Is cornstarch vegan? Yes, it is! However, it’s almost always GMO, unless otherwise indicated on the packaging. Read on for more!
What is cornstarch?
Cornstarch is the starch derived from corn and is made from the white endosperms found in the center of a corn kernel. Those endosperms are ground into a fine, white powder that is often used as a thickening agent.
How is cornstarch used?
Cornstarch is most often used to thicken liquid-based foods such as stews, soups, sauces, and even desserts likes custards (like my Vegan Custard!). When used correctly and in appropriate amounts, cornstarch is translucent and tasteless.
Because cornstarch consists of nothing but corn endosperm, cornstarch is indeed vegan. I’ve looked at tons of packages and looked online for non-vegan cornstarch brands, but can’t find any.
It might exist somewhere, but I can’t find any evidence of it. So are there any issues for vegans?
It kind of depends. Are you cool with GMOs? Most corn, and therefore cornstarch, in the US, is GMO.
If you’re worried about it, buy organic cornstarch. If something is certified organic, it can’t be GMO.
Or try a different type of starch! The only issue is that they’re not perfectly interchangeable with cornstarch, even if some sources say so.
If I use the same amount of cornstarch and arrowroot starch in something like pudding, you’ll get two different results.
I had this issue with my Vegan Coconut Pudding, which calls for cornstarch. I tried making it paleo by using arrowroot starch, but the result was weird. And it didn’t even work at all with some brands.
You can certainly experiment, but just know that the results might not be exactly as you had hoped.
Vegan cornstarch brands
The following information is accurate as of 4/18/2022 in the US. I checked out every product myself (unlike other articles which copied and pasted the same list with a misspelled a brand name 😂).
Those lists mention Argo as being vegan. But the product isn’t labeled as vegan, and I don’t see it in the product description anywhere. Their FAQs do say, “Argo Corn Starch is free of gluten, soy, milk, egg, peanut and tree nuts.” But cross-contamination could be an issue.
- Anthony’s – this one is the only product I could find that’s actually labeled as vegan on the bag. Non-organic and non-GMO.
- Pure – not labeled on the bag, but the product page says it’s vegan. Not labeled as non-GMO, but they say that they are.
- Bob’s Red Mill – on the product page, it says, “All Bob’s Red Mill products are vegetarian; this product is also vegan.” It doesn’t say non-GMO on the bag, but in the questions section on the Bob’s Red Mill product page, they say, “This product is not organic, however it is non GMO. At Bob’s Red Mill, we have made a commitment to purchase only non-GMO grains. All of our products are made from ingredients that were grown from identity-preserved, non-GMO seed.”
- Clabber Girl – on their website, they write, “All baking ingredients manufactured by Clabber Girl Corporation contain no animal products. Additionally, all of the ingredients used in our products are free of animal products and are not derived from material of animal origins.” Their most popular product isn’t labeled as non-GMO, but the one I linked to say non-GMO right on the front!
- Earthborn Elements – listed as vegan and non-GMO on the product page.
- Rumford – listed as vegan on their product page and labeled non-GMO on the package.
If you’ve read this far, you might be in need of a treat like this Paleo Vegan Raspberry Coconut Tart! (Psst – it has cornstarch.) 😉
I hope I’ve answered your question! Feel free to leave any other questions you may have below.
FAQs
7 Options When You Need a Cornstarch Substitute
- Potato Starch. Pros: Gluten-free, vegan, paleo-friendly. ...
- Arrowroot Powder. Pros: Gluten-free, vegan, paleo-friendly. ...
- All-Purpose Flour. Pros: Vegan. ...
- Xanthan Gum. Pros: Gluten-free, vegan, keto-friendly. ...
- Tapioca. Pros: Gluten-free, vegan, keto-friendly. ...
- Rice Flour. ...
- Guar Gum.
Their FAQs do say, “Argo Corn Starch is free of gluten, soy, milk, egg, peanut and tree nuts.” But cross-contamination could be an issue. Anthony's – this one is the only product I could find that's actually labeled as vegan on the bag.
Is Argo baking powder the same as cornstarch? ›
Baking powder has an entirely different chemical makeup and purpose, and the two are not interchangeable.
Is Argo baking powder vegan? ›
Yes. Some of the acids used in baking powder are sodium aluminum sulfate, sodium aluminum phosphate, sodium acid pyrophosphate, and monocalcium phosphate.
Is Bob's Red Mill cornstarch vegan? ›
All Bob's Red Mill products are vegetarian. This product is also vegan, meaning it does not include eggs, dairy or honey.
Are any candy corn brands vegan? ›
No matter which group you're in, you might be wondering if the tricolored triangle-shaped treat is vegan-friendly. The short answer is no, candy corn is not suitable for a vegan diet. The main reason candy corn isn't considered vegan is because of a few of the ingredients, but each brand uses different ingredients.
Do you refrigerate cornstarch after opening? ›
Storing Cornstarch
Despite any date you might see on the package, cornstarch shouldn't go bad or lose its power. As long as you keep it in a cool, dry place, free from moisture, it should last indefinitely on your shelf—that is, if you don't use it up quickly.
Is Argo cornstarch safe to eat? ›
Argo representatives say that their laundry product contains nothing but cornstarch, a common thickener for soups and desserts. (They also say the starch-eating habit is “rare.”) According to medical opinion, eating large amounts of laundry starch often brings on anemia by blocking the body's absorption of iron.
Is there a baking powder without cornstarch? ›
For someone who can't have corn, they'll need a baking powder that has either potato starch, arrowroot, or tapioca starch. Whilst there are a couple of brands on the market that can serve the corn free community, as many learned during the pandemic, supplies are limited.
Is Magic baking powder cornstarch? ›
Magic baking powder (like Rumford baking powder sold in the US) is made of cornstarch, monocalcium phosphate, and sodium bicarbonate. Monocalcium phosphate is the acid that reacts with sodium bicarbonate to produce the gas carbon dioxide, which makes your cakes rise.
Clabber Girl Corporation announced it was doing away with two ingredients; phosphate and aluminum and debuting Clabber Girl PHOS-Free Baking Powder.
What is a vegan substitute for baking powder? ›
Baking Soda and Vinegar
It can make a pretty perfect baking powder substitute too. By creating the same acid and base reaction, it will provide a lifting effect to baked goods. But like the cream of tartar and baking soda combo, this is stronger, so you'll want to use less.
Is Clabber Girl baking powder vegan? ›
Are Clabber Girl baking products Vegetarian or Vegan? None of the baking powder, baking soda and corn starch products manufactured by Clabber Girl Corporation contain ingredients derived from animals. What are the differences between Clabber Girl and Rumford Baking Powders?
Which brand of baking powder is best? ›
Trusted for decades, you can rely on the time-tested baking powder from the Rumford brand. Rumford baking powder is a balanced, double-acting baking powder, and is a gluten free product and Non-GMO Project Verified. Baking powder is a chemical leavener that is used to make batters and doughs rise.
Can I use almond flour instead of cornstarch? ›
Almond Flour – This low carb, gluten-free flour works for adding bulk when recipes call for cornstarch. Start with substituting 1 tablespoon of almond flour for every tablespoon of cornstarch.
What is a thickener that is not cornstarch? ›
All-purpose flour: You can thicken sauces with all-purpose wheat flour. For every tablespoon of cornstarch, use three tablespoons of flour. Combine raw flour with cold water in a small bowl to form a paste, then add it into the sauce as it's simmering.
Can vegans have corn starch? ›
If you've been vegan for a while you might have noticed by now that things are sometimes not as vegan as they look. While cornstarch itself does not contain any animal products, the production process is not free from cruelty or exploitation.
What is a substitute for cornstarch in pudding? ›
What can I use instead of cornstarch for puddings? Cornstarch often teams up with egg yolks to thicken a custard or pudding. Swapping in all-purpose or rice flour is your best bet here, since tapioca, potato starch, and arrowroot powder can be finicky with respect to cooking and holding.
