’t change the taste. 

[Related Article: 11 Best Rice Flour Substitutes For All Purpose]

Potato Starch 

Potato starch, also known as potato scratch is made by crushing potatoes until all the starch is extracted. This is the best potato flour alternative and it makes a great cornstarch substitute as well.

Potato scratch has a subtle flavor that is almost neutral. Substitute one cup of potato flour with one cup of potato starch in your recipes. 

Arrowroot FlourNaturevibe Botanicals Organic Arrowroot Powder 2lbs, 32Ounces | Arrowroot Flour or Starch | Gluten Free and Non-GMO | Manihot esculenta | Cooking and Baking | Thickening Agent [Packaging May Vary] 

Sometimes known as Arrowroot powder, this product is a great alternative to potato flour that gives your baked goods a lighter texture.

It is an especially great addition to your airy pastries like croissants, and pie crusts. Arrowroot powder can also make a good thickening agent for sauces, soups, gravies, and pie fillings. 

Potato FlakesShiloh Farms Organic Potato Flakes 12 ounce - 2 pack - Non GMO Kosher Product of USA 

Similar to potato scratch, these instant potato flakes can thicken any sauce, gravy, or soup you add it to but, that is not all that these miracle flakes can do.

This product is an excellent option to select for when you’re out of breadcrumbs and you want to add some crispiness to your fried chicken tenders or fish. It is also amazing to bake with;

You can easily make your soft bread recipes, biscuits, and dinners rolls. You can find these flakes in the more equipped supermarkets in the baking aisle or order them online. 

Cornstarch Armour Star Cream Corn Starch, 14.8 oz. (Pack of 12) 

Cornstarch is the perfect substitute for either potato flour or regular flour at any time. You can do so many things with this product.

From baking amazing corn muffins to making sticky dough, cornstarch can fit into your favorite recipes with no problem. 

There isn’t much to say about cornstarch that you don’t already know. It is a yellow, powdery substance that’s made out of the natural starch that’s been extracted from the corn grain.

You can incorporate it in almost any baked recipe, use it as a thickening agent in soups, and sauces, and even deep-fry with it. If a recipe calls for a tablespoon of potato flour, feel free to use a tablespoon of cornstarch. 

Mashed PotatoesHungry Jack Mashed Potatoes, 15.3 Ounces, Pack of 2 

If you’re making a bread recipe and you happen to have leftover mashed potatoes, then you’re in luck; mashed potatoes are one of the greatest, most innovative, potato flour substitutes that will easily do the job. 

Mashed potatoes provide your baked recipes with moisture, making them soft and with a chewy texture. Substitute one cup of potato flour with one cup of mashed potatoes. If you want to make your job even easier, you can use instant mashed potatoes.

Tapioca FlourArrowhead Mills Organic Tapioca Flour, Gluten Free, 18 Ounce Bag (Pack of 6) 

Tapioca flour sometimes referred to as Tapioca or Cassava starch, is a powdery substance that looks very similar in texture and in color to regular all-purpose flour. 

Tapioca starch tastes neutral and it’s suitable for every recipe that needs a little bit of thickening. You can use it in sauces, gravies, soups, salad dressing, and it’s an excellent choice for coating chicken and deep-frying it. Tapioca flour is the right type of flour for people with digestive issues. 

This gluten-free, and grain-free alternative is made out of the Cassava root from the Cassava plant. Replace two tablespoons of potato flour with three tablespoons of tapioca flour.

Sorghum Flour 

Sorghum is one of the oldest, ancient grains that’s full of nutrients, antioxidants, and extra fiber. It has a slightly sweet taste but that shouldn’t stop you from mixing it in your savory dishes, and baked goods. 

Sorghum flour is considered to be one of the best flours on the market, including glutenous varieties. Since it’s very hard to find in your local grocery stores, this flour can be a little expensive, making it unavailable for many people.

All-Purpose Flour And Wheat Flour Bob's Red Mill Whole Wheat Flour, 5 Pound (Pack of 1) 

All-purpose flour mixed with just a little bit of wheat flour makes a perfect substitute for your baking recipes. Simply just mix one cup of white flour with half a cup of wheat flour instead of potato flour. 

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If you happen to not have wheat flour in your kitchen, you can use just the all-purpose flour with no problem.

I wouldn’t suggest using all-purpose flour for thickening salad dressings, and other sauces/gravies that don’t require cooking because it can cause digestive issues.

Cassava Flour Iya's All Natural Cassava Flour (5 Lb. Bag) Grain-Free, Certified Gluten-Free, Non-GMO and Kosher Baking Flour - Made From 100% Yuca Root for Verified All-Purpose Wheat Flour Substitute 

Before you say anything, no, tapioca flour is and cassava flour are not the same thing. Tapioca flour is made out of the starch of the root of the cassava plant, and cassava flour, on the other hand, is made from the whole root of this plant. 

This root is peeled, dried, and ground to look like flour. You can use Cassava flour as a thickening agent, or as a regular flour for your baking recipes. 

Coconut Flour

Arrowhead Mills Organic Coconut Flour, Gluten Free, 16 Ounce Bag 

Coconut flour is one of the flours you need if you’re going for a gluten-free, and grain-free option for your baking recipes, and all recipes in general.

This is a suitable substitute for potato starch but I must mention that, unlike potato flour, coconut flour, unfortunately, has a potent coconut flavor that changes the flavor in your recipes.

So, if you don’t mind a little coconut goodness in your recipes, and you’re going for a gluten-free variant, then this is the substitute for you. 

 Frequently Asked Questions

Substitute For Potato Flour In Frying

Cornstarch, potato starch, and Arrowroot powder are the best substitutes for potato flour when it comes to deep-frying, and pan-frying. 

Substitute For Potato Flour In Bread

When it comes to baking bread, the best alternatives for this flour are all-purpose flour, Cassava flour, and wheat flour. 

Can I Substitute Potato Flour For Potato Starch 

Yes, you can. Potato starch is one, if not the best substitute for potato starch. You can substitute one cup of potato flour with one cup of potato starch. 

How To Make Potato Flour

Wash your potatoes, and put them to boil. After they’re completely cooked, cool them off, and mash them until you get a silky, smooth texture.

After that process, you must put them in a dehydrator and leave them to dehydrate for a minimum of 14 hours, and a maximum of 20 hours. 

After they’ve been dried or dehydrated completely, put them in a food processor, and crush them until the consistency resembles a fine powder. Store your homemade flour in an air-tight jar, and keep it in a dark space like your pantry or a refrigerator.