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Lemon Meringue Pie
Oxmoor House
| Credit: Oxmoor House

Cornstarch and arrowroot are both starch thickeners, but they have slightly different properties. They are generally interchangeable in the same amounts, but there are times when one works better than the other.

  • Use cornstarch for:
  • sauce recipeswith dairy
  • dishes cooked at a higher temperature, such as pies

Use arrowroot for:

  • Sauce recipes with acid such as vinegar and lemon juice
  • Dishes you want to freeze
  • Recipes cooked at a lower temperature or for a long time

For more information on ingredient substitutions, see our Ingredient Substitutions Guide.