• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Zest for Baking

  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Recipes
    • Bagels
    • Biscuits
    • Bread Machine
    • Cake
    • Cookies
    • Cupcakes
    • Donuts
    • Frostings
    • Muffins
    • Pancakes
    • Quick Bread
    • Rolls
    • Sandwich Bread
    • Scones
    • Snacks
    • Gluten Free Side Dishes
    • Waffles
    • Yeast Breads
  • Resources
    • Baking Tips
    • Gluten Free Flours
    • Using Substitutes
  • About
    • Get 15 Free Gluten Free Bread Recipes!
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Start Here
  • Recipes
  • Resources
  • About
  • Classes & Books
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Start Here
    • Recipes
    • Resources
    • About
    • Classes & Books
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Baking Tips

    What is Potato Starch and What Is It Good For?

    Published: Mar 14, 2015 · Modified: Mar 29, 2019 by Christine · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    In honor of Potato Chip Day today, (yes, it really is a holiday!) we're going to discuss potato starch today. If you’ve been reading labels to avoid gluten, you may have noticed that many ingredient lists include potato starch. While a potato is familiar to most people, they may not realize exactly what potato starch is, how it’s extracted, or what it’s used for in their favorite commercialized gluten-free foods. Today, we’re going to unveil that mystery and provide a list of our recipes that include it.

    Potatoes contain starch grains. By crushing the potato’s cells, the starch is freed. It’s collected and dried. This is the starch that you buy and use in many recipes. Potato starch is neutral in flavor and hardly has any protein in it (as opposed to eating a fresh potato, which contains about 2 grams).

    While the exact date potato starch was discovered is unknown, ancient Andrean Indians left evidence of smashing the tubers to a pulp, soaking them in a jug, and filtering out almidón de papa (potato starch). They used it similarly as our modern society does, in baked goods and to thicken stews, soups, and sauces. (Keep in mind that any meals made with it need to be served quickly because potato starch doesn’t hold its texture as well as flour or corn starch.) Potato starch works alongside yeast to further swell dough as it bakes. It’s also used in egg replacers, and can be an alternative to corn starch or arrowroot powder.

    Here is a short list of recipes we offer here on gluten-free-bread.org that contain potato starch:

    Crisp and Delicious Gluten Free Chocolate Biscotti
    Gluten Free Pizza Crust
    Get Lucky Gluten Free Irish Soda Bread
    Gluten and Xanthan Gum Free Dinner Rolls
    Whole Grain Gluten Free Bread

    Be sure to let us know what you think if you try any of them out or have in the past. What recipes do you use potato starch for? Please tell us in the comments below!

    Reader Interactions

    Previous Post The Best Commercial Gluten Free Bread Brands
    Next Post Super Easy Gluten Free Crusty French Rolls

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Christine Brady.

    Hi, I'm Christine, a gluten free baker living in sunny Texas! Zest for Baking is where you'll find gluten free (and dairy free) recipes, tips for substituting ingredients and help navigating the world of gluten free baking.

    More about me →


    Easter Baking

    • Gluten Free Blueberry Cake
    • Traditional Gluten Free Easter Bread
    • Gluten Free Hot Cross Buns (With Dairy Free Option)
    • Pull-Apart Gluten Free Parmesan Rolls (Dairy Free)
    • The Very Best Gluten Free Dinner Rolls {Dairy Free}
    • One-Bowl Gluten Free Strawberry Cake {Dairy Free}

    Cookbooks make great gifts!

    up close image of book cover

    Gluten Free Baking Help

    • 6 Best Substitutes for Psyllium Husk Powder
    • The Top Substitutes for Millet Flour
    • The 8 Best Sweet Rice Flour Substitutes
    • 7 Best Cassava Flour Substitutes
    • Top 9 Arrowroot Flour Substitutes
    • Top 4 Teff Flour Substitutes

    More baking help

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Featured On

    About


    Since 2013, Christine has been helping readers with gluten free baking challenges and substitution issues, all while creating delicious gluten free baking recipes that no one would guess are actually gluten free. Her Zest For Baking recipes have been featured on The Daily Meal, Bloglovin' and Dr. Axe, to name a few. When she's not hanging out on Facebook or sharing pictures on Instagram or pinning on Pinterest, you can find her in her kitchen, creating more ZestForBaking.com recipes!

    Browse


    • Start Here
    • Guide to Gluten Free Flour Substitutes
    • Alternatives to Xanthan Gum & Guar Gum
    • Gluten Free Oat Flour Substitutes
    • Gluten Free White Bread Recipe
    • Soft Gluten Free Breadsticks
    • Gluten Free Dairy Free Dinner Rolls
    • Millet Flour Biscuits
    • Gluten Free Baking Masterclass
    • Classes & Products

    Information


    About

    Contact

    Privacy

    Terms of Use

    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest

    Copyright © 2023 | Zest For Baking | Privacy Policy