Flour can make a good substitute for cornstarch when cooking sauces and gravy.
Cornstarch is often used for thickening soup, gravy, sauce and stew. When it is heated, the cornstarch dissolves and adds a glossy shine to whatever food it is added to. If you don't have any cornstarch, you can use bleached wheat flour as a substitute. However, you will need to adjust the measurements a bit. You will also need to mix it in briskly as it doesn't dissolve as easily as cornstarch.
Instructions
1. Take the amount of cornstarch that the recipe requires, and double it. That is the amount of flour that you should use. For example, if the recipe calls for 1/2 cup of cornstarch, then use 1 cup of flour. After you have determined the amount, put the flour in a jar with a lid, and add twice the amount of water as flour. The water should be at room temperature.
2. Place the lid on the jar, and shake it well for about 30 seconds. Carefully open the lid, and use the butter knife or spatula to scrape around the bottom of the jar. This will ensure that all of the flour has been mixed well into the liquid. Replace the lid, and shake it again.
3. Pour the flour mixture into the sauce or gravy, and stir it thoroughly. Put the mixture over medium heat, and keep stirring it until it comes to a boil. Lower the heat, and let it simmer for about two minutes.
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