Confirmed: Arrowroot Powder Is More Than A Gluten-Free, Paleo Baking Essential

Here, learn all about the healthy starch that's taking food blogs by storm and how to use it to make your cleaned-up culinary creations that much more delicious.

"I often use it as a paleo alternative to cornstarch in savory cooking," says Phoebe Lapine, gluten-free chef, mindbodygreen Collective member, and author of The Wellness Project. "Especially with sauces that need to be a bit heftier, arrowroot can give your mixtures some gelatinous thickness—perfect for holiday gravies!"

In recipes calling for cornstarch, arrowroot powder can typically be used as a one-to-one substitute, and in recipes that call for flour as a thickener (e.g., to create a roux), arrowroot powder can be used in its place at a ratio of 1 teaspoon arrowroot powder per 1 tablespoon flour.

However, despite arrowroot powder's relative ease of digestion, people dealing with serious issues like a leaky gut or irritable bowel syndrome may not always be able to tolerate it—at least initially. Arrowroot is not allowed on the GAPS Diet, which is designed specifically to treat chronic inflammatory conditions in the digestive tract because starches can be difficult for those with a compromised gut to properly digest. Once you've sufficiently healed your gut, however, arrowroot is thought to be one of the gentlest starches to first reintroduce.

Here, discover some of our favorite chef- and food-blogger-approved tips for using arrowroot powder in sweet and savory dishes. We've included links to some tried-and-true recipes so you can get to cooking (and baking) with confidence. 

One important note is that arrowroot should typically be mixed with a room-temperature liquid before being added to a hot liquid, and it's best to add arrowroot toward the end of cooking. "I typically use it toward the end because it can become a little too jelly-like with extended periods of cooking," says Lapine. "I used it recently in a mushroom stroganoff recipe I was recreating to be gluten-free, adding it after the veggies were fully cooked."

Much like it's used to thicken up savory sauces, arrowroot powder can be used to create sweet fillings and creamy desserts. "For desserts, I'll sometimes use it as a thickener for fruit compotes or pie fillings, like the filling for these Red, White, and Blueberry Galettes," says Lapine. For something a little more seasonal, try this Vegan & Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie recipe, which uses arrowroot in its creamy filling and perfectly crispy crust.

If a recipe calls for baking powder, but you want to avoid the cornstarch that comes along with it, create your own healthy replacement: Simply combine ¼ cup baking soda, ½ cup cream of tartar, and 2 tablespoons arrowroot powder. Measure out the amount you need for the recipe, and store the remainder in an airtight container.

Another great place arrowroot can work its binding magic is in veggie burgers, plant-based "meat" loaves, or these drool-worthy Gluten-Free Veggie Waffles.

Chinese dishes frequently call for using cornstarch to coat meat before stir-frying it to yield a crispier texture (think: General Tso's chicken) that holds up well to sauces. But the cornstarch can easily be substituted for an equal amount of arrowroot powder, says Lapine. To test it out, consider making Lapine's healthy Sesame Chicken With Broccoli recipe—and toss that takeout menu in the trash.

Fast-forward to today, however, and healthy foodies have mastered the grain-free baked good by tweaking their recipes to contain the right ratios of alternative flours to starches and other ingredients. These Vegan, Grain-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies are perfectly chewy, these Gluten-Free Sweet Teff Pancakes mimic your favorite diner short stack, and these Paleo Cinnamon Rolls definitely won't crumble on contact—all thanks in part to arrowroot powder.

If you want your muffin or cookie recipe to be gluten-free and vegan, arrowroot powder can pull double duty by improving texture and acting as a replacement for eggs—at least when combined with the right ingredients. To replace one egg in your recipe, simply whisk together 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder, 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, and ¼ cup water.

You know how the best restaurant French fries taste almost like they've been battered and fried to yield a perfectly crispy (almost bubbly) exterior and soft interior? Well...they have been battered and fried. The good news: You can recreate them at home, only much healthier. "Arrowroot powder is really great for crisping up veggie fries like these Baked Sweet Potato Fries With Sriracha Aioli."

Arrowroot powder is great for making homemade ice cream that's extra smooth and delicious since it interferes with the formation of large ice crystals that could create a gritty texture. This goes for both dairy-based ice creams and nondairy ice creams that utilize ingredients like coconut milk. Don't use arrowroot powder with any form of dairy that's not frozen, though, as it can produce an odd, slimy texture. For a perfectly smooth, guilt-free scoop, try this Vegan Triple Berry Ice Cream recipe featuring arrowroot powder.

Even on a grain-free, paleo diet, you don't have to give up tacos, thanks to these Vegan, Gluten-Free Tortillas! This recipe features arrowroot powder, along with another starchy ingredient called cassava flour, which perfectly mimics the binding properties of the masa harina (aka corn flour) traditionally used to make corn tortillas.

Arrowroot powder should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place. Consider transferring it to an airtight container if it doesn't come sold in a resealable bag. If you live in a warm climate, store it in the fridge. Stored properly, arrowroot powder should retain its beneficial properties for two to three years.