Calories in Cornstarch

Adding cornstarch seems like a casual task to most recipes, it may just be simple enough like adding salt to the recipe. When the recipe is all set to be served and eaten, it is then that diet charts and the guilt of extra calories, start making their windy rounds.

So what do you do, count the calories in all ingredients that make the recipe. What about cornstarch? Do you know about its calorie content. Not quite, seldom do we think about a cup full of white flour that goes into our foods. So, to guide you through the nutrition and calories, let's get you familiar with cornstarch first.

Cornstarch as the name suggests, is made from corn. The other name for it is cornflour. It has a flour like powdery consistency and is a product of the endosperm that is inside the corn kernel. This fine powder, is mainly used as a thickener in sauces, soups, stews, etc.

It is also used along with flour in many recipes, as it gives the recipe a fine texture, than using only plain flour. Cornstarch is often preferred over other traditional thickening agents like flour.

The reason for this is the property of cornflour, that when mixed with water, the liquid will remain transparent instead of becoming opaque, unlike other thickening agents.

With many uses of cornstarch in different recipes, it has become a regular ingredient, why not take a look at the calories, for a wiser cooking experience. Let's take a look at the calorie meter for cornstarch, along with its nutritional content.

Calorie Distribution (1 cup serving)
Carbohydrate - 116.8 g
Protein - 0.3g
Dietary Fiber - 1.2g
Sugar - 0.0 g
Fat - 0.1 g
Cholesterol - 0.0 mg

Now that we know about the calories, let us check the nutritional facts about cornstarch.

And see what you get on your nutritional platter with every cup of cornstarch you add to your puddings and curries.

Mineral Content (mg/ 100 grams)

Calcium - 0.3 %
Zinc - 0.5 %
Magnesium - 1.0 %
Phosphorus - 1.7 %
Copper - 3.2 %
Iron - 3.3 %
Manganese - 3.4 %
Selenium - 5.1 %

Another interesting fact is that it is also considered as an alternative in many cooking recipes.

This is specially beneficial for those who are on a diet because of diabetes and other heart diseases. Baked recipes often use cornstarch dissolved in water, heated to a certain degree, as a substitute for oil.

Did you know about the many fun things that can be demonstrated with cornstarch and water? Cornstarch is safe and natural, with absolutely no toxicity. And that may be one of the reasons it is used in elementary classrooms, for scientific demonstrations. When mixed with water, it forms a specific type of fluid, helping in dilution.

The many properties and health facts too have made cornstarch a happy and preferred ingredient, in most of the kitchen shelves. Have a healthy and happy cooking experience with cornstarch, and now that you know its calorie content, every recipe will surely make a nutri-conscious meal!